movie watch

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.