Tenebre by Dario Argenti--I realized that I've only seen a couple of his movies previously: Suspiria, which I liked a lot and Four Flies on Gray Velvet, which I saw in Hanover, Germany and thought was absorbing but utterly silly. Alas, although there were some scares in Tenebre it too is pretty silly overall. In fact, I'm surprised that it was made as late as 1982 as it had a more 70s feel to me. I'm afraid that I just don't get Argenti's appeal. Maybe I'll try a few more--or not.

Charlie Wilson's War was surprisingly --I expected nothing-- terrific. I really enjoyed the performances, especially by Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. Adams is truly radiant in everything I've seen her in so far. (even Doubt--which may not be a good thing).

And somehow I totally missed Emily Blunt...I had no idea who she was in the movie and had to google and then click on what is dubbed the "underwear video" to see what scene she was in....aha!!!! It's weird, because I loved her performance in The Devil Wears Prada--I suspect there were so many attractive young woman running around in the Charlie Wilson entourage, that another bedmate just made no impression on me. Anyway, based on a true story--a slice of history I'd known nothing about. Don't know how accurate it is. But definitely worth watching.

The Match Factory Girl, a very glum Finnish movie, that I guess is meant to be a black comedy of sorts but sure felt like a verrrry dull slice of life about a boring, depressed young woman named Iris who works in the eponymous factory, lives with her silent mother and stepfather, to whom she hands over her entire paycheck. No friends, no interests, no boyfriend. She has a brother who left home and is the only person she connects with.

spoilers















Out of frustration and desperation she picks up a guy for what seems like the first time, goes home with him to his relatively posh apt. He doesn't call her so finally she goes over to his apartment and asks him out. He says he'll pick her up a few days later at her parents. He does, and sits with them in their bleak abode--no one making conversation, as Iris gets ready. You can tell this isn't going well.

He tells her in the middle of dinner in a nice restaurant that he's not interested in her, that it will go nowhere and she might as well stop now. She leaves. We have no idea how much time goes by but she discovers she's pregnant, writes him a letter telling him and making making plans for how they'll care for the kid together. He writes back with one line "Get rid of the brat" and encloses a check. She's distraught and leaves the check and note on the table where her parents see it. They throw her out and she moves in with her brother.

Iris buys rat poison, goes to beau's apt to tell him "she took care of it" (she didn't) and will never bother him again, but puts poison into his drink. Goes to a bar where a patron tries to pick her up and she puts poison in his drink while he's not looking. Goes to her parent's apartment and poisons their dinner (which she cooks). We have no idea what she's told her parents, why they let her back in the apt, even temporarily to make dinner for them. Goes to work. Cops come and take her away. Boooooring. It was only an hour and seemed interminable. I presume the movie's meant to be some sort of feminist parable but to create a character with no personality or charm and then "blame" the guy who she picks up for dumping her immediately (before she knows she's pregnant) doesn't really do the trick. Or is it meant to be a comedy? I have no idea.

Skip this one and watch a really good Finnish Swedish movie Let the Right One In again.
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From: [identity profile] mecurtin.livejournal.com


I thought Let the Right One In (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139797/) is Swedish. Or am I easily confused?

From: [identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com


Duh. You're absolutely right....I'll see if I can remember how to cross that out.

From: [identity profile] nick-kaufmann.livejournal.com


I like Tenebre -- I think it's got a fabulous twist -- but there are plot holes galore, including one minor character who everyone knows who gets killed and then is never mentioned again.

From: [identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com


Yes, the twist IS a nice one and I loved the final demise :-). But really, didn't it seem a little silly? ;-)

From: [identity profile] stevegreen.livejournal.com


Of Argento's work, I can recommend Profondo Rosso (aka Deep Red).

From: [identity profile] 14theditch.livejournal.com


Ran into Charlie Wilson's War on the tube one night and ended up watching the whole thing. Hanks and Julia Roberts -- yikes. Usually that would be a double bill from Hell for me, but I actually liked a good deal of it. Hoffman was like Wilford Brimly's smarter brother in it, a pretty neat transformation. A more interesting flick than I would have been willing to give it credit for had I not seen it.

From: [identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com


Yes. I didn't think it would be very good and was pleasantly surprised.

From: [identity profile] chalkhorse.livejournal.com


I still haven't watched Charlie Wilson's War tho I bought the DVD (hubby is not a Hanks fan) but I hope to convince him to watch it with me.

If you like Emily Blunt you must see MY SUMMER OF LOVE; great indie English film from several years ago.


From: [identity profile] mlamprey.livejournal.com


I also never caught the Argento bug, even though a viewing of The Bird with the Crystal Plumage when I was 11 years old certainly should have made me a fan for life--probably still gives my brother nightmares, as he was just turning 9. We thought we were going to see a war movie.

Admittedly, I haven't been moved to watch many more of them. The last one I bothered with was Suspiria. Yawn.

From: [identity profile] mlamprey.livejournal.com


My brother hated and feared horror movies--even mild ones gave him nightmares. We'd been to the local theater the week before his birthday and seen a preview for some big war movie that was supposed to be opening there the next week. We made plans and my mom dropped us off with a few other boys. There were posters for the war movie outside the lobby, and I don't remember what the marquee said. But somehow we had the wrong date and the wrong movie. I couldn't have been happier, personally.

I think Crystal Plumage is easily available now, but I've avoided watching it since that first viewing...I'm afraid of spoiling the memories.


From: [identity profile] mlamprey.livejournal.com


Netflix has it on DVD and Blu-Ray. I thought they might even have it on Instant View.

Meanwhile, on Instant View, I've been watching Wendy and Lucy, which came out just last week. It's good and depressing.

From: [identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com


It's already in my queue. I'd forgotten.

I don't do "instant view" as I have set evenings for watching DVDs--otherwise I'd never get any work done.
.

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