La piel que habito - Pedro Almodóvar (2011)

Somehow I was expecting a much better film, a thriller, something darker. 

I was also expecting Antonio Banderas to act better... he wasn't a bad actor in his Spanish era. English was a barrier for him so I thought maybe now after many years without working with Almodóvar he'd be better. No, he wasn't. He also has a sort of strange dubbing... to make his performance more serious? It doesn't work. Perhaps because everyone is outshone by Elena Anaya. She's just perfect in her role, not a hair out of place, the perfect main character... nobody else could have been better.

The film is very stylish. The art and photography are as good as Anaya. But aren't all Almodóvar films like that? 

The big problem is the story. It is an adaptation, but very much adapted to Almodóvar's world: transgender characters, crazy people, kidnapping, loving mothers... it's just not all the way weird as most of his films are (if someone is going to kill someone else, they use a gun, not a ham now...). It's also predictable. It's not a story telling problem, it's a plot one. You just know what it's going to happen.

The music. Alberto Iglesias is a good composer. The score isn't bad, it's just too overused. If the suspense isn't in the film, the music won't help a lot. Especially if you use music as a dramatic resource all the time. 

It isn't a terrible film but it's not a great film either... which isn't good. See the look on his face? That's how the film leaves you.

La piel que habito

Martha Marcy May Marlene - Sean Durkin (2011)

MMMM is a good film, it's simply made, it's engaging, the actors are good at their roles... I did find it a bit disturbing. 

The storytelling is very convincing, you end up thinking that the scary thing is that this can be a true story (and probably is).  I think it's got to do with how naturally everything is told. 

The photography is pretty (a bit too obvious having the dark memories darker than the brighter present?). It's very nice to watch. There are the odd zooms. Oddly enough they didn't bother me too much. 

One thing I like was the transitions from present to past. Often flashbacks have cross dissolves or a white flash.. or something. Here it's done by simple cuts, the continuity makes things become closer- the idea that she's constantly living with her traumas as if it was still happening to her. 

I liked the ending. I like the idea that not everything needs to be explained. This is her story, her confusing, her paranoia... it's something that will stay with her. Whatever happens next... is another film. 

Martha Marcy May Marlene

Taxi Driver - Martin Scorsese (1976)

There are certain films you always hear about and think "I should see that". Taxi Driver is one of those modern classics. But a disappointing one too.

All the actors are well cast, no problem with that. Robert De Niro is always good. Everyone else is alright. The problem isn't there.

The photography is beautiful, really nice to watch. The music is right for the film, it sets the story, it is really New York (I'm not a fan of it, but it's a personal taste). 

The problem is the script. The dialogues are very good, each character says the right thing. How it begins and the character of De Niro develops is good, you can see the progress. It's just... at some point it gets weaker. And the ending is just wrong. 

I don't believe in spoilers, but anybody who does should stop reading here. 

It is wrong because the man is a psycho and justifying his killings because he's trying to be a good citizen, would be wrong. If it's an ironic way of seeing society - who will make anybody a hero - it's not entirely clear. Saving the girl is just wrong, if she had returned to her parents surely she would have been traumatised (it would make more sense if she had ran away from them again). This weird creepy psycho driver even almost gets another date with the girl. Any girl would have never got in that taxi. I also thought the possibility that it's really his dream or his version of the story.. but that's not clear either. Is he a ticking bomb then, ready to go on another killing spree any time? It's not clear either. I agree with the people who think the film should have ending in the shooting, just him on the floor. That would have been a much better film.

Taxi Driver 

Tirez sur le pianiste - François Truffaut (1960)

I like Truffaut's work.I enjoyed the Antoine Doinel series and Jules et Jim. This is a little masterpiece. It does take a lot of genre elements but it is also an author film and very innovative. 

Simplicity is something I like in films. This is just casual and natural yet very creative. The night walks are great... you can even see the camera shadow, but it doesn't matter as the narrative flows so well.

There are things like inserting subtitles... you do wonder what was that about, as it's not repeated anywhere else. I wasn't too bothered by the non-related stories added in the middle.. I didn't really think it wasn't related. 

Charles Aznavour is just great. His performance is just perfect, he was such a good actor he should have been in better known films in his youth. I should probably see more of his films.

Tirez sur le pianiste

Little Dieter Needs to Fly - Werner Herzog (1998)

Is  there a better documentary film maker than Herzog? I doubt it. He's terribly good at finding the right stories and the best characters.

Dieter Dengler was a German born pilot who grew up in a poor post-war Germany. He moved the the US and was sent to Vietnam... and was held prisoner in a camp until he managed to escape. His life and story are just unbelievable. But there many ways you can make a documentary about him, with his testimony, archive footage.. Herzog uses both, but the most impressive thing is that he takes him back to Germany, Vietnam, Laos to tell his story and even do a re-enactment of his captivity. You can't help thinking how crazy and bold they are... which helps it be an amazing documentary.

There's not much to say. You are engaged to his story during all the film, Herzog doesn't need a lot more than his main character.

Little Dieter Needs to Fly

The Piano - Jane Campion (1993)

I don't want to think this film in terms of feminism as I think it's not about women, it's about passion. Clearly the character is as passionate about playing the piano as she is about a man. When passion takes over her she can't help it, despite having a husband. That's the best thing about this film, it's so passionate, it's so emotional, it has feelings. Campion is a sensitive director.

Simply filmed yet beautiful to watch, you float through this film. I think the landscapes are beautifully shot. The light is so natural and the lenses so well used.

The actors are all well.The main character, her husband, her lover... but Anna Paquin as her daughter is something I've never seen in a child actress before. She does everything as if it was really her, and it is not an easy character. She delivers her dialogues naturally, it's just amazing.

The sound is nice. Great use of ambience sounds and silence. The music is so important and really well chosen for each moment. Delightful. It's a very delicate and thoughtful use of sound.

There are some very interesting interviews here: Making of the Piano - Pt 1 of 2


The Piano