Spinal
11-16-2007, 05:44 PM
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Paris, je t'aime (Various, 2006)
Montmartre (Bruno Podalydès) -- Finding a soulmate is sort of like finding a parking space in Paris. Or something like that. Not terribly memorable, but kinda cute I guess. **1/2
Quais de Seine (Quais de Seine) -- Film as mini-lecture on how Islam offers women self-respect and security. Okey dokey. Good performances from the young actors, but I found this one somewhat off-putting. **
Le Marais (Gus Van Sant) -- Van Sant is hit or miss for me. This one was a definite miss as the director trots out more cute boys (he's certainly got a type, doesn't he?) for a banal, talky exercise in miscommunication. *1/2
Tuileries (Coen Brothers) -- Now we're talking. Instantly, we know we're in good hands with a fantastic reveal of Buscemi's unmistakable face. Coens take a simple premise and make it explode with humor and style. Loads of fun. ***1/2
Loin du 16ème (Walter Salles/Daniela Thomas) -- A song sung twice. The difference between the two moments is subtle, but important. A nifty idea, but this did not leave a lasting impression. **1/2
Porte de Choisy (Christopher Doyle) -- I'm not really sure what was going on here, but it was so odd that I almost liked it. Almost. A bald man aids Asian women with their hair care problems and helps them to look like celebrities. I liked the moment of the Buddhist monk taking away his cell phone. **1/2
Bastille (Isabel Coixet) -- Unbearable little film about a cheating husband who recommits to his wife after she reveals new information. Poor use of voiceover and emotional manipulation. *1/2
Place des Victoires (Nobuhiro Suwa) -- Now here's an excellent use of emotional manipulation. Suwa's film is peculiar and yet deeply moving, in no small part due to Binoche's central performance. Loved Dafoe as the Cowboy. Brought me to tears. ****
Tour Eiffel (Sylvain Chomet) -- Brilliant idea. Amour between fat mimes and the ramifications for their love child. Just brilliant. Execution is hilarious and shows a definite sense of style. Unpredictable and zany without becoming tiresome. Good stuff. ***1/2
Parc Monceau (Alfonso Cuarón) -- Major disappointment here. Ludivine Sagnier is utterly wasted here as Cuarón follows a conversation between father and daughter in an unbroken shot down a dimly lit Parisian street. 'Twist' at the end makes you think "that's it?" Cuarón's on autopilot here, but he was probably tired after Children of Men I suppose. *1/2
Quartier des Enfants Rouges (Olivier Assayas) -- Maggie Gyllenhaal plays an actress who is a lot like Maggie Gyllenhaal. She has a flirtatious encounter with her drug dealer and then gets high. When she wants more of the good stuff, he doesn't show up. The point of this film eluded me. **
Place des Fêtes (Oliver Schmitz) -- A man dying in the street has met his paramedic before, but she initially does not remember. As she offers him medical attention, he reminds her and we see their encounter in flashback. Great use of song and irony. Powerful final image. ***
Pigalle (Richard LaGravenese) -- Bob Hoskins and Fanny Ardant get frisky, playing an elaborate game designed to spice up their relationship. The actors are charming, but this seems like rudimentary stuff in comparison to some of the other work on display. I was glad when it was over. **
Quartier de la Madeleine (Vincenzo Natali) -- Well, hello! Natali goes for something completely different and it pays off beautifully. This dark erotic fantasy was most welcome amid all the naturalistic conversation pieces. Creepy, comic and sexy. ***1/2
Père-Lachaise (Wes Craven) -- Wretched, dopey short about a couple having a petty spat near the grave of Oscar Wilde. No style. No point. Craven is outclassed by the rest of the field. *
Faubourg Saint-Denis (Tom Tykwer) -- More than anyone, Tykwer takes us on an extraordinary journey, showing us an entire relationship from the awkward beginning to a critical moment where all seems lost. A beautiful expression of the intensity and irrationality of love. ***1/2
Quartier Latin (Frédéric Auburtin and Gérard Depardieu) -- It took two people to direct this? Seriously. A five minute conversation in a restaurant between Ben Gazarra and Gena Rowlands and you need two directors? The old married couple trade a few barbs, but it's doubtful that you will care. *1/2
14ème Arrondissement (Alexander Payne) -- Payne's central character is a lonely Denver postal worker who has not been in a serious relationship for over a decade. She wanders the city by herself, but ends up finding love anyway. Good use of voiceover and ultimately moving. A nice capper. ***
The project as a whole: Definitely some highs and lows and the piece doesn't really cohere into a tangible statement on love or Paris or love in Paris. But still, it's worth sitting through the low points to be able to appreciate those who rise to the occasion.
[***]
Paris, je t'aime (Various, 2006)
Montmartre (Bruno Podalydès) -- Finding a soulmate is sort of like finding a parking space in Paris. Or something like that. Not terribly memorable, but kinda cute I guess. **1/2
Quais de Seine (Quais de Seine) -- Film as mini-lecture on how Islam offers women self-respect and security. Okey dokey. Good performances from the young actors, but I found this one somewhat off-putting. **
Le Marais (Gus Van Sant) -- Van Sant is hit or miss for me. This one was a definite miss as the director trots out more cute boys (he's certainly got a type, doesn't he?) for a banal, talky exercise in miscommunication. *1/2
Tuileries (Coen Brothers) -- Now we're talking. Instantly, we know we're in good hands with a fantastic reveal of Buscemi's unmistakable face. Coens take a simple premise and make it explode with humor and style. Loads of fun. ***1/2
Loin du 16ème (Walter Salles/Daniela Thomas) -- A song sung twice. The difference between the two moments is subtle, but important. A nifty idea, but this did not leave a lasting impression. **1/2
Porte de Choisy (Christopher Doyle) -- I'm not really sure what was going on here, but it was so odd that I almost liked it. Almost. A bald man aids Asian women with their hair care problems and helps them to look like celebrities. I liked the moment of the Buddhist monk taking away his cell phone. **1/2
Bastille (Isabel Coixet) -- Unbearable little film about a cheating husband who recommits to his wife after she reveals new information. Poor use of voiceover and emotional manipulation. *1/2
Place des Victoires (Nobuhiro Suwa) -- Now here's an excellent use of emotional manipulation. Suwa's film is peculiar and yet deeply moving, in no small part due to Binoche's central performance. Loved Dafoe as the Cowboy. Brought me to tears. ****
Tour Eiffel (Sylvain Chomet) -- Brilliant idea. Amour between fat mimes and the ramifications for their love child. Just brilliant. Execution is hilarious and shows a definite sense of style. Unpredictable and zany without becoming tiresome. Good stuff. ***1/2
Parc Monceau (Alfonso Cuarón) -- Major disappointment here. Ludivine Sagnier is utterly wasted here as Cuarón follows a conversation between father and daughter in an unbroken shot down a dimly lit Parisian street. 'Twist' at the end makes you think "that's it?" Cuarón's on autopilot here, but he was probably tired after Children of Men I suppose. *1/2
Quartier des Enfants Rouges (Olivier Assayas) -- Maggie Gyllenhaal plays an actress who is a lot like Maggie Gyllenhaal. She has a flirtatious encounter with her drug dealer and then gets high. When she wants more of the good stuff, he doesn't show up. The point of this film eluded me. **
Place des Fêtes (Oliver Schmitz) -- A man dying in the street has met his paramedic before, but she initially does not remember. As she offers him medical attention, he reminds her and we see their encounter in flashback. Great use of song and irony. Powerful final image. ***
Pigalle (Richard LaGravenese) -- Bob Hoskins and Fanny Ardant get frisky, playing an elaborate game designed to spice up their relationship. The actors are charming, but this seems like rudimentary stuff in comparison to some of the other work on display. I was glad when it was over. **
Quartier de la Madeleine (Vincenzo Natali) -- Well, hello! Natali goes for something completely different and it pays off beautifully. This dark erotic fantasy was most welcome amid all the naturalistic conversation pieces. Creepy, comic and sexy. ***1/2
Père-Lachaise (Wes Craven) -- Wretched, dopey short about a couple having a petty spat near the grave of Oscar Wilde. No style. No point. Craven is outclassed by the rest of the field. *
Faubourg Saint-Denis (Tom Tykwer) -- More than anyone, Tykwer takes us on an extraordinary journey, showing us an entire relationship from the awkward beginning to a critical moment where all seems lost. A beautiful expression of the intensity and irrationality of love. ***1/2
Quartier Latin (Frédéric Auburtin and Gérard Depardieu) -- It took two people to direct this? Seriously. A five minute conversation in a restaurant between Ben Gazarra and Gena Rowlands and you need two directors? The old married couple trade a few barbs, but it's doubtful that you will care. *1/2
14ème Arrondissement (Alexander Payne) -- Payne's central character is a lonely Denver postal worker who has not been in a serious relationship for over a decade. She wanders the city by herself, but ends up finding love anyway. Good use of voiceover and ultimately moving. A nice capper. ***
The project as a whole: Definitely some highs and lows and the piece doesn't really cohere into a tangible statement on love or Paris or love in Paris. But still, it's worth sitting through the low points to be able to appreciate those who rise to the occasion.
[***]