Idiocracy - 2006 - USA

Idiocracy - 2006 - 5/10 

 
The future ain’t what it’s cracked up to be.  Pessimists, it might / could be worse!
Volunteers for cryo-sleep awaken 500 years into future dystopia.
A world where intelligent couples stopped breeding for generations.
While the LCD multiplied and stupidified.
Resulting in a world where electrolytes rule!
Well conceived satire lacks bite, playing the future for laughs, rather than ripping the jugular.

John Waters: This Filthy World - 2006 - USA

John Waters: This Filthy World - 2006 - 7/10 

 
Your mileage may vary.  I had seen Waters doing a live variation of this show in 2004.
Only a handful of what I recalled remained here.  Apparently, he frequently modifies this one-man show.
For fans, this is wonderful stuff, if a little dated (shock ain’t what it was).
Childhood, Baltimore, moviemaking, insane incidents, sexual experiences, actors.
I do remember, during the live show, him telling how buddies used to wear tennis shoes in the large Baltimore department store, let them get ripped up on the escalator, then receive brand new replacements!

Who Killed The Electric Car? - 2006 - USA

Who Killed The Electric Car? - 2006 - 7/10 

 
Dated, and somewhat less irritating to watch now.
GM released the first EV in the mid-nineties.  For lease only.
Pressures were immediately brought to bear by the oil industry and politicians.
Multiple talking heads, as well as passionate “owners” who could only lease.
The mass recall would set the US auto industry back decades.
China would catch up and surpass.  Better and cheaper, unavailable in the US of A.

Black Sheep - 2006 - New Zealand

Black Sheep - 2006 - 6/10

 
Science, so overrated. Messing with sheep DNA, what could go wrong?
Uh, they become carnivorous?  And zombie like, in that infectious.
Plus, there’s a ka-zilion of them in New Zealand.
Humans fare poorly.  Well, we’re guilty of so much anyway.
One-joke horror comedy does OK for awhile.
Loses steam along with overall freshness.

Shiny, Shiny Bright New Hole In My Heart - 2006 - UK

Shiny, Shiny Bright New Hole In My Heart - 2006 - 6/10

 
Nathalie is a professional shopping advisor.
Her taste is impeccable; her clients are beyond affluent.
Envy, perhaps the contagion of being amidst such luxury, begin a slow grip.
Husband Jeremy is a doctor, so the credit card has a high limit.
Until spending brings more joy than mere ownership.
“Shopping addiction” which to me is another manifestation of the big empty.
Never enough, no matter how much, never enough.  Their souls are empty.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3369652

The Prestige - 2006 - UK

The Prestige - 2006 - 8/10  

 
A pair of London magicians continuously raise the stakes to outdo each other.
Rivalry escalated into theft and sabotage, bitterness and winner-take-all mentality.
Styles are showmanship versus technical savvy.
Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale inspired casting at the feuding pair.
David Bowie unforgettable in surprise role.
Film rewards numerous watches, revealing more themes, subtexts, symbolism.
Pledge, turn, prestige – wonderfully done.

OSS 117: Cairo, Nest Of Spies - 2006 - France

OSS 117: Cairo, Nest Of Spies - 2006 - 7/10
AKA - OSS 117 : Le Caire, nid d'espions

 
Exploits of agent most extraordinaire, Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath.
Dispatched to Cairo following the disappearance of fellow agent, he immediately embroiled in mystery.
Chief among many, is how the books for the chicken house are so disorganized.
Yes, this ain’t James Bond.  Closer to Maxwell Smart.
Set in the 50’s, care has been taken to look authentic, from wardrobes to backgrounds.
Stunts and action are surprisingly first rate, and the comedy is shrewd and loving.
OSS 117 is skilled, resourceful, clueless.  Also knows how to appreciate a casual catfight.
Great for fans of spy flicks.

Silk - 2006 - Taiwan

Silk - 2006 - 6/10
AKA - Gui Si // 詭絲

 
The investigator had been to New Zealand, Zimbabwe, London.
In Taipei, however, he strikes paydirt.  Or rather, the ghost strikes him – dead.
Now, the small team tries to understand why the spirit lingers.
Why does it now dissipate?  Why does it remain strong?  And malevolent?
The team’s research is actually anti-gravity, which leads into death and immortality.
Silk is the thread that connects this life with the afterlife, or the underlife.
Ingenious story, seldom dull, spilling ideas all over.
English subs = https://subsource.net/subtitle/silk-2006/english/10075064

The Life Of Reilly - 2006 - USA

The Life Of Reilly - 2006 - 7/10

 
As in Charles Nelson Reilly, comedian, Tony award winner, omnipresent TV guest.
One man play showcasing his careening life.
An overbearing mother, a miraculous survival from a historic circus fire.
Being theatre coached under the legendary Uta Hagen.
There is a moment when Reilly reads the list of his fellow classmates.  Staggering.
This came from his show he gave across campuses for five years, this from the final two.
Perhaps less well known today, save for his Jose Chung (X-Files and Millennium).

Bra Boys - 2006 - Australia

Bra Boys - 2006 - 6/10

 
Written, directed and produced by Sunny Abberton, one of three brothers profiled in this documentary.
Filmed around Maroubra Beach, part of Sydney, but not the desirable neighborhood.
Story pleads the case that the Boys aren’t gang members, but a community tribe.
Gorgeous surf sequences interspersed with courtroom appearances and street violence.
Predates the Biarritz Surf Gang (2017) which likewise profiled waves and mayhem.
Worthwhile for those into surf porn, but don’t be fooled by the smile.

Angels Without Wings - 2006 - Japan

Angels Without Wings - 2006 - 6/10
AKA - Tsubasa no Oreta Tenshitachi // 翼の折れた天使たち

 
Late night J-dorama follows four different girls (one per episode) who have gotten lost in Tokyo.
One works as an escort so she can buy expensive fashions.  Another makes adult films.
One works a phone sex line, another is lucky with gambling, unlucky in love.
Each receive unexpected assistance, guidance, and there is something of a closing moral.
I imagine most of the females are idols, trying to break into film.
Watchable, neither cloying nor preachy.  Good stories for those about to fledge.
English subtitles = https://subscene.cam/subtitle/3225492

Disappearing London - 2006 - UK

Disappearing London - 2006 - 6/10

 
Hosted by Suggs (frontman of Madness), this explores ordinary places, now slipping away.
The dogtracks, haberdasher, custom shoes.  The umbrella store, working class cafe.
The tram, bakery, the lido, the tobacco shop, the rivermen….
Suggs is charming throughout, never bemoaning, never complaining.
Many of these places are delightful reminders, yet Time and Progress steamrolls all in its path.
These episodes, I believe, are available on YouTube.  Two seasons.

Life On Mars - 2006 - UK

Life On Mars - 2006 - 7/10

 
Innovative, influential series that launched numerous imitators.
DCI Sam Tyler, struck by a speeding car, reawakens not in 2003, but 1973.
He is now DI Tyler, transfer from Hyde, and policing in 1973 Manchester is a different animal.
Violence, graft, language riddled with swearing, pervasive sexism, racism, intolerance, a sunken dream.
He is the proverbial square peg, admired and distrusted, respected and resented.
Sparrings with DCI Gene Hunt range from harrowing to excruciatingly funny.
The “look” is terrific:  clothes, cars, music.  Nothing elaborate, just enough to evoke the 70’s.
S01 funny and poignant, S02 darker and provocative.  The conclusion, nailed it!
If you decide to view, choose wisely.  Episodes run an hour.  If less, beware cuts.

Rainbow Song - 2006 - Japan

Rainbow Song - 2006 - 7/10
AKA - Niji no Megami // 虹の女神

 
You don’t want to cross that line, understand?
You’re best friends, compadres, and if you attempt romance, you’ll destroy what you have.
Kishida was actually stalking another girl when his path crosses Aio’s.
Kishida is a bit aimless, head in the clouds, disorganized.
Aio is Type-A.  Motivated, focused, goal driven, a budding filmmaker.
You root for the couple, yet early on understand how doomed they are.
Haunting film of missed opportunities, has an equally memorable film within a film.
For those who “let someone get away”.

Slither - 2006 - USA

Slither - 2006 - 6/10

 
Campy alien invasion yarn that mines Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, Night Of The Living Dead, Alien, and too many other films to reference.
Meteor lands in woods outside small Southern town (filmed in Canada), except said meteor is not empty.
In a burg stuffed with rednecks and mush mouths, the “invader” picks the first curious human.
From then on, the campaign of conquest and expand launches.
Earth is doomed!
Dialogue runs savage funny, insensitive, crude.  Political correctness monitors - run!
Gore - slime - children in danger (ain’t no marines in this, either) - not enough nudity - orifice seeking slug-like invaders - and unforgettable scenes of a 'bout to bust mommy and tentacle sex.
Would rank this a point higher, except the jokes and invention flagged near the finish.

The Pervert’s Guide To Cinema - 2006 - UK

The Pervert’s Guide To Cinema - 2006 - 7/10

 
Slovenian philosopher, psychoanalyst Slavoj Žižek gives three lectures which orbit Film Appreciation 101.
Freudian analysis, obsessions, death, desire, phallus / vagina (fear - envy - worship), all probed.
Scenes from a diverse array of films are shown, followed by comments.
Žižek frequently inserts himself into scenes, exaggerating or undercutting concepts of reality or suspension of disbelief.
Mainstream studio fare as well as European arthouse used as examples:
Hitchcock - Lynch - Chaplin - Wachowski - Kubrick - Coppola
Tarkovsky - Haneke - Von Trier - Kieślowski - Eisenstein - Bergman
Observations and conclusions are, by turn, insightful, provocative, wrong-headed.
Those with a healthy resume of arthouse titles in their “seen that” list may be better able to agree with some of his theories, or hurl a sock at the screen.
For novices or aficionados, Žižek is entertaining and enthusiastic throughout.

Eleventh Hour (UK) - 2006 - UK

Eleventh Hour (UK) - 2006 - 6/10

 
Four part series stars Patrick Stewart as Ian Hood, celebrated scientist working with Home Office, to solve crimes, outbreaks and other disasters.  Assigned to protect his is a female agent from Special Branch.
Stories involve cloning, Plague germs, contamination.
The female agent is shamefully written as a liability, more of a Doctor Who companion, asking questions, barely capable of protecting her charge.
Studios often cast one character as an imbecile to make another appear superior.  Feeble writing.
Worth catching for Stewart, who is not too over the top, but if you desire more  ...

The Namesake - 2006 - USA

The Namesake - 2006 - 7/10

 
Young Gogol and father out on the beach.
Named after his father’s favorite author, he is born in the USA, but maintains Bengali roots.
Not so much a coming of age tale, instead showing his relations with family and girlfriends.
The latter are a series of cultural misunderstandings, and the lure of the old flame.
Leisurely paced film should resonate with all immigrants, from whatever nation.
Sidetrips to Delhi beautifully shot, whereas New York seems in eternal winter.

The Woman With The Hungry Eyes - 2006 - USA

The Woman With The Hungry Eyes - 2006 - 6/10

 
Overcooked documentary of Theda Bara, the original Vamp.
Hers is old fashioned, out-of-date by the 20's, dell’‘arte acting.  Highly melodramatic.
Alas, much of this has the feel of a padded homework assignment.
Modern actors recreate scenarios, and amateurish animation surfaces from time to time.
Out of place, a newsreel crawls across the screen bottom frequently.  Strange.
That said, this is perhaps the best documentary we shall ever see on Ms Bara.
Better, this doc has clips from her few, very few, surviving movies, and loads of stills.
The bulk of Bara’s films were destroyed in a 1937 fire at the Fox warehouse.
Much as I am kicking this, this doc is a must for Silent film fans!

Wild Tales - 2006 - Spain

Wild Tales - 2006 - 6/10
AKA - Relatos Salvajes

 
From Spain and Argentina, six films of vengeance or conflict.
Films vary considerably in quality and enjoyment, and the above is an overall score.  Anthology front loaded with the best and funniest in the first half.
The opening flight cabin sequence is brilliant and laugh out loud as it develops.
The next one about a loan shark, a barely open diner, and rat poison was good.
Then two drivers dueling along a lonely stretch of highway.  Great fun.

 
Next three less savage, with little to no humor.
Angry man vs a tow truck company.
Hit n run driver and a dead mother and infant.
Wedding reception meltdown.

First three - Yes!
Last three - You have been warned.