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Sweethalcyon.Com » Archive for November 2009

CABERET 1972 FILM

November 25th, 2009 | Add a Comment

Liza W/ a Z

Liza W/ a Z

Cabaret, which is set in Berlin in the early thirties, brilliantly depicts both the decadence of the period and the rise of “The Nazi State” from ridiculed fringe group to ruling party. As many others have noted, Cabaret hardly seems like a musical, because all of the songs save one take place in the Kit Kat Klub. The performances of Liza Minelli and Joel Grey are remarkable. Indeed, Minelli’s rendition of the title song has become a classic. However, it is the one song that occurs elsewhere that is the most memorable. This song, “The Future Belongs to Me,” occurs outside in a beer garden on a sunny afternoon and is sung by an angelic-looking young Nazi with a sweet tenor voice. One by one the beer garden patrons arise and chillingly join in the singing, as the words and music change from gently lyrical to scary militaristic. As the principal characters are departing, the Baron’s shrug of the shoulders when asked, “Do you still think that you can control them” speaks volumes, especially in view of the horrors that would soon engulf millions. Most accounts of the rise of “The Nazi State” focus on intellectual matters, such as the repressive Treaty of Versailles or the world-wide depression of the thirties, but the beer garden scene in Cabaret captures, better than any book or movie that I am familiar with, the emotional effect that “The Nazi State” must have had on the Germans of the time. After all, when Germany was at one of the lowest ebbs in its history, a group suddenly appeared on the scene carrying a message of German superiority. The future did indeed belong to them, but thankfully the “future” only lasted for a few years.


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Filed under: Movies

THE HUNGER 1983 FILM

November 25th, 2009 | Add a Comment

THE HUNGER

THE HUNGER

The Hunger opens with Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie Picking up a very hot looking couple at a club, driving them out to a place in the burbs and having their way with them. Doing to them what vampires do to folks, drink their blood of course. David Bowie is a companion vampire to Catherine, David begins to wither and he does it very quickly and so Catherine must get a new companion. Enter Susan Sarandon Catherine’s next victim, or is she. In this film, genetic material (similar to a virus or prion) is passed from true vampires (a different species) to create temporary vampires (a few centuries or so) from humans. The human vampires act as companions until they eventually wither. Unfortunately for the human vampires, they never die (unless burned) and remain in a conscious, desiccated state (a form of living hell). The lineage of the true vampires begins in ancient times, passes through the Egyptian dynasties, and into the present. This film is heavy on atmosphere. The flirting and seduction scene between Catherine and Susan is smoldering. And there are lesbian sex scenes between Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon that is as hot as anything ever filmed, in my humble opinion. The beauty of Catherine and Susan together is absolutely breathtaking. A film that is not easy to forget, nor should it be. I give “THE HUNGER” 5*****Stars.

Filed under: Movies

CHASING AMY 1997 FILM

November 25th, 2009 | Add a Comment

CHASING AMY

CHASING AMY

I have a “love-hate” relationship with Romantic Comedies. I really enjoy a decent one – and a couple of examples I’d consider “decent” are “While You Were Sleeping” and “When Harry Met Sally”. I also recognize that there is probably no other movie genre that is as suitable for “date night”: It’s where men and women’s interests overlap.

Bad Romantic Comedies can be really tedious things, and many of my pet peeves about movies come from this genre. For example, my LEAST favorite romantic comedy cliche is the moment 10 minutes before the end of the movie where our loving couple has THE “big fight” (often over nothing or something completely stupid or forgettable), followed by one of the characters tearing off to the airport just so that the OTHER partner will have the sudden revelation that they’ve *made a big mistake* and go tearing off for the airport as well – usually arriving only moments late. (With an equally cliche-filled smooching reunion that follows minutes later, before the end credits roll.)

But I digress. NONE of these horrid cliche’s fill this movie, which is full of almost believable characters and completely believable heartache.

Kevin Smith has now created a half-dozen films, and while I would classify all of them somewhere between “watchable” and “excellent”, “Chasing Amy” remains his masterpiece to date.

Holden (Ben Affleck) and Banky (Jason Lee) are 30ish buds-since-High-School who have grown into the guy fantasy job of writing a hit comic book. They get to alternate working on “Bluntman and Chronic” with making personal appearances at fan conventions where they get paid to sign autographs.

At one of these conventions they hook up with another “graphic novelist”, Dwight Ewell’s Hooper X – who is constantly educating Holden and Banky about being black and being gay. Ewell steals all of his scenes because Hooper is a perfect mix of bravado and angst which sufficiently masks his inner conflict for being black and gay.

Hooper introduces our heroes to Alyssa Jones, portrayed in a career-making performance by Joey Lauren Adams. Alyssa is cute, funny, talented, witty and Affleck’s Holden falls for her in a big way. He interrupts his usual routine with Banky just to meet up with Alyssa before finding out at the end of the first act that Alyssa is a lesbian.

A moment to discuss the language, themes and realism of the movie. Like the Kevin Smith films that preceded it, Chasing Amy uses language that is frank and honest and uses raw street vernacular to describe many things, in particular sex. I have heard many criticisms about the story contained in Chasing Amy. Joey Lauren Adams doesn’t fit lesbian stereotypes, and among those who seem to know, it is ridiculous to consider that a lesbian might be interested in a man – even if (perhaps especially if) the man is Ben Affleck. These things must be accepted to follow the movie. Smith makes it easy. In truth, the language and the issue of homosexuality are side issues in what is essentially a truly unique Romantic Comedy.

Like Smith’s first feature “Clerks” the central conflict in “Amy” concerns one character’s difficulties accepting the “history” of the other romantic interest. To say more would spoil the pleasure you would derive from enjoying the flick yourself, but it has to be stated that Smith’s resolution involves heartbreak, plenty of humor, no cliches and no airports.

If you think you might enjoy an honest romantic comedy that includes street language, frank discussions about sex and gay characters, “Chasing Amy” fills the bill exactly.

REVIEWER: MARK J FOWLER..AMAZON.COM

Filed under: Lesbian Films, Movies

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