012 - The Duellists

Synopsis: In the early 19th century, over 15 years, 2 Napoleonic soldiers duel, and duel, and duel

Director: Ridley Scott

Actors: Harvey Keitel, Keith Carradine

Date: 1977

How viewed: Already in my DVD collection

Rating: 5/5

David Meyer says:

.. the duels themselves are glamorous, harrowing and way cool. They function as a violent equivalent of music videos, short self-contained explosions of creative energy.. 

I say:

Based on a Joseph Conrad novel (from an allegedly true story), this is Ridley Scott's (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator, Thelma and Louise even) first feature film after directing 100's of commercials. It shouldn't work - it comes on like dozens of (beautifully staged) car commercials, the 2 leads speak with American accents, and the rest of the cast are English, and they're all supposed to be French, and the there's not much of a story - but it does!! I last watched this perhaps 20 years ago and thought it was good, watching it last night, I revised my opinion - I thought it was fantastic! For some reason I can't stand Harvey Keitel, I think I must have seen in him in a dodgy film years ago, but I can't remember what, and it's odd that that perfectly reflects the film: 2 lieutenants in the Hussars in 1800 have a minor falling out, and duel, and continue to duel on numerous occasions over the next 15 years when they happen to meet and when they are both of the same rank - captain, major, general, etc. They duel with rapiers, with sabres, on horseback, and ultimately with pistols, they duel at dawn, they duel on one occasion to a standstill, they injure one another, but they keep coming back - even though the cause of their argument becomes blurred, but still they refuse to apologise (interestingly I played some of the Director's commentary on the DVD and Scott said it was an allegory for war - from minor incidents huge conflicts ensue). It's all about honour, in battle they fight side by side, but when the war's over they continue to duel, but they do act honourably, even interrupting one duel as one protagonist needs to sneeze! So, fantastic settings (mainly rural France, mist, fog, dappled sunlight, big skies), and fantastic support cast (Robert Stephens, Tom Conti, Alun Armstrong, Liz Smith, Albert Finney, Edward Fox, Diana Quick, Meg Wynn Owen), and the uniforms, military conduct and fencing techniques all seem totally authentic, so all in all a fantastic film. 

011 - The Long Goodbye

Synopsis: LA private investigator Philip Marlowe gets embroiled in his friends murder and disappearance

Director: Robert Altman

Actors: Elliott Gould, NIna van Pallandt, Sterling Hayden 

Date: 1973

How viewed: Already in my DVD collection

Rating: 3/5

David Meyer says:

A touching, funny, suspenseful parody of detective movies that may be the best detective movie ever made.

I say:

Trying to follow in Humphrey Bogart's footsteps is impossible, and the film doesn't try to do that, but it didn't seem to work for me on any level - it wasn't much of a detective story (the story didn't hang together at all), it wasn't that funny, and it wasn't obviously a parody. I liked: the brilliant ginger cat in the first scene, a number of scenes (especially one between Gould and Sterling Hayden at the beach) which seemed very natural and improvised, the fact that the theme tune cropped up everywhere (in a jazz bar, on the radio, being hummed by the bad guy, as the supermarket musak, by a Mariachi band at a Mexican funeral, etc), and there were good running themes about ties and about dogs. I normally like Elliott Gould, but here I was irritated by his dourness, his mumbling to himself, and the number of cigarettes he smokes - yes, yes, I know it's an act, but it was still irritating. I also usually like Robert Altman, but this wasn't one of his enesmble pieces (Nashville, The Player, etc). The blonde was played by NIna van Pallandt (previously one half of the singing duo Nina and Frederick) - strange choice - she only seems to have acted in Altman films. Think I'll stick to Bogart's Marlowe...

010 - Suture

Synopsis: Murder, identity switch, amnesia, dreams, phew!!

Directors: Scott McGehee, David Siegel

Actors: Dennis Haysbert, Mel Harris

Date: 1995

How viewed: Bought, Amazon, £7.95

Rating: 5/5

David Meyer says:

It's a murder mystery, a love story, an existential paradigm on the essential obscurity of self and a nasty lesson on assumptions of racial identity

I say:

This is more like it - this is why I want to watch all these films - to find the odd undiscovered gem. The DVD is not available in the UK, but I bought a copy from Amazon (an NTSC Region 0 (all regions) DVD from New Zealand) which was fine. This film is shot in black and white and indeed is all about black and white. The story is relatively simple - Vincent is under suspicion of killing his father, so plans to kill his identical half-brother Clay and make his escape with everyone assuming that the dead body will be identified as him (Vincent). But the plan backfires, and Clay survives, but with amnesia. Everyone assumes he is Vincent, but slowly he starts to regain his memory, and eventually there is the inevitable showdown. OK so far?? The twist is that Vincent is white, and Clay is black, but no one (not even they) seem to notice. So there's a real mix of stuff going on here - it's a film noir, it's very arty, the plot is worthy of Hitchcock, the dream sequences are Freudian, and it addresses all sorts of questions about race, and also it's just weird! I found a Time Out review which said: 'This first feature is a witty, imaginative noir thriller exploring questions of identity, memory, and the duality of mind and body. In this last respect, the seemingly perverse decision to have Vincent and Clay played, respectively, by a white and a black actor makes perfect sense, complementing the balanced ironies and structural antitheses of the narrative. Most impressive.' I agree, most impressive!!

009 - Out of the Blue

Synopsis: Teenager rebelling from her dysfunctional parents 

Directors: Dennis Hopper

Actors: Dennis Hopper, Linda Manz, Sharon Farrell, Raymond Burr

Date: 1980

How viewed: Lovefilm watch online

Rating: 3/5

David Meyer says:

It's a scorching portrait of dysfunctional family life, love and infidelity. Extremely smart, instinctive and visceral film-making. 

I say:
This film depicts a teenagers rebellion against the things she sees in her parents and their friends - drink, drugs, infidelity - and she escapes into punk music (and oddly, Elvis). I wasn't convinced by Ceebee (Manz) - her aggression didn't feel real, she seemed too nice a lot of the time.  It certainly seemed a far cry from the extremes of today's youth! Hopper is always worth the entrance fee (does he play drugged/drunk well, or is that how he actually was?), and Raymond Burr was a calm centre of the storm.  I always wonder what message a film is trying to tell us - this one probably was: 'try to avoid having Dennis Hopper as your Dad'!

008 - Jimi Hendrix

Synopsis: Documentary about Jimi Hendrix

Directors: Joe Boyd, John Head, Gary Weiss

Date: 1973

How viewed: Bought, Head, Leamington Spa (3 DVDs for £10)

Rating: 4/5

David Meyer says:

Rendered extraordinary by carefully chosen concert footage and the prescience of its interview subjects. PLay it loud.

I say:

Essentially just concert footage intercut with talking heads, and whilst the likes of Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, and Pete Townsend spell out the major influence Hendrix had on music, the interviews with his father, various friends and girlfriends, really fill in the background of a shy, self-conscious guy who ultimately appeared to be pressured by all around him. Interesting stuff about his years struggling to make a name for himself, playing in backing bands for the likes of the Isley Brothers, the interview with Little Richard is fantastic, and of course there's some searing music (check out his version of Johnny B Goode). All in all an impressive film about an extraordinary guitar player, and as David Meyer says 'Play it loud'!   

007 - Black Narcissus

Synopsis: A group of nuns, setting up a new nunnery in the Himalayas have their faith tested

Directors: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger

Actors: Deborah Kerr, David Farrar, Kathleen Byron

Date: 1946

How viewed: Bought, Amazon £1.75

Rating: 3/5

David Meyer says:

One of the all time greats. A psychological drama with a romantic subplot. If this book induces you to rent only one film .. let it be Black Narcissus.

I say:

Not sure what to say about this film. I found it somewhat stilted, though it was of course made back in 1946, and Pinewood Studios fails to convey a convincing India! However, maybe you need to see beyond that, and  I am aware that the film addresses questions of duty and direction, but what is it that tests the nuns faith - the position of the nunnery high in the Himalayas, the local people and their traditions, the local English colonial authority, or all of the above? Certainly the place seems to have a disturbing effect, the line I liked best was from one of the Sisters (Flora Robson) who was guilty of planting flowers instead of vegetables, looked out into the valley and said 'I think you can see too far'. By the way Black Narcissus is the scent the local chief wears (sent from the Army and Navy Store).

006 - My Darling Clementine

Synopsis: Wyatt Earp tames the town of Tombstone, culminating in the gunfight at the OK Corral

Director: John Ford

Actors: Henry Fonda, Victor Mature, Walter Brennan

Date: 1946

How viewed: Bought, Amazon £3.69

Rating: 3/5

David Meyer says:

A John Ford Western of mood, character, and cinematography. 'Clementine' is startlingly modern in its quiet contemplation, dark undercurrents, and unequivocal thematic material. 

I say:

I hadn't watched a real Western in decades. let alone one in black and white (but it's interesting how you quickly you adapt, and there seems to be just as much 'colour' in black and white!) This started out feeling like an episode of Rawhide, but, along with all the Western cliches, there were some nice touches, a slow pace (almost no plot in the middle of the film), scenes such as Fonda rocking back on his chair on the porch, fantastic scenery (Monument Valley - see picture), the church dance, and the skies (which even in black and white are spectacular), which gave it a different feel to the usual cowboys and indians scenario. I wasn't convinced by Doc Holliday's TB (Victor Mature looked far too healthy!) and the title neither reflected the song or the plot. Probably wouldn't rush out to see more Westerns of this era, but equally, wouldn't avoid them. 

005 - The Hit

Synopsis: Kidnap goes slowly pear-shaped

Director: Stephen Frears

Actors: Terence Stamp, John Hurt, Tim Roth

Date: 1984

How viewed: Lovefilm Watch Online

Rating: 4/5

David Meyer says:

The thrills are in the acting, the hilarious arguments, and the constant shifting tensions between the men. 

I say:

Tremendous! You've seen all the component parts before - kidnap plans slowly unwind,  the evolving interpersonal dynamics as the kidnap victim tries to set the kidnappers against each other, and the knowledge that somehow the kidnappers will get their comeuppance, but this is done with real style - the Spanish scenery is fantastic (at times the film feels like a Western set in the Midwest prairies), there are some wonderful set-pieces, John Hurt is perfect, Tim Roth is typically punk, the dialogue is sparse and at times (when Stamp talks about death), almost zen like, and the scenes with the Spanish police are cleverly done. The only reasons for it not getting 5/5 were the Eric Clapton ttitle music (which is only played for the first 2 minutes - the rest of the music is appropriately Spanish), the opening scenes of the trial in London which feel almost unnecessary, and whilst Stamp (as the super-grass kidnap victim) looks fantastic, let's face it, he just can't act!

004 - Badlands

Synopsis: Alienation, love and murder in 1950's midwest

Director: Terrence Malick

Actors: Martin Sheen, Sissy Spacek

Date: 1974

How viewed: Already in my DVD collection

Rating: 3/5

David Meyer says:

[a study of] the loneliness of the American frontier experience. Wide-screen deep-focus panoramas of magnificent open country that should represent freedom, but instead inspires only dread.  

I say:

I expected more of this film, the scenery was indeed magnificent, but Sheen was too nice, the background plinky-plonky music (Carl Orff??) was distracting (surely 1950's American could have provided a great soundtrack), and I wasn't convinced by the running commentary - without it the sparse dialogue would have echoed the wide open prairies. 

003 - A Boy and his Dog

Synopsis: adventures of a boy and his talking dog in a post-apocalyptic America

Director: L Q Jones

Actors: Don Johnson, Jason Robarts

Date: 1975

How viewed: Lovefilm Watch Online

Rating: 2/5

David Meyer says:

A straightforward, funny and nasty futuristic tale ... low budget, high talent, and constant, deliberate self-referential wit ... smart, cheap trash

I say:

It's difficult staying with this, but almost worth the struggle - the fact that the boy (Don Johnson, well before Miami Vice!) can communicate telepathically with his much wiser dog is difficult to get your head round, but you eventually warm to it and to the boy and dog, they're not as weird as most of the other folk! Somewhat reminiscent of a lot of other films, but it may be (as this came out in 1975) that this came first! Might have worked better with almost no dialogue, just can't understand the point of that damed talking dog. Got a good ending though!

002 - Tapeheads

Synopsis: 2 buddies make hit music videos and re-launch the careers of the old guys who inspired them

Director: Bill Fishman

Actors: Tim Robbins, John Cusack

Date: 1988

How viewed: iplayer (shown on BBC2 12:50am 31st Jul 2011)

Rating: 3/5

David Meyer says:

A wild and intermittently hilarious conglomeration of music industry in-jokes, hip references and subtle physical humour..

I say:
It comes on like a cheap pilot for 'The Blues Brothers' (except that it was released 8 years later), with 2 young guys making successful music videos and working to re-launch the careers of some old singers, getting involved with money, guns and blackmail, and finishing up with a concert, but it 's so 80's...  However, any film with John Cusack and Tim Robbins (even their first film) can't be all bad, and especially if you add in cult actors like Clu Gallagher, Doug McClure and Connie Stevens, and cult artists like Junior Walker, Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave) and Jello Biafra, and probably lots more folk I didn't recognise. And there are a several good moments, Cusack and Robbins dancing on the roof, and them saying to Walker and Moore 'If it wasn't for your influence, we'd know nothing about soul - we'd be family men, working for multi-nationals, earning 6-figure sums and driving LeBarons'. Hmmm, I empathise with that...