Rob Christopher's Blog, page 32

3 things about Ang Lee’s THE ICE STORM

The Ice Storm [1997]

1. A copy of Watership Down by her bedside.
2. “That’s why in Samoa and other developing nations, adolescents are sent out into the woods, unarmed, and they don’t come back till they’ve learned a thing or two. Do you understand me?”
3. Boat shoes in November.

3 other things.

3 things about George Miller’s FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga [2024]

1. Tanker full of vegetables.
2. Femur stick shift.
3. Riding the collapsing smokestack.

3 things about Cord Jefferson’s AMERICAN FICTION

American Fiction [2023]

1. Wandering through the surf in slippers.
2. “That’s cool. But maybe we could maybe do that with a P-H instead?”
3. A blast from Mozart’s “Requiem.”

3 things about Cyril Schäublin’s UNREST

Unrest [2022]

1. Municipal Time, Telegraph Time, Factory Time, Train Time.
2. He’s not allowed to serve them because they haven’t paid their taxes. So he gives him drinks on the house.
3. Atonal anarchist dirge.

3 things about Albert Lewin’s THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF BEL AMI

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami [1947]

1. Weary of his game, she unceremoniously drops the entire deck of cards into his hat.
2. “Illuminated by electric light.” Suddenly, color.
3. A truly inspired recreation of Manet’s “A Bar at the Folies-Bergère.”

3 things about Tony Richardson’s THE LOVED ONE

The Loved One [1965]

1. In preparation, she paints herself.
2. Not only waterproof or moisture-proof, but damp-proof.
3. “It’s a new one, it’s a new one! Oh God! Oh God, oh God.”

From “My Last Sigh,” Luis Buñuel’s autobiography: “There were several other American projects of mine which never came to fruition-like ‘The Loved One,’ adapted from Evelyn Waugh’s novel, a love story set in a California funeral home. Hugo Butler and I wrote the screenplay, while [producer George] Pepper tried to sell it to a major company; but, although I liked this project enormously, death was apparently a subject best left to rest in peace … In the end, we sold the option, and Tony Richardson made the film.”

3 things about STAR TREK: NEMESIS

Star Trek: Nemesis [2002]

1. Mr. Troi.
2. Two concealed knives.
3. Hovering in orbit above Italy.

3 other things.

3 things about Jerry Schatzberg’s SCARECROW

Scarecrow [1973]

1. “Gimme a bottle of beer and a chocolate donut.”
2. He wedges his suitcase between the strings of barbed wire to create an opening to slip through.
3. “Pomp and Circumstance” and “The Stripper” on jukeboxes.

3 things about Kristoffer Borgli’s DREAM SCENARIO

Dream Scenario [2023]

1. Not plants, ants.
2. Pursued by a tall man.
3. Big Suit, wrong color.

The entire film is an oscillation between moments of genuine insight and asinine obviousness.

3 things about John McTiernan’s THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER

The Hunt for Red October [1990]

1. Ineffective hook.
2. Fake directive.
3. “I would like to have seen Montana.”