Month: March 2022

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To Be or Not to Be (1983)

A theatre troupe uses their talents to fight the Nazis in occupied Poland. I hadn’t at first realized that this was a remake of the 1942 film of the same title even if it’s a fairly faithful recreation. Both films are evocative of their eras. The narrative flows better in the earlier film; the jokes seemingly more important here. While they all provide laughs, Mel Brooks’ films definitely vary in how they resonate with me. This one is middle of the pack. It is great to see him working with his wife Anne Bancroft. They have a natural, fun camaraderie that comes across well in this film.  Comedy  War

Oscar Nomination: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

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My Love, Don’t Cross That River (2014)

This documentary follows the approximately last year of a South Korean couple’s 75+ year marriage. Jo Byeong-man and Kang Kye-yeo are beautifully sweet together and their relationship was obviously one filled with love, laughter, and perfect companionship even as they experienced some real tragedies. It’s somewhat of a blessing to be able to witness two people lucky enough to find a lifelong love. My only complaint of the film would be the inclusion of their adult children. Their bickering and emotions disrupt the gentle playfulness the couple had when it was just the two of them.   Romance

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The Mummy (1932)

Ten years after he was brought back from the dead, Boris Karloff manipulates a pair of archeologists into uncovering his long-dead lover. As far as the classics go, it’s a fairly standard 1930s monster movie. The fully made-up mummy is only on screen for a few moments. Karloff not in makeup is on for only a little more than that. Like many movies from the era, they unfortunately take a backseat to the reincarnated female and her modern love interest.   Supernatural

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The Missing Picture (2013)

In 1970s Cambodia, eleven year old Rithy Panh and his family were among the millions rounded up by the Khmer Rouge and sent to reeducation work camps. As an adult director, Panh uses a mixture of clay figures, animation, and archival footage to work through the atrocities he experienced, including the deaths of his entire family. The result is a somewhat dull, but unconventional documentary on an important part of world history, told from a first hand perspective. The figures are the most powerful part, but they are presented in static dioramas with very slow, drawn-out narration.

Oscar Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

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Blackbeard’s Ghost (1968)

Arriving in the seaside town where he has been hired to be the nearby college’s track coach, Dean Jones is housed in the struggling Blackbeard’s Inn, run by descendants of the infamous pirate. His arrival coincides with the day of a bazaar being held to save the Inn and he spite bids on a piece of Blackbeard lore that manages to summon the pirate’s ghost, played by a delightful Peter Ustinov. This is quite representative of the classic Disney family-friendly live action films of the era. While I probably prefer other frequent Disney actors, such as Fred MacMurray or Hayley Mills, to Jones, it’s still the type of light-hearted film that is perfect for a quiet weekend afternoon.  Comedy  Supernatural

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The Firemen’s Ball (1967)

The firemen of a small Czechoslovakian town are hosting a ball in honor of their chief’s retirement. With the whole town invited, there are many activities planned: dancing, an raffle, and a beauty pageant. Unfortunately, before the event even begins, nothing really goes as planned. It started a bit slow for me, but my appreciation and amusement grew as the ball went on. Some of this progression is do to jokes that require some build up to a rather funny ending.  Comedy

Oscar Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film

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Kings of the Turf (1941)/Saved from the Flames: 54 Rare and Restored Films (1896-1944)

The life of a cart horse from birth to adulthood is detailed with questionable humor in Kings of the Turf. I’m sure there is someone out there that finds such things amusing, but for me, it’s quite a bore and very forgettable. It’s too fictionalized of an account to feel informative and not appealing enough to bother otherwise.   Sports

As the title suggests, Saved from the Flames is a collection of rare films that were made during the days of nitrate films. Comments on the films are available after the cut.

Oscar Nomination: Best Short Subject, One-reel (Kings of the Turf)

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The Great Lie (1941)

When his marriage to Mary Astor is deemed invalid, George Brent returns to old flame Bette Davis. Unfortunately Mary got pregnant during their short time together, a fact that does not become clear until George disappeared during a business trip to Brazil. It’s a weird far-fetched plot, but well acted all around particularly during the scenes between the two women. I was glad to see two McDaniel siblings, Hattie and Sam, in larger, interacting roles, though of course they’re both still servants.

Oscar Win: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

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The Unholy Three (1925)

This film has the exact same plot and two of the same actors as the 1930 film with the same title. The main difference is this is a completely silent film. In most ways, the talkie version is superior. A main plot point revolves around a ventriloquist and talking parrots which is a bit strange for a silent film. It is cute that they solve that issue here using speech bubbles. The patsy in this film is also less appealing, making it questionable why the love interest would want to switch alliances from her gang. The one preference I have in this version is the chimpanzee. The remake cheapens out by just using a man in a costume versus the real thing and it comes across as ridiculously silly.

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Omar (2013)

After he and two of his childhood friends carry out a sniper attack on an Israeli soldier, Adam Bakri’s titular character is captured and coerced into becoming a collaborator. His situation is further complicated by his love for one of his friends’ sister and finding the traitor in their group who tipped off the authorities. I hadn’t intended to watch so many films on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but it was one of those weird coincidences in my library check-outs. This was rather similar to the same director’s Paradise Now . I think I prefer Paradise Now as a film, but this one does have a more multi-faceted story and also includes a more thorough look at the hopeless situation of collaborators which was referenced in that other film.

Oscar Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

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