Week in summary, 12/13-12/19

Ocean’s Twelve (2004, Steven Soderbergh)
Nearly as fun as the first one — I love a fun and stylish film without deeper meaning now and then, and this is exactly the type I go for. Some lame jokes in there (Bruce Willis’ cameo went on way too long) but it’s mostly a great ride.

Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964, Stanley Kubrick)
Until this week, Full Metal Jacket was the only Kubrick film I’d ever seen and based on that I was inclined to very much dislike him. I was blown away by how much I really loved Strangelove. Absolutely brilliant, hilarious satire, and truly frightening (can’t imagine how I’d feel if I’d watched it in 1964!). Peter Sellers and George C. Scott are incredible. This is definitely going in my top 30, possibly 20; not sure where yet.

Closer (2004, Mike Nichols)
Intense character study, very well-acted and directed. Not quite as great as I’d hoped, but definitely has a spot on my top 10 of the year.

The Lost Prince (2003, Stephen Poliakoff)
Great historical drama produced by Masterpiece Theater for the BBC — Poliakoff gets into fascinating parts of history that don’t get told often, drawing a compelling portrait of the interdependence of European royalty and how their power disintegrates in WWI. Well, it’s primarily about the “lost prince,” of course, but as it turns out, that wasn’t the most interesting part for me. Miranda Richardson in particular was brilliant as the cowardly, carefully composed Queen Mary.

Sunset Boulevard (1950, Billy Wilder)

Possibly my favorite Billy Wilder film, and Gloria Swanson gives Bette Davis a run for her money in my book. Great, great film.

Best of the week

Best Film: Dr. Strangelove
Best Lead Actor: Peter Sellers, Dr. Strangelove
Best Lead Actress: Gloria Swanson, Sunset Boulevard
Best Supporting Actor: Clive Owen, Closer
Best Supporting Actress: Miranda Richardson, The Lost Prince
Best Director: Stanley Kubrick, Dr. Strangelove

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