Jarhead. Directed By Sam Mendes. Greater Union. February 16 2006.
For a film based around war this is pretty good stuff. im not a fan of war films, but
Jarhead is if anything an anti-war movie. The adsurdity of the situation that these young men find themselves is often very funny and very disturbing. The scene where Gyllenhaal threatens to kill one of his fellow marines before coming to his senses is full of tension. There are also some fine performances, from Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper and even Jamie Fox( who normally I find very annoying): a loud soundtrack is another highlight of the film, but above all its the stunning photography that really make this film something special. The scene where they are among the burning oilfields is one of many visual treats.
The Aristocrats. Directed by Paul Provenza. Kino. February 17 2006.
I was a little unsure at the start of this film, but suddenly at some point I got it. This documentary is probably the filthiest thing your likely to it through. I thought it would be a little boring hearing different comedians tell the same joke over and over, but the film broke it up into different ways: almost breaking down the joke and analyzing it. This made it much more interesting and ultimately more funny. Some of the versions were REALLY gross and even I found myself feeling a little uneasy, yet some versions were so utterly hilarious I could barley see the screen for the tears streaming down my face. The version that got me the most was Mario Cantone( Sex in the City' Charlottes gay friend). His version done in the style of Liza Minnelli or maybe it was her mother had me in hysterics. There was also a version told by a woman where she turned it around. The middle part was clean and the punchline was obsecene, but hilarious. My only fault with the
The Aristocrats is that there was no on screen introduction to the comedians. Many of whom I didn't know. And it wasn't until the end of the film that we were properly introduced to them all. Otherwise this is very obscene very funny stuff.
Munich. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Greater Union. February 25 2006.
This not the best film ive seen. If anything
Munich oftens feels like a regular thriller with lots of shooting and explosions. But you have the knowlegde that this is based on true events. And it comes with a heavy political message. The old Jewish/ Arab issue. It is that element that maintained my interest. But I found that I wasn't really intersted in the characters as they began to wrestle with their conscience. The cast is very good. Eric bana is so very sexy in this( especially in those tight fitting 70's fashions!!!!) and some of the assaniation techniques are fascinating. But it just seemed to go on and the scene of Bana's character having sex with his wife, inter cut with scenes of the massacre was truly terrible. When Bana threw back his head and sweat shot off I cringed. But overall this taught me a few thing I didn't know.but then cam the final scene. Against a backdrop of Manhattan, two characters discuss the outcome. I instantly wondered whether they would show the World Trade Centre: we see the UN building, then the Empire State. Then as the characters walk off screen the camera pans and there are the (digital) WTC. And that's where the film ends. I found this a very big statement. To me it was suggesting that the Arabs killed Jews at the Munich Olympics,innocent people and Arabs killed innocent people in the 9/11 attacks, many of whom were Jews. That Arabs are continuing the persecution of the Jewish people and that in the instance of the Munich aftermath the people responsible deserved to die and not be brought to justice.
