Change Your Image
FrankieTeardrop
Reviews
Desperado (1995)
Desperado * Robert Rodriguez * 1995
A mysterious gunslinger moves from town to town in the Mexican desert, looking for revenge on a drug baron known as 'Bucho'. What starts out as a ridiculous (yet slightly entertaining) gun-fest falls apart completely in the second half of the film, though Steve Buscemi shines above the rest in his small role.
5/10.
Clerks (1994)
Clerks * Kevin Smith * 1994
Dante, a grocery store clerk, is forced to go into work on his day off, one that turns out to be one of the most bizarre of his life. The acting and direction here is extremely average, but it is the fantastic, endlessly quotable script that makes this such a hugely popular cult film. The very definition of an 'indie'.
7/10.
La bonne année (1973)
Bonne année, La * Claude Lelouch * 1973
Simon, a jewel thief, is released from prison on New Year's Eve. As he returns to freedom, we see (through flashback) the eventful few weeks that led up to his arrest. An entertaining film, with interesting dialogue and brilliant direction throughout.
7/10.
The Elephant Man (1980)
The Elephant Man, David Lynch, 1980
This is the true story of John Merrick, a horribly deformed and mistreated circus freak in Victorian England brought into the care of a hospital doctor, where it is discovered that he is an intelligent and sensitive man. Lynch's direction is masterful, and the shots of the dank, dark London streets are magnificent. Fantastic performances from everyone, especially Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt. One of the most moving films of all time, the final scene, set to Adagio for Strings, is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen.
8.5/10
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
Picnic at Hanging Rock, Peter Weir, 1975
Three Victorian schoolgirls and their teacher vanish without trace on a school outing at Hanging Rock, an imposing rock formation in Southern Australia. The film doesn't try to give us any definite answers as to why the girls disappear, but focuses on the aftermath of the events on the school and it's headmistress, a young man who was also on the rock that day and becomes obsessed by where the girls may be and of one of the girl's roommate who was in love with her. This is an incredibly haunting experience, heavy on the symbolism (a little pretentious, perhaps), an allegory for sexual awakening in both adolescence and the Victorian era, whatever you want it to be. A film I'll never forget.
9/10.
Straw Dogs (1971)
Straw Dogs, Sam Peckinpah, 1971
*SPOILERS*
A peace-loving American mathematician and his English wife move to a Cornish farm in the hope of securing a quieter life, only to have their lives shattered by the local workers. Set against the bleak moorland of Cornwall, this was a film banned in Britain for a long time, because of an infamous rape scene in which the victim appears to 'enjoy' her attack - although Peckinpah later shows us the mental trauma associated with such a terrible event. The film features excellent performances all round, although for the most Peckinpah's direction is average. The film is also very slowly paced, until the frantic last forty minutes. I do have a problem with the climax of the film, it seemed very unbelievable that Sumner would turn from a coward, afraid to ask the gang about the killing of his wife's cat, to someone willing to risk everything to protect his home and a retarded man that he doesn't know (and doesn't know has just, albeit unwittingly, killed a girl - very Of Mice And Men). The fact that Sumner also seems to enjoy defending his home in such a violent way mirrors his wife's earlier 'enjoyment' of a horrific act, showing us that being forced into base, animal actions may yield surprising and disturbing results.
7/10
Woyzeck (1979)
Woyzeck, Werner Herzog, 1979
Woyzeck is a private in the German army, struggling to maintain his sanity in a world that torments him at every step. Suspecting his wife of infidelity and abused both physically and mentally by his superiors, his problems come to a head in a shocking final act. Kinski is brilliant here as the disturbed soldier, as is Eva Mattes as his wife. There are a few scenes here that aren't brilliant, but this is a very good Herzog film.
7/10.
Extension du domaine de la lutte (1999)
Extension du domaine de la lutte, Philipe Harel, 1999
A film about a bored, depressed fortysomething in nineties Paris with a total lack of a sex life, and his bleak, morose views on life and women. Despite his depression and loneliness, 'Our Hero' seems reluctant to do anything about his problems, unlike his business friend Tisserand, who at least tries to attract a partner - but is doomed to failure every time. Well directed, with an intriguing narrative structure, this is an interesting film even with it's almost constant downbeat, depressing tone.
6.5/10.