1928 Review Blog
Un Chien Andalou
Grade: C 08/27/2009
I will tell you exactly what this Salvador Dali collaborative effort reminded me of. It reminded me of the tape in THE RING that will kill you in seven days after you watch it. This is a surrealist hodgepodge of visuals that only produces a "What the F**K?" emotion. There is that slit eyeball scene (which the film is most famous for), a man pulling 2 pianos into the living room with pilgrims in tow, breasts morphing from covered, to bare, to under overalls, to butt cheeks etc.. It is so weird. I think this short film is famous because it reminds us that there were werid, abstract filmmakers even back in the 20s. I still don't really enjoy it though.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: C 08/27/2009
I will tell you exactly what this Salvador Dali collaborative effort reminded me of. It reminded me of the tape in THE RING that will kill you in seven days after you watch it. This is a surrealist hodgepodge of visuals that only produces a "What the F**K?" emotion. There is that slit eyeball scene (which the film is most famous for), a man pulling 2 pianos into the living room with pilgrims in tow, breasts morphing from covered, to bare, to under overalls, to butt cheeks etc.. It is so weird. I think this short film is famous because it reminds us that there were werid, abstract filmmakers even back in the 20s. I still don't really enjoy it though.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Grade: C 07/24/2009
Some critics call Falconetti's performance in this film one of the greatest in history. I can buy that...because she seems so overwhelmed by piety and love that she is about to burst. Director Carl Th. Dreyer is also very impressive with his harsh angles and creative editing. However...a 2 hour silent movie that is TRULY silent...no music or anything...is tough to get through, especially when it is simply an account of the trial and execution of Joan of Arc. What is more interesting than the movie is the history behind that actual print. The original was destroyed in a fire. A backup was created from outakes of the original...also destroyed in a fire. In 1981, a full copy, original copy was found in a Norweigen Mental Hospital closet. Now THATS a movie to make.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: C 07/24/2009
Some critics call Falconetti's performance in this film one of the greatest in history. I can buy that...because she seems so overwhelmed by piety and love that she is about to burst. Director Carl Th. Dreyer is also very impressive with his harsh angles and creative editing. However...a 2 hour silent movie that is TRULY silent...no music or anything...is tough to get through, especially when it is simply an account of the trial and execution of Joan of Arc. What is more interesting than the movie is the history behind that actual print. The original was destroyed in a fire. A backup was created from outakes of the original...also destroyed in a fire. In 1981, a full copy, original copy was found in a Norweigen Mental Hospital closet. Now THATS a movie to make.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Steamboat Bill, Jr.
Grade: B 05/30/2009
I hope if they make a Buster Keaton biopic in the coming years, they hire John Hannah of the MUMMY series. Their resemblance is uncanny. This silent film is actually pretty impressive as it shows a riverfront town being ripped apart by a storm. Forget the fact that the library has no books in it when the walls fall down, it is a 1928 SILENT FILM. The constant physical comedy of Keaton is also a hoot. Of course silent films are hard to keep interest as seen by the modern cinephile, but this film is pretty fun.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: B 05/30/2009
I hope if they make a Buster Keaton biopic in the coming years, they hire John Hannah of the MUMMY series. Their resemblance is uncanny. This silent film is actually pretty impressive as it shows a riverfront town being ripped apart by a storm. Forget the fact that the library has no books in it when the walls fall down, it is a 1928 SILENT FILM. The constant physical comedy of Keaton is also a hoot. Of course silent films are hard to keep interest as seen by the modern cinephile, but this film is pretty fun.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die