Pauline Kael – “Marlon Brando: An American Hero” (1966)
A long essay on Marlon Brando from the March 1966 pages of The Atlantic, by esteemed film critic Pauline Kael…
The history of the motion-picture industry might be summed up as the development from the serials with the blade in the sawmill moving closer and closer to the heroine’s neck, to modern movies with the laser beam zeroing in on James Bond’s crotch. At this level, the history of movies is a triumph of technology. I’m not putting down this kind of movie: I don’t know anybody who doesn’t enjoy it more or less at some time or other. But I wouldn’t be much interested if that were the only kind of movie, any more than I’d be interested if all movies were like Last Year at Marienbad or The Red Desert or Juliet of the Spirits. What of the other kinds? Read the rest of this entry »
“You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger” (2010)
A review from IndieWire, Sept. 20th of this year, by Eric Kohn, of Woody Allen’s new film…
With each new movie Woody Allen directs, it grows increasingly clear that leaving New York was the best decision he made in ages. Two years ago, Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona freed the quintessentially neurotic comic from his out-of-touch depictions of American urbanity by letting Spanish flavor meld with the vibrancy of his speedy dialogue. Back on familiar turf with the Soho-based Whatever Works in 2009, Allen resorted to dated reference points and half-baked scenarios.
Abroad again with his latest venture, Read the rest of this entry »
The Beat Patrol 