annafreemanwulf Reviews

Autumn Sonata (1978)

Best Film I've Ever Seen

[10/10 · 10 January 2021]

I'm not usually one for writing movie reviews, bit for Autumn Sonata, I'm glad to make an exception. This film has all the elements for a perfect work of art for me: a character-driven story, references to art (music), a circualr structure and the kind of delicately done ending that isn't a cop out but isn't unsatisfactory either.

Ingrid Bergman's acting is the best it has ever been, and Liv Ullman's performance doesn't pale in comparison, which says a lot. It seems as though the film couldn't be set anywhere else but in Scandinavia and it's almost reminiscent of certain Ibsen's works - nothing happens in Autumn Sonata, yet I could talk about the film for hours. It exists es an entity seperate from the rest of the world, untouchable, never-ending.

I've seen my fair share of arthouse, European, life-changing films, but immediately upon viewing, I knew Autumn Sonata was my favourite.

When Night Is Falling (1995)

Disappointing on every level

[5/10 · 30 April 2020]

This movie could have been another enjoyable and calm romantic drama but it just didn't deliver on so many fronts. Although we get some nice cinematography and earthy cello music, it doesn't make up for the lack of story and character development. Looking back, it feels like nothing happens in this film, the characters are presented on a surface level and the simple story that could have worked is often interrupted by weird scenes that don't make sense.

The dialogue in this movie is seriously so strange, I swear some lines are just thrown in there with zero regard for the context, it almost seems like a mistake. Characters' strange actions are never questioned or explained, leaving the viewer questioning where they got the motivation for them or why nobody is reacting in an appropriate way.

The story could be summarised in two sentences and the main relationship between the two women is never really developed on anything but a sexual level. They barely have any meaningful conversation in the film and then suddenly are in love with each other. I often watch romantic films as a guilty pleasure, not expecting great storytelling, but this didn't even deliver a believable relationship. If you're looking for a romantic drama, I would recommend anything but this (-just watch Carol again).

Maude: The Analyst (1975) Season 4, Episode 9

Give This Woman an Emmy Already!

[10/10 · 21 November 2019]

Just when I thought that drama-wise, this series couldn't get any better than the "two-hander" episodes starring only Bill Macy and Bea Arthur, the latter delivers a half-hour monodrama so compelling, intense and honest I was moved to tears several times.

I can only compare Arthur's monologue delivery to something out of a Tennessee Williams play -- a quality I honestly never expected to find in a TV sitcom. This episode is one of the rare instances where the lack of audience laughter -- silence, even -- is a positive trait (though Maude hardly ever misses an opportunity for a killer one-liner, keeping us laughing through the tears).

The only issue I have with this episode is that it somewhat unrealistically depicts a psychoanalysis session: I shold guess it would be highly uncommon for a patient to virtually achieve a breakthrough on their own in the first half-hour visit. This can be forgiven in light of the fact that Maude is, after all, a 30 minute TV series, so a realistic yet dreary therapy session shouldn't be expected. What is redeemable, however, is the fact that where we are left to realise that a person cannot solve all of their problems in one session, making the ending of this episode much more realistic.

In my opinion one of the best episodes of the series which showcases the strength of Bea Arthur's acting capabilities and experience; from impecable comedic timing to a non-melodramatic approach to more serious dialogue, the versatility of this performer is truly astounding.

Maude: Maude and the Medical Profession (1973) Season 1, Episode 16

Wonderfully Open-Ended

[8/10 · 7 November 2019]

This episode deals with the issue of medical malpractice from both sides; Maude is the unfortunate patient who suffers due to her doctor's business and carelessness, but we also get to view the problem as it is seen by medical practitioners, in this case the doctor in question and his friend and the Findlays' neighbour, Arthur. Maude, being her uncompromising, enterprising and anything-but-tranquilising self, first wants to sue, but is advised against it by Arthur, who says he won't testify against a fellow doctor even though he recognises the man's wrongdoing. Naturally, Maude is upset by Arthur's lack of integrity, but the argument is resolved when Arthur secretly calls his doctor friend and gets him to apologise to Maude. Maude then decides not to take the matter to court, which is a great example of a little-known fact about malpractice cases: almost all patients who sue their doctor do so because of the doctor's unfavourable behaviour - so if the doctor is nice enough, most patients won't even think of taking them to court. The best part of this episode, in my opinion, is the fact that it ends so realistically; Arthur and the other doctor privately recognise that what had happened was, in fact, malpractise, but stick together anyway as not to give themselves a bad name or get themselves in any kind of legal trouble (revealing they both have quite a few blemishes on their record that they would like to keep secret). The episode showcases the reality of human selfishness and naïveté; the human flaws of doctors and gullibility of patients who trust their doctor knows better.