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boy am i happy... (Reply to this comment)
by aeoluscmc
... i didn't read your review before i decided to write an entry myself... very, very impressive and thorough knowledge of movies... time for me to put a few more on my rental list...
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Jul 09 '06
9:36 pm PDT
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What a wonderful list! (Reply to this comment)
by mike.holmes
I marvel at your knowledge. I've seen quite a few of these (mostly during my trips to bigger cities and on videotape) but I look forward to finding more of your favorites. Thanks for the effort of helping us know about worldwide cinema.
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Jun 16 '05
12:57 pm PDT
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Re: Algerian films? (Reply to this comment)
by metalluk
am puzzled by your classification of "Z" and "The Battle of Algiers" as Algerian movies.
And well you might be. Z is listed at IMDB as an Algeria/France co-production, with Algeria listed first. A source book lists the same two countries in the opposite order. Battle of Algiers is listed at IMDB as an Algiers/Italy co-production. The same source book lists the same two countries, but in the opposite order. So, I think that I'm technically covered by the IMDB listing. I agree, however, that my placement of the films is debatable. Certainly, Z is fully Greek in its subject matter. The other consideration is that neither film would be good enough to crack the short list of best films for the alternative countries, France or Italy respectively. So, if they aren't listed under Algiers, they don't make the list at all.
I will add that the only reason for the notoriety of this film in the US is that it is much relevant to the Iraq and Afghan situations. Otherwise, I thought that the acting was two-dimensional, and the action worthy of a B-movie (compare it to films on the somewhat same subject, such as Lucie Aubrac, 1999).
I don't agree with your assessment of the relative merits of these two films. No doubt, the acting in Lucie Aubrac is a good deal more professional, but sometimes the use of real people in lieu of actors adds to a films realism. I felt that was the case with Battle of Algiers.
This being said, it blows my mind to think that some of the American "leaders" would find it necessary to view a film, even a good one, in order to understand the situation they find themselves in. Just incredible!!!. Rummy, this is contemporary history, and to have such a poor understanding of it, and yet pretend to "lead" a nation such as the United States is just mind boggling.
Absolutely. The President was himself an indifferent student, at best, at Yale. Not that our leaders should be pointy-headed intellectuals (like you? and me?) but it would at least be nice is they were in possession of a bit of wisdom.
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Jun 09 '05
8:56 am PDT
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Algerian films? (Reply to this comment)
by danielpar
I am puzzled by your classification of "Z" and "The Battle of Algiers" as Algerian movies.
"Z". I have re-read your review of "Z," and everything you say about it is correct. However, more Greek than Costa-Gavras, one cannot be. The film is based on a Greek novel. The whole cast of actors is French (Irene Papas of course is Greek), and three out of the four producers are French. Given the subject of the film, it couldn't possibly have been filmed in Greece, so most of it was film in Algeria. However, this does not suffice to make the film an Algerian film.
"The Battle of Algiers." The director and the script writers are Italians, the production as Italian/Algerian.
I will add that the only reason for the notoriety of this film in the US is that it is much relevant to the Iraq and Afghan situations. Otherwise, I thought that the acting was two-dimensional, and the action worthy of a B-movie (compare it to films on the somewhat same subject, such as Lucie Aubrac, 1999). This being said, it blows my mind to think that some of the American "leaders" would find it necessary to view a film, even a good one, in order to understand the situation they find themselves in. Just incredible!!!. Rummy, this is contemporary history, and to have such a poor understanding of it, and yet pretend to "lead" a nation such as the United States is just mind boggling.
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Jun 08 '05
11:47 am PDT
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Impressive... (Reply to this comment)
by vicfar
Display of erudition. You are a living encyclopedia of cinema. I will keep this list handy. Most of the foreign movies I have liked seem to be there, and there are many I have never heard of. If I could only rent them...
Thanks for the useful summary!
Vittorio
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Jun 07 '05
9:09 pm PDT
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Re: Re: Fascinating list (as I expected) (Reply to this comment)
by Stephen_Murray,  in Movies
What I wrote about "Strawberries and Chocolate" was easily open to your interpretation. I was expanding on it.
I meant to include Fassbinder in the "some films by" grouping.
A list of the best German movies in the last 40 years is a suggestion I'll take, once I finish my current mini-retrospective of Schlöndorff movies (I have to reassess "The Tin Drum"... and decide if "The Ogre" is a German movie of a French novel in English with an American lead...)
The few great Cuban movies are unavailable (blockaded, probably).
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Jun 07 '05
1:59 pm PDT
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Re: Fascinating list (as I expected) (Reply to this comment)
by metalluk
First, congratulations for reaching #500 in a frighteningly short time. Second, thanks for joining this exotic writeoff
Thank you and thanks for the write-off idea.
I don't dislike "Strawberries and Chocolate." It was such a surprise when it came out that it induced euphoria in some. If you were able to see "Lucía," I'm pretty sure it would leapfrog.
Sorry about misrepresenting your view on S&C. Actually, I looked to purchase Lucia on the strength of your recommendation, but it doesn't seem to be available anymore.
The greatness of pre-1933 German films is not open to argument, but being in the midst of my own private Volker Schlöndorff retrospective, admiring many films by Barbet Schroeder, and Percy Adlon, some by Wim Wenders and Doris Dörrie, and having become again a big fan of Werner Herzog, I think that the Germans have been doing a lot of interest in the last four decades.
I agree. I didn't mean to disrespect the work of more modern German directors. I think, however, that a "lot of interest" is still a far cry from being virtually at the top of the heap (or tied for the top, at worst), as they were prior to the rise of that man Hitler. I note you didn't mention Fassbinder in defense of postwar German cinema! Maybe you'd like to share a list of up to ten favorite postwar German films. That reminds me, I meant to include Aguirre on my list.
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Jun 07 '05
10:02 am PDT
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Fascinating list (as I expected) (Reply to this comment)
by Stephen_Murray, in Movies
First, congratulations for reaching #500 in a frighteningly short time. Second, thanks for joining this exotic writeoff
I have to hunt down the Icelandic entry.
I don't dislike "Strawberries and Chocolate." It was such a surprise when it came out that it induced euphoria in some. If you were able to see "Lucía," I'm pretty sure it would leapfrog.
I didn't realize that "Z" was filmed (partly) in Algeria. I did know that Belgium received the Oscar for "No Man's Land," which is sort of funny, but averted stirring up Serbs more by awarding it to Bosnia.
The greatness of pre-1933 German films is not open to argument, but being in the midst of my own private Volker Schlöndorff retrospective, admiring many films by Barbet Schroeder, and Percy Adlon, some by Wim Wenders and Doris Dörrie, and having become again a big fan of Werner Herzog, I think that the Germans have been doing a lot of interest in the last four decades.
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Jun 07 '05
8:02 am PDT
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# (Reply to this comment)
by trust12345
A lovely spread. I'm looking forward to joining this one myself.
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Jun 07 '05
6:44 am PDT
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