Happy Furry Puppy Story Time with Norbizness

I'm Really Trying To Make This Semi-Accessible, I Swear

Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland in Don't Look Now.

Time to catch up with some fitful DVD viewing over the past few weeks...

1. The Proposition (d. John Hillcoat, 2006) For those of you who love the artistry of Nick Cave, this movie provides another dimension of his talent as a screenwriter. The story is set in the late 1800s in bumfuck, Australia, as an English police caption (Ray Winstone) captures two brothers who are members of an outlaw gang, and uses the vulnerability of the youngest one against the middle brother (Guy Pearce) to catch the psychopathic oldest one (Danny Huston). There are any number of side stories going on, as the movie unexpectedly shifts from the Guy Pearce character to the relationship between the captain and his wife (the always-magnificent Emily Watson) as they try to balance mob justice in the victimized town with his desire to "civilize the country." There are scenes of horrifying violence married with beautiful panoramas of the Australian outback, and the effect is a really riveting movie, as every bit as good a "Western" (if one had to put it in a genre) as Unforgiven. Well worth checking out; you might even catch a snippet of patented Nick Cave poetry and music buried in the soundtrack.

2. The Devil and Daniel Johnston (d. Jeff Feuerzeig, 2004): He may be the Salvador Dali of West Virginia, but Austin adopted this mentally ill singer-songwriter-painter back in the mid-80s when he blew into town with innocent charm and an army of homemade cassettes. His "Hi, How Are You" tape and accompanying frog-art (seen famously on a mural on the Drag and on Kurt Cobain's omnipresent T-shirt) are probably the visual signature of bohemian 1980s/early 1990s Austin. This movie delves deeply into his lives, both real and imaginary, using his parents, childhood friends, fellow musicians, and actual good-hearted record industry people who tried to use the music to pay for his extensive mental health care. Being a provincial kind of guy, it's always remarkable to see the Austin of the late-to-mid 80s (I was just getting to town when he was beginning a long stay at the Austin State Hospital) as compared to today: especially the rapturous reception he got at the 1990 Austin Music Awards, connected with the South by Southwest festival of that time. The disc comes with lots of special features, including a touching reunion between him and the college girl with whom he became obsessed 25 years ago and wrote (literally) hundreds of songs about. Trust me: your eyes won't be dry on seeing it, nor the poignant interviews with his parents. Engrossing, but often painful to watch.

3. Thank You For Smoking (d. Jason Reitman, 2006): I always wondered whether some of the leaden writing of Paddy Chayefsky could make it in a present-day, independent black comedy. The answer, after watching this film, is "not really." Aaron Eckhart is perfect as a seemingly amoral but quite charismatic tobacco lobbyist who is forced to go to extraordinary lengths to market his product, all while pleasing his anachronistic boss (Robert Duvall) and battling wits with an anti-smoking Senator (William H. Macy). There's nothing at all wrong with any of the performances, and the writing really is clever in many spots. The scene with Rob Lowe as an ultra-connected Hollywood type will remind you a little bit of Ned Beatty in Network, except that he's all quiet storm instead of bluster. Ultimately, the film becomes kind of an unreal fantasy and the showdown with the Senator is kind of anticlimactic. However, it is quite enjoyable and worth a rent, so long as you don't think you're watching anything approaching actual satire. Good commentary with the writer/director and Eckhart as a bonus track.

4. Don't Look Now (d. Nicholas Roeg, 1974): I've heard a lot of praise for this supernatural thriller, but I found it highly derivative of both Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist (even though it's based on a Daphne du Maurier story). In a nutshell, a couple loses their child, and several years later are working in Venice when the mother becomes convinced, thanks to two creepy, clairvoyant sisters, that the child's ghost is trying to contact them. A lot of images are kind of flashed on the screen at random, making you think that they're clues to unraveling the film's ending, which, truth be told, is very riveting. Unfortunately, the movie has collapsed from inertia and leaden atmosphere a good 45 minutes before that happens. Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie give very good performances, but even they get tiresome after a while, because the script gives them nothing to do. I guess I'll check out Rebecca again.

5. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints (d. Dito Montiel, 2006): A kind of mid-80s, low-rent version of Mean Streets, featuring Shia LaBeouf as the author/director protagonist growing up in a kind of dead-end area of Queens. The movie jumps back and forth between the 80s and the present day, as the grown-up character (Robert Downey Jr.) contemplates going back to New York City for the first time in 18 years to reconcile with his aging, sick father (Chazz Palminteri). The scenes in the 80s resonate the strongest, thanks to terrific, natural performances by the teen actors; however, the script (however true to life based on the life of Mr. Montiel) devolves into some pretty stock "I'm leaving home" melodrama. In many ways, the geography of the picture is so narrow that not a lot in terms of universal themes are really teased out. There are plenty of bonuses on the DVD, though, including commentary by Montiel and his editor, an extended interview with his real-life father, and a number of deleted scenes. Not a must-rent, but something that might interest you.

6. The Butcher Boy (d. Neil Jordan, 1998): One of my favorite movies of the 90s, as listed here. It's finally out on DVD and has commentary with Neil Jordan as well as a few deleted scenes. Just see it.

OK, I know somebody's seen one or two of these, and would be more than happy to share their own (spoiler-free) impressions in the comments.

Posted by Norbizness at March 19, 2007 12:18 AM