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| Syd |
 Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:25 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12921
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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Chop Shop is about Alejandro, a 12 year-old Latino boy growing up in the slums in the shadows of Shea Stadium. He hustles to make a living, mostly working in one of the chop shops there and has permission to live with his sister in a plywood room above it. He's just moved in, and it's not clear to me where he lived the previous twelve years. He also sells DVDs, candy on subways, steals sometimes, and has never been to school. Ale's sister, Isamar, is about four years older, works at a food van for Ahmad (Ahmad Rizvi from Man Push Cart) and is supplementing her income with her body. They are saving their money to buy a food van so she doesn't have to work for Ahmad, who's pretty sleazy in this movie.
So it does have a plot, although it starts off so naturally it doesn't seem to. As I wrote above, it often has almost a documentary feel, particularly in the early going. Alejandro Polanco and Isamar Gonzales are excellent and natural. They and nearly all the rest of the cast are in their first movie (Ahmad and Farooq Muhammed were in Man Push Cart, and, fortunately for players of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, Nick Jasprizza, who has a bit part here, had a bit part in Kangaroo Jack which did nothing for his career. I expect we'll probably get to see Alejandro and Isamar in future films, possibly directed by Ramin Bahrani.
My description makes this sound like a depressing movie, but it's far from that, although it does get bleak sometimes. The center of the film is the bond between Alejandro and Isamar. You'd believe they are brother and sister in real life, but I don't think they are. What they, Ahmad, and the others are are vivid actors, and that Bahrani could get such excellent performances out of them is a testimony to his skill as a director. (I'm not counting the extras, many of whom didn't know they were in a movie.)
Maybe I was too harsh on neo-realism. Ebert promptly put this in his "Great Films" section and I think he's onto something. |
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I had a love and my love was true but I lost my love to the yabba dabba doo, --The Flintstone Lament |
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| Befade |
| Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:15 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 3784
Location: AZ
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Quote: Bad chest cold, curled up in the barcalounger
Feel better, Whiskey..........It's gettin colder and colder out. We had snow flakes up here today.........(Geeze.........you haven't got the swine flu have you? They say you can get it from javelinas.) |
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Lost in my own private I dunno. |
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| Syd |
| Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:18 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12921
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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| Finally: Criterion is coming out with The Human Condition trilogy on DVD! |
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I had a love and my love was true but I lost my love to the yabba dabba doo, --The Flintstone Lament |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:43 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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Syd wrote: Finally: Criterion is coming out with The Human Condition trilogy on DVD!
It's already out.
Criterion has put out a good deal of interesting Japanese films lately.
The 3 film Imamura set Pigs & Battleships; The Human Condition, and in the eclipse line 5 Nikkatsu Noir films. If anyone is wants, I could give a brief run down on those two sets, though I still have one film left to watch in each (Insect Woman and Attack the Police Van .... good titles, huh?)
As for weather, it's been so warm in Shanghai this whole October (highs in the upper 70's, lows around 65), that my cat has started shedding! |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:23 am |
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It's winter here in Medellin, which means the same temperature mid 70's to mid 80's, but more rain. And it seems, little earthquakes.  |
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| Syd |
| Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:55 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12921
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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| Watched My Cousin Vinny again for the first time in way too long. Love the interplay between Joe Pesci and Fred Gwynne and Pesci and Marisa Tomei. I wonder how many suitcases of clothes Mona Lisa Vito took with her to Alabama anyway? |
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I had a love and my love was true but I lost my love to the yabba dabba doo, --The Flintstone Lament |
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| lady wakasa |
| Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:41 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 5911
Location: Beyond the Blue Horizon
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gromit wrote: [If anyone is wants, I could give a brief run down on those two sets, though I still have one film left to watch in each (Insect Woman and Attack the Police Van .... good titles, huh?)
Okay, I'll bite, although right now I'm looking at picking up Bong Joon-ho's Mother (among other things).
Quote: As for weather, it's been so warm in Shanghai this whole October (highs in the upper 70's, lows around 65), that my cat has started shedding!
Well, there's cat shedding and then there's Cat Shedding... |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:49 pm |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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I liked the Imamura set better than the Nikkatsu Noir. Immaura comes out swinging, taking on the US military presence (basically portrayed as lustful idiots, if not outright rapists), and the dregs of society. Pigs & Battleships is a somewhat melodramatic but gritty account of a hustler/low-life criminal and his girlfriend who also needs to scrounge for a living. A lot of energy and some tough reality. Pretty heady stuff for 1962.
Intentions of Murder is a neat little psychodrama in which a burglar is confronted bya housewife and over time they develop a relationship, since her married suburban life is unfulfilling. I really liked this claustrophobic gem, though it can make you squirm at times.
I haven't gotten to Insect Woman.
I like the way Imamura goes full throttle in these films. Piling on complications until the viewer is almost as worn down as the characters.
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Nikkatsu Noir.
I started with I Am Waiting (1957) and was quite impressed. It felt like one of those fatalistic Jean Gabin films from the 40's or Port of Shadows. Atmospheric. An ex-boxer, current waterfront bar owner wants to emigrate to Brazil. He helps a mysterious girl who is hooked in with the mob. Classic set up.
I was less wowed with the rest of the films, though 2 others were fairly solid. I think it's important to remember that these are/were mainly B films, so occasional poor acting or logic gaps occur. These films also borrow heavily from American films.
A Colt is My Passport (1967) even comes with a spaghetti western score, as Joe Shishido is caught between two rival gangs but remains completely bad-ass about it. An urban gangster Clint Eastwood. The film has a wild ending that is fairly ridiculous but kind of fun.
Cruel Gun Story (1964) is very derivative of Kubrick's The Killers and other American heist movies of the era. Pretty enjoyable even if relatively familiar. Another good Joe Shishido outing.
Rusty Knife (1958) is the creakiest of the films, with melodramatic plot complications tacked on along with silly back stories. It seems like this was put together quickly, and is the most obvious B film here.
I haven't seen Attack the Police Van yet.
Overall, I think this is a good set.
I liked the 2 Joe Shishidos, and I Am Waiting is really good. If you like gangster films, heist films, tough guys and confrontations over shady women, this set will do.
Here's a more detailed review of the set with some technical analysis.
http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2988nikk.html |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| Melody |
| Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:55 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 2242
Location: TX
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Gromit, how in the world do you find time to watch all the movies you do? I wish I had your discipline.
I have a client who quotes from My Cousin Vinny sometimes, and every time she does I think to myself, I really need to see that movie. Why did it fall through the cracks? I just looked it up and it came out in 1992, the year of my first divorce. I wonder what other movies I missed that year because I was wrapped up in personal drama? |
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My heart told my head: This time, no. |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:06 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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All of those Nikkatsu Noirs are 90 minutes or less, which really helps.
Also, I don't watch Teevee at all, except for NBA games. Now that the NBA season just started again, I'll probably get to fewer films.
In the evening, I usually get a feel of the stock market, maybe put some automated trades in, and then when it seems safe, toss on a movie (and keep glancing over at the computer screen to check price movement).
Also, I've gotten used to falling asleep during a film. I used to hate that and would struggle to stay awake. Now I even like it sometimes, as I don't have to choose a film the next night or worry about getting involved with it. I just flip through the chapter settings to refresh my memory, and usually continue the film so that I watch the last chapter from the night before a second time.
The other secret is that I buy so many new Dvd's that I'd feel guilty if I didn't watch some. |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| whiskeypriest |
| Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:17 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
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| Melody |
| Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:41 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 2242
Location: TX
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| BWAHAHA!!! You nailed it. |
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My heart told my head: This time, no. |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:24 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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| Apropos of nothing at all, I have to say that in all the discussions of Woody Allen's films that we've had, a movie I consider one of his very, very best is never mentioned, probably because it doesn't fit either of his major categories--comedy or wannabe Ingmar Bergman drama. That movie is Everyone Says I Love You, a thoroughly enchanting musical using old standards, some not too well known, as sung by actors some of whom sing okay and some less well, but all of whom bring considerable charisma and talent to the table. It's an all-star cast including Edward Norton, Goldie Hawn, Julia Roberts, Woody himself, Alan Alda, etc. What a delightful movie--and available streaming on Netfllix. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:35 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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| It's always been one of my favorites. I figured I was alone in that, Billy. |
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| Melody |
| Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:15 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 2242
Location: TX
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I liked The Last Seduction a lot better in my memory than seeing it again after all these years, although I gotta say, Linda Fiorentino is hottttt. The things she does with a toss of her hair and a stand-up fuck in the alley might cause you to ignore the fact that she's written as a one-dimensional cold-hearted woman who will do whatever it takes to get her deluxe apartment in the sky.
There are some nice shots of NYC (including the twin towers, circa early '90s) and the requisite shots of Fiorentino's artfully arranged ass, but it feels like John Dahl is just coasting. It's as if he focused all his attention on Fiorentino (who can blame him) and left everyone else high and dry. Bill Pullman and Peter Berg are just awful. The climactic scene should be a shocker, but the downright lazy writing made me irritable.
I could use a strong dose of Barbara Stanwyck right about now. |
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My heart told my head: This time, no. |
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