At The Movies: I Recommend/Tell A Friend....

**markydefad** · November 13th, 2002, 06:17 PM

Well, the movie industry is in a pretty sad state these days, IMHO...I usually nod off at most of the movies I see...and those are the ones that come well-reviewed!!! :roll:

So, I'm proposing we use this column to advise fellow-board members of currrent films we've seen and really enjoyed. Now, I realize this is very subjective...one man's treasure is another's trash...BUT, if you feel strongly about a current film...tell us about it.

sfbeary has recently raved about two films that I plan to see:

"Far From Heaven" --an homage to "women's pictures" of the 1950's told in a very modern way. Now, not having seen this film yet...I can't say exactly who would enjoy this film... but, most likely, gay men and straight women would be the target audience. In other words, Quinny save your money.

"Standing In The Shadows Of Motown" --gets released this Friday in certain cities. It's a documentary about the Funk Brothers, the musicians who provided the invaluable music for all the classic Motown recordings. I would think everyone who cares about old R&B music would enjoy this one.

Anthing else out there that you'd recommend? Oh, and if you see either of the 2 recommended films, tell us what you thought or if you had to see Enemaman....I guess we'd better hear your rave or hopefully, your pan. Hey, I never said I was an objective observer. I just know I won't be spending one cent on anything starring that cretin...I'll see it on HBO in a year. That's soon enough for me. :P

**QUINNY** · November 14th, 2002, 03:29 AM

Marky: I feel honoured to be singled out. Glad you're thinking of me. I cry sometimes ya know?

**paul** · November 14th, 2002, 04:27 PM

Hey Marky.
I just heard a review of "Far From Heaven" on NPR's "Fresh Air" by a reviewer from "Slate" magazine. His description was as you said, set in the '50s in Hartford CT. It involves a woman dealing with her husband's closeted homosexuality. His review seemed somewhat favorable considering the lack of 3 dimensionality of people in most films today. I hope the attempt in this film is not a caricature of people from that period.
As to whether I will see it, hmmm, probably not. I will wait for it on cable.
Marky, how do you feel about movies from the 50s in general? They and movies up until 15 years ago seemed in general to have male and female characters with a little more depth. Have you ever seen the film "No Down Payment", circa 1958 or thereabouts?

**JussiK** · November 15th, 2002, 01:04 AM

A film with characters with no depth whatsover is Brian de Palma's FEMME FATALE which I understand is just being released in the United States. The film is a great triumph of pure cinematic style over content, eye candy of relentless dimensions. The plot gives way to a series of technically flawless set pieces where the actors pose against superbly lit and designed backgrounds. There's lots of kinky sex and stylized ultraviolence and it's all set in Paris so cancel all appointments and run to see it.

**markydefad** · November 15th, 2002, 01:33 AM

Ah Jussi....

Brain DePalma's "Femme Fatale" was just released in the U.S. last weekend. The critic's were very mixed on this one. Some loved the Hitchcockian style over substance (Roger Ebert/Manohla Dargis in the LA Times), others quibbled but enjoyed it (Leonard Maltin) others HATED it(that Joyce Kulhawik chick for one--BUT she thought Enemaman's flick was a masterpiece--so **** HER!!!).

Some thought Rebecca Romijn-Stamos was totally inexpressive as an actress although she has a killer bod (Uma Thurman was slated to do this part but bowed out when she found out she was preggers). Others said she and Antonio Banderas were gorgeous and there was so little dialogue that their wooden performances didn't matter.

I have loved DePalma in the past ("Dressed to Kill" & "Carrie", in particular)...but sometimes I don't get the overwrought style, scenery-chewing or else strangely flat performances and hyper-amped tone of his films. I still don't understand what Pauline Kael went orgasmic about in "The Fury". :roll:

Wonder if this will last in the theaters long enough for me to catch it???

**markydefad** · November 18th, 2002, 03:06 AM

Well. I finally made it to see "Standing In The Shadows of Motown" this evening and I had a great time. I think most of you would enjoy this film. I don't think it's a great documentary, but it's very entertaining. I wanted more insights from the actual performers who sang these songs (only Martha Reeves is interviewed) and I felt the songwriters were given short shrift--I mean these were GREAT SONGS to begin with. The musicians made them GREAT RECORDS--but it's a privilege to be working with a Holland-Dozier-Holland or Ashford & Simpson composition--classic material that has stood the test of time. These guys added those hooks and basslines and drumbeats that will always live on in our memories and never got any recognition UNTIL they were actually credited on Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" LP and then one year later Motown abruptly closed up shop in Detroit and moved to Hollywood to guide the career of Miss Ross ("Lady Sings The Blues" was in production). Some guys followed, others stayed in Detroit...BUT it was never the same.

The film skirts the issue of how Berry Gordy screwed these guys royally; I would guess in order to secure the songrights to all the material. Hey without the songs there is really no movie. You gotta hear the music to understand their contributions.

I don't wanna give too much away.... I'll just say that contemporary performers sing the classic songs at a concert that was filmed and for the most part, do a very credible job. I would have loved to hear Levi Stubbs singing "Reach out- I'll Be There" however. Miss Ross is NEVER mentioned by name...she's seen in a couple clips--one from a TV spot ("Shindig"?, maybe) and another time there she is in old archival material at a recording session with the focus on one of the musicians, instead of the diva. :roll:

Other observations: Dennis Coffey is a WHITE dude!!! (I always figured he was a brutha-- "Scorpio" and all that stuff); Chaka Khan's hair is the color of blueberry pie and, I have to admit, I got a lump in the throat and almost teared up a few times as the opening sections of certain songs were performed. Oh, the soundtrack of my life. Indeed. :D