The Movie Rat

Contenders for Favorite Older Films First Viewed in 2013

Posted on September 3, 2013 by bernardovillela

Here is where I will assemble the titles that will have an opportunity to make a list wherein I chronicle my favorite vintage titles that I first saw during the last calendar year. It is a concept introduced to me by Brian Saur that I have done two times prior. Here is the 2011 version. The 2012 version was published in five parts: you can get to them here, here, here, here and here.

I have debated renaming this list Favorite Film Discoveries and being rather semantical about it, meaning if and when I correct gross sins of omission in my cinematic repertoire, it will not exclude lesser known titles from getting their due on this list. In other words, if you note the first two titles below, I expected them to be great and everyone knows they are. My adding them to the 2013 list is a formality and not news to anyone. If the list is inundated with previously unseen, but fairly obviously great films, I may siphon them off into a separate post.

I have not finalized that decision, but I reserve that right. Unlike my BAM considerations where I will now post a new entry monthly, I will have this list run through the entire year, but will denote when titles were added.

Without much further ado the contenders.

January (9)

The Godfather
The Godfather Part II
The Divorcée
Maya
Tarzan of the Apes
The Marriage of Maria Braun
Rio Das Mortes
The Great Ghost Rescue

February (8)

Tarzan the Ape Man
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
The Narrow Margin
Imitation of Life
A Dog of Flanders
The Life of Emile Zola
Bad Day at Black Rock
Blossoms in the Dust

March (8)

Muppet Treasure Island
Zokkomon
Babes in Toyland
Death Valley
Bolt
The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
A Wicked Woman
Atta Girl, Kelly!

April (11)

Veronika Voss
Time of My Life
The Ghost Walks
Rabid
Tangled Destinies
Hearts of Humanity
The Phantom Express
In Love with Life
Dick Tracy (1945)
Peter and the Wolf (1995)
Scanners

May (10)

A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin
Tarzan and His Mate
Stroszek
Mirage (2004)
In a Year with 13 Moons
Duma
Celia
Blood Car
Life Boat
Little Tough Guy

June (6)

Mon Oncle Antoine
The Merchant of Four Seasons
Rainbow on the River
Tarzan’s Desert Mystery
The Smart Set
Ariel

July (2)

Wake In Fright
Blondie (1938)

August (3)

Stolen Kisses
The Little Prince (Great Performances)
Love on the Run

September (9)

Miss Annie Rooney
To The Left of the Father
Asylum (1972)
Orphans of the Storm
The Return of Dr. X
Dead of Night
The Case of the Bloody Iris
Trilogy of Terror
Sisters

October (12)

Demonic Toys 2
Gorgo
Dracula (1931 -Philip Glass Score)
Dracula (1931 – Spanish Version)
R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour – Don’t Think About It
Dracula’s Daughter
Dead Souls
Hell Night
The Ghosts of Buxley Hall
Dead Ringer
Return of the Fly
The Fly (1958)

November (1)

The Neverending Story (German Cut)

Short film candidates: Selections by Georges Méliès, Little Rascals, The Show (1922), The New York Hat, Captain Eo and Alice Guy, Louis Feuillade.

60 total features so far and the aforementioned shorts.

Series Tracker

Posted on September 3, 2013 by bernardovillela

This is a post whose idea I had a while back and never did, but now I came up with a better approach. Essentially, my plan with themes/series’ lately has been, for the most part, to split them up. My series on A.I. was virtually all consecutive. My unwillingness to post my ’80s series every day for practically a month led to that one halting and restarting. So I figured this would be easy access to other posts for you the reader, and a great reminder for me about what’s in-progress and should be touched upon on occasion.

Ongoing Series

Make Your Own Festival

I select slates to demonstrate the ease of self-programming titles.

Pick an Actor: Robinson Stevenin
Macaulay Culkin
Pick a Country 1: Brazil
Brazil 2
Pick a Country: Brazil 3
Pick a Country: Part 4
Pick a Country: Part 5
Pick a Country: Part 6
Pick a Country: Part 7
Bad Movies
Macaulay Culkin

The Arts on Film

I examine instances of other arts on film to examine the source material a bit more closely.

Ivan’s Childhood

Silent Feature Sunday

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Waxworks
Haxan
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Nosferatu
Man with a Movie Camera
Berlin: Symphony of a Great City
Battleship Potemkin
The Kid (1921)

Hero Whipped

A chronicle of my journey back to the comics medium, usually also relating the characters to their depictions in other media, especially film.

From Film to Comics (Part 1)
From Film to Comics (Part 2)
Comics and the Studio System
A Question of Form
The Double Life of Archie Andrews
Why This Spider-Man Amazed Me
Richie Rich
Hellraiser

Tarzan Thursday

A retrospect on Tarzan films through the ages.

Tazan Thursday: Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
Tarzan Thursday: Tarzan of the Apes (1918)
Tarzan Escapes
Tarzan and His Mate
Tarzan Finds a Son!
Tarzan’s Secret Treasure
Tarzan’s New York Adventure
Tarzan Triumphs
Tarzan’s Desert Mystery
Tarzan and the Amazons
Tarzan and the Leopard Woman
Tarzan and the Huntress (1947)
Tarzan and the Mermaids (1948)

Cinematic Episodes

Introduction

Don’t You Recognize Me?

Posts on early roles by know well-known actors that occurred to me by surprise.

Joel Edgerton
Andrew Lincoln
Chris Evans
Sarah Paulson

61 Days of Days of Halloween 2013

Dracula (1931 – Philip Glass Score)
Saw
Films to Keep You Awake: A Christmas Tale
Curse of Chucky
Demonic Toys 2
Gorgo
Trilogy of Terror
Films to Keep You Awake: To Let
Sisters
Blame
Pulse (1988)
The Dead Father
Asylum
The Baby’s Room
The Fog (1980)
V/H/S 2
Insidious: Chapter 2
Die Farbe
A Real Friend
Dead of Night
The Asphyx
Spectre
The Case of the Bloody Iris
Graveyard Disturbance
Dementia 13
Tremors 2
Child’s Play 3
Bride of Chucky
The Blair Witch Project
Introduction

2013 BAM Award Considerations

Monthly posts tracking contenders for this year’s BAM Awards, my personal film awards.

September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

Mini-Review Round-Up

Bite-size reviews of titles viewed at home. Many of which need a wider audience.

2013

Late August/September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2012

In December it was replaced by Year-End Dash
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
February
January

2011

#5
#4
#3
#2
#1

Film Thought

Moviegoing Solo
I Think We’re Alone Now
Walking Out of a Movie
Film Word Association
Who Would Play You in a Movie?
What’s Your Favorite Film?
Sorry, No Refunds for Bad Movies
Excuse Me, Did You Like the Movie?
The Foundation of Everything is Drama
A Film For All Occasions
No List is Ever Complete
The Elasticity of Film
Critical Buzzwords in Need of Banishment

In Anticipation Of

Mercy
The Necroscope

Limited Series, Current

Bela Tarr Retrospective

Short Film Saturday: Prologue from Visions of Europe
Werckmeister Harmonies

Limited Series, Comncluded

Underrated Dramas

Brazil
Benelux
France

Shyamalan Week

BAM Best Picture Profile – The Sixth Sense
Things Worth Discussing
Village Building
The Spiritual Trilogy

Django Unchained

Django Unchained: Mandingo Fighting and Phrenology
Django Unchained: Apparent Defeat and Tarantino’s Cameo
Django Unchained: The Politics of Language
Django Unchained: Introduction and the Spaghetti Western Treatment
Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained: How Good it is to Kill Fascists, Racists and Slave Owners!

Poverty Row April

Posts and reviews about shoestring Hollywood productions, mainly in the 1930s.

Short Film Saturday: The Phantom Empire, Chapters 1-3
Book Review: Poverty Row Studios, 1929-1940
Poverty Row April: Viewing Log and Introduction
Short Film Saturday: The Phantom Empire, Chapters 1-3
Short Film Saturday: The Phantom Empire, Chapters 4-6
Short Film Saturday: The Phantom Empire, Chapters 7-9
Poverty Row April: Wrap-Up

Once Upon a Time in the 80s

A wide-ranging paper on what made the 80s unique in entertainment, mainly film.

March to Disney

A focus on films by Walt Disney Studios.

March to Disney: Disney Animated Feature Ranking
March to Disney: Titles That Should Come Out of the Vault
March to Disney: Disney at the BAM Awards
March to Disney: Terabithia, Timothy Green and Other Inauspicious Ends
March to Disney: Secretariat and the Sports Films of Disney
March to Disney: Zokkomon and Disney World Cinema
March to Disney: What Bolt and Dumbo Share
The Gnome-Mobile
Trips to Treasure Island
Der Fuehrer’s Face
The Rescuers in More Ways Than One
Three Little Pigs
Short Film Saturday: The Little Matchgirl
Short Film Saturday: Aquamania (1961)
Short Film Saturday: Runaway Brain

Blogathon Entries

Funny Lady Blogathon: Louise Fazenda
Children in Film Blogathon 2: The Juvenile Award
Children in Film Blogathon 1: Jackie Searl
Actors in Comic Book Films
Journalism in Classic Film Blogathon: Doctor X (1932) and The Return of Doctor X (1939)

2013 BAM Award Considerations – September

Posted on September 2, 2013 by bernardovillela

Last year I had one massive running list and it became very cumbersome to add to, and to read I’m sure. By creating a new post monthly, and creating massive combo files offline, it should make the process easier for me and more user-friendly for you, the esteemed reader. Enjoy.

Eligible Titles

You’re Next
Beyond the Walls
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
The Iceman
House of Bodies
Riddick
The Grandmaster
Shadow Dancer
Fruitvale Station
Branca’s Pitch
Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie
Insidious: Chapter 2
Aliyah
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
To the Wonder
V/H/S 2
In the Name Of
Hammer of the Gods
Die Farbe
Breakout
Standing Up
Don Jon
Cody the Robosapien

Best Picture

Shadow Dancer
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines

Best Foreign Film

Beyond the Walls
The Gradmaster
Aliyah
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
In the Name Of
Die Farbe

Best Documentary

Last year this was an omitted category, due mostly to the fact that too few total candidates existed to make the slate feel legitimate. I will hope to be able to rectify that this year.

Branca’s Pitch
Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie

Most Overlooked Film

As intimated in my Most Underrated announcement this year, I’ve decided to make a change here. Rather than get caught up in me vs. the world nonsense and what a film’s rating is on an aggregate site, the IMDb or anywhere else, I want to champion smaller, lesser-known films. In 2011 with the selection of Toast this move was really in the offing. The nominees from this past year echo that fact. So here, regardless of how well-received something is by those who’ve seen it, I’ll be championing indies and foreign films, and the occasional financial flop from a bigger entity.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
Die Farbe

Best Director

Shadow Dancer
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
Die Farbe

Best Actress

Sharni Vinson You’re Next
Lily Collins The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Ziyi Zhang The Grandmaster
Andrea Riseborough Shadow Dancer
Melonie Diaz Fruitvale Station
Clotilde Hesme Three Worlds
Olga Kurylenko To the Wonder
Marah Schneider Die Farbe
Scarlett Johansson Don Jon

Best Actor

Matila Malliarakis Beyond the Walls
Jamie Campbell Bower The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Michael Shannon The Iceman
Tony Leung Chiu Wai The Grandmaster
Clive Owen Shadow Dancer
Michael B. Jordan Fruitvale Station
Patrick Wilson Insidious: Chapter 2
Raphaël Personnaz Three Worlds
Pio Marmaï Aliyah
Andrzej Chyra In the Name Of
Ingo Heise Die Farbe
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Don Jon

Best Supporting Actress

Brid Brennan Shadow Dancer
Octavia Spencer Fruitvale Station
Lin Shaye Insidious: Chapter 2
Arta Dobroshi Three Worlds
Julianne Moore Don Jon
Glenne Headly Don Jon

Best Supporting Actor

Guillaume Gouix Beyond the Walls
Robert Sheehan The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Kevin Zegers The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Jonathan Rhys Meyers The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Chris Evans The Iceman
Ray Liotta The Iceman
Jordi Mollà Riddick
Steve Coulter Insidious: Chapter 2
Jean-Pierre Malo Three Worlds
Javier Bardem To the Wonder
Mateusz Kociukiewicz In the Name Of
Theo Barklam-Biggs Hammer of the Gods
Michael Kausch Die Farbe
Tony Danza Don Jon

Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Leading Role

Maya Lauterbach V8- Start Your Engines
Annelise Basso Standing Up

Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Leading Role

Georg Sulzer V8- Start Your Engines
Chandler Canterbury Standing Up
Bobby Coleman Cody the Robosapien

Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Supporting Role

Maira Laird Shadow Dancer
Ariana Neal Fruitvale Station
Klara Merkel V8- Start Your Engines
Tatiana Chiline To the Wonder
Holliston Coleman Cody the Robosapien

Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Supporting Role

Ty Simpkins Insidious: Chapter 2
Garrett Ryan Insidious: Chapter 2
Tyler Griffin Insidious: Chapter 2
Andrew Astor Insidious: Chapter 2
Samuel Jakob V8- Start Your Engines
Tom Hossbach V8- Start Your Engines
Nick Romeo Reimann V8 – Start Your Engines
Rylan Logan V/H/S 2
Phillipp Jacobs Die Farbe
Leon Schröder Die Farbe
Jonas Zumdohme Die Farbe
Christian Martyn Breakout

Best Cast

You’re Next
Beyond the Walls
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
The Iceman
Shadow Dancer
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
In the Name Of
Die Farbe
Don Jon

Best Youth Ensemble

Shadow Dancer
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
V/H/S 2
Die Farbe
Standing Up
Cody the Robosapien

Best Original Screenplay

You’re Next
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
To the Wonder
V/H/S 2
Don Jon

Best Adapted Screenplay

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Shadow Dancer
Die Farbe

Best Score

You’re Next
Beyond the Walls
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Riddick
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
To the Wonder
Die Farbe

Best Editing

Shadow Dancer
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
To the Wonder
Die Farbe
Don Jon

Best Sound Editing/Mixing

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Shadow Dancer
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
To the Wonder
V/H/S 2
Hammer of the Gods
Die Farbe

Best Cinematography

You’re Next
The Grandmaster
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
To the Wonder
V/H/S 2
Die Farbe

Best Art Direction

You’re Next
Beyond the Walls
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Riddick
The Grandmaster
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
V/H/S 2
Hammer of the Gods
Die Farbe

Best Costume Design

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
The Iceman
Riddick
The Grandmaster
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
Hammer of the Gods
Die Farbe

Best Makeup

Riddick
The Grandmaster
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
V/H/S 2

Best Visual Effects

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Riddick
Insidious: Chapter 2
V/H/S 2
Die Farbe
Cody the Robosapien

Best (Original) Song

Beyond the Walls
V8- Start Your Engines

61 Days of Halloween: The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Posted on September 1, 2013 by bernardovillela

Introduction

An introduction to the concept of 61 Days of Halloween as well as past films discussed can be found here.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

To kick off this year I figure I’d go with a film I know and like, one I would gladly revisit anew for the purposes of this piece. The first thing that should be mentioned with regards to this film and myself is that I was fairly young when it first came out, and I first viewed it. Therefore, I fell for the marketing ploy hook, line and sinker; meaning, I fell into the trap that this was real footage. That made my first viewing of the film particularly intense, and perhaps the most affecting fright I ever felt.

Between that time and when I revisited it anew, I learned the truth. I came full circle with my reaction. At first, of course, I was quite angry. However, when it came time for me to see it again I took it as it really was- as fiction. I would’ve likely seen through the ruse the first time had I looked into the film more, but I hadn’t. This was one of the few real instances one can have of “seeing it again for the first time.” I knew a lot of the beats and took it all in, and it’s impressive how well it works, especially the performances. Due to the fact that there’s a brief period of expository information, and much walking and arguing, it can be easy to miss the set-ups and escalation.

I won’t spend too much time discussing it as the progenitor of many found footage films since, save to say that a lot of the shots are clear (barring the running sequences of course) and there’s escalation, pay-off, focus on character/performance, and, perhaps most importantly, it cares about explaining where the footage came from and why it was shot.

It’s a film that mixes sources of footage and has a respect for the process of filmmaking. It’s intelligent enough to be clearly edited, but it doesn’t go too far. Far too often in new-age found footage there’s too much “Hey, look this is real raw footage!” scenes clogging up the first act. By switching cameras and stocks the film spices up the beginning without wasting too much time. Having come full circle with it, it’s a film I’ve really come to admire a whole lot. It’s films like this one that make me come back to the found footage approach as tired and low-percentage as it’s been. The Blair Witch Project is a truly great film, that I just had to add to my collection. Being lost can be truly terrifying whether something is after you or not, few films exploit it as acutely as this one.

61 Days of Halloween 2013: Introduction

Posted on September 1, 2013 by bernardovillela

Prologue

I figured this year I’d change things up, oh-so-slightly. Rather than have the following intro bulk up the beginning of each post I’d have it in its own post. Not only that I figured I’d also have a huge list of the films included in the past for two reasons: one, so you all can have easy access to the titles featured previously and, two, so I don’t accidentally repeat one. Enjoy and look for 2013’s first title later today. I also hope to have much more than last year’s offerings, and ideally a post a day. Subscribers be prepared to occasionally get a few notices a day as some regular site features will continue as per usual.

Introduction

Most holidays worth their while encompass entire seasons, such as Christmas, for example. However, as you may have noticed there is a corporate push every year for us to think about the next holiday even sooner. While this has many negative side effects I figure I may as well embrace it.

Since Labor Day is really only good for college football and movie marathons cinematically it is as significant as Arbor Day, which means the next big day on the calendar is Halloween and we can start looking toward it starting now.

Daily I will be viewing films in the horror genre between now and then and sharing the wealth. Many, as is usually the case, will not be worth it so for every disappointment so I will try and suggest something worth while as well.

2012 (31 Movies, 1 Retrospective)

Call of the Cthulhu
The Crazies (2010)
The Children (1980)
The Children (2008)
The Other
The Mist
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
Case 39
Devil
Zombieland
A Haunting in Connecticut
Survival of the Dead
The Last Exorcism
Paranormal Activity
Frozen
Daybreakers
House (1977)
Cat in the Brain
Vinyan
The Sinful Dwarf
The Final Destination
Village of the Damned (1960)
Children of the Damned
The Final
Girl vs. Monster
Trick ‘r Treat
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
House of Long Shadows
Friday the 13th Part 2
Friday the 13th Part 3
Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter
Friday the 13th Part 6
A Nightmare on Elm Street, the Series Revisited

2011 (47 films, 1 list)

Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest
Mother’s Day
Genesis
Aftermath
Crawlspace
Hatchet for the Honeymoon
It! The Terror from Beyond Space
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
Children of the Corn
Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice
The Video Dead
The Prowler
Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering
Masters of Horror: Family
The Evil Dead
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror
Satan’s Little Helper
Masters of Horror: Pick Me Up
Garfield’s Halloween Adventure
Teeth
Masters of Horror: The V Word
Halloween (1978)
Halloween II (1981)
Child’s Play
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
Child’s Play 2
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
Halloween Resurrection
The Amityville Horror (1979)
Tremors
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
Amityville II: The Possession
Halloween (2007)
Top Evil Kids in the Children of the Corn Series
Amityville 3D
The Curse
Homicidal
The Stuff
Santa’s Slay
Die, Monster, Die!
Freaks
Vampire Circus
All the Colors of the Dark
A Blade in the Dark

Silent Feature Sunday: Nosferatu (1922)

Posted on September 1, 2013 by bernardovillela

While I do watch many new films, and have annual awards and will discuss current cinematic topics. Part of my desire to create my own site was to not have an agenda forced upon me that was not my own. This allows me to discuss films from all periods of history whenever I see fit. Recently my Short Film Saturday posts have been running toward silents more often. I questioned this tactic for a second until I realized that if I really do hope to encompass all of film history then the silent era most definitely should not be ignored. If you mark the silent era from the birth of film (1895) to the first talkie (1927), and I realize it could be argued that the silent era stretched a few years beyond that, and also that there were experiments with sound very early; that’s still 27% of film history at current which was entirely silent. Therefore a weekly post (or, however often I put it up) is not out of line at all mathematically or otherwise.

The good news is that many silent films are available to watch online, and are in the public domain. So I will feature some here.

Nosferatu (1922)

While 61 Days of Halloween is going on this will be a horror-themed post as well. This will allow me to see some horror silents I’ve not yet viewed. However, I figured I’d start with a staple. I must admit I’m not a huge fan of this film. However, I do like it. It’s not quite another Freaks for me, I like it better than that. It’s just quite meet the hype when I saw it, which was a while ago. Next week, however, I will have a film I love…a lot. Regardless, enjoy and may the horror begin!

Short Film Saturday: Express Yourself

Posted on August 31, 2013 by bernardovillela

Lastly, and perhaps most obviously in a string of Madonna videos with musical touches, Madonna’s “Express Yourself” not only draws its inspiration from Metropolis but also is directed by David Fincher, who started in the music video trade before transitioning to feature films.

The Arts on Film: Ivan’s Childhood (1962)

Posted on August 30, 2013 by bernardovillela

Introduction

Enumerating how many artistic disciplines exist is not the purview of this series. Rather the idea of this series is to briefly explore an iteration, an instance, of another artform in the world of cinema.

In an upcoming series of posts I will state that I believe that cinema is the ultimate artform because of its ability to encompass or represent all the forms that came before it. Its elasticity is such that I believe it will be able to dialogue with whatever comes next.

However, this film seeks to satisfy a simple aim by illuminating a work cited by a film. To learn more of it and the artist in question. In short, just a bit more than information the film deems suitable.

Ivan’s Childhood (1962)

This series does not occur without Edmond Davis-Quinn‘s poetry. I was reading it and got to thinking about what the last time I read a poem was. I knew it was likely an allusion to one in a film and so this series was born (and it won’t always be poetry but democratically traverse the arts).

When thinking of the idea of references to other artforms in films one of the first ideas of poetry in Ivan’s Childhood, Andrey Tarkovsky’s first feature film. There isn’t a direct quotation here but when I revisited this film (I viewing many of his works in hopes of having a better frame of reference for his book Sculpting in Time, which I still need to finish) I read the Criterion booklet and they translated one of Arseny Tarkovsky’s poems for the booklet.

In such films as Mirror (1975) and Stalker (1979), Andrei Tarkovsky explicitly references the poetry of his father, Arseny. Although no such direct quotation exists in Ivan’s Childhood, there are striking connections between the imagery in the film and his father’s 1958 poem “Ivan’s Willow,” thus distinguishing it as a possible source of influence. It was translated for this release by Robert Bird.

Ivan’s Willow
by Arseny Tarkovsky

Before the war Ivan would walk down the stream
Where they grew a willow, no one knew whose.

No one knew why it loomed over the stream;
No one knew this was Ivan’s willow tree.

In his canopied raincoat, killed in combat,
Ivan came back to his willow’s shade.

Ivan’s willow,
Ivan’s willow,
Like a white boat, it floats downstream.

Not only the images strike one as being similar, but also in referencing his father’s work, at least by inference, Tarkovsky may have by that means made the film more personal. For as cerebral as he was, he was still working from a very personal place and working from a short story, it was key to bring it closer to home.

While I came to greatly appreciate the works of Andrei, the works of Arseny were elusive. Now I search and see they are available. Perhaps, I anglicized his name wrong prior. Alas, in this booklet and in Tarkovsky’s films I caught glimpses of another artist, another work of art that intrigued me.

Ultimately, that’s the idea of this series: a quick underscore of another work highlighted in a film that’s worth noting. This was the first that came to mind and hopefully more will follow.

Birthday Movies 2013

Posted on August 28, 2013 by bernardovillela

This is a new edition of this post, it’s a follow-up to one wherein I chronicled the films I could recall having viewed on my birthday. Some have been good to great, some have been awful. I usually try to make the selection something befitting a mood I wouldn’t mind being in on that day (hence I saved Amour for today) and something I think I would remember. I think both the titles from yesterday. For a guide to what these ratings mean, please go here.

Twixt

This is a film that I wanted to see first because it’s Coppola returning to horror, but then also because of some of the people involved. I cannot argue by any means that it’s perfect. However, if there’s one thing that gets under my skin is when people argue “It’s just a horror movie” implying: there’s a ceiling to how good it can be, or it’s OK if it’s stupid, or worse, it’s allowed to be unambitious. I don’t think this film falls into any of those tappings. It’s hard to say if going beyond a standard horror film’s running time would’ve benefitted or hurt it, but I think it may have hurt. I recall that why I liked My Soul to Take so much was underscored by what was left on the cutting room floor. The exposition that was deleted spoon-fed things I and my friends pieced together after it was over, and that made it more powerful. There are deeper mysteries and enigmas here and multiple plots all horrific and well-wrought, though they don’t always seem so. After seeing him in a few that were not-so-great, it’s good to see Val Kilmer in a fascinating horror film.

8/10

Blue Jasmine

The allusion I made above to occasional greatness definitely applies here. For a filmmaker such as Woody Allen who on many occasions has been accused of using his films as therapy and being un-cinematic this film is a rebuttal. For myself, as a long-time devotee, it’s wondrous not only to see him work a story that again employs a wonderful editorial language that is quickly-learned and never off; but also such a non-judgmental character study. It’s a film of revelation rather than reparation. It has its humor, too, but is perhaps the most searing, honest drama he’s committed to the screen since Husbands and Wives. The casting, as well as the cast, is flawless; but it’s really Cate Blanchett who makes this film work. She’s as powerful, if not more so, in her character’s detached, pained moments as she is in the “big” ones, which is what makes her turn so immaculate. It’s a performance that towers not only due to the sparsity of great roles afforded women in the American cinema lately, but because of how titanic an effort it is on its own.

Engaging and enthralling from the first frame this film of a life shattered, whether by design or not, may be his most Bergmanesque, and is truly one of the year’s best.

10/10

Blu-Ray Review: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Posted on August 27, 2013 by bernardovillela

Prologue

Thanks to a quick response to my film-of-the-month selection in the Disney Movie Club, I was able to view The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh prior to its release date today.

Introduction

My history with Winnie the Pooh is a long one, I suspect the case is the same with many Disney aficionados. For me this was a no-brainer upgrade because, in spite of my varied interests in film, Disney films are high up there. Owing to my affection for this film it was an automatic. The DVD was one of the first handfuls I had and watched several times over even in college. I do have thoughts on its worthiness for different levels of collectors/consumers below.

Program and Features

So far as the feature film goes when one has seen it as many times as I have it’s more a process of rediscovery, or being reminded of something rather than reprocessing and reanalyzing. Having re-viewed the documentary I was reminded of the conscientious effort in creating the backgrounds, and perhaps the reason – even at an early age- these films struck me so was the atmosphere was the reality, the wholly envisioned place that the Hundred Acre Wood is. Such that, even knowing nothing of how A.A. Milne came to create these tales it felt real. What the the stories did to augment that feeling was add every sort of weather imaginable to add depth to said atmosphere.

The transfer, as best I can tell, is the suspected upgrade you’d expect when going from a DVD to a Blu-ray.

The features, while there are a few new wrinkles, are where I wanted a bit more, but take that with a grain of salt as my perception is skewed from loving these stories and characters so.

What it does offer in terms of features are as follows:

Disney Intermission takes the cake as the debut innovation to the viewing process. I did hit pause and tried this out. The Pooh stories can feel timeless, and with this option they come even closer to feeling so, as kids can take breaks and play games in the Pooh Play-Along set in the Hundred Acre Wood. The games will seemingly go on as long as your attention allow and feature things like “I Spy” style games and Find the Differences.

I have not tried to assemble and use it yet but the Blu-Ray/DVD bundle does feature a kite. Sure, it’s branded, but at least it’s a somewhat proactive approach to trying to get kids to play outside as opposed to just paying lip service (and a fitting tie-in considering the story).

The five Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh shorts are quasi-new. Some of them are refashioned as opposed spliced out of other new-age Winnie the Pooh films. I’ll admit to irrational Fanboy hatred of these films until I actually tried to watch some and have mostly liked them a lot especially Winnie the Pooh. Viewing these optimistically they may not just as advertisement, but maybe a sign of intent to prolong the series even with recent cuts in the hand-drawn division.

This edition, in a rather uninspired way, decides to label the re-used features as Classic DVD bonuses, selecting that option you can view the wonderful documentary The Story Behind the Masterpiece and another classic A Day for Eeyore.

Last but not least, there’s a music video of Carly Simon (Newly-recruited to sing the theme song). It’s a standard series of singles spliced with film footage, but a decent bonus.

Conclusion

So, while most of the features, new and old are good, although some were a bit lacking. Where does that leave this disc? I don’t usually get into consumer advocacy but with a home video review it’s a bit more implied:

If you like the film but don’t have it at home, especially if you have kids: it’s a must.

If it’s an upgrade, and you’re not an avid Disney collector: I’d wait some or comparison shop.

Regardless, it’s great that this film’s turn has come around and I was very glad to see it get this treatment such that it may continue on, and do hope to see more from the series in the future.

Bernardo Villela is like a mallrat except at the movies. He is a writer, director, editor and film enthusiast who seeks to continue to explore and learn about cinema, chronicle the journey and share his findings.

Year: 2013

2013 BAM Award Considerations – September

61 Days of Halloween: The Blair Witch Project (1999)

61 Days of Halloween 2013: Introduction

Silent Feature Sunday: Nosferatu (1922)

Short Film Saturday: Express Yourself

The Arts on Film: Ivan’s Childhood (1962)

Birthday Movies 2013

Blu-Ray Review: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh