Happy Birthday to Clive Owen, Denis Villeneuve, Tommy Wiseau, Gwen Stefani, Gore Vidal, John Patrick Shanley, Greig Fraser, Lindsey Buckingham, Leo McCarey, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Julien Duvivier! Last night, I watched two excellent films, in The Ninth Configuration (William Peter Blatty, 1980; 9/10) and my Curtain Call, as best film of the day, the theatrical version of Scenes from a Marriage (Ingmar Bergman, 1973; 10/10), as well as two Season Three episodes (both 1957) of Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Glass Eye (Robert Stevens, 9/10) and Mail Order Prophet (James Neilson, 8/10). Blattys directorial debut is a remarkable film that grew on me as I watched it. At times I was afraid the attempts at lunacy and madness were aping then-contemporary and successful classics such as M*A*S*H and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, but I realized over time that the script was genuine, original and not blatantly ripping off those aforementioned classics. Still, its the only weakness in the film. Blatty is inspired in his direction and makes perfect use of Panavisions 2.40:1 aspect ratio, and the acting, especially Stacy Keachs, is nothing short of astounding. A wonderful ending to answer the age-old question: How can there be a God if such evil exists in the world?--How can there not be if such goodness exists as well? A great film, which makes it very sad, both that it is so unknown and that Blatty hasnt done more writings and directing. The many different versions of the film are very confusing, but I was able to watch the directors cut, which has a nice six-minute discussion on the DVD, plus Blattys commentary and all the deleted scenes...Ive first seen the theatrical version of Bergmans opus--am going to watch the mini-series next week. Its right up there with The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries as outright masterpieces--and thats saying a lot. It goes through the various stages of the disintegration of a couple, with a searing truth that, if you can stand it, is both epiphanic and captivating. Amazing acting by the two leads and a truly remarkable film that I heartily endorse without reservation. Might not be the best idea for a date film though--just saying. The great jazz and blues singer/guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, who would be 60 today and made some of the best and funniest music videos I ever saw, is my Film Club Props award recipient, and my Five Stars, for cinematic excellence, are: --Actor: Stacy Keach (The Ninth Configuration) --Actress: Liv Ullmann (Scenes from a Marriage) --Director: William Peter Blatty (The Ninth Configuration) --Cinematography: Gerry Fisher (The Ninth Configuration) --Soundtrack: Barry De Vorzon (The Ninth Configuration). Tonight: Probably The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow, 2008), The Magic Flute (Ingmar Bergman, 1975) and Edward Scissorhands (Tim Burton, 1990). Have a great weekend, to you and yours, from Film Club! =)
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 23:32:54 +0000
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