Monthly Archives: October 2010
Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies (1963) dir. Peter Brook Of all the films on my 45.1 Essential Dystopias list, Lord of the Flies is among the closest to what I consider a perfect dystopia. Lord of the Flies is a rebuke … Continue reading
Come and See
Come and See (1985) dir. Elem Klimov “The ultimate question for a responsible man to ask is not how he is to extricate himself heroically from the affair, but how the coming generation shall continue to live.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer … Continue reading
Postmodern Sincerity
Vivre sa vie (1962) dir. Jean-Luc Godard Pather Panchali (1955) dir. Satyajit Ray Those who aspire at post-postmodernism generally see themselves as rejecting the irony of postmodernism in favor of genuine feeling. Stuckism and the New Sincerity are sold as … Continue reading
Out of the Past
Out of the Past (1947) dir. Jacques Tourneur It feels like there are 3 movies here, or maybe 4. The first is of a reformed man who starts a new life, only to be pulled in for one last job. There … Continue reading
The Post-Utopian Trial
The Trial (1962) dir. Orson Welles The first films I looked at were anti-utopias. Each is a description of a would-be utopia that, due to internal flaws, doesn’t work. Animal Farm critiques Stalinism, The Great Dictator critiques Nazism, and Metropolis … Continue reading
Black Narcissus
Black Narcissus (1947) dir. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger A nun should practice celibacy and acknowledge natural lust – “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” But weak flesh conflicts with Sister Clodagh’s titular narcissistic vision of herself. … Continue reading
The Red Balloon
The Red Balloon (1956) dir. Albert Lamorisse The Red Balloon is a classic example of magic realism. People react to the balloon, but not much differently than I think they would in reality. Most of us would just assume it … Continue reading
Problems With Fictional Time Travel
La Jetée (1962) dir. Chris Marker La Jetée is available on Netflix streaming, and on Google Video. Time travel is a popular device among sci-fi writers, and have often provided a glance at possible utopias and dystopias. So, for this entry … Continue reading
Thelma & Louise & Non-Feminism
Thelma & Louise (1991) dir. Ridley Scott Two critics summed up my feelings on Thelma & Louise better than I can. Margaret Carlson, “Is This What Feminism Is All About?” TIME, Jun 24, 1991. Yet for all the pleasure the … Continue reading
Time Enough at Last
Time Enough at Last (1959) dir. John Brahm Time Enough at Last is the 8th episode of the very 1st season of the The Twilight Zone. I don’t spoil the twist ending here, but if you haven’t already seen this … Continue reading
