Editorial
Mike Williams is interested in when pop stars fail in movies. (David Bowie in The Man Who Fell To Earth is definitely one). Also mentions Mick Jagger in Performance and Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard. Then a long study about Charli xcx having a go.
Opening Scenes
Thomas Flew is at the Berlin Film Festival, where it's all about politics. Even the surprising winning film, Yellow Letters. But this is interesting. The winners of the acting award were Brits Anna Calfder-Marshall and Tom Courtney for Queen at Sea. This is sixty years after they performed in Hamlet together. Also a mention for one of my favourite actresses, Isabelle Hupert, for The Blood Countess.
Editor's Choice
There were sixty-five films at the BFI's Flare festival. Then a piece about the soundtrack for The Testament of Ann Lee, and finally the BFI Southbank features The Cinematic Life of Boxing.
Nothing of note in News in Brief and In Production
Behind the Scenes: The Devil's in the Details
A look at all the technical aspects for the film Sinners, most of which I did not understand.
In Conversation
Jonathon Romney talks to Icelandic director Hlynur Palmason about his new family drama, The Love That Remains, shot in barren southeast Iceland.
Obituary: Robert Duvall (1931 - 2026)
His "spellbinding performance" in Apocalypse Now starts Tom Charity's article. He was only on screen for eleven minutes but gained an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. Then a run-through of all his many films, including The Great Santini, for which he was nominated for best actor at the Oscars, as he did for his labour of love, The Apostle (1997), which he wrote and acted in.
Mean Sheets and Readers' Letters: nothing remarkable.
TV Eye
Andrew Male looks at the TV spin-offs from Game of Thrones (Sky) and the Marvel films (Disney+). But I don't pay for these channels, so they are of no interest.
The Long Take
Pamela Hutchinson talks about generative AI, whatever that is. This article is of no help. A platform called Showrunner is planning to fill in missing scenes from The Magnificent Ambersons. But why?
Pamela says we are not ready for AI.
Flick Lit
Nicole Flattery dismisses these sports films: Marty Supreme and The Color of Money (1986), while extolling the virtues of her favourite sports film of the year, Saipan. (I will wait to watch on TV). She tells us the whole plot surrounding the preparations for the World Cup in 2002, which ended as a huge scandal in Ireland at the time. The population was split into two camps: McCarthy or Keane. But it was a "corrupt and incompetent football association that was to blame."
The Art of Acting
Adam Nayman introduces the acting performances of the year. He picks out Ralph Fiennes for his role in "28 Years Later" and the sequel. "Some of the greatest work of his career."
Jessie Buckley "My job is to feel and make people feel."
Mark Kermode talked to the actress on stage at the BFI Southbank. There is much to say about her approach to parts and ends, particularly regarding the final scene in Hamnet at the Globe Theatre and how an early struggle resolved itself.
Jodie Foster Smart Act
Jodie Foster talks to Catherine Wheatley about her acting. But first, it's the writer/director Rebecca Zlotowski on her new film, A Private Life, who describes the project as "part rom-com, part Hitchcockian thriller." Shot in Paris, it sounds highly promising but is not due for release until next year. There is a long run-through of Jodie's other films with photos. (I had forgotten that she was in season four of True Detective in 2014 (I loved series one, and the second was OK), her first starring role in a TV series since Paper Moon in 1973).
Great Performances: No 1, Christopher Walken and Robert De Niro in The Deer Hunter. Chosen by Jodie Foster.
Lee Byung-hun "I observe people very carefully."
The lead actor from No Other Choice (which I watched on the big IMAX screen at Cineworld – see my review) talks to Arjun Sajip. Who says "the film relies on Lee's ability to maintain audience sympathy while committing ever more irredeemable acts"?
Great Performances: No 2, Leonardo DiCaprio in Whose Eating Gilbert Grape. Chosen by Lee Byung-hun.
More actors choose their Great Performances numbers from 3–6.
Wagner Maura "Brazil's dictatorship is an open scar."
The actor talks to Isabel Stevens about his work, including an Oscar nomination for The Secret Agent. The film is set in 1977 during Brazil's dictatorship. This is a wonderful interview, Isabel.
Great Performances: No 7, Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood. Chosen by Wagner Maura.
Imogen Poots "Don't get spooked into conforming."
Mary Harrod talks to Imogen about her profession and her new film, The Chronology of Water. She was only seventeen when she appeared in 28 Weeks Later and now has the lead role in her latest movie directed by Kristen Stewart. I had seen her in French Excit, The Father, Fright Night, Jane Eyre and others.
Great Performances: No 8, Gena Rowlands in Opening Night (1977). Chosen by Imogen Poots.
Daniel Day-Lewis "Playing games for a living is joyful work."
This annoying person criticises the theatre, saying, "We were essentially performing for a group of more or less privileged people." I'm unsure about his definition of "privilege." (His grandfather Michael Balcon was the producer of the Ealing Comedies).
Great Performances: No 9, Dai Bradley in Kes.
Motaz Malhees "Finally the world is listening to us."
The Palestinian actor talks about his new film.
Great Performances: No 10, Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men.
More actors choose theirs: 11 to 14.
Renate Reinsve "I have a thing for psychotic women."
Lillian Crawford interviews the (brilliant) Norwegian actress. (I will never forget The Worst Person in the World or her latest Sentimental Value, both directed by Joachim Trier). She was inspired by Gena Rowland's Opening Night and Diane Keaton's Annie Hall, both from 1977. Another great interview.
Great Performances: No 15, Isabelle Hupert for her "wild performance" in The Piano Teacher.
Aleksandr Kuznetsov "I'm looking for raw energy."
Jonathon Romney interviews the actor. His new film, The Prosecutors, is due out shortly. He's originally from Ukraine and then studied acting in Moscow. Then from the Moscow Arts Theatre to Russian TV series.
Great Performances: No 16, Penelope Cruz in Ferrari.
Sergi Lopez "It's never a safe process."
He plays the father in the film Sirat, which is set in the desert of Morocco. Elisabet interviews this Spanish actor.
Great Performances: No 17, Marcello Mastroianni in Sunflower.
More actors choose theirs: 18-21.
Kim Novak The Woman Who Knew Too Much.
There is a new documentary called "Kim Novak's Vertigo". The ninety-three-year-old actress talked to Hannah McGill about her career. There are seven of these that have a separate piece. From 1955 to 1959, these include Pal Joey, The Man with the Golden Arm and, of course, Vertigo. Kim talks about working with Hitchcock and James Stewart. "He and I worked wonderfully together."
Great Performances: No 22, Greta Garbo in Ninotchka (1939).
Will Arnett "I'm fifty-five and don't give a shit."
From comedy to acting in Is This Thing On?
Great Performances: No 23, Richard E. Grant in Withnail and I.
More in numbers 24-28.
Paula Beer "The question is, what touches us?"
The German actress is interviewed by Savina Petkova.
Great Performances: No 29, Tilda Swinton in Only Lovers Left Alive.
Sope Dirisu "I'm not going to be stuck in a box."
Hope Rangaswani meets the actor. Another long article, but none of the films are familiar.
Great Performances: No 30, Andy Serkis in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
At the Movies with ...... Ethan Hawke
Samuel Wigley looks at this actor's long and successful career. Dead Poets Society (1989) now seems so long ago. And now he is brilliantly playing Lorenz Hart in Blue Moon, a night shortly before his death. (I did not know that). So much better than Michael B. Jordan, who won the Oscar. But at least this was Hawke's first Oscar nomination. They talk about his influences, such as reading Laurence Olivier's On Acting (1986) and Alec Guinness's Blessing in Disguise. On to movies he likes, such as those by Quentin Tarantino. "I find I remember movies I saw in the movie theatre so much better." But there is nothing mentioned about those films with Richard Linklater.
REVIEWS: Films
Broken English
Part documentary, part fictionalised film about a real-life interview with Marianne Faithfull at the age of seventy-eight. It's two actors asking the questions: George MacKay and Tilda Swinton.
La Grazia
Writer/director Paulo Sorrentino is back after his film Parthenope. (See my review). His new film has the Italian president in the last week of his term, with outstanding issues left to resolve. Sounds interesting.
How To Make A Killing
This is an American remake of the 1948 film Kind Hearts and Coronets (see post 11th November 2024) that was an Ealing comedy by Robert Hamer based on the book by Roy Horniman. It the new version. Glen Powell is the murderer, as he is after the family's $28 billion fortune. There is an "excellent turn" from Margaret Qualley (one of my favourite actresses). Sounds fun although a little repetitive. (Well it would be).
A Pale View of Hills
Based on Kazuo Ishiguro's first novel, so I would be interested if was not on Netflix.
The Tasters
Fifteen young women are employed to test the meals prepared for Adolf Hitler. This was originally two novels, then a play. There is largely a German cast but maybe two hours is too long for this story.
Dead Man's Wire
Set in Indianapolis in 1977, a hostage crisis but just one man. Gus Van Sant directs this thriller based on an Austin Kolooney screenplay.
"Wuthering Heights"
Catherine Wheatley tells us what is not there from the book. "In their place is a quiveringversion of tragic romance borne of misapprehension and missed connections, all yearning and foreplay". Then later, "not adaptation but fan fiction" and "a colour saturated baroque spectacle". But she likes the impressive production design, costumes and "most impressive of all Charlotte Dirickx's sets".
DVD and BLU-RAY
Columbia Noir #7: Made in Britain
The box set contains six films from the 1950's when there were many American actors and directors in this country escaping the McCarthy trials. None of the six seem interesting.
Excaliber
John Boorman's 1981 story about Merlin has a fresh 4K restoration. Full of what are now major stars: Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, Ciaran Hinds, Patrick Stewart, Nicol Williamson, Helen Mirren and Cherie Lunghi.
Birth
Jonathon Glazer's 2004 movie starring Nicole Kidman and Anne Heche. "Easily Kidman's greatest performance". Although the film had an "oddly dismissive initial reception" and now strange but beautiful. (The Guardian review said it was a "magnificent, misunderstood masterpiece".
WIDER SCREEN and LOST AND fOUND
Nothing of interest.
BOOKS
Magic Rays of Light: The Early Years of TV in Britain
John Wyver's book is only about the very eraly years before I was born.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
I can sell my acting like that
From Sight and Sound Magazine of March 1997, Berenice Reynaud explored thecareer of Maggie
Cheung (brilliant in the film In The Mood For Love). Maggie had just starred in the film Irma Vep, the Wong Kar Wai movie from 1996. Not to be confused with the marvelous TV mini series from 2022 starring Alicia Vicander. (I could watch the wholeseries over again). So I will look out for a DVD of the original but they are too expensive at the moment. This long four page article includes something about an earlier Maggie film called Actress. But that is not available anywhere.
THIS MONTH IN ....... 2000
Mark Kermode wrote about the excellent film Any Given Sunday, there was something about the movie Girl, Interrupted, ( they missed the surname of the actress Winona Ryder) and mentions for Magnolia (I have ordered the DVD) and The Virgin Suicides that I found to be unsettling.
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