Breaking the Fourth » Film http://www.foothillspac.org/wp Blogging from Foothills Performing Arts Center Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:44:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Delicatessen Satisfies My Hunger http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/10/30/delicatessen-satisfies-my-hunger/ http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/10/30/delicatessen-satisfies-my-hunger/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:09:14 +0000 Foothills http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/?p=68 I first watched the French film “Delicatessen” on a shag rug in my family’s living room in 1992. I was 16 years old and virtually in my cultural infancy. While many peers were bored with subtitles and abstract plots, I had a hunger to understand what it was about these films that tickled [...]]]> I first watched the French film “Delicatessen” on a shag rug in my family’s living room in 1992. I was 16 years old and virtually in my cultural infancy. While many peers were bored with subtitles and abstract plots, I had a hunger to understand what it was about these films that tickled the fancies of artsy-fartsy set.

Watching this film as a 16 year old confirmed to me that, indeed, foreign films were worth my time. And I’d be safe to say; this was one movie that impacted my future appreciation for unique film making.

“Delicatessen’s” Plot: Post-apocalyptic conditions are hard, meat is scarce, and people are desperate. A retired clown rents an apartment above the Butcher’s shop and meets a mélange of characters who are, to say the least, eccentric. This includes the Butcher who brutally tends to his flock of tenants by feeding them what livestock is available: HUMAN!

The Butcher

When the whimsical protagonist falls in love with the Butcher’s daughter (and visa versa), the plan to make a meal of new guy goes awry. She attempts to protect him through pleas to her brutish father, but to no avail. Finally she hires an underground vegetarian faction to fix things and then things REALLY get wild.

“Delicatessen” is visually engaging with striking contrasts, smoky cityscapes, and just an overall eeriness. The sets are reminiscent of Braque’s cubist paintings – monochromatic, confusing, and deliberate.

What’s most impressive to me is the multi-sensory experience that the film magically conveys with its cleverly composed percussion numbers and dust and smoke that can almost make you choke.

For those of you hungry for a little French culture post-apocalypse-style…or for those with, simply stated, an appreciation of dark humor, please join us at Foothills Performing Center on Monday November 17, 8 pm for this delicious and playful masterpiece.

Christina H.

]]> http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/10/30/delicatessen-satisfies-my-hunger/feed/ 0 Tampopo: An Opinion http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/10/28/tampopo-an-opinion/ http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/10/28/tampopo-an-opinion/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:36:01 +0000 Foothills http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/?p=61 As I’m usually reminded whenever I watch foregin films, our sensitivities and expectations as Americans are not universal. We were all taught that any good story has a conflict, a climax, a resolution… and so on. Based on this, most Hollywood films are packed heavy with tensions and “situations”. Tampopo (Japanese) was a pleasant departure from [...]]]> As I’m usually reminded whenever I watch foregin films, our sensitivities and expectations as Americans are not universal. We were all taught that any good story has a conflict, a climax, a resolution… and so on. Based on this, most Hollywood films are packed heavy with tensions and “situations”. Tampopo (Japanese) was a pleasant departure from that formula.

The film is simply a romp. This is not to say that it is without some plot lines, but it is a comedy after all, and a Japanese one at that. The main character Tampopo, is a widow who owns a noodle shop. It’s not such a good noodle shop, and the film follows her education and efforts to make her place the best it can be. To paraphrase Tampopo: Everybody has got a ladder to climb. Some climb every rung to the top and some don’t even know they have one.

And perhaps that’s the biggest “message” in the movie. To strive for personal improvement! I can say that after the movie I had a serious hankering for noodles and a new appreciation of the complexities of what appears to be a simple dish.

Absolutely well worth the time, this move has many heart warming moments and is an overall joy! Ten toes up!

At Foothills Monday, November 2 at 8pm.

John Costa

]]> http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/10/28/tampopo-an-opinion/feed/ 1 November is All About Food, Yum http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/10/26/november-is-all-about-food-yum/ http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/10/26/november-is-all-about-food-yum/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:17:45 +0000 Foothills http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/?p=59 The November movies are great for date night.  Food is a sensuous and seductive subject.  The Foothills setting is intimate and fun.  And the movies we’re showing will make you feel like a genius.  They are staples of any study of cinema theory and practice.  These movies will feed your brain!  (Even the disgusting ones.)

See [...]]]> The November movies are great for date night.  Food is a sensuous and seductive subject.  The Foothills setting is intimate and fun.  And the movies we’re showing will make you feel like a genius.  They are staples of any study of cinema theory and practice.  These movies will feed your brain!  (Even the disgusting ones.)

See you at the theater.

Jennifer

]]> http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/10/26/november-is-all-about-food-yum/feed/ 0 HORROR AT FOOTHILLS http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/10/07/horror-at-foothills/ http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/10/07/horror-at-foothills/#comments Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:20:34 +0000 Foothills http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/?p=45 Horror films are not everybody’s bag, but there is definitely a market out there, just as there is definitely a market for anything under the sun. In my opinion, most horror films fall into one of two categories: useless (abysmal acting, cheapo production values, ludicrously unbelievable, baaad) and “good fun.” In the latter, one concedes [...]]]> Horror films are not everybody’s bag, but there is definitely a market out there, just as there is definitely a market for anything under the sun. In my opinion, most horror films fall into one of two categories: useless (abysmal acting, cheapo production values, ludicrously unbelievable, baaad) and “good fun.” In the latter, one concedes that the narrative is not meant to be real, the acting is usually surprisingly believable, the filming quite expert, and the storytelling suspenseful, quirky, and nominally “scary.”

Warming up to Halloween, Foothills has scheduled horror movies for the entire month of October. The first, “Dead Silence,” was solid entertainment.  I did not expect the complete surprise ending for one second. That was good. It was coherent and consistent and moved along nicely. Too bad if you missed it.

The next two selections, “See Jane Run” (October 12) and “Creature of the Night” (October 19), are also good old-fashioned horror stories, just creepy enough to make you squirm a tiny bit. Surprises and twists and sudden shocks abound. Avowed exaggeration, plenty of lipstick without the beeswax (movie blood), sinister angle shots, it’s all there. As Eve said to Adam when she gave him the apple: “Enjoy.”

The final movie in the series, “Martyrs” (October 26, approaching Halloween)  is something different altogether. It is the only horror movie I have seen worthy of the name.

“It’s truly disturbing,” the knowledgeable salesperson at Blockbuster told me when I was prowling around the horror section.

“Good!” I said. “That’s what we’re looking for.”

“No. I mean truly disturbing.”

“That’s what we want.”

I was truly shocked, not to mention disturbed. I am still, a week after viewing it, shuddering at the depth and truth of the violence, brutality, suffering, and utter horror.

The difference here is the stark realism. Nothing is done for laughs. It’s dead serious, no pun intended. No tongue-in-cheek whatsoever. This is not “fun.” But it is unbelievably good. It’s art.

Directed by Pascal Laugier and hailed at the Cannes Film Festival as a standard-setting milestone in horror cinema, “Martyrs” tells the story of two young women bent on revenge for the unearthly suffering inflicted on one of them as a young girl. The narrative is baffling, quick-moving, absorbing and breathtakingly frightening. Even when I (repeatedly) reminded myself that “it’s only a movie,” I couldn’t steel myself for my reactions. It makes every other horror movie I have come across seem as harmless as a nursery rhyme. Truly.

Come see for yourself.

And write a response to this assessment. We welcome your views, opinions, criticism, praise…

Sam Goodyear

]]> http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/10/07/horror-at-foothills/feed/ 0 An American Opera – The Greatest Pet Rescue Ever! http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/09/23/an-american-opera-the-greatest-pet-rescue-ever/ http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/09/23/an-american-opera-the-greatest-pet-rescue-ever/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:05:43 +0000 Foothills http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/?p=12 Kleenex is advised. Mainly for the emotion you will feel at the astonishing selflessness and unquestioning devotion on the part of thousands of volunteers to ensuring the safety, health, and happiness of tens of thousands of animals stranded and marooned by Hurricane Katrina. Tom McPhee’s multiple-award-winning documentary film chronicles the heroic efforts to retrieve beloved [...]]]> Kleenex is advised. Mainly for the emotion you will feel at the astonishing selflessness and unquestioning devotion on the part of thousands of volunteers to ensuring the safety, health, and happiness of tens of thousands of animals stranded and marooned by Hurricane Katrina. Tom McPhee’s multiple-award-winning documentary film chronicles the heroic efforts to retrieve beloved pets owners were required by officialdom to leave  behind in the aftermath of the storm. The tone is mostly upbeat, though there are sequences about bureaucracy and brutality that give one pause for serious thought. The soundtrack is hip and contemporary. The final segment focuses on Barkus, a pet parade in New Orleans celebrating the rescue mission’s triumph and man’s deep connection to the Animal Kingdom.

**** Four (bold) Stars

“An American Opera”  is being shown in collaboration with area SPCAs at Foothills Performing Arts Center on Monday 28 September. Doors open at 7 PM for a Pre-Show Forum. Screening at 8.

]]> http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/09/23/an-american-opera-the-greatest-pet-rescue-ever/feed/ 1 Grizzly Man http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/09/22/grizzly-man/ http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/2009/09/22/grizzly-man/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:09:09 +0000 Foothills http://www.foothillspac.org/wp/?p=10 Tim Treadwell spent 13 summers in the Alaska wilderness, most of the time by himself, living among grizzly bears. It is giving nothing away to say that he was, along with a girlfriend, ultimately mauled and devoured by a member of the species he had committed himself to protecting, a sector of the animal kingdom [...]]]> Tim Treadwell spent 13 summers in the Alaska wilderness, most of the time by himself, living among grizzly bears. It is giving nothing away to say that he was, along with a girlfriend, ultimately mauled and devoured by a member of the species he had committed himself to protecting, a sector of the animal kingdom he came to love deeply and with which he identified.

Werner Herzog produced and narrates this film using footage shot by Treadwell himself, interspersed with interviews of people closely involved with the history of this tormented soul who found his calling in the wild. There is beauty and purity. There is hubris. There is heartbreaking questing for life’s meaning. At the heart of it all there is love, albeit one that is finally betrayed. Thought-provoking, inspiring and unsettling.

**** (four stars)

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