alientimes Reviews

Three Colors: Red (1994)

Not a goof

[10/10 · 3 January 2007]

In the "goofs" section for this film there's a comment to the effect that there is a mistake in continuity where Auguste's car is seen to be parked in a different place from that seen in a previous shot in the same scene. This is incorrect. One of the views is from Auguste's flat, the other is from Valentiné's flat across the street. The whole purpose of this segment is to show how Valentiné and Auguste - who may be made for each other - almost cross paths (as happens several other times) but never quite do so, until circumstances throw them together on the ferry at the end of the film. (And here there is the implication that Joseph has manipulated things so that Auguste is on that ferry, having inspected Valentiné's ticket to see which sailing she is booked on.)

Memento (2000)

A gimmick but it works

[8/10 · 5 December 2003]

Once the hilarity wears off of seeing that bloke from Neighbours in an actual film on a big screen, wowee, Memento turns into a very cleverly structured and utterly rivetting film. The replaying loop of events, gradually augmented, has been done before but relax, Groundhog Day this is not. Quite how plausible the hero's predicament is is hard to say but the story is credible thanks to some very careful continuity and no doubt some equally artful cutting. The acting is ok, secondary to the feel of the film really. In some ways Memento reminds me of The Usual Suspects. It might even stand comparison were it not for the absence of K Spacey. Guy Pearce proves he can act, just about and director Nolan is definitely somebody to watch.

Deliverance (1972)

The only Jon Voight film I can stand

[7/10 · 5 December 2003]

This is not so much a review of Deliverance as a libellous diatribe about Jon Voight. Every single film I have seen him in either sucks or is highly over-rated. Or both. Take for example The Deer Hunter, sentimental patriotic mush and pretentious to boot. Then there's Coming Home, more or less the same movie only without the Russian Roulette. Midnight Cowboy is the most overrated film ever, surely. So the best thing about Deliverance is that somehow I can actually watch it despite Jon Voight's creeping, seeping presence. And obviously the bit with the banjoes is fun and when the fat guy has to squeal like a pig. The theme of man vs nature has been better done (even by Boorman) but it keeps the film the right side of sensationalist and its probably Burt Reynold's best film, unless you want to include Boogie Nights, obviously.