Rob Christopher's Blog, page 10

3 things about David Cronenberg’s DEAD RINGERS

Dead Ringers [1988]

1. “I’ve never used contraceptive devices. I’ve never even thought contraceptive thoughts.”
2. Gold-plated instrument.
3. Elly, Elly, Elly, Elly, Elly …

3 other things.

3 things about James Goldstone’s WHEN TIME RAN OUT…

When Time Ran Out… [1980]

1. Manual cable wench.
2. Lava bomb mirror smash.
3. Burgess Meredith as superhero!

3 things about the Hughes Brothers’ DEAD PRESIDENTS

Dead Presidents [1995]

1. He buries the memento.
2. OD during Soul Train.
3. Radioing for the bus schedule.

3 things about Steven Soderbergh’s KING OF THE HILL

King of the Hill [1993]

1. He misses out on three hot dogs.
2. Shooting marbles, smashing marbles.
3. “Don’t you want to say hello to your mother?”

3 other things.

3 things about Pedro Almodóvar’s THE ROOM NEXT DOOR

The Room Next Door [2004]

1. Pink snow.
2. A copy of Erotic Vagrancy. Later, she asks the policeman if he’s ever read it.
3. Stretched out on the same chaise as her mother, dressed entirely in white.

3 things about Fritz Lang’s HANGMEN ALSO DIE!

Hangmen Also Die! [1943]

1. He notices her reflection in a puddle.
2. Nazi with a pimple.
3. Implicated by his gold cigarette lighter.

3 things about Benoît Delhomme’s MOTHERS’ INSTINCT

Mothers’ Instinct [2024]

1. He justifies his behavior by complaining about “too many Mai Tais” the night before.
2. Conveniently labeled PHARMA-KEY.
3. Shakycam at the beach.

Mounting a story with this many contrivances, there are only two fruitful approaches: frosty and clinical (like Haneke) or hothouse camp (Araki by way of Ozon). This film avoids either extreme and is a tonal mess, a “heartfelt” examination of grief one moment, a would-be paranoia thriller the next. The overuse of shaky cam, for no discernable reason, also serves to torpedo any credibility it might have as an early 1960s period piece. And in terms of dialog, I didn’t believe for a moment that these characters were actually from that time and place.

Hathaway and Chastain can’t be faulted (both are well cast) but this film doesn’t offer them any support. What a drag.

3 things about Steven Soderbergh’s SCHIZOPOLIS

Schizopolis [1996]

1. Costa Rica.
2. “Huh. I wonder what that’s like.”
3. At gunpoint, he ejects the cassette and hands it over.

3 other things.

3 things about Iain Softley’s HACKERS

Hackers [1995]

1. Pool on the roof.
2. To make a point he lifts his shirt and tweaks a nipple.
3. “I hope you don’t screw like you type.”

This movie has aged like a fine can of Jolt. Matthew Lillard MVP.

3 things about Gary Hustwit’s ENO

Eno [2024]

1. In the morning, delaying input (breakfast, reading the news, checking email) to give space to output (creative projects).
2. The unexpected utility of Discreet Music for a soundtrack to birthing.
3. Bowie and Eno unknowingly working at cross-purposes during the recording of “Moss Garden,” courtesy of Oblique Strategies.