079 - Lolita

Synopsis: Man's obsession with teenage girl

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Actors: James Mason, Peter Sellers, Shelley Winter, Sue Lyon

Date: 1961

How viewed: Bought on Amazon

Rating: 2/5

David Meyer says:
A serious, cruelly funny, slow British art movie of a Russian novel about the core of the American Experience. 

I say:

For someone who has not read the book or had seen the film (or films) just the word Lolita conjures up visions of old men seducing young girls, or vice versa. So, Kubrick's 1962 film comes as a bit of surprise, as it is not the least bit erotic, leaving everything to the imagination, and is also, in places, surprisingly funny, if you enjoy Peter Sellers hamming it up mercilessly as several characters in a similar vein as in Kubrick's Dr Strangelove, and pick up on the double-entendres (although I'm not sure how many were intended as such!). However, reading the reviews reveal how hampered Kubrick was by the censorship laws of the time. Nevertheless, his version of the story, in which there is no backstory for Humbert Humbert (James Mason as always seems somewhat suave rather than repulsive), Lolita's age is never mentioned, (she's 12 in the novel, is played by Sue Lyon who was 14 but looks at least 16), and extends Quilty's role enormously, rather dilute the story. So, generally pretty disappointing, though I did like his huge station wagon (not a double entendre by the way!). 
   

078 - Vernon, Florida

Synopsis: Documentary about the odd inhabitants of a small town in Florida

Director: Errol Morris

Actors: none

Date: 1981

How viewed: Rented from Lovefilm

Rating: 2/5

David Meyer says:

The director's voice is never heard, no questions are asked, and Morris encourages his subjects to talk on and on. At first it's maddening, then hypnotic, then, as comprehension dawns, inspiring. 

I say:

I think, without the introduction by Nick Broomfield, I would have found this little documentary somewhat strange and extremely boring. However, Nick Broomfield talks about it being groundbreaking in its style, allowing the characters Morris choses to film to ramble on at length, to echo the feelings of emptiness and timelessness of the town, and one needs to understand its place in cinematic history. Nevertheless it is not a barrel of laughs, or hugely engrossing, and I fell asleep several times (but re-watched it in case I missed something exciting - I didn't). The main character is a chap who goes out in the woods shooting turkey, waiting for days listening for their distinctive gobbling call and/or tracking their footprints. He proudly shows his board of turkey trophies - feet and beards!! Elsewhere the local policeman sits in his patrol car waiting to catch speeding drivers, and old men talk about water, and God, how sand grows, and show us their tortoise and possum. Hmmmm. However, I realised how valuable it is to have these non-main-stream films put into context by experts in the field - do you remember Alex Cox's introductions to the films shown on Moviedrome?