Tess

Roman Polanski, 1979 (8.4*)

One of the more visually sumptuous of all the filmed classic novels, this is based on Thomas Hardy’s novel Tess of the D’urbervilles (here called Durbeyfield). A young peasant woman may or may not be related to the aristocratic family of the title. She crosses paths with two men, one older and one much younger and closer to her age, who easily fall in love with her and hence classic entanglement problems ensue. I don’t want to reveal too much of the plot, but you’ve likely seen enough of novel from this era to know what to expect. This film is more about the beauty of cinema than the story of the novel, for me anyway.

Nastassja Kinski, daughter of intense German actor Klaus Kinski, who had to be stopped by the crew from beating director Werner Herzog with a rock, made a stunning acting debut in the title role, winning several acting awards.

The beauty of this film was rewarded with Oscars for cinematography (Geoffrey Unsworth won four awards for this), costume design, and art direction. It also won 10 more awards including four for Polanski as best director.

Read more...

Red Dragon

Brett Ratnor, 2002 (7.6*)
This was author Thomas Harris' first of the Hannibal Lector novels, and it was actually filmed first as well, by Michael Mann as the tv movie looking Manhunter, with William Peterson. The film went unnoticed, and thankfully after the success of The Silence of the Lambs (1991), a best picture Oscar® winner, it was refilmed by director Ratnor in the style of Silence, with Anthony Hopkins repeating his role as Hannibal. Unfortunately the only other cast member aboard is Anthony Heald as Dr. Chilton, head of the prison where Lector is confined.

This film starts with Hannibal being discovered by FBI agent Will Graham, well played by Edward Norton, though it seems a bit odd seeing him on the proper side of the law - after Primal Fear and American History X (1998) , many viewers will expect Norton to be somewhat psychotic and out of control. Ralph Feinnes stars as the serial killer known as the Tooth Fairy, who, like real serial killer Ted Bundy, likes to bite his victims after they're dead.

This was a pretty eerie book, perhaps a better novel than Silence, yet the film isn't as creepy as Silence, perhaps due to Jonathan Demme not directing, perhaps due to the story. There is one major positive in this one: the painting Red Dragon by William Blake, the metaphysical artist, poet, and philosopher, which becomes the metaphor for the transformation of a human into a super-being, in this case a human-devouring dragon.

It certainly has an impressive supporting cast, as Emily Watson plays Feinnes blind girlfriend, and Philip Seymour Hoffman is a scandal rag journalist, for the "National Tattler" (read "Enquirer"), who likes to think he's a major crime reporter with national importance. Mary Louise Parker is unfortunately miscast as Graham's wife.

For fans of Harris' novels and Demme's film, this is a spine-tingling must-see, for others it will likely be a tossup.

Read more...

Chinatown

Dir: Roman Polanski, 1974 (8.2*)

Best Picture (GG)

AFI Top 100

Though not the greatest crime film, certainly a good example of "modern noir". There are some unforgettable scenes here, but overall the plot may drag a little and eventually stretch the viewer's credulity.

Jack Nicholson is a 40's style gumshoe detective, who uncovers a plot concerning the city's water supply and possible corruption. (Here in the U.S.? NO!) John Huston is a little over the top in a supporting role, as is Faye Dunaway as his daughter, but the star is Robert Towne's script, which won an Oscar® and elevated him to the highest paid screenwriter at the time. One Oscar® (11 nominations).

Read more...