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If you live in the DC area and have a chance to see AGUIRRE, WRATH OF GOD at the AFI theatre in Silver Spring this week, dear Lord in Heaven, do. I cannot, cannot stress this enough.
I had no idea until two days ago that this was one of those films that absolutely had had had to be seen on the big screen. For the first ten minutes and the last minute alone, I don't think I can ever totally go back to just a television screen. Mom had never seen it before, whereas I had already considered it my very favorite Herzog/Kinski film. And even still, after seeing in on the big screen, Mom and I were both shaking with awe and chills, the very best kind. God damn, what a great film. Herzog is a poetic genius and Kinski delivers a performance of a lifetime, one that (I don't know if this is intentional or not) reminds me of Richard III.
Please, folks, I beg you, it's only playing till Thursday or Friday. Go to AFI and treat yourself. It must be seen on the big screen.
The day before that, Mom and I saw BLACK SNAKE MOAN, a film we'd been looking forward to for eight months. Let me just say, this was not an easy film to watch. It wasn't as difficult to sit through as, say, SID AND NANCY, but it's definitely a challenging film, just as it's a flawed film. It's most certainly not for everyone, and as such, I'm not going to try to sell it to everyone.
That said... I think this was a damn good film. I say "I think," because I'm still thinking about it even days later; how I felt about it, what the messages were, what it meant, etc. What I can say with confidence is that this was an absolutely amazing acting showcase for the three leads: Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, and--yes--Justin Timberlake.
Sam Jackson, in the character of Lazarus, gives what I think stands as one of the greatest performances in his career. As for Ricci, I kept hearing how he absolutely fought for this role, even though the producers thought she wasn't right. Let me say, I roll my eyes when reviewers say that an actor or actress is "brave" for taking on a role because, say, it requires them to be naked or get raped or wah wah wah. I've been full frontal naked for four minutes in front of an audience, shaking my jigglin' gut and booty to Harry Nilsson's "Coconut," so what-the-fuck-ever, man. That said, Ricci's performance here is absolutely, positively brave. I think it's the best thing she's ever done (although in terms of weighty roles, I'm not sure what the competition is. CURSED?)
And Timberlake... well, Devin on CHUD thinks he was amazing, but Mom and I didn't. But I can say that it was a role that really worked for him, and even when the acting was weak, there was a real earnestness in his acting that actually gave the character more sympathy (his high girly voice also worked very well for the character). Between this and "Dick in a Box," I have more respect for the dude than I ever would have thought I'd have.
I won't recommend this film to anyone specifically, but I think this was one of the first damn fine films I've seen all year and would love to hear what you folks would make of it. That, and oh lord, I need the soundtrack. Like, yesterday.
I had no idea until two days ago that this was one of those films that absolutely had had had to be seen on the big screen. For the first ten minutes and the last minute alone, I don't think I can ever totally go back to just a television screen. Mom had never seen it before, whereas I had already considered it my very favorite Herzog/Kinski film. And even still, after seeing in on the big screen, Mom and I were both shaking with awe and chills, the very best kind. God damn, what a great film. Herzog is a poetic genius and Kinski delivers a performance of a lifetime, one that (I don't know if this is intentional or not) reminds me of Richard III.
Please, folks, I beg you, it's only playing till Thursday or Friday. Go to AFI and treat yourself. It must be seen on the big screen.
The day before that, Mom and I saw BLACK SNAKE MOAN, a film we'd been looking forward to for eight months. Let me just say, this was not an easy film to watch. It wasn't as difficult to sit through as, say, SID AND NANCY, but it's definitely a challenging film, just as it's a flawed film. It's most certainly not for everyone, and as such, I'm not going to try to sell it to everyone.
That said... I think this was a damn good film. I say "I think," because I'm still thinking about it even days later; how I felt about it, what the messages were, what it meant, etc. What I can say with confidence is that this was an absolutely amazing acting showcase for the three leads: Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, and--yes--Justin Timberlake.
Sam Jackson, in the character of Lazarus, gives what I think stands as one of the greatest performances in his career. As for Ricci, I kept hearing how he absolutely fought for this role, even though the producers thought she wasn't right. Let me say, I roll my eyes when reviewers say that an actor or actress is "brave" for taking on a role because, say, it requires them to be naked or get raped or wah wah wah. I've been full frontal naked for four minutes in front of an audience, shaking my jigglin' gut and booty to Harry Nilsson's "Coconut," so what-the-fuck-ever, man. That said, Ricci's performance here is absolutely, positively brave. I think it's the best thing she's ever done (although in terms of weighty roles, I'm not sure what the competition is. CURSED?)
And Timberlake... well, Devin on CHUD thinks he was amazing, but Mom and I didn't. But I can say that it was a role that really worked for him, and even when the acting was weak, there was a real earnestness in his acting that actually gave the character more sympathy (his high girly voice also worked very well for the character). Between this and "Dick in a Box," I have more respect for the dude than I ever would have thought I'd have.
I won't recommend this film to anyone specifically, but I think this was one of the first damn fine films I've seen all year and would love to hear what you folks would make of it. That, and oh lord, I need the soundtrack. Like, yesterday.
