Kapo
Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo
Starring: Susan Strasberg
This is perhaps the most effective and affecting holocaust movie ever made. The argument about whether or not movies about the holocaust qualify as nothing more than objectifying and glamorizing one of the most horrifying episodes in human history is not one that I'd like to make in this piece, rather, I'd like to remark on how well made the movie is.
The movie tells the story of Edith, a French Jew who is taken to a concentration camp and forced to watch as the rest of her family is sent to die. She is a weak and very young girl, no more than thirteen or fourteen. She cannot manage the rigors of the camp, but through good fortune is able to change her identify. She goes from being a Jew, destined for the gas chamber, to a common criminal who has the possibility of becoming a Kapo. After she becomes one, she begins a relationship with one of the guards and becomes a terror to her fellow inmates. However, once Russian POW's arrive, the situation changes and we watch as Edith is given the possibility to redeem herself for her sins.
The character of Edith is beautifully played by Susan Strasberg. She manages to take us from innocence to a hardened member of the camp and back again. She shows tenderness and anger, it is truly a masterful performance.
The movie is wonderful, horrifying, and by far one of if not the best movie about the subject I have ever seen. It manages to disturb as much as Schindler's List does, without showing any blood on screen. It is a movie that should be seen by all and hopefully will become increasingly available in the future.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Art World's Borat?
Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
Directed by: Banksy
Starring: Banksy, Shephard Fairey, Space Invader, & Thierry Guetta
I have absolutely no idea what to make of this movie. It is billed as some kind of mix of comedy and documentary, but a lot of made me think of Sacha Baron Cohen's movies like Borat and Bruno. Is this movie a fake? Is Mr. Brainwash a creation of Banksy so as to make some kind of a statement? I have absolutely no idea.
The movie tells the tale of Thierry Guetta, a French immigrant to LA who ostensibly stumbles into being the official videographer of the street artist movement. He ends up following around people like Space Invader, Banksy, and Shephard Fairey as he attempts to document their work. From here, the movie is the tale of what happens after Guetta gets his first taste of stardom. Guetta eventually becomes a pseudo artist, a man that does not create any of his own work and does insipid riffs on works by other artists.
I am torn on the veracity of this movie. While the story seems almost too bizarre not to be true, there were some very clear stabs at some notable artists and art patrons- and those make me believe the movie might be some kind of a hoax. The clearest stab of all is the discussion of Damien Hirst- where it is pointed out that he makes millions upon millions of dollars for his work and does not actually create any of it, he has a cadre of 100 people working on his ideas. A similar style is seen by Guetta (later calling himself Mr. Brainwash-- which would be such an apt name for satire it's almost astounding). The movie then pokes fun at Madonna and other such people who have since paid Mr. Brainwash for his derivative art. If this movie is not a hoax, then it's a movie designed specifically to destroy Mr. Brainwash's career. Either way- it's a well-made, interesting, and insightful look at the world of street art.
Did I like the movie? Yes. Do I think it's a hoax? I hope so.
Directed by: Banksy
Starring: Banksy, Shephard Fairey, Space Invader, & Thierry Guetta
I have absolutely no idea what to make of this movie. It is billed as some kind of mix of comedy and documentary, but a lot of made me think of Sacha Baron Cohen's movies like Borat and Bruno. Is this movie a fake? Is Mr. Brainwash a creation of Banksy so as to make some kind of a statement? I have absolutely no idea.
The movie tells the tale of Thierry Guetta, a French immigrant to LA who ostensibly stumbles into being the official videographer of the street artist movement. He ends up following around people like Space Invader, Banksy, and Shephard Fairey as he attempts to document their work. From here, the movie is the tale of what happens after Guetta gets his first taste of stardom. Guetta eventually becomes a pseudo artist, a man that does not create any of his own work and does insipid riffs on works by other artists.
I am torn on the veracity of this movie. While the story seems almost too bizarre not to be true, there were some very clear stabs at some notable artists and art patrons- and those make me believe the movie might be some kind of a hoax. The clearest stab of all is the discussion of Damien Hirst- where it is pointed out that he makes millions upon millions of dollars for his work and does not actually create any of it, he has a cadre of 100 people working on his ideas. A similar style is seen by Guetta (later calling himself Mr. Brainwash-- which would be such an apt name for satire it's almost astounding). The movie then pokes fun at Madonna and other such people who have since paid Mr. Brainwash for his derivative art. If this movie is not a hoax, then it's a movie designed specifically to destroy Mr. Brainwash's career. Either way- it's a well-made, interesting, and insightful look at the world of street art.
Did I like the movie? Yes. Do I think it's a hoax? I hope so.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
How Odd
Kick-Ass (2010)
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Nicholas Cage, Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
I have to admire Matthew Vaughn in his desire and ability to do a number of different genres in an effective manner. This is rare in movies altogether, even rarer in modern Hollywood. In his career he has managed to do three movies that are starkly different in subject matter and tone: Layer Cake (2004), a gangster movie about British thugs, Stardust (2007) a fantasy film featuring Robert DeNiro in a dress, and now this comic-book gore-fest. Each have their own tone and style and this one is just as effectively put together as anything else he has ever made. The problem in writing this review of it is, I cannot exactly explain why the movie melds so well together.
At its core, Kick-Ass is nothing more than a comic book movie. It's about one person who decides to try to be a super hero and what he is able to do by simply standing up to evil. He encounters real super-hero types in the process and then graphic violence ensues. The movie is unabashedly gore-filled, crude, rude, and in your face. But somehow, the movie remains an almost child-like innocence. I have no idea how it does this. The movie is sort of sweet and has a sweet message, stand up against evil, get out of your skin, and be confident in yourself.
Oh yeah, it also has an eleven year old doing horrifically violent acts for a good hour of the movie. While this has offended some people, I don't really care what she does or says, because most of what she does in those instances is for shock-value.
Kick-Ass is a pretty good movie and an enjoyable movie-going experience overall. It's one of the few movies I've seen in the theater lately that has not made me want to gouge my eyes out from boredom. I wouldn't say it's something that is incredibly important to see in the theater, but it's definitely something worth watching.
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Nicholas Cage, Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
I have to admire Matthew Vaughn in his desire and ability to do a number of different genres in an effective manner. This is rare in movies altogether, even rarer in modern Hollywood. In his career he has managed to do three movies that are starkly different in subject matter and tone: Layer Cake (2004), a gangster movie about British thugs, Stardust (2007) a fantasy film featuring Robert DeNiro in a dress, and now this comic-book gore-fest. Each have their own tone and style and this one is just as effectively put together as anything else he has ever made. The problem in writing this review of it is, I cannot exactly explain why the movie melds so well together.
At its core, Kick-Ass is nothing more than a comic book movie. It's about one person who decides to try to be a super hero and what he is able to do by simply standing up to evil. He encounters real super-hero types in the process and then graphic violence ensues. The movie is unabashedly gore-filled, crude, rude, and in your face. But somehow, the movie remains an almost child-like innocence. I have no idea how it does this. The movie is sort of sweet and has a sweet message, stand up against evil, get out of your skin, and be confident in yourself.
Oh yeah, it also has an eleven year old doing horrifically violent acts for a good hour of the movie. While this has offended some people, I don't really care what she does or says, because most of what she does in those instances is for shock-value.
Kick-Ass is a pretty good movie and an enjoyable movie-going experience overall. It's one of the few movies I've seen in the theater lately that has not made me want to gouge my eyes out from boredom. I wouldn't say it's something that is incredibly important to see in the theater, but it's definitely something worth watching.
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