Laundry Reviews

King Lear (1987)

interesting and innovative

[22 August 1999]

Cahiers du Cinema rated this as one of the top ten films of 1987. On the other hand, Leonard Maltin said of it, "Bizarre, garish, contemporary punk-apocalyptic updating of Shakespeare classic. Little to be said about this pretentious mess except... avoid it." I don't think it is a great film, but I certainly don't think it can be dismissed in such an offhand manner. There was a lot of thought put into it, and it can be very thought provoking, and also quite funny. I liked this film quite a lot and I thought it was interesting. I think it is very innovative and ahead of it's time; it almost seems like a multimedia project more than a film. I can see how people might find it very boring, but I didn't at all. It deals with many issues that have since become prominent themes in academic discourse.

8½ (1963)

see this masterpiece on the big screen

[22 August 1999]

I saw this on the big screen last night, and it was amazing. The only video versions I've ever seen really butcher this film with pan & scan, but the laserdisc is widescreen and so it is much better. But on the big screen is really how it has to be seen. In my opinion 8 1/2 shares the number one spot with 2001. It is Fellini's best film, and his funniest. Mastroianni taming his harem to Wagner's Ride of the Valkaries is the most profoundly comic scene in the history of cinema. The Dantean descent into the steam baths to find the ridiculously apotheosized cardinal in the center who can say nothing except that outside the catholic church all is evil; a marvellous satire of catholic dogmatism. All the performances are excellent. And the cinematography! This film was very innovative and original with its extensive use of the most fluid of fluid master shots. This is truly passionate filmmaking. I think it is currently being rereleased at select theatres throughout the country, so see it.

The Last Seduction (1994)

felt like a slightly above-average cinemax movie

[21 August 1999]

I was very disappointed after hearing so much good about this movie. I thought it was really pretty bad. I heard it premiered on cable, and that's all it really is. Maybe a bit better than most, but this seemed pretty much like a cinemax movie. As somebody else said, it is really cheesy how all the characters are stupid except for the clever bitch, and yes, plot holes abound. The heavy-handed treatment of morality was so bad it was offensive. It was an attempt to make the film thought-provoking but a decidedly failed attempt.

The Shining (1980)

Simply a great film, not just a horror flick

[20 August 1999]

I really never get scared by movies, and saying about this film that "it's a really scary movie" seems to me demeaning and dippy. This is not really a horror film, but an ingenious study of psychological archetypes. I think it is a masterpiece, like pretty much everything that Kubrick has ever done. The direction is very original and very excellent. Groundbreaking use of the steadicam makes the hotel itself a ubiquitous and omniscient character. It is amazing how Kubrick can work preexisting masterpieces of classical music into his films so well that they seem made for the film. I have long regarded Bela Bartok as probably the greatest composer of this century, and Kubrick's extensive use of his "Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta" is incredible. Nicholson's performance is perfect and bizarre, and every line is delivered so meaningfully and memorably. Even seemingly unimportant lines like, "See, it's OK. He saw it on the television." Like I said, I don't ever get scared by movies, and I consider this almost more a black comedy than a horror film. I grin with delight throughout this film, sometimes bursting into laughter due to the intense wierdness of Kubrick's and Nicholson's flamboyant interpretation of the madman. Memorable lines include "I swear I wouldn't touch one goddamn hair on his goddamn little head. I love the little sunuvabitch!!" "'What'll it be sir?' 'Hair of the dog that bit me.' Bourbon on the rocks!' 'That'll do it.'" One more thing I have to add: rack zoom in on guy in dog suit kneeling down in front of a guy that looks like Charlton Heston as they both stare at Wendy. Awesome!