hooshi Reviews

Death and the Maiden (1994)

over 3000 died under torture but no criminals???

[7/10 · 5 November 1999]

The title refers to Scubert's masterpiece. The heroine, a torture victim, remembers that it was being played while she was being raped and tortured ,which makes her hate Schubert, music, herself and the modern society's claim to civilization and Justice.In the post-Pinochet "Democracy" you can investigate those crimes against humanity, report them with charts, statistics, etc.,but you can not name the perpetrators, nor can anybody be tried or questioned because of them, and that is what drives our heroine mad, and makes her act "irrationally".I think Polanki's version is o.k, but the original Steppenwolf theatre presentation was much more compelling.

Death and the Maiden (1994)

over 3000 died under torture but no criminals???

[7/10 · 5 November 1999]

The title refers to Schubert's masterpiece. The heroine, a torture victim, remembers that it was being played while she was being raped and tortured ,which makes her hate Schubert, music, herself and the modern society's claim to civilization and Justice.In the post-Pinochet "Democracy" you can investigate those crimes against humanity, report them with charts, statistics, etc.,but you can not name the perpetrators, nor can anybody be tried or questioned because of them, and that is what drives our heroine mad, and makes her act "irrationally".I think Polanski's version is o.k, but the original Steppenwolf theater's presentation was much more convincing.

Trial and Error (1962)

a tender, touching drama of human condition

[8/10 · 4 November 1999]

an underrated flick , unfolding a powerful drama about the relation of a less fortunate attorney whose inner portrait is revealed when he is assigned to defend a man accused of murder. Witty dialogue and social satire, as well as excellent performance by Peter Sellers and Richard Attenborough.

The Tin Drum (1979)

Stunning rendition of Gunther Grass's masterpiece

[10/10 · 4 October 1999]

Schlondorff brings to life the epoch-making novel with intensity and honesty. I have not found him to be ever able to achieve the level of artistic perfection as he has in this one:You feel, close to you bone and flesh , the real filth and stink of an ideological regime, seen thru the dagger-sharp gaze of a child who stubbornly refuses to grow up.One of the best films ever made.

Minoo Watch Tower (1996)

Proto-Fascist glorification of death and humiliation of life

[11 June 1999]

This is the story of a man so badly brainwashed by religious fascism that can not appreciate love and life. The title, translated into Farsi, means: "the tower to Paradise" .The tower, is a watch-tower, where the believers,(the background is the Iran-Iraque War) who are presumably the Islamic revolutionary guards, are being martyred and shipped to Paradise.If this sounds like a farce to an average movie-goer, it sounds like a holy and admirable undertaking to the director, who is indulged in the mysticism of "the Holy War" .A talented filmmaker, the messenger of death-wish.

Playing for Time (1980 TV Movie)

The best TV production ever.

[9/10 · 3 April 1999]

Firstly I have to say that this is not your usual stereotype Jewish holocaust movie: It goes much, much beyond any ideological rhetoric, to deal with Human condition.However, you have the Concentration Camp as a background for one of the best contemporary playwrights (arguably The best!) to create and develop his masterpiece .It is worthwhile to know that Arthur Miller persisted in his demand to put Venessa Redgrave in the the leading role, in spite of all the threats and protests of JDL.Here, she presents one of her most magnificent performances as an Artist trapped in the most dehumanizing conditions one could imagine.The dialogue is absolutely superb, and the actings are quite decent.A must see.

Stealing Beauty (1996)

Bertolucci apologizing for "1900"

[1/10 · 7 February 1999]

Stupid plot, lack of direction and nonsense dialogue makes this simply the worst Bertolucci film I have seen. Ironically, the location is the same as Bertolucci's masterpiece, "1900", namely Toscani. Don't try to find even one intelligent scene in this movie: there is none.

Underground (1995)

Can anybody ever make a better film? I doubt it

[10/10 · 28 January 1999]

This is one of the greatest films I have ever seen. There are several movies made and still being made about the conflict in former Yugoslavia, but alas! they appear so pale and trivial compared to this one. It goes beyond the current conflict and all other conflicts, to remind you how magnificent the art of cinema could be .

The Last Adventure (1967)

Lost souls start it, but ends like a Greek epic

[9/10 · 28 January 1999]

You may not guess what a masterpiece you are watching at the beginning. but as the powerful drama unfolds, you get more and more involved,until the last shot of the last scene.

U Turn (1997)

Is Stone falling?

[6 January 1999]

I once watched mr. stone commenting on Hitchcock and "strangers on a train". His summary of Hitchcock's work was this: complete sacrifice of content for the sake of form.Now we see that Mr.Stone's own movie(not film, of course) -U turn - not only is devoid of any appreciable content, but also - In spite of arduous work by the excellent actors to make something out of it-has many flaws in technique and style.Where the movie is not boring , it is disturbingly aimless . I have a lot of respect for Mr. Stone , and I hope He is not going where he appears to be going.

Death in Granada (1996)

trivialization of a magnanimous event

[5 January 1999]

I did not find this movie interesting at all, and I will try to give my reasons: firstly the movie was totally miscast. Ask anybody familiar with Spanish literature, and you will be told that Andy Garcia is quite unconvincing as that giant Garcia Lorca , for instance when reciting the fanmous "Death at 5 o'clock".The other personages don't do any better.Secondly, poor directing has turned it into a B,pseudo film noir, rather than a serious political thriller, and last but not least,since I saw it in the mutilated TV size Video I missed much of supposedly good cinematography.I hope somebody sometime will make a more dramatic film about the life of this great human being.

Sacco & Vanzetti (1971)

As good as they come

[10/10 · 2 January 1999]

Magnificent rendition of the people, circumstances and atmosphere surrounding the infamous "Palmer Raids", the paranoia of the keepers of law and order and the status quo, and of course the frame-up of Sacco and Vanzetti.It is worthwhile to know that the governor of Massachussets recently exonerated Sacco and Vanzetti, calling their trial a shameful mark on the face of American judiciary system.

The Apostle (1997)

worthles, non-drama

[1/10 · 25 December 1998]

This is an example of much ado about nothing . As an actor, Duvall is-and has always been -great , but I see this movie as an evidence of his intellectual decline. After all, what is the whole thing about? The preacher doesn't even undergo a dramatic change in the way he thinks or acts.I also have a comment about that bus: It is usually used to take the uninformed , uneducated flock to the polls, to vote for whoever that their shepherd favors, who is the most possible conservative candidate.

Peppermint Frappé (1967)

powerful, haunting,a great work by saura

[10/10 · 25 December 1998]

A very proper, very religious and very conservative doctor is infatuated by his best friend's free spirited wife, who in turn is faithful to his liberal husband Spain during Franco.but this is far from everyday love triangle melodrama ,since this is only a metaphor for Spain during Franco . How does a man belonging and believing in a repressive society act? Magnificent performance by Geraldine Chaplin makes this film one of the best I have seen of Carlos Saura.Not surprisingly, the film is dedicated to Luis Bunuel.

Peppermint Frappé (1967)

mighty powerful , haunting

[10/10 · 19 December 1998]

A very proper, very religious and very conservative doctor is obsessed with his long-time friend's wife, and because the events happen during the Franco repression , he acts according to the dictates of time and place :Extermination! the film is dedicated to Luis Bunuel.A very political, expressionist film.