1963 Review Blog
8 1/2
Grade: B 09/16/2009
My second Fellini film is much more surreal and strange than the first, but it is also oddly compelling as well. The film is about a filmmaker who just doesn't know how to make his 9th film, and as he juggles his workers, his actors, and the women in his life, he often has to retreat to fantasy and dreams to keep his sanity. Often times, I found it hard pressed to know whether or not what I was seeing was real. Charlie Kaufman must have loved Federico Fellini, because when a director doesn't know what to make his movie about (Fellini) decides to make a movie about a director not knowing what to make his next movie about (8 1/2)...it is mind-bending. Fun, and I had to sleep on it to really appreciate it...but Fellini was quite a unique filmmaker.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: B 09/16/2009
My second Fellini film is much more surreal and strange than the first, but it is also oddly compelling as well. The film is about a filmmaker who just doesn't know how to make his 9th film, and as he juggles his workers, his actors, and the women in his life, he often has to retreat to fantasy and dreams to keep his sanity. Often times, I found it hard pressed to know whether or not what I was seeing was real. Charlie Kaufman must have loved Federico Fellini, because when a director doesn't know what to make his movie about (Fellini) decides to make a movie about a director not knowing what to make his next movie about (8 1/2)...it is mind-bending. Fun, and I had to sleep on it to really appreciate it...but Fellini was quite a unique filmmaker.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
The Great Escape
Grade: A- 05/14/2009
This is my kind of movie. I love the concept about the Nazi's throwing all of the master escape artists from the war into the same, "unescapable" prison compound...unwittingly hording together the best prison-break minds around. Every second of this 3hr movie is devoted to the master plan of escape, with no fluff thrown in about the War or friendship. Just the escape. And it held my interest the entire time. I was a bit surprised about the morbid final moments, but surprise is always welcome. That theme is so catchy, I have been whistling it all day!!
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: A- 05/14/2009
This is my kind of movie. I love the concept about the Nazi's throwing all of the master escape artists from the war into the same, "unescapable" prison compound...unwittingly hording together the best prison-break minds around. Every second of this 3hr movie is devoted to the master plan of escape, with no fluff thrown in about the War or friendship. Just the escape. And it held my interest the entire time. I was a bit surprised about the morbid final moments, but surprise is always welcome. That theme is so catchy, I have been whistling it all day!!
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
The Haunting
Grade: B 07/14/2009
Directed by the incomparable Robert Wise, THE HAUNTING is quite spooky...all without any actual manifestations of ghosts. Its all about sounds, bumps, discussions, inner monologues, and reactions...and I kind of dug it. Jan de Bont's 1999 remake with Liam Neeson was a wonder to look at but it is pretty different from this original adaptation of Shirley Jackson's novel. Eleanor is still awhining pain in the ass....but I guess that is necessary to the plot. Hill House is still a scary place in my mind.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: B 07/14/2009
Directed by the incomparable Robert Wise, THE HAUNTING is quite spooky...all without any actual manifestations of ghosts. Its all about sounds, bumps, discussions, inner monologues, and reactions...and I kind of dug it. Jan de Bont's 1999 remake with Liam Neeson was a wonder to look at but it is pretty different from this original adaptation of Shirley Jackson's novel. Eleanor is still awhining pain in the ass....but I guess that is necessary to the plot. Hill House is still a scary place in my mind.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die