Funny Girl

Genre: comedy drama
With: Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif and Kay Medford
Director: William Wyler
Release: 1968
Studio: Rastar Prodns - Sony Pictures Releasing
Rating: G
MBiS score: 8.2/10


QuickView


Story-line: this movie follows Fanny Brice’s quest to become a star in the 20s.
Pluses: an absolutely perfect Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif’s great charisma, excellent songs.
Minuses: none really.
Comments: a fine piece of Hollywood entertainment that was followed by a bittersweet sequel, FUNNY LADY. Quality time for movie buffs.


MBiS

© 2009 – All rights reserved

Owning Mahowny

Genre: psychological drama
Director: Richard Kwietniowski
Release: 2003
Studio: Alliance Atlantis et al. - Sony Pictures Classics
Rating: R
MBiS score: 8.1/10


Make or Break


Dan Mahowny (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a consummate money man. By day, he orchestrates brilliant financial manoeuvres for his bank. By night, he loves going to the track to bet on horse races. How does he manage all of this action? To find out, you will need to see the movie. With Minnie Driver (Belinda, Dan’s girlfriend), Maury Chaykin (Frank Perlin), John Hurt (Victor Foss), Sonja Smits (Dana Selkirk) and Chris Collins (Bernie).

OWNING MAHOWNY, which is based on real-life events, establishes its central theme early on and sticks to it. By warning you in its very first frames that people have « a public life, a private life and a secret life », it proffers a clear and inescapable statement about Dan’s personality and the events about to unfold. You can easily guess that Dan has a secret – or should I say a habit – one of those treacherous and irresistible cravings that permeate men’s lives and destroy them totally if left unchecked. Richard Kwietniowski’s film thus explores Dan’s habit in a methodical and non-judgmental way, without any real surprise, clever twist or deus ex machina, leaving the viewer to answer its pivotal question: why is this man attracted to Lady Luck?

Although a lot of money is involved in OWNING MAHOWNY and flashed about in the glitziest of places, the film itself is a low-budget affair that mirrors its main character’s serious, no-frills approach to life. Its modest production values may put you off at first but don’t even think of bailing out for you will miss a flawless, slow-burning drama that delivers handsomely as our banker’s habit gets more entrenched. Despite its predictability, Dan’s story is quite riveting and its tension will weigh on you like a wager on your life. The movie’s success also rests on a solid cast led by a remarkable Philip Seymour Hoffman (before CAPOTE) and John Hurt, whose courteousness cannot hide a predatory bent.

Trust me, this little movie will stay with you for a long time. What more can a cinephile ask for?


MBiS

© 2009 – All rights reserved

Body Heat

Genre: romantic drama
With: William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, Richard Crenna
Director: Lawrence Kasdan
Release: 1981
Studio: Ladd Company, Warner Brothers – Columbia
Rating: R
MBiS score: 8.2/10


QuickView


Story-line: a man, a woman and a husband in between. Need I say more?
Pluses: splendid acting by William Hurt and a physically commanding Kathleen Turner, a beautiful score by John Barry, a high-impact ending.
Minuses: none really.
Comments: a solid piece of entertainment for all of us movie fans. Sit back and enjoy!


MBiS

© 2009 – All rights reserved

Mala Educacion (La)

English title: Bad Education
Genre: psychological thriller
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Release: 2004
Studio: Warner Sogefilms, El Deseo - Sony Pictures Classics
Rating: NC-17
MBiS score: 8.6/10


A Tale of Mixed Emotions


Just when his inspiration was failing him, movie director Enrique Goded (Fele Martinez) receives a visit from Ignacio Rodriguez (Gael Garcia Bernal), an unemployed actor now calling himself Angel Andrade. Enrique dismisses Ignacio but, upon meeting him again, remembers their friendship and budding love affair sixteen years earlier and accepts to make a film based in part on the sad times they shared at St. John’s College. Unfortunately for Enrique, bringing the project to fruition will be more of a challenge than he expected. With Juan Fernandez (Martin), Alberto Ferreiro (Enrique Serrano), Javier Camara (Paquito), Nacho Perez (young Ignacio), Raul Garcia Forneiro (young Enrique), Daniel Gimenez Cacho (Father Manolo), Petra Martinez, Lluis Homar and Francisco Boira.

When this gem by Pedro Almodovar first came out, I sort of expected a detailed account of Enrique and Ignacio’s difficulties in school but these early-life events do not figure prominently in the overall story. LA MALA EDUCACION is in fact a mind-bending suspense film based on sexual identity. For your viewing pleasure, I must warn you that the movie may seem odd and confusing at first but, later on, a very important event will put everything into perspective and highlight the story’s genuine logic, richness and complexity. Without revealing anything, I may add that Almodovar’s script leaves a few questions unanswered – an appropriate choice for such a mysterious movie – and makes no attempts at humour.

LA MALA EDUCACION is gorgeous to look at with its vivid colours and is played out with even competence by a cast which comprises very few women; Gael Garcia Bernal’s busy turn is especially noteworthy. The movie’s dark and atmospheric mood is reinforced by a music score at once sinister and imbued with emotion.

All in all, this serious, original and troubling entry confirms Almodovar’s status as one of the world’s best directors. If you like jigsaw puzzles, you will enjoy putting this one together. A great pick for movie buffs.


MBiS

© 2009 – All rights reserved