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Reviews
Sydney (1996)
Stunning Vegas side show
The commanding presence of Philip Baker Hall as Sydney is the most memorable feature of this slick intriguing movie. Most of the story stacks up and the bits that don't - for example I find the continued faith that Sydney has in his protege, John, and "darling" Clementine after the brutal fiasco of the kidnapping unbelievable - I reconciled at the end of the movie when Sydney again in the same diner notices a blood stain on his shirt cuff and pulls the coat sleeve down to hide it. Some things are too mysterious and should be hidden. The what's-not-said is Anderson's major strength in this film - we can assume that Sydney's first meeting with washed up John at the diner was not serendipty and John's explaining about his mother's funeral was not entirely news to Sydney. He probably knew he was in the area. Any way I have watched it three times now and aim to watch it again in the future on blu ray. The portrayal of Sydney as a well tailored man of moral virtue, manners and old school charm in a world of sleaze and degradation is superb. The quartet of actors are great but none compete with that central performance, indeed Samuel Jackson holds back and under plays his role as the tricky dicky local criminal. I don't think Vegas movies are much better than this or offer the depth of human interest.
Powder Blue (2009)
The movie tried, I tried harder...
I really wanted this to be a worthwhile art film. The actors must have felt the same way when sent the script numbering some well known faces (faces is the word!) and personal favourites of mine. None of them offer anything new except what we have seen in other screen roles. As for the plot which aspires to be a convergence of several lives in L. A. it seems to buckle and finally dissispate in an unbelievably tacky and banal conclusion.
Having said that the movie kept me watching even if the end result was unsatisfactory. Fans of any of its main protagonists will want to see it.
I wish them luck.
Shall we dansu? (1996)
A Charming and Delightful Movie
.... one should add with many tender moments of emotional pathos that accompany the mixed emotions of this group of characters caught up in the world of ballroom dancing. One should also add lots of light hearted comedy along the way. Whether this is true or not, the film portrays competitive ballroom dancing as a slightly "dodgy" occupation in the world of the demi-monde with its fair share of eccentrics. I thought this was a major strength of the movie, a stylistic triumph, contrasting the innocent pleasures of the dance and its sensuality with the rigid formality of conventional Japanese business and personal life. All done in a wonderful light hearted concoction. It extends an invitation to us to live a little...
.... Shall we dance?
A Place in Greece: Year 2 (2005)
Involving and charming series
Watched many times. All episodes available on YouTube. Unlikely ever to be shown on tv again or released on DVD. Pete Cardy sadly passed earlier this year 2024, Brian Saunders a few years ago. Unfortunately the Greek adventure didn't work out for Brian and Andrew and they eventually moved back to the UK. Thanks to all concerned for delighting and brightening our lives. I thought there was plenty of scope for more episodes, even another season, when it ended. The production company moved on to A Place in Spain... in Italy and I think... in Czechoslovakia. So that proves it was a popular format for afyernoon television in the early days of Freeview. Cheers to Brian, Pete. Andrew and Lesley.
About Schmidt (2002)
Imagined States Plus Jack
My appreciation of this interesting film has somewhat cooled on second careful viewing. The character studies are well done and of course Jack Nicholson is superb from start to finish but there is some definite sagging and inconclusiveness in the ending which let the whole movie down. As a study in the loneliness of widowhood the movie is pretty up there and it gives Nicholson the chance to produce an unforgettable performance. As another essay in the well worked theme of the alienation of the individual in consumerist logistical modern America along the lines of Pierre Guimond's seminal Imagined States of America it says little new and the photographic work and editing tends to get irritating by being too clever by half. A good example of that is the scene of Schmidt communing with nature under a starlit sky, surrendering himself to grief and guilt and acknowledging his shortcomings in his relations with and previous views of his deceased wife Helen, at which point a shooting star..... see my point? It's a bit cheesey.
The ensemble cast who circulate round Schmidt for the benefit of the plot, such as it is, Schmidt's attempts to dissuade his daughter from a marriage with a man he perceives as shallow and crude, are all excellent and there are some scenes treating the traditional workplace retirement party or the wedding banquet speeches that are well done. But these don't exactly break new ground and are easy wins.
The idea behind this movie is first rate, the acting superb and Jack Nicholson carries it all the way through, but as an exercise in film making it isn't that memorable and certainly not enough to make it a great movie. Even so, it's unusual for Hollywood to turn out a movie that questions the whole system not just part of it.