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Jan 7, 2010 6:17:31 PM Archived Entry: "Movies watched, 2010"

Last year I failed to see more movies than I did the year before (a mere 15). This year is looking good because of the Ozu festival at the BFI.

1."I Flunked, But ..." (1 1/2 - just not coherent enough) and "A Straightforward Boy" (1 1/2, a movie fragment)
2. Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth (1932 - 2* as hitting some strong emotional content but still feeling disconnected and was falling asleep)
3. Dragnet Girl (1933 - 2 1/2, story really weird but awesome cinematography in places and despite stilted performances, fun to watch)
4. Sherlock Holmes (2009 - 3, also jerky in places and not at all historically accurate but just an awfully good time)
5. A Mother Should Be Loved (1934 - 1 1/2 as too fragmentary and falling asleep again despite being only 80 minutes long)
6. The Only Son (1936 - a talkie at last! 2 1/2 due to some excellent cinematography but the acting still seemed stilted)
February
7. There was a Father (1942 - heartbreaking tale of a father and son constantly split up after father quits teaching job due to terrible screwup; heavy war sacrifice element. First time w/either Shuji Sano or Shin Saburi. Print in bad shape and sound very distorted.)
8. Hen in the Wind (1948 - unforgettable, harsh movie about a woman who prostitutes herself just once to pay for medical treatment for her son)
9. Early Summer (1951 - an extended family all is focused on marrying off the youngest daughter Noriko like there's something wrong with her, but when she chooses a man _with a daughter_ suddenly nobody wants her to get hitched. Lots of humor in this one. Especially liked the scene where the older brother is listening to his sister and wife from behind a screen.)
10. Brothers and Sisters of the Toda family (1941 - kind of like King Lear, you lose your money and nobody wants you around anymore, only this time it's a widow and her daughter being shuttled around between the different family members. Print somewhat damaged, sound fuzzy but excellent movie overall)
11. Late Spring (1949 - only daughter living with her widowed father, she wants to stay with him forever but he wants her to get married. Great scenes of traditional Japanese society - Noh, tea ceremony - and wonderful trip to Kyoto. Great insight into Japanese values. 3 1/2 *)
12. Late Autumn (Akibiyori, "Shining Autumn [Day]" - 1960 - only daughter living with her widowed mother both have to deal with their friends trying to get them married off. Half of movie set in sake bars or nice restaurants. Don't see it hungry. 2 1/2 *)
13. End of Summer (1961 - family embarassed by patriarch's antics as he nears death, including taking up with his childhood sweetheart, now turned Geisha (sorta). Big focus on death, nice scene of smoking crematorium chimney at the end - 3 1/2*)
14. Early Spring (1956 - insanely long movie about a husband fooling around on his wife and the games they both play with each other. "Sirkian" ending. Nice scene with old salaryman talking about how it's all leading to death anyway. 3*)
15. The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice (1956 - irritating married couple seem to have little in common, but when young niece shows a backbone, somehow the husband comes into his own and eventually the wife learns to understand him. 2 1/2 *)
March
16. Chicago (silent version, 1927) - 2 1/2
17. Alice in Wonderland (2010) - 1 1/2 (I got bored and nearly walked out)
April
18. Mic Macs - 2 1/2
May
19. Hot Tub Time Machine - 3
July
20. Dracula (the original)
August
21. Toy Story 3

"Only weak men fear able women" - Marion Boyars