Withnail and I (1985, Bruce Robinson)

A story about friendship (drugs and booze) and a holiday in the country.

This is a film that underwhelmed me the first time I saw it, two years ago.  However, on this, my second viewing, I think it’s a masterpiece.

This film is hilarious! And with so many quotable lines I wish I had a better memory.

It’s 1969 and struggling London actors, Withnail and Marwood, tired of the filth they live in and their uneventful lives, decide to rejuvenate themselves with a jaunt in the country. But without the modern conveniences with which they are accustomed, their friendship is put to the test.

Richard E Grant is superb as the ever-intoxicated Withnail and Paul McGann is brilliant as Marwood.

Highly recommended!

Since Otar Left (2003, Julie Bertolucci)

The story of the relationships of three generations of women. Set in contemporary Georgia, the elderly matriarch Eka (Esther Gorintin) lives with her daughter Marina (Nino Khomasuridze) and granddaughter Ada (Dinara Drukarova) in a small apartment.

Eka’s beloved son, Otar, has been living in France for the past two years to get work and start a better life.

Eka adores her son and looks forward to receiving his letters and the occasional telephone call. Her relationship with her daughter Marina, however, is quite strained. Although Marina takes good care of her mother she can’t seem to get the approval and love she so deeply craves and deserves.   Ada is young, intelligent and diligent and the glue that binds the elder women together.

One day as Eka is out to the country; Marina and Ada receive a phone call, which notifies them of Otar’s death. Not wanting to break Eka’s heart Ada and Marina decide to keep Otar’s death a secret and compose Otar’s letters to Eka and things become more and more complicated as they try to conceal the truth from Eka. But Eka is more astute than they think.

This is a beautiful story with rich characters and superb acting by the three female leads. I love this film more and more on every viewing. A film with heart and soul.

Submarine (2011, Richard Ayoade)

This is a film we are all looking forward to seeing. It comes out in September in Australia and looks like a fun film. Empire Magazine (Australia) also gave it a nice write up in the current (September 2011) edition. It is directed by Richard Ayoade, better known as Moss from the IT Crowd.

Monday Night Movie

I spend my Monday nights alone, in front of the telly, watching something from my collection.

Tonight I think I'll watch Don't Look Now.

It's a "Psychic Thriller" apparently. We now what the means! Bleeding photo frames! AAhhhhhh.

Sunday Night Movie

Logan's Run (1976, Michael Anderson)
Not much of a Sci-Fi fan but I'll see how I go.....
....loved it! I found Peter Ustinov's acting in the role of the Old Man as simply superb.

An allegorical B Grade Gem

Film Art

Love this picture of Tarkovsky’s Solaris (1972) by Evgeny Parfenov

A film I can't wait to see and keep going on and on and on about