Lauren's film journal

[Lauren]

If I fall behind on reviewing, there's always my permanent film blog.


Rating scale Half points are used liberally -- 8.5+ is a really superior film; 7.5+ is completely recommendable; I don't use them much below that unless I am very torn between two ratings.

GREAT
10 Personal masterpiece. The most pure example of what cinema should be... for me.
9 Superior. Brilliant in its own right, but cannot stand next to the above.
8 Great. I shouldn't expect a film to be better than this.

GOOD
7 Very good. May have flaws, but is markedly better than most films of its type.
6 Good. Solid; on balance, a perfectly good film.
5 Mediocre. Average film with positive feelings; not inspired, but enjoyable.

BAD
4 Poor. Undeniably sub-standard, but there are notable redeeming aspects.
3 >>
2 >>> I have never found real use for this many negative marks.
1 >> All denote a 'bad' film, perhaps distinguished by how offensively bad they may be (on either artistic or personal levels).

[Ally]

Off to watch a movie to log. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

that's a good one. I saw that one twice, because I couldn't keep my Almodovar movies straight. but it was a good second watch.

[Lauren]

I'm really stoked. 'Cause after this I'm going to watch a bunch of completely random Carmen Maura films. I hope that leads me to a few interesting new directors -- I'd hate to start a fresh & clean viewing log off on such a degenerate note.

[Lauren]

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown [Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios] Pedro Almodóvar
1988, Spain

With this, Almodóvar becomes verifiably one of my favorite directors. Among all the films I have seen from him -- covering a fair span of genres, styles and subject matter -- one thing is consistent: he is a masterful storyteller. Even in something as bawdy and random as this film, all the pieces come together in the most delightful way. Truly hilarious, and creates the most fun, least offensive loopy heroines since the great screwball comedies. PS, I love Carmen Maura, blah blah blah.

[Lauren]

Valentín Alejandro Agresti
2002, Argentina

One of those cutesy-cute kids'-eye-view films, with a couple insightful moments and a truly moving climax when Valentín learns the truth about his parents from a stranger (at least, I fell for it ). Overall, by no means an original film, and just adding the trait of being cross-eyed does nothing to endear the boy to me. I should be more judicious in choosing my Maura films: this is not up to the pitch of a Hepburn or Huppert fixation (for whom I'd gladly watch any number of Dragon Seeds and Gabrielles).

[Ally]

Valentín Alejandro Agresti
2002, Argentina

I should be more judicious in choosing my Maura films: .

Hmm, I think this is funny, because I saw the film probably before I knew who Carmen Maura was, so I didn't even have the benefit of enjoying it because she was in it. It was an ok film, you even gave it a nicer review than deserved.

Don't know if you saw Todo Sobre Mi Madre/All About My Mother - the same thing happened: I tried checking out more Cecilia Roth films, because she's fabulous w/Pedro, but not always w/other directors.

Also Lenor Watling from Talk to Her/Habla con ella: she's in some good films with Isabel Coixet, but that doesn't automatically mean all her films are good.

Even Bette Davis had very crummy films... actors need to work and can't always be choosy! Unfortunately for us.

[Lauren]

The sad thing is that Valentin is .1 up on Women on the Verge on IMDb. (need 'head shaking' smiley too...)

I'm having a hard time finding the Almos from the 80s and it's breaking my heart. What I can find, I have to watch on fullscreen VHS (do we need the barf smiley ...?)

Looking forward to All About My Mother. I don't know the two actors you mentioned well at all (I'm very far behind on Spanish cinema), but Lenor was wonderful in Hable con ella. It's true: a lot of it does come down to the chemistry with and the skill of the director. Sad to read about the long falling out between Maura & Almo, but I guess he needed to start seeing other women anyway...

True, I hate a lot of Bette films (though she's always wonderful) -- though of course she was under studio contract. (Got herself out of a few contracted films she didn't want, though, as did Hepburn -- I like 'em scrappy!) Watching bad films starring great actors is one of my great guilty pleasures.

Psst, don't tell Mango, but if I were rating Valentin it would only get ** outta me.

[Lauren]

Johnny Guitar Nicholas Ray
1954, US

Whoa, this is the Crawford film they were dubbing in Women on the Verge...! What an awesome coincidence. (I've been watching that movie on repeat since the other night.) Why do people never tell me these things that will so obviously heighten my enjoyment?

So I put myself in a position to be massively disappointed, but as it turns out I wasn't let down in the least, and it's worth every bit of the raving Z has been doing for the past several months: this is my favorite western... perhaps even above McCabe. I wouldn't call it a feminist revision exactly, but inserting a woman's moral position in a genre so thoroughly coded with masculine standards is itself a revolutionary achievement. Subtle genre-busting all over the place, from bits as simple as Crawford's wardrobe changes to fundamental questioning of "good guys" and "bad guys." Men can wear pink and dance and retain their pride; women duel and never ride side-saddle. Every interaction between these characters thrilled me, to be completely honest...

And playing an iconic screen persona against type is always a stroke of genius, if you ask me. Like putting Bogart in a romantic comedy: sounds absurd, but works effortlessly. Crawford is Crawford all the time, with her haughty attitude, permanently raised eyebrows and mannered delivery. Put her in a western and she's still Crawford... you see what a delight this is, don't you?

[(DG)]

"a work of whore". peeeeeerfect.

[Lauren]

"a work of whore". peeeeeerfect.

!! I <3 that word censor endlessly. I know I'm going to fall for it over and over... is Mango trying to tell me something about my attachment to the concept?

[(DG)]

funny thing: in that post i just wrote, i almost said "a work of whore". G E N I U S. without the spaces of course. which would have made me quite the fool!

[Lauren]

Waitress Adrienne Shelly
2007, US

Ahh, I've gotten ahead of myself. I saw this before Johnny Guitar, but wonderful as this was, JG distracted me from it and then some. But Waitress, Waitress... let me try to recall how I loved it.

This is the sort of film that enraptures the willing viewer in its unique spirit. It's only afterward that one realizes hey, the narrative was pretty straightforward and at times trite -- and for that matter, some of the characters were easy stereotypes. Somehow this doesn't really hurt the film, as the characters are fleshed out by wonderfully three-dimensional performances and fresh, offbeat dialogue. Shelly has a sense of humor unlike anyone's -- wicked, silly, but surprisingly subtle at times. In the end, Waitress feels completely fresh and is enormously successful in evoking both laughter and heartbreak. It's a shame there'll be no more like this, following Shelly's death... I fully expect this to be on my top 10 at the end of the year.

[Z]

Johnny Guitar Nicholas Ray
1954, US

Whoa, this is the Crawford film they were dubbing in Women on the Verge...! What an awesome coincidence. (I've been watching that movie on repeat since the other night.) Why do people never tell me these things that will so obviously heighten my enjoyment?

So I put myself in a position to be massively disappointed, but as it turns out I wasn't let down in the least, and it's worth every bit of the raving Z has been doing for the past several months: this is my favorite western... perhaps even above McCabe. I wouldn't call it a feminist revision exactly, but inserting a woman's moral position in a genre so thoroughly coded with masculine standards is itself a revolutionary achievement. Subtle genre-busting all over the place, from bits as simple as Crawford's wardrobe changes to fundamental questioning of "good guys" and "bad guys." Men can wear pink and dance and retain their pride; women duel and never ride side-saddle. Every interaction between these characters thrilled me, to be completely honest...

And playing an iconic screen persona against type is always a stroke of whore, if you ask me. Like putting Bogart in a romantic comedy: sounds absurd, but works effortlessly. Crawford is Crawford all the time, with her haughty attitude, permanently raised eyebrows and mannered delivery. Put her in a western and she's still Crawford... you see what a delight this is, don't you?

Yeah! A work of genius! Did you pay attention to the political metaphors and the dressing? It's all so loaded with symbolism. The "hanging scene" was damn awesome! I also love the dialogue in the first part with Johhny Guitar. Great dialogue! Well, everything is brillant in this movie. You made me want to watch it for the third time.

[Z]

Genius?

Glassman! Where's the word g e n i us??!!?!

[(DG)]

it was mangoman, i swear.

[Lauren]

:praise: Yeah! A work of whore! Did you pay attention to the political metaphors and the dressing? It's all so loaded with symbolism. The "hanging scene" was damn awesome! I also love the dialogue in the first part with Johhny Guitar. Great dialogue! Well, everything is brillant in this movie. You made me want to watch it for the third time.

I read your comment on its Shompy page:

A feminist western? A Freudian psychodrama? A baroqoe epic? An anti-McCarthyism allegory?

Indeed, it is all these things. SO much going on in this film, and yet it remains great fun just on the surface level. The dialogue was great, too -- perfect for the Crawford style of delivery. A lot of depth in this one. Perfect on every level. (Due to my abuse in this post, I fully expect a word censor for "perfect" soon. )

[Lauren]

Oh, dear dear dear. I didn't expect that.

[Z]

it was mangoman, i swear.

I declare war! Who's with me? That Eggman should learn a lesson for fucking the system up.

[(DG)]

Oh, dear dear dear. I didn't expect that.

yeah... yeah... couldn't think of anything better. i'll change it back...

[Philosophe_rouge]

I was thinking of seeing Waitress and your review makes me even more excited... still there are so many great films playing at my theatre now I'm still conflicted.

[Lauren]

I was thinking of seeing Waitress and your review makes me even more excited... still there are so many great films playing at my theatre now I'm still conflicted.

It's rare that there is such an embarrassment of riches in theaters in June, isn't it? Before this month, I had only seen one movie in theaters all year (and it was awful). This month I compelled to see easily half a dozen new releases! I have a feeling you'll really love Waitress, when you get a chance to see it.

[Philosophe_rouge]

It's rare that there is such an embarrassment of riches in theaters in June, isn't it? Before this month, I had only seen one movie in theaters all year (and it was awful). This month I compelled to see easily half a dozen new releases! I have a feeling you'll really love Waitress, when you get a chance to see it.

It is strange honestly, and they all seem to have emerged in the same week! I'm happy my theatre keeps even the low money makers in for at least a month, so I can catch up. I'm still nervous to miss something. I'll try and catch Waitress Tuesday unless I sleep in and miss it or something ridiculous like that.

[Mango]

Bringing Up Baby just started on TCM.
I think I'm gonna go watch it.

[Lauren]

How happy that makes me! Oh, what a great thought. I will put on BUB and feel better. You are a dear soul. Enjoy it on your end!

[Lauren]

You are a dear soul.

Do I talk like an elderly lady sometimes?