American Graffiti

Genre: slice-of-life comedy drama 

With: Richard Dreyfuss (Curt Henderson), Ron Howard (Steve Bolander), Paul Le Mat (John Milner), Cindy Williams (Laurie, Curt’s sister), Charles Martin Smith (Terry Fields), Candy Clark (Debbie), Mackenzie Phillips (Carol), Wolfman Jack (the Disc Jockey), Bo Hopkins (Joe), Harrison Ford (Bob Falfa), Suzanne Somers (her legendary cameo as the girl in a T-Bird)

Director: George Lucas

Release: 1973

Studio: Universal Pictures, Lucasfilm, The Coppola Company

Rating: PG

MBiS score: 8.2/10

Your Last Night Out… So Make It a Good One

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Story-line: Curt, Steve and other teenagers spend the last night of the summer cruising around, discussing their future and looking for thrills, spills, good times and love.

Pluses: competent acting by an ensemble cast destined for greatness, a nostalgic portrait of adolescence in the early 60s, an astute and atmospheric screenplay by George Lucas, Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck, able direction and a fabulous retro soundtrack.

Minuses: none whatsoever.

Comments: an atypical Lucas masterwork that spawned the hit TV series Happy Days and brings back memories of deuce coupes, sock hops, Studebakers and necking. As the DJ would say, ‟Get your bugaloos out baby! The Wolfman is everywhere.”

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Alice et Martin

English title: Alice and Martin

Genre: character study

With: Alexis Loret (Martin as an adult), Pierre Maguelon (Victor Sauvagnac, his father), Carmen Maura (Jeanine, his mother), Mathieu Amalric (Benjamin), Juliette Binoche (Alice), Jeremy Kreikenmayer (Martin as a boy), Roschdy Zem (Saïd)

Director: André Téchiné

Release: 1998

Studio: Les Films Alain Sarde, Vértigo Films, France 2 Cinéma et al.

Rating: R

MBiS score: 8.0/10

‟We have to find the courage to be happy.”

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Story-line: when 10-year-old Martin leaves his mother to visit his industrialist father he scarcely knows, he does so reluctantly but ends up staying 10 years at the paternal home in Southern France. Then, very abruptly, he leaves home, commits a petty crime and heads north to Paris where he hitches up with one of his half-brothers.

Pluses: steady pacing and direction, a screenplay that provides ample psychological development, a convincing cast (I’m a big fan of Mathieu Amalric) and, most importantly, Juliette Binoche’s resplendent display of star power.  

Minuses: none really, although you musn’t expect breathless action from ALICE ET MARTIN. This movie is all about lives evolving through time and circumstance, sometimes dramatically, sometimes unpredictably.

Comments: here’s a good example of high-quality European moviemaking: charismatic characters, an efficient narrative, appropriate production values and a surprising ending. Téchiné, like Sautet and Chabrol, specializes in personal movies and ALICE ET MARTIN bears witness to his attentive craftsmanship. 

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