The Age Of Gold - 1930 - France

The Age Of Gold - 1930 - 5/10 
AKA - L’Age d’Or

 
A political / religious procession is interrupted by a couple spawning in the mud.
They are forcibly separated, but Fate has seemingly entwined their destinies.
Taboo breaking “comedy” from Buñuel and Dali has scandalous scenes (tame today).
During an outdoor party, lust triumphs.
Satire mocking bourgeois conventions still has an edge.

The Christophers - 2025 - UK

The Christophers - 2025 - 7/10

 
Lori accepts the position of assistant to the once-great Julian Sklar.
Actually, it is his estranged children who want to her complete a series of unfinished paintings.
Once he dies, and he is elderly and dying, they intend to cash in.
Old and embittered, Sklar may be, yet he is no fool.
He sees and grasps the game, while he and Lori engage.
Keen edged dialogue, thrust-parry-relax.  Will thrill theatre fans.

Peter Hujar’s Day - 2025 - USA

Peter Hujar’s Day - 2025 - 7/10

 
Taken from the interview transcript between photographer Hujar and writer Rosenkrantz.
She was planning a project akin to “what artists do all day.”
Here, Hujar reflects on his day.  A shoot with Ginsberg, chatting with other photographers, writers.
Commercial jobs, if he could land them, especially if they paid.
Most of this occurs in an apartment, or a few rooftop shots.
Enthralling throughout, although there is plenty of name-dropping amidst a mid-70’s New York.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3369820

Berthe Morisot - 2012 - France

Berthe Morisot - 2012 - 6/10

 
Biopic of the French Impressionist painter.
Family life, especially with sister Edma, friendship with Manet, inclusion with the Impressionists.
Narrative drops one in cold, and I had trouble differentiating the sisters at first.
Afterward, I researched Morisot and gathered the broad strokes are fairly accurate.
Her being included among the first Impressionist Exhibition is barely touched, yet was a staggering honor.

Nectar - 2014 - France

Nectar - 2014 - 6/10

 
Attendants stimulate the queen, who exudes honey, or nectar.
Which is collected, stored, eventually making its way to the outside humankind hive.
Health of depends on the queen, otherwise the community perishes.
Arthouse allegory with an evocative sound field (should be boosted substantially).
Mirroring the cityscape with the honeycomb subtly done.

Tish - 2023 - UK

Tish - 2023 - 7/10

 
Excellent biography of the working class, Newcastle photographer, Tish Murtha.
Presented by daughter Elle, who has really done her homework.
Time and again, in interviews, she pulls out photos and items that charge the conversation.
From college courses and mentors, to art school, to acclaim.
Nor does this gloss over her obstinacy, her refusal to “make nice” and take mundane commissions.
Her anti-establishment stance empowers her work, and led to later challenges.
Fantastic photos throughout.  Slideshow = https://tishmurtha.co.uk/
English subtitles = https://subsource.net/subtitle/tish-2023/english/10078128

Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters - 1985 - USA

Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters - 1985 - 8/10

 
Highly stylized film of the celebrated writer and patriot.
Childhood flashbacks mix with scenes of his final day, and failed coup.
Then there are scenes from several works: “The Temple Of The Golden Pavilion”, “Kyoko’s House” and “Runaway Horses”.
Familiarity with Mishima’s life and works is not essential as you will be spellbound by visuals.

 
Ken Ogata is a bit beefy for the role, but he is compelling and one soon forgets the physical disparity.
This is still something of a scandal in Japan.
I met director Paul Schrader one time and asked questions about this film.  He is very proud of it.
I was in my teens when Mishima’s death made global headlines; I recall being quite shocked.

The Man Behind The Masquerade - 2009 - UK

The Man Behind The Masquerade - 2009 - 6/10

 
Oh, what a phenomenon this was!
The book that became a runaway bestseller, inspiring legions of treasure hunters.
Americans speculated, Japanese considered the philosophy, while Brits dug.
Kit Williams, genial, publicity-shy artist, is profiled in this documentary.
From childhood memories, to unwanted fame, to the 300+ works he has done following “Masquerade”.
His later output is highly sensual and erotic, using locals from his Gloucester area as models.
I had always heard one story of the “discovery” of the golden hare.  This corrected my misconception.
Comment: I had asked permission from the artist to include one of his later works as a visual.
He declined.

English subs = https://subscene.cam/subtitle/3349452

Murders In Pont-Aven - 2022 - France

Murders In Pont-Aven - 2022 - 6/10  
AKA - Meurtres à Pont-Aven

 
The first death was a convicted art forger, dating the gallery owner.
Right after the exhibition of Émile Blot, featuring newly discovered paintings.
The local gendarme will be assisted, as always, by an outsider.
Who, it turns out, had investigated the death of the gendarme’s mother years earlier.
French mystery has art references, an intriguing backstory, side stories, and NO romance,
Better than the cutesy “will they, won’t they” biscuits.

Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams - 1990 - Japan

Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams - 1990 - 7/10
AKA - Yume  // 夢

 
Eight short films by Kurosawa.  Gorgeous to look at, some are better than others.
A young boy disobeys his mother and is banished until repentance.
“The Blizzard” is a riff on the legend of the Snow Ghost.
The futility of war appears in “The Tunnel”, another ghost tale.
For Van Gogh fans, “Crows” is a delightful tale, as an observer wanders into a series of paintings.
My favorite, and the only episode I revisit often is the “Village Of The Watermills.
Serene meditation on simplicity and harmony, shunning modern busyness.

Sick Of Myself - 2022 - Norway

Sick Of Myself - 2022 - 7/10
AKA - Syk Pike

 
Self-preening in the age of narcissism.
Some bleat that “look at me” is unique to our current era.  Au contraire.
Narcissists are older than Gyges.  Signe and boyfriend Thomas continue an endless line.
Thomas is an up-and-coming hot artist, whose “sculptures” are from stolen items.
Signe is an attention wannabee.  She embellishes, deceives, fabricates.
Not enough to sustain interest, however, as she discovers.
Until she physically disfigures herself, then lying that hers is a rare disease.
My anger at these social failures soon gave way to laugh out laughter.
Very black comedy about one of the countless societal diseases afflicting our species.

Let The Corpses Tan - 2017 - Belgium

Let The Corpses Tan - 2017 - 7/10
AKA - Laissez Bronzer les Cadavres

 
The heist goes off flawlessly.
Armored truck shipment of gold bullion.  No survivors, no witnesses.
A hitch-hiking family is given a ride, however.
By chance, they are planning to visit where the robbers are hiding.
Suspicions are already mounting when cops arrive.

 
Arthouse crime thriller, drenched in bold colors, steeped in blood and sweat, chopped into visual fragments.
A surrealistic dream / nightmarish vibe pervades the film.
Viewers must sort through memories, baggage, delusion, hallucination.
In the heat, everything, everyone, reduces to primal essence.
Last film to date from Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani.

The Color Of Pomegranates - 1969 - Arrmenia

The Color Of Pomegranates - 1969 - 8/10
AKA - Sayat Nova

 
Biography of Armenian poet, Sayat Nova, told primarily through images.
Dialogue is extremely spare in this, compensated with extraordinary visuals.
First time viewers may be adrift (I was the first time), if they know nothing about the artist or period.
In essence, the poet’s life, experiences and death are displayed in arresting chapters.

 
While you can feast on one composition after another, the experience remains a hypnotic mystery.
A commentary (such as on Criterion) is essential for understanding.
Second Sight (UK) offers alternative commentaries, as well as a subtitled commentary.

Red - 2018 - UK

Red - 2018 - 7/10

 
Painter Mark Rothko takes on an assistant, an employee.
A new commission awaits:  a series of murals for the Four Seasons Restaurant inside the Seagram Building.
Rothko recollects gone contemporaries (Jackson Pollock), the functions of Art, the journey of an Artist.
His is Modern art, Abstract, and his resentment toward rising Pop Art is palpable.
Heady theatre, exploring numerous ideas.
Real tour de force by Alfred Molina, Alfred Enoch as earnest assistance is fine.

Copenhagen Cowboy - 2022 - Denmark

Copenhagen Cowboy - 2022 - 6/10

 
Three unconnected stories of Miu drifting through the Danish underworld.
At one point, Miu is referred to as a “lucky coin”.
Like the coin, she shows two sides.  Good luck or misfortune.
Fans of Nicolas Winding Refn (I’m grudgingly one) will declare this awash in style.
Detractors (on the fence here) will argue Refn is mired in stall.
Lengthy takes serve to permit viewers to feast on visuals, as well as act as padding the time.
Refn’s eye, which to me most resembles Cattet & Forzani, is his strength.
His storytelling, or lack of, is his prime weakness,
Stunning scenes aside, this offers neither substance nor emotional involvement.
The conclusion of the sixth episode seems to point toward Fantasy Island territory, which holds no interest for me.
Not that it matters.  Refn has unwisely aligned with NetFlix.
In patience and foresight, the cable behemoth rivals King Joffrey, who would axe this series.

Russian Ark - 2002 - Russia

Russian Ark - 2002 - 7/10
AKA - Russkiy Kovcheg

 
Visual tour de force, although the narrative may leave one in bewilderment.
We become the roused consciousness of the roused visitor, wandering through the Hermitage.
From room to room, following beckoning laughter, into parties, into the swirl of history.
Grand balls and visions of rulers, flashes of history sweep past.
All film students ought to view this one.
Ninety minutes packed in a single tracking shot.
On repeated views, one may catch mistakes by extras, but the feast for the eyes overwhelms.

Effie Gray - 2014 - UK

Effie Gray - 2014 - 6/10

 
Period biography of Euphemia Chalmers Ruskin (and later, Millais)
Follows her marriage to critic/writer John Ruskin, their marital “problems,” Venice sojourn, Scottish trip.
An understanding of the Victorian era, perhaps the Pre-Raphaelite movement, or Ruskin’s works may be necessary.
The film highlights Ruskin’s oppressive home - rather his parents’ home (first cousins, not mentioned) and how over-protective parents still were of their 29 year old little boy.
Film looks quite good for what was a modest budget, and boasts a fine cast.
color palette less restrained here, as opposed to many Victorian period films.
Pacing is a problem, though, as the story paddles sluggishly.  Characters are unsympathetic and humorless, which also hurts.
Essentially a “woman’s film,” and Ruskin here remains somewhat of a cipher, especially his “actions.”
Script, as with real story, does not speculate, titillate, cast blame, or toss theories for the final arc.
I suspect casual viewers unfamiliar with PRB or Ruskin might fall asleep or switch off.

Andrei Rublev - 1966 - Soviet Union

Andrei Rublev - 1966 - 9/10
AKA - Andrey Rublyov

 
15th century Russia, we trail “everyman” Rublev though conflicts, village life, spring fertility rites.
Rublev was the premier icon painter of his era.
Languid at times, though never remotely boring.  There is simply too much to take in.
Many of the scenes and sequences are unforgettable.
Others, you can only marvel at the sheer amount of bodies.  Not since the Silent era were there so many extras.
Of course this is Soviet filmmaking, in a film that would be shown to the world.
I first saw this in the 1980’s, the two hour edit, in a museum.
This has now been restored visually, and to the full 3+ hour length.
A must for world cinema types.

House Of Horrors - 1946 - USA

House Of Horrors - 1946 - 6/10

 
Diverting B-thriller with a solid Noir / Expressionistic look.
Outsider sculptor (failed artist) rescues large man from river.
Inspired by his grotesque features, the artist uses him as model for his Neanderthal piece.
He rants about unappreciative critic, not knowing his new friend is actually a psychotic killer.
Still ... no one likes critics, now do they?
At barely an hour, the plot chugs along swiftly.  Pleasant 40's era cheesecake a bonus.

Youth - 2015 - Italy

Youth - 2015 - 8/10

 
Striking visuals enrich a series of vignettes, compact yet powerful, not so much about old age, but more about the ability to recharge.  Not to succumb, to stay invigorated in Life.
Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel play very old friends, renowned composer and acclaimed director, relaxing at what can only be defined as an exclusive health spa.
One is in self-imposed retirement, the other struggles to stay relevant.
Multiple characters drift in and around them.
Over the film, one gets an image of who many of the characters were, where they are now, and where they may be going.
Not really an “old fogy” film, as I think many fear.  Wonderful feast for film buffs.

Scoring more for visuals: cinematography, set design, color schemes.
Storylines range from sublime to pedestrian.