Det sjunde inseglet

English title: Seventh Seal (The)

Also known as: Septième sceau (le)

Genre: moral drama (in black and white)

With: Max von Sydow (Antonius Block), Gunnar Björnstrand (Jöns), Bengt Ekerot (Death), Nils Poppe (Jof), Bibi Andersson (Mia, Jof's wife), Erik Strandmark (Jonas), Bertil Anderberg (Raval), Inga Gill (Lisa, Plog’s wife), Åke Fridell (Plog), Gunnel Lindblom (the girl), Maud Hansson (the Witch), Inga Landgré (Karin)

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Release: 1957

Studio: Svensk Filmindustri

Rating: -

MBiS score: 9.2/10

- Hey, MBiS, is this one like Dumb and Dumber?

- Uh, no… It's more like Grim and Grimmer.

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Story-line: coming home after ten wasted years fighting the Crusades, Block the knight and his squire Jöns find their country ravaged by the plague. Even worse, Block is met by a man in a black cassock, Death incarnate, who warns him that his time is up.

Pluses: a convincing recreation of the Middle Ages through outdoor and rustic settings, a brilliant, disconcerting and harrowing screenplay by Ingmar Bergman, formidable turns by Max von Sydow as a deeply afflicted soul and Gunnar Björnstrand as his friend and counterpoint, a very competent cast, astounding dialogues blending deep thought, religion, sarcasm and black humour à la Monty Python, irreproachable direction and cinematography, effective musical support.

Minuses: none, except that you may need some time (I took 40 minutes) to get used to this very special movie.  

Comments: although it raises life’s gravest question, THE SEVENTH SEAL is neither dry nor artsy; it features thought-provoking encounters and mesmerizing imagery. This one’s a great Bergman, a Cannes Grand Prix co-winner and an eternal masterpiece… no less.

MBiS

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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.”

MBiS

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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. 

MBiS

© 2017 – All rights reserved

Bad Lieutenant (The)

Genre: psychological drama     

With: Harvey Keitel (the Lieutenant), Zoë Lund (Zoe or Magdalena), Frankie Thorn (the Nun)

Director: Abel Ferrara

Release: 1992

Studio: Bad Lt. Productions

Rating: NC-17

MBiS score: 7.3/10

Here’s the Buzz on the Scuzzy Fuzz

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Story-line: during the baseball playoffs, a corrupt NYPD cop hits the skids in a spectacular way.  

Pluses: nonpareil acting by Harvey Keitel as a troubled character reminiscent of Robert De Niro’s in TAXI DRIVER, a no-holds-barred screenplay, competent direction.

Minuses: THE BAD LIEUTENANT is very depressing despite several funny moments. Some people may consider it morally offensive due to its strong language and sexual content.     

Comments: for a long time I’ve wondered what this notorious, quasi-mythical film was all about and I don’t regret having seen it… but I must advise you it’s one of the more punishing motion pictures out there. Yes, the Lieutenant is one twisted and contemptible cop but he’s also a human being capable of remorse. ‟I'm sorry, Lord. – you’ll hear him say – I’ve done so many bad things.”

MBiS

© 2017 – All rights reserved

Taxi Driver

Genre: psychological drama 

With: Robert De Niro (Travis Bickle), Cybill Shepherd (Betsy), Jodie Foster (Iris), Harvey Keitel (‟Sport”), Albert Brooks (Tom)

Director: Martin Scorsese

Release: 1976

Studio: Columbia Pictures, Bill/Phillips et al.

Rating: 16

MBiS score: 9.0/10

An Angel Perhaps… With a Mohawk and a Gun

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Story-line: a lonely New York City cabbie incensed by the decadence around him comes to see himself as a man on a mission.  

Pluses: Robert De Niro’s unforgettable performance as the disturbingly disturbed Travis Bickle, strong turns by Harvey Keitel and a very young Jodie Foster, a terrifying screenplay by Paul Schrader, Martin Scorsese’s superlative direction and harrowing cameo, evocative shots of NYC’s seedier side and, of course, Bernard Herrmann’s fabulous score that seduces one second and threatens the next.

Minuses: the movie features foul language and violence.   

Comments: if TAXI DRIVER was released today, we might refer to Travis Bickle as a lone wolf, an extremist or a radicalized individual… which shows how much this brilliant and atmospheric film is still relevant in our times of disenchantment and anger. Don’t miss this Palme d’Or winner and American masterpiece inducted into the National Film Registry in 1994. ‟You talkin’ to me? Well I'm the only one here.”  

MBiS

© 2017 – All rights reserved

Of Mice and Men

Genre: psychological drama

With: John Malkovich (Lennie Small), Gary Sinise (George Milton), Ray Walston (Candy), Casey Siemaszko (Curley), Sherilyn Fenn (Curley’s wife), John Terry (Slim), Richard Riehle (Carlson)

Director: Gary Sinise

Release: 1992

Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Rating: PG-13

MBiS score: 8.1/10

‟I got you to look after me, but you got me to look after you.”

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Story-line: two friends, George and Lennie, try to make a living as farmhands during the Depression despite Lennie’s habit of getting into trouble.

Pluses: a focused screenplay by Horton Foote (based on John Steinbeck’s classic novel), Gary Sinise’s unobtrusive direction that lets the drama speak for itself, note-perfect acting, good-looking visuals.

Minuses: none whatsoever.

Comments: it’s a treat to see consummate pros like Malkovich and Sinise portraying two of John Steinbeck’s more tragic characters. OF MICE AND MEN is a mature story about friendship, dedication to others and the tough choices life can force upon us. Required viewing for movie buffs.

MBiS

© 2017 – All rights reserved