Change Your Image
Brian-140
Reviews
Phoebe (1964)
Unusual approach for the subject
I saw this film when growing up. It was shown at school to all students 13/14 years old to serve as a warning of the consequences of teenage pregnancy.
What made this film interesting was that, rather than taking the "parable" path of the "documentary-sermon" [i.e., with a droning adult spouting the "you shouldn't do this because its bad" propaganda on the soundtrack with the usual accompanying emotion-shocker graphics] this film took a very different path.
The film is divided into vignettes - all of them from the point of view of the woman - all of them different. First there is "telling the parents" - one scene shows the mother terrified at what reaction the father will have; then there is an alternative showing the parents being loving and supportive. Then there is "telling the boyfriend" - one scene shows him blithefully accepting the situation; the other has him running away screaming at the news.
A very thoughtful approach indeed - and it definitely caught our attention as students far more than the typical lecture/threat method ever would have. It's too bad it's out of print.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941)
Excellent translation of the original story to screen
If one approaches this movie to compare it to the previous (1931) version of the same story there are bound to be some negative comments. But if one goes back to the original story, this movie becomes the ONLY true translation of the original novel to the screen.
Robert Louis Stevenson intended his story to be a portrayal of a staunchly virtuous man who slowly degraded himself spiritually to something less than human - a sort of psychological self-destruction. Stevenson was very reluctant about using the mad-scientist angle and stated that he felt the potion drinking was "just so much hugger-mugger."
This movie is a perfect encapsulation of Stevenson's original vision. Dr. Jekyll is a staunchly virtuous man who, despite warning from both clergy and friends, feels that he has the strength to tackle the secrets of the soul. Alas, he has not that strength and finds himself strangled to death in the coils of the serpent he unleashes.
Granted there are some bad things about the movie: Tracey could have been a shade more emotional, and it would have been nice if the proper accents were used (a london dance-hall stageshow being done with a Mae West accent????). But the fact that Tracey is able to show the transformation using only the power of the actor rather than the makeup makes this the most exceptional film of its type.
Worth watching!
Hostile Takeover (1988)
An ambivalent horror flick - -
After watching this film, I was left with the impression that there were two competing interpretations of the script - and the director tried to film both. Interpretation one could be summed up as "horror/hostage/screams/blood" - Interpretation two: "psychodrama/disturbing/thought provoking."
There are some very terrifying moments in this film that can have you gripping the edge of your seat and holding your breath hoping that the worst ISN'T going to happen....and then suddenly you are in the middle of a quasi Greek Tragedy with the players making profound orations while the plot stands still. (Exactly what the poems of T.S. Eliot have to do with the plot is never made clear).
I found it a very interesting view with some very genuinely deep moments - but the ending was almost an anti-climax and the schizoid handling of the script did not help matters. It is worth at least a look but you probably won't come back for seconds.
The Appointment (1982)
A slowly tightening noose of terror..
This film is unique - the horror of the situation derives more from what is implied rather than what is seen. A young girl violinist who is has an insatiable need for attention from her father invokes a dark force to eliminate her rival, thus granting her the star spot in the orchestra. But when her father informs her that he cannot attend her performance due to an "appointment" - she invokes the mysterious force against him.
The visual/audio effects are incredible: some very Hitchcockian touches throughout, especially the "invasion of the house" and the "restaurant" scene. The car crash scene is a masterpiece of surrealism. The film wisely does not plunge us right into the bizarre but slowly draws us in - until it is too late to escape.
Only one flaw: why is the dark force invoked against the mechanic? Her father would have left for the appointment in any case. And why the missing part on the roadway? Worth seeing though.