dylgates Reviews

The Night of the Sunflowers (2006)

Country-noir Spanish style

[8/10 · 9 June 2007]

I really liked the film and disagree with some of the comments made earlier. Firstly, it's a Spanish movie so I can't see how it can be influenced by A Touch of Evil regarding location. Touch of Evil was set in Mexico. Secondly, I thought the 'silent' killing scene actually made a point about the two worlds that exist in Spain; the city and the countryside. The old farmer was a virtual hermit and barely existed in the modern world as represented by the Cavers. His near silence was mentioned by one of the characters who said that old Cecilio barely speaks.

Regarding the ending, I would say that the strongest character was the old Police Officer. Despite his frail appearance, it is clear that his mind is still sharp and he still has a strong moral code - unlike his son-in-law. What I liked about the movie was how the moral conundrum forced the viewer to consider what they would do if placed in such a situation. I don't think the killing would ever be seen as an 'accidental'death. In his anger, the caver attempted to kill the farmer. They entered the house with this intention.

Overall, I felt it was a really powerful movie and will surely be remade by Hollywood.

Local Hero (1983)

a little gem

[9/10 · 1 January 2007]

Had always wanted to watch this movie as I considered Gregory's girl to be one of the funniest British movies ever made. Local Hero is a more sophisticated work but just as charming. The performances were great. At first, i didn't like the main actor but it's actually a subtle performance slowly revealing a man who had no idea how unhappy he was. The ending is definitely bittersweet and if Mac learns a lesson it is that happiness is not easy to find. The film doesn't offer any simple solutions. You never feel that Mac could return to the village and find contentment. But you do feel that the memory of his time there could lead him to reconsider his life and perhaps find a way to change it for the better.

Caché (2005)

Do not stare into the abyss

[9/10 · 17 July 2006]

One of the darkest, most disturbing films I've seen in years. It also frustrates and perplexes in equal measures. Without giving away too much, about two thirds of the way during the film, something happens which drew a collective gasp from the audience. At this point, you feel fully entrenched in the depravity of the situation.

Several reviewers have mentioned the notion that the director is shining a mirror on us, the audience, and revealing our complicity in the nastiness unfolding on screen. Was it Nietzche who said something along the lines of 'Do not stare into the abyss, lest the abyss stare into you'? The film shares some of the ideas found in the original 'The Vanishing'. At heart, we are all voyeurs, we need to know and this knowledge overrides many of our finer impulses. And maybe we need to know to realise that we are all the same. We all have things we want to keep hidden, but how do we know for sure that we are the sole keepers of our secrets.

Watch it and let it roll around in your mind for a while. It's one of those rare films that can be interpreted in a multitude of ways. Is it about France's colonial past? How the sins of the fathers are visited on their sons? How beneath the veneer we are all monsters? How we reconstruct our own mythology of self, discarding that we don't want others or ourselves to see? Or is it simply about the urge to blame others for our own failings and weaknesses?

Hulk (2003)

An noble failure

[6/10 · 16 July 2006]

Remember this movie getting pretty bad reviews but wanted to see it due to the good cast and a great director. It's no classic but Ang Lee obviously tried to do something different with this film. It works on many levels; the acting's decent (in particular the actor playing General Ross manages to subtly convey the divided loyalties of a military man who realises that he will hurt his beloved daughter), the special effects, though occasionally ridiculous, are solid, and there is an obvious attempt to develop the characters.

On the other hand, it is way too long and the plot is far too convoluted. Ang Lee deviated too far from the source material by making David Banner (Bruce's father) a key figure. While this may have worked with a bit more restraint, the final scenes were too over the top for a film which started off so slowly.

Overall all, worth seeing if you've got a couple of hours to spare and want to see a reasonably intelligent and (ending notwithstanding) restrained blockbuster.