Monthly recap: What have I been watching in February?




So the Oscars have come and gone. I liked the intro bits with Captain Kirk from Star Trek, and cell phone joke about Lincoln/DDL. There were not many standout oscar moments, except J Lawrence tripping, and sound category a tie. Ben Affleck and Adele speeches were my favorites. Maybe funniest moment was Joaquin Phoenix shaking his head. Flight as puppet show amused me too. Could have done without all that dancing, Dream Girls and Chicago stuff. The James Bond tribute was a bit of a letdown, although Shirley Bassey’s still got it at age 76. The backstage clips with J Lawrence are worth a look, if you missed them.

This month I completed my letterboxd ranking of films by year, so hopefully I can put a top 10 by year post together here on the blog, once I've watched the IMDb top 250. As planned in my New Year post, I managed to go all the way back to 1920, and now I can see where my cinematic blindspots are. Apparently I haven’t seen ANY films from 1949, and many years between 1920-1950 I’ve only seen one or two.


My ratings below are what I think the films should be rated on IMDb. So what have I watched during February?





Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
A controversial and uncomfortable watch, the first 30 minutes contain scenes of torture. Kathryn Bigelow’s argument for keeping those scenes in is that she wanted to tell the decade long hunt for OBL as faithfully as she could, and in her opinion leaving things out would be whitewashing history. So fair enough for including that.
The last hour was pretty puzzling, why not just bomb that house? My main issue though is the film is so long, and we know how it ends. Aside from a couple of sequences, the investigation is not as gripping as I thought it would be. Can you blame it if it’s depicting actual timeline? I don’t know. I also felt the characters needed to be a bit more interesting.
For me, the strength of ZDT is that it asks the audience to question the actions of the military. The film doesn't explicitly say that torture caught bin Laden, but in portraying torture as one part of the successful search, it can be read that way.
Should the US military be applauded for gaining a victory by immoral means? Who knows? This is an area of the film people tend to question.
According to the director Kathryn Bigelow, Bin Laden was "defeated by ordinary Americans who fought bravely even as they sometimes crossed moral lines."
How far should interrogation go to obtain knowledge? Is this intelligence accurate when a result of torture? Is it right to keep people jailed at Guantanamo bay prison without a fair trial, and are the US creating more hatred towards themselves by allowing this?
Some may argue it’s too soon to get a proper perspective on these current events.
Film critic David Denby of The New Yorker wrote: ”the chairs of two Senate committees have said that the information used to find bin Laden was not uncovered through waterboarding. Do such scenes hurt the movie? Not as art; they are expertly done, without flinching from the horror of the acts and without exploitation. But they damage the movie as an alleged authentic account.”
Michael Morell, the CIA's acting director, criticized ZD30: for taking "significant artistic license, while portraying itself as being historically accurate".
The Huffington Post writer, G. Roger Denson, countered this: Panetta speaking as the CIA chief in May 2011, said "enhanced interrogation techniques were used to extract information that led to the mission's success". Panetta said waterboarding was among the techniques used.
Blogger Amiresque praised ZD30: “Maya is a character as incomprehensible to herself as she is to us, which makes her final personal catharsis (or revelation, rather) all the more meaningful for me. This is a film that, in my opinion, succeeds precisely because it remains apolitical and expressionless throughout.”
Sight & Sound magazine interpreted the ambiguous final scene: “Maya is portrayed as someone with no friends, who ends up realizing shooting bin Laden has achieved nothing much”
Rating 7.4




Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Based on a true story from Rwanda. The main reason to make films about genocide is not just for the sake of profit, but so the atrocities are not repeated. Also asks us to stand together as a world community. A powerful watch with an important message. Not as violent as I had expected.
Rating 7.8


London: The Modern Babylon (2012)
A wonderful collection of images from London, past and present, but the documentary is too simplistic and lacks insight. The British soundtrack was quite entertaining. I didn't realize there used to be a beach by the tower of London. Mainly a historical throwback to the 20th Century, WW1, WW2, immigrants of the 1960s, etc. The last 20 minutes are about London today. I don't think it's essential viewing.
Rating 6.0




Separate Tables (1958)
Based on a play. Recommended by Josh at The Cinematic Spectacle.
Foreshadows Robert Altman’s filmmaking, in that we follow a group of people, and get to know them at a hotel. Spends a long time introducing the characters. I liked the dialogue. The film received 7 Oscar nominations, Niven and Hiller won Oscars for their performances.
Favorite quote: We are both so frightened of other people and we somehow manage to forget our fright when we've been in each other’s company”
Rating 7.7


Day of Wrath (1943)
Powerful albeit joyless drama by director Carl th Dreyer that concerns a community calling out women as witches. The priesthood are the enemy.
The church is supposed to be a system for good, yet in this film are inhumane. Are the priests really evil, or simply doing their job? Do the priests sincerely believe that witches exist, or is it to give the town a scapegoat? If the later is true, the priests are the real sinners. Perhaps a fear of an uprising and other rival beliefs.
When I see a film such as this, my reaction is so strong, that I feel the church should be abolished.
Rating 8.3




Enter the Dragon (1973)
Often cited as the most popular Kung Fu movie, and perhaps the peak of the famed Bruce Lee's career. The soundtrack and haircuts are very 70s. The script has surprising developments, the story isn’t dated, and there are a number of memorable scenes.
However, it does beg the Indiana Jones question, why not just use a gun to defeat the fighter? I guess then it wouldn’t be a Kung Fu classic.
Favorite quote: “We are all ready to win, just as we are born knowing only life. It is defeat you must learn to prepare for”
Rating 8.0


An Autumn Afternoon (1962)
Similar feeling to Floating Weeds (1959), I liked the visuals, but found story uninteresting and unmemorable. The premise is not dissimilar from other Ozu films of parent-child relationships, dependency, responsibility, marriage, financial issues. This was a rare outing in color for the director and was his last film. I didn’t get anything out of watching, perhaps it appeals more to an Asian audience.
Rating 6.0




The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
Woody Allen comedy-fantasy, and often referred to as among his best from the 80s. Set in the 1930s, it's a tribute to the magical power of escapism through cinema, something Americans needed more than ever during the depression years. Only by watching heroes on the big screen can Cecilia (Mia Farrow) put up with her dull life. The music wasn’t really my scene. I enjoyed the “what if” scenario. Woody Allen films can be hit or miss for me personally. I definitely liked this one.
Favorite quote: “The real ones want their lives fiction, and the fictional ones want their lives real”
Rating 7.6


Sin City (2005)
Has been called the most accurate adaptation ever done of a comic book. Great cast, but I should warn you also very violent. Aside from the praiseworthy visuals, didn’t leave a lasting impression in terms of story. I guess this comic book universe just isn’t for me, so I’ll pass on the 2013 sequel.
Rating 7.0




Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
Entertaining farce which was sporadically funny. Can safely say this family are a bunch of nutcases! The best Cary Grant performance I’ve seen.
Favorite quote: “Do you have to tie him up to get him to listen?”
Rating 7.8


The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
Won 5 Oscars. I could tell what the outcome would be, but it is entertaining with good performances. About the movie industry, success, ambition and friendship.
Rating 7.5




Days of Wine And Roses (1962)
Beautiful opening credits. Good performances by Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. About alcohol addiction. The neighbors are the real cockroaches ( :
Rating 8.0

Vera Drake (2004)
Mike Leigh period drama which depicts England in the 1950s. Oscar nominated performance by Imelda Staunton, who plays a naïve kind-hearted housewife, who helps out as an abortionist.
Rating 7.5




The Seventh Continent (1989)
Powerful Austrian drama directed by Michael Haneke. Best to know absolutely nothing before watching. Based on a true story about a family. I had no idea where the story was heading, because there is no obvious direction at first. Keeps you guessing what is wrong. Towards the end I laughed out loud at the absurdity of what was happening. Will have to give it a rewatch sometime to look out for clues in the first part of the film.
Rating 8.3

Caché (Hidden) (2005)
Michael Haenke psychological thriller. A bit similar to Funny Games. A couple (Daniel Auteuil & Juliette Binoche) are stalked by a mysterious unknown. There are several suspects during the investigations. A number of things are unspoken or hidden, as the title indicates, so I didn’t really know what to make of it all. Is the mystery solvable? Apparently there is a 20+minute interview with Haneke in the DVD's special features, which I haven’t seen.
Rating 7.7




Funny Games (2007)
Michael Haenke’s US remake of his own provocative psychological thriller. You watch with morbid curiosity, at the back of your mind it’s a guilty pleasure, you know this kind of situation happens in real life, and shouldn’t be entertainment. The way the film is told questions audiences paying to see torture. However I also feel Haenke's story could be misunderstood and used the wrong way. Just think about recent Acapulco violations in the news.
Rating 7.5


Through a Glass Darkly (1961)
Won best foreign language film Oscar.
Strong performances, just too melancholy for my taste. Questions whether a woman’s family are making her even more sick. Perhaps the writer is an alter ego for Bergman, about the nature of the artist, neglecting his children.
Bergman writes, "These three films deal with reduction. Through a Glass Darkly – conquered certainty. Winter Light – penetrated certainty. The Silence – God's silence – the negative imprint. Therefore, they constitute a trilogy."
Rating 7.0

Winter Light (1963)
Second part of the faith trilogy.
Technically flawless in terms of acting, cinematography, lighting, and so on. A depiction of Tomas, a priest having faith issues, likely brought on by the death of his wife.
His ex-mistress doubts he loves her, and he feels humiliated by the gossip of the affair, and is too caught up in his own suffering to listen to a suicidal who visits Jonas(Max von Sydow). Tomas and Jonas later talk.
The last 30 minutes were the most compelling to watch, it’s just all so melancholic and depressing. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a masterpiece.
Ingmar Bergman cited Winter Light as his favorite among his films. One of Bergman's most intimate and autobiographical films, it deals harshly with personal elements of the director's life and worldview. Bergman claims that he only "realized who he really was" and came to terms with himself through the making of Winter Light.
Rating 7.2

The Silence (1963)
Received less acclaim, though this atmospheric third part is my favorite of Bergman’s faith trilogy. The easiest to watch and least melancholic of the trilogy, contains less dialogue than the previous two films.
As written on wikipedia: The erotic action is motivated as a kind of last resort in a world where language has lost its function – the trio in the centre don't know the language of the strange city, and Anna and Ester continuously misread each other when they talk.
Rating 7.5




Cries and Whispers (1972)
Probably among Bergman’s most beautiful films to look at frame by frame, especially the use of red. Deservedly won an Oscar for Best Cinematography. An emotionally painful one to sit through, a film I wouldn’t rewatch.
As with the faith trilogy above, Bergman's films I can certainly admire, but seldom do I love them. Wild Strawberries, Scenes From a Marriage, and Persona are my favorites of his films.
Sadly I didn’t connect with the intersecting stories and melancholic characters in Cries and Whispers. All I can say is, if this is semi-autobiographical, it must have been a nightmare to have grown up in Bergman’s family!
The heavy breathing reminded me of scenes in The Seventh Continent (1989).
Rating 7.1




Headhunters (2011)
Norwegian action thriller. Good for fast-paced suspense and with enough unpredictable twists and turns to satisfy. One of the best Scandinavian films of recent years. A Hollywood remake of Headhunters is planned.
Rating 8.0




The Up Series (1964-2012)
Documentary series from the UK, which is a marathon to watch, yet was also very involving. Even though there is a lot of repetition, I enjoyed following the group of 14 children from age 7 to age 56.
The original hypothesis of Seven Up was that class structure is so strong in the UK that a person's life path would be set at birth.
Every 7 years a new doc was made, so we see them at age 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56. You get to know them on an intimate level and experience their highs and lows. They are pretty cute as kids, and some of them are quite interesting to listen to as adults. Everybody watching can probably relate to someone in the group, and you want them to find happiness. My favorites to watch are Neil and Bruce, because they are a bit like myself: mild-mannered, introverted, and with their own opinions. Nice those two became friends.
The series forces the viewer to think about their own life. Many of the interviewees are critical of the way they are presented, and there is some truth to what they say, that due to time constraints we are only seeing a snapshot of who they are, from the perspective of filmmaker Michael Apted.
It will be interesting to see if 63 Up will be recorded in 2019!
Rating 8.1



Agree? Disagree? Have you seen any of the above? How was your February?





My Top 5:

1.) The Seventh Continent (1989) (8.3)
2.) Day of Wrath (1943) (8.3)
3.) The Up Series (1964-2012) (documentary) (8.1)
4.) Headhunters (2011) (8.0)
5.) Days of Wine And Roses (1962) (8.0)

6.) Enter the Dragon (1973) (8.0)
7.) Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) (7.8)
8.) Hotel Rwanda (2004) (7.8)
9.) Separate Tables (1958) (7.7)
10.) Caché (Hidden) (2005) (7.7)
11.) The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) (7.6)
12.) The Silence (1963) (7.5)
13.) The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) (7.5)
14.) Funny Games (2007) (7.5)
15.) Vera Drake (2004) (7.5)
16.) Zero Dark Thirty (2012) (7.4)

39 comments:

  1. Glad you liked Headhunters so much, what a fantastic movie. The remake is completely unnecessary.

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    1. @Sati: Headhunters surprised me how good it is! The remake is just a cash-in, indeed unnecessary.

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  2. Wow, you went on a Bergman spree, didn't you? I usually don't mind his depressing nature. It's there is almost all his movies. However, from what I have seen, what makes his movies memorable is when there is some silver lining to it like Wild Strawberries or Seventh Seal.

    His Faith Trilogy and Scenes of a Marriage are probably the two most acclaimed movies that I haven't seen. I am thinking of watching Through a Glass Darkly for this month's Blind Spot. Lets see.

    I have also been meaning to see Purple Rose of Cairo and Vera Drake for a long time.

    I remember loving Hotel Rwanda but it was long ago. I remember Don Cheadle was simply stunning in it and their treatment of subject matter as serious was really great.

    And you are right about Dragon. It wouldn't be a Kung-Fu movie if they just used a Gun. But one thing I remember the most about it is the noises he makes. That was...weird.

    And I don't know what's with me and Grant's screwball comedies but they really get under my skin. I have only seen two(Arsenic and Old Lace and His Girl Friday) and both are considered kinda iconic but they really make me throw things at screen.

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    1. @SDG: Yes, I did! Also saw 3 Michael Haenke films. True enough, a lot of Bergman is melancholic, even the ones I like are.
      I'm glad I finally watched faith trilogy. If you don't mind Bergman's depressing nature, I think you'll like that trilogy more than I did.

      Don Cheadle was indeed excellent in Hotel Rwanda. It didn't quite reach masterpiece status for me though, because it reminded me of a similar film from the 90s(which I won't mention for fear of spoiling)

      The noises in Enter the Dragon, I guess you mean during the fight sequences.

      ha ha, it's ok not to like Grant's screwball comedies :) I had a good time with Arsenic and Old Lace.
      His Girl Friday was just too fast for my brain to keep up, I had to pause every 5 minutes to catch my breath :)

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  3. Cries & Whispers is so far my favorite Bergman film. It's just devastatingly visceral to watch. I hope to see more of his work.

    I have Day of Wrath in my DVR list. I might watch it next month or sometime later this month.

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    1. @thevoid99 Cries & Whispers is a special movie, just not for everyone, I guess.

      Hope you like Day of Wrath. I heard your man Lars von Trier was inspired by Dreyer's filmmaking.

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  4. I bought Headhunters the other day for a ridiculously low price but haven't got round to watching it yet. Am really looking forward to it after hearing so many good things.

    I thought Zero Dark Thirty was a fascinating film. Not sure I agree with all its politics as it seemed a bit dodgy to me. Anyway I was gripped throughout.

    Hotel Rwanda another great film! Embarrassed to say I didn't make it to the end of Cache I'm afraid.

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    1. @Pete Turner: Headhunters was a nice surprise, I think you'd like it.

      Is worrying how Zero Dark Thirty suggests torture is one part of the successful search for Bin Laden.
      Nobody in the military, or even Obama, should be allowed to authorize torture, there must be other ways to catch a terrorist. Must have been huge pressure to catch Bin Laden, and sadly the military seem to operate by rules without limits, which is scary.
      The Americans no doubt will feel differently about the Bin Laden killing, once they know torture could have been a part of the operation.
      It does appear to be a pro-torture film, that torture works, which I agree is dodgy. Though Bigelow has stated she's showing the events without taking sides. I think Michael Moore said about the torture: "Depiction does not equal endorsement"

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  5. ZDT: I thought I would hate this because of my political leanings, but came out surprised. Watching it with an open mind, it's an impressively scripted and acted piece of cinema. However, I felt there was not enough humanity in Maya's character for me to truly care.

    Hotel Rwanda: Saw this back in 04, but that scene where they are driving down the 'bumpy road' is the one unforgettable memory I have.

    Enter the Dragon: It's been awhile since I last saw this one too, but Bruce Lee was a hero of mine growing up, and this was my favorite film.

    7th Continent: I saw most of Haneke's filmography in quick succession just before this so the impact was somewhat dulled. I need to see it again with a bit of separation.

    Caché: I don't think the mystery is meant to be solved. It's just a devious hook he uses to manipulate us.

    Funny Games: Really toys with the audience in an unpleasant yet masterful way. A common M.O. for Haneke, but this is his most extreme. He and Tarantino sit on opposite ends of the highly violent movie spectrum. I'll add that I felt the US version was redundant. Identical film, just a more expensive cast. At the time, this made me lose a bit of respect for him, but he won it back with The White Ribbon.

    Headhunters: Yep. Loved the surprises in this. Beautifully paced and just an overall refreshing and entertaining entry to a usually boring and predictable genre.

    56 Up: Still haven't caught up with the latest one yet. I've seen the rest, and the series as a whole is surely one of the most important and fascinating film concepts ever. Seeing these people grow up, and the passage of time this way, you are right, it does force you to reflect on your own life, the good and the bad. I'm sure Apted will continue to make them as long as he's still able. I guess that uncertainty adds to the mystique.

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    1. @Bonjour Tristesse:

      ZDT: Maybe Maya is a character incomprehensible to herself, in the same way Peter O'Toole is in Lawrence of Arabia script, but at least he had personality.

      Hotel Rwanda: The scene in the fog is indeed a haunting, a stand-out moment.

      Enter the Dragon: Didn't know that was one of your favorites. A wild guess, I'd say you might be of Asian descent. Since I remember you also loved other Asian films like A Simple Life (2011) and Key of Life (2012)

      7th Continent: I prefer it to Amour.

      Caché: Only Haenke who wrote the screenplay knows. You could be right he is just toying with us, and there is no answer.

      Funny Games: I haven't seen the Austrian version. I skipped it because identical, and I prefer without subtitles. Interesting how he addresses violence.

      56 Up episode is on youtube, if you can't find the dvd in your area.
      I think it would have been a different experience, if I had grown up with the series, and watched it every 7 years. On the other hand, when I watched it all at once, what they said at a younger age remains fresh, and you can see if it comes true. For example Neil saying in his 20s he wants to go into politics.
      I hope they keep making these. As you said jokingly about Before Sunrise trilogy, maybe we'll get an 'Amour version' of the Up Series eventually, providing they still want to participate at that age :)

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    2. Yeah, I have mixed ancestry and some of it is from Hong Kong. Thanks to my grandmother I can understand a lot of the language, but I still need subtitles to completely understand films.

      It's an interesting comparison between the Up series and the Before films. Philosophically I think they both achieve the same thing with the passage of time. Even though it's fiction, I think I relate much more with Linklater's characters, because I'm close to the same age as them.

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    3. @Bonjour Tristesse: I managed to connect the dots, also one of those songs you suggested in top 100 post was Asian. I was a bit worried I got too personal there, as I know bloggers guard there anonymity. Glad you took it well.

      You could be right, that Up series and Before films both achieve the same thing with the passage of time. I care what happens to them-like I do my favorites from Up series, and can compare their experiences to my own.
      Can't wait for Before Midnight, the chemistry just works. It's like a story I wish I was part of, and Julie Delpy's and Ethan Hawke's characters are people I would like to hang out with.

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    4. It's all good, I have nothing to hide. I'm the kind of person who doesn't volunteer details about themselves, but I don't mind sharing when asked.

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    5. @Bonjour Tristesse: It's all good then. Difficult to know how people will react. I've burnt my fingers a few times by being too direct.

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  6. Now I want to watch Enter the Dragon....

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    1. @3guys1movie: Let me know if you do review Enter the Dragon

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  7. I've seen so many of those I can't comment on all. I will say:

    Enter the Dragon is definitely a film that anyone interested in martial arts should see.

    The Up series is something everyone should see, even if they feel they would not be interested in it. It is truly one of the great uses of the documentary format.

    It's funny you said that about Grant in Arsenic and Old Lace because I've read he hated his work on that film.

    I should be seeing Separate Tables soon, as part of my Oscar Best Picture nominees quest.

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    1. @Chip Lary: The Up series is great, I just wish it had an equal number of females and males. I read that the director regretted he didn't do that. It is voluntary, although the participants are paid an unknown sum for their appearance in each film.

      Cary Grant hated his work on that film? Never knew that, and couldn't tell.

      Separate Tables I enjoyed, hope you like it!

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  8. Thanks for the link, Chris! Glad you liked Separate Tables, Arsenic and Old Lace, Days of Wine and Roses, and Headhunters. As far as those Bergman films go, I guess I just like melancholic films and characters. ;)

    Can't wait to see what classics you dig into next!

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    1. @Josh: You're welcome, and thanks for the heads-up on that film!

      Perhaps Bergman's style just is a bit too bleak for me to handle. Maybe in years to come I'll return to his work and feel differently.

      Next time, I'll be reviewing classics such as Lawrence of Arabia, The African Queen, Giant,Get Carter, among others.

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  9. I can't comment on many of these. I'm guessing this month was mostly about covering blindspots for you.
    Enter the Dragon is definitely a must-watch, even though the way the scenes are structured are beginning to look very dated, especially when compared to films like The Raid.
    Hotel Rwanda is an important film for mostly humanitarian reasons. It did a lot of good to raise consciousness of the issue and was, all in all, a very difficult watch. However, I found it to be just a bit less powerful than I had expected it to be.

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    1. @niels85: blindspots all year round :)

      The Raid I haven't seen, so can't really compare the two.Enter the Dragon I didn't find dated during action scenes.

      I agree Hotel Rwanda did a lot of good to raise consciousness of the issues. Especially that the world community should not look away when genocide is going on. I think it did a pretty good job. As you said, could have been a bit more powerful.

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  10. "All I can say is, if this is semi-autobiographical, it must have been a nightmare to have grown up in Bergman’s family!" ... Ha ha! True enough. The one benefit to having a truly dysfunctional childhood is it gives you plenty of fodder for your art.

    I've seen and liked Purple Rose of Cairo, Arsenic & Old Lace, Vera Drake, and Cries and Whispers. I loved Cache. I saw the original version of Funny Games. It was not my cup of tea, but it had amazing performances.

    I appreciated your balanced, thoughtful review of Zero Dark Thirty. Based on the widely mixed reactions I've read, I really don't know what to think about this film. At least it seems to have gotten people talking and thinking, which is a good thing. I will definitely see it for myself when it comes to DVD, and I'll try to keep an open mind.

    Excellent post! I really enjoy the way you think and write -- your comments are very thought-provoking.

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    1. @Quirky BookandFilmBuff: Many a story have been shaped from a dysfunctional childhood :)

      Glad you enjoyed reading my comments on Zero Dark Thirty. That was the mini-review I spent the most time researching.As I wrote on another blog, for me the debate over the film is more interesting than the movie itself!
      The good news is Obama introduced the no-torture-policy in 2009 during 10 year Bin Laden hunt. The bad news is a number of the US torturers have not been held accountable.

      Thanks for the kind words! I hope you get to see ZD30, curious to read your comments on it.

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  11. Right there with you on Sin City. Don't see the fuss with it. Didn't think it worked as a film, personally. The stories just felt like they'd be better as short films, rather than mushed together.

    Headhunters, I love. Currently got Jackpot on my list. Another Scandinavian thriller from a Jo Nesbo book. Love their sense of humor.

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    1. @Jaina: Sin City wasn't quite as good as I expected it to be in terms of story. Oh well, worth seeing for the fantastic visuals.

      I haven't seen Jackpot. I'll look out for your review.

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  12. ::gasp:: How can anyone not love "Sin City"?

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    1. @Shala: haha, that's the way the cookie crumbles :) I didn't hate Sin City, didn't love it. I prefer other comic book adaptations.

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  13. Great recap Chris. A lot here I haven't seen, looks like you've been in some kind of Haneke's marathon?

    Oh I love The Purple Rose of Cairo, kind of similar to Midnight in Paris, though I enjoyed the latter a bit more. Glad you love Headhunters and rated that highly, it's one of the best thrillers I've seen. Blech, Hollywood is remaking that, I can't imagine they'd improve it.

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  14. @Ruth: Yep, took a look at a few Michael Haneke films this month. I've seen most of the well-known ones now except The Piano Teacher.

    I can certainly see the comparisons between The Purple Rose of Cairo and Midnight in Paris. I won't bother watching Headhunters Hollywood remake.

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  15. Nice month! Looks like you dove into a couple of directors I need to familiarize myself more with -- Haneke and Bergman. I did see the original Funny Games last year and didn't care much for it. Kind of curious to see the American remake though.

    Enter the Dragon is a lot of fun, same with Headhunters. Good picks there!

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    1. @Eric: Haneke and Bergman, both directors are quite melancholic in their storytelling, so the films I'll be watching in March will be more upbeat I hope :) Personally, from what I've seen so far, I prefer Haneke of the two directors.

      I actually watched Enter the Dragon because I noticed it on a list on your site, so thanks for the rec!

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  16. I think if you liked The Purple Rose of Cairo, then best possible I'll like it too (u know I'm not too fond of his movies).
    I actually did not finish Sin City because it was too 'dry' for me, and perhaps I can't stand watching black and white contrast for too long at the time.
    As usual great selection of movies, Chris.

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    1. @Andina: The Purple Rose of Cairo, it's quite magical, I think you'd like it. Would go in my top 7 Woody Allen films. Doesn't have Woody himself as actor, which is a good thing for me, as you know I find him a bit whiny.

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  17. just stumbled across your blog and - wow: you've had a nice month! How better to spend the dark winter days than in the uplifting company of Bergman and Haneke :-)
    I look forward to reading more from you!

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    1. @thomas4infosoc: Welcome aboard! haha, yes, those two directors have made some powerful films, yet also quite bleak at times.
      I should have my recap of March watching up at the end of the month!

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  18. Some great picks! I'm watching Funny Games later this week actually.

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    1. @Lights Camera Reaction: Thanks for saying so. Let me know what you think of Funny Games, once you've seen it(Just don't expect a comedy)

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