Saving for later, "Dangerous Sex and Scattered Focus, Fifty Years Apart", an article by American film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum comparing Babardeală cu bucluc sau porno balamuc (directed by Radu Jude) to WR: Mysteries of the Organism (1971) ; both films dealing with the representation of sexuality and politics. I tremendously enjoyed Bad Luck Banging's writing and structure, and the spectacular acting. Also, don't want to spoil the ending, but it's so seriously over the top you will NEVER forget it. WR has been high on my list of must-watch so maybe it's time to give it a chance.
My good friends over at ED Distribution are set to release in theaters this wonderful film directed by Mark Jenkin. They were kind enough to send me a preview link and I watched it this morning, absolutely mesmerized from start to finish. I'll definitely go see it in an actual cinema once it's out, if only to pick up more clues and get lost once again in this labyrinthine mental island.
Here's an English translation of my Letterboxd review: "Enys Men offers a unique sensory experience, situated at the outskirts of hauntology, this protean non-genre obsessed with the notion of a present constantly shaped by the ghosts of the past. Far from the clichés of traditional fantasy, here is finally the great intimate feminine horror film that Men by Alex Garland and In the Earth by Ben Wheatley could have been, had they both not chosen the path of grand guignol. In a stripped-down, precise, calculated, and naturalistic cinematic style, Mark Jenkin evokes not only the essence of Folk Horror but also the spirit of Bergman's Hour of the Wolf. His heroine, captive in a House on the Borderland worthy of Hodgson's spatio-temporal nightmares, traverses the epochs and sediments that (de)compose reality; on the other side of the mirror, the secrets of the labyrinthine world she inhabits are revealed to us. Some may get lost in it, while others will see a fascinating representation of the nightmares of immanence. A brilliantly inhabited film, to be seen captive in the theater, to drown in the hypnotic dance of the 16mm grain chosen by its director." And to wrap this post up, I'll direct you to yet another great Guardian article about this wonderful, wonderful movie and the wicked ways of its one-of-a-kind director. "Enys Men", French theatrical release April 10, 2024.
"What's wrong with being sexy?"
I guess SPINAL TAP's Nigel Tufnel would fail to see the point of this short 17-minute long documentary summarizing Blondie's career through a montage of the worst questions asked on repeat by TV presenters ("Why did you dye your hair/take on some weight? How do you compare to Madonna?")... until the band brings a puppet monkey called Minkie to answer in their stead. Debbie Harry's facial expressions as the questions get stupider and stupider are absolutely priceless! Deborah Harry Does Not Like Interviews from Public Interest on Vimeo. Blondie’s Debbie Harry endures years of superficial, tedious, and demeaning questions from journalists until she devises a brilliant way to turn interviews on their head.
Director Meghan Fredrich answers some questions about her movie here:
"During the musical performance at the end of the film, Debbie sings “Here comes the 21st century, it’s gonna be much better for a girl like me.” As the audience now watching this film in the 21st century, we have to ask ourselves: Is it? "
One of my favourite film music podcasts is back, right on time for Halloween, and I can't wait to listen to this brand new episode! "Featuring a musical candy-bowl of scary soundtracks, classic and contemporary thrillers, synthwave, horror disco, and NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4's rap battle." Almost 4 hours of the best Spooktober music out there!
Just wanted to share this theory I have regarding John Boorman's sequel which - everyone will agree to this - is a bit of a mess. But what if it all happened in Richard Burton's head? Quoting from my initial post on Letterboxd: "Finally, after all these years of carefully avoiding this movie like a plague of locust, I caved in and sat down to watch, bewildered and greatly amused, this train-wreck. What can I say? Definitely a product of its time: Uri Geller, ESP, nonsensical parapsychology all mixed up with - faint - traces of the original and at least a more serious attempt to give Father Merrin and good ole Pazuzu a bit of an origin story. |
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