127 Hours

About as good a film as could have been made from the source material. Director Danny Boyle makes an energetic movie about the true story of Aaron Rolston, trapped for 127 hours in the canyonlands with a pinned arm. I think most people know what happens to the arm.

Sometimes it's too energetic; it's clear that Boyle knows the limitations of his material and overcompensates with swooping camera angles and fanciful moments. Still, it works for the most part. I enjoyed it but I don't think it was one of the ten best films of the year.

Ordeal by Innocence (1958)

A fairly mediocre Agatha Christie, even though the author herself said it was one of her favorites. It starts well: a convicted murderer is found innocent, a year or so after he has died in prison. His innocence means that another family member is responsible for the death of Mrs. Argyle, a woman who had adopted five children.

The book meanders along without a lot happening; the plot is mainly filled in with dialogue. It does pick up at the very end (a sudden flurry of murder and attempted murder) but it's a little too late. Also toward the end, the very very end, there is a romantic subplot that is introduced that seemed unnecessary and tagged on.

There are a lot of psychological portrayals in this book, especially among the adopted children (all adults when the book takes place), but I don't think Christie quite nails it. She is best, I think, in a more light-hearted mode, or as light-hearted as murder mysteries can get (I guess they can get pretty light-hearted). The sinister tone of this book and the psychological complexity makes me wonder what someone like Ruth Rendell might do with the same plot.

Film Frames Friday

Hint: What are your plans this Monday?

The Best British Films

My friend Kevin alerted me to a new list of 100 Best British Films, compiled by Time Out Magazine. I say it's a new list because the British Film Institute has already done a top 100 British films but this list is quite different. For example, The Third Man does not rank number one on the Time Out list; that spot goes to Don't Look Now. Now, I love Don't Look Now as much as the next 1970s horror fan, but it's not better than The Third Man, at least in my game of poker.

The real reason to look at the list is that they compile everyone they polled and give you their individual Top Tens. This, to me, is far more interesting than the big list. Who knew that Thandie Newton's favorite British film is The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner?

So, because I love making lists like my cat loves shoelaces, I thought I'd do my top ten Brit Flicks, not an easy task. Here they are, in order.

10. The Wings of the Dove (1997)

A film I love a lot more than anyone I know. Contains, I believe, one of the greatest screen performances ever by Helena Bonham Carter.

9. Walkabout (1971)

Unpleasant but unshakeable. Australian children lost in the wilderness.

8. Dead of Night (1945)

My choice for greatest British horror film. It has some flawed moments but the final sequence seals the deal.

7. Mona Lisa (1986)

 My favorite British noir and a heartbreaking tragedy.

6. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Everything came together for the sixth Bond film--best story, best Bond girl, best music. Well, everything but best Bond. Would Connery have worked in this odd film? We'll never know.

5. The 39 Steps (1935)

The first of many perfectly-realized Hitchcock films.

4. Local Hero (1983)

A love story between a man and a place. Dry wit and and magical realism.

3. I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)

My favorite Powell & Pressburger, also about love and about place.

2. The Third Man (1949)

Not only is this one of the great thrillers it also has some great comedy, zither music, and an unrequited love story.

1. The Lady Vanishes (1938)

I do believe this is the greatest melding of adventure, comedy and romance. It is also the British version of Stagecoach and a call to arms for pre-war Britain.

Poetry Monday

Together



by Paul Engle




Because we do 


All things together


All things improve,


Even weather.




Our daily meat


And bread taste better,


Trees greener,


Rain is wetter.

Night in the City (1950)

A beautiful film noir made by Jules Dassin and starring Richard Widmark and Gene Tierney. It is also an oddity in that it was filmed in London and the plot circles Harry Fabian's (Widmark's) pathetic attempt to re-tool himself as a wrestling promoter by championing pure Greco-Roman style wrestling over a new and more popular flashier style. And, yes, there are wrestling scenes, including a doozy between the great Mike Mazurki and Stanislaus Zbyszko, one of the sweatiest fleshiest fights I've ever seen put on film. Widmark is amazing as Fabian, who never really had a chance, and then there's a parallel storyline with Googie Withers trying to open her own private club in London. She's particularly heartbreaking in a film filled with dead-end losers.

Film Frames Friday

Hint: A place we've all been thinking about.