There are many films that I don’t watch often. It has a lot to do with my mood and the subject matter. I usually watch foreign films on Sundays, when I don’t have anything else to do. That way I can focus on reading the subtitles.
There are other films like The Cement Garden, it’s a foreign film that is in English. I like being surprised as the story unfolds. I remembered the synopsis and it was still just as entertaining, but there was something else that I realized.
Madonna has a song called, (What It Feels Like For A Girl) I never paid attention that the opening stanza of the song was from the film The Cement Garden which of course Madonna gives credit to. All artists are inspired by certain things. It can be a movie, a painting, a person…
The film is based upon the book The Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan. It was written and directed by Andrew Birkin. The film stars Andrew Robertson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alice Coulthard, Ned Birkin, Sinead Cusack and Hannz Zischler.
The film surrounds a family in a moral wasteland when the father suddenly dies and then the mother takes ill and dies, the children have to grow up, but its not that easy for Jack who turns 16 before his mother’s death.
I don’t like giving away key elements of a film, but it has to do with a boy becoming a man and the awkward time in his life as his sexual desires are poured out onto his sister who takes on the role of mother.
This is one of those films that is truly a work of art. Great visuals and a must see for film lovers.
It’s that time of year again, here are my film selections for Black History month -
There are other films like The Cement Garden, it’s a foreign film that is in English. I like being surprised as the story unfolds. I remembered the synopsis and it was still just as entertaining, but there was something else that I realized.
Madonna has a song called, (What It Feels Like For A Girl) I never paid attention that the opening stanza of the song was from the film The Cement Garden which of course Madonna gives credit to. All artists are inspired by certain things. It can be a movie, a painting, a person…
The film is based upon the book The Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan. It was written and directed by Andrew Birkin. The film stars Andrew Robertson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alice Coulthard, Ned Birkin, Sinead Cusack and Hannz Zischler.
The film surrounds a family in a moral wasteland when the father suddenly dies and then the mother takes ill and dies, the children have to grow up, but its not that easy for Jack who turns 16 before his mother’s death.
I don’t like giving away key elements of a film, but it has to do with a boy becoming a man and the awkward time in his life as his sexual desires are poured out onto his sister who takes on the role of mother.
This is one of those films that is truly a work of art. Great visuals and a must see for film lovers.
It’s that time of year again, here are my film selections for Black History month -
The Imitation of Life, both versions, but I prefer the 1934 version which stars Claudette Colbert Louise Beavers and Fredi Washington. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Fannie Hurst.
Lady Sings the Blues- Diana Ross plays the legendary blues singer, Billie Holiday.
Shaft - starring Richard Roundtree as a detective.
She’s Gotta Have It - Spike Lee’s first Box Office film.
Inside Man, School Daze, Bamboozled, Do The Right Thing and Chi Raq, all films by Spike Lee.
Fences - Starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis who both won SAG awards for their performances, This film is based on the August Wilson play of the same name.
Something Wicked This Way Comes - Pam Grier stars as a ghostly which at a Carnival after dark. The reason this film is part of my selection for the month is because Pam Grier was the first black actress to have a lead role in a Disney film.
Also for the kids, either version of Sounder (although I do prefer the original with Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield and Kevin Hooks) and the animated film, The Princess and the Frog, Disney’s first black princess set in New Orleans.
Fort Apache the Bronx also features Pam Grier as a strung out serial killer hooker. The film stars Paul Newman who also directed the film.
Drum - stars Ken Norton and Pam Grier set in Louisiana dealing with the slave trade and life on the plantation.
In The Heat of the Night- starring Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger and Warren Oates
Carmen Jones - Stars Dorothy Dandridge, the first black actress to be nominated for a best actress Oscar.
Miss Jane Pittman- stars Cicely Tyson
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge - starring Halle Berry as the legendary singer, dancer and actress.
The Mack - The life of a pimp - starring Max Julien and Richard Pryor.
Superfly - Ron O’Neal stars as a pimp. This film has an awesome soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield.
Island in the Sun - is an all star cast in the sexy racially charged film set on an exotic island. Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte star.
Slam - For all of the poetry lovers this one is for you.
Mr. & Mrs. Loving stars Timothy Hutton and Lela Rochon as the interacial couple. Recently a remake has been done just called Loving. Unless someone sends me this film in the mail, I'll stick with the original.
The Color Purple, Gone With The Wind and A Soldiers Story I will also try to watch.
Coming soon: Lincoln, Silver Lining Playbook, Django Unchained, ARGO, August: Osage County, Grapes of Wrath- Henry Fonda, Wild River - Montgomery Cliff, Lee Remick
The rating system - (d) it’s okay, if you like the stars (D) worth a look, especially if you are a fan of the stars (DD) Great cinematography and costumes (DDD) good script, cinematography, (DDDD) Not to be missed (DDDDD) I highly recommend this film
Check out my other blogs:
http://ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.
http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.
Have a great year!
Open Your Mind
Keep the faith
Dlonzo
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
Coming soon: Lincoln, Silver Lining Playbook, Django Unchained, ARGO, August: Osage County, Grapes of Wrath- Henry Fonda, Wild River - Montgomery Cliff, Lee Remick
The rating system - (d) it’s okay, if you like the stars (D) worth a look, especially if you are a fan of the stars (DD) Great cinematography and costumes (DDD) good script, cinematography, (DDDD) Not to be missed (DDDDD) I highly recommend this film
Check out my other blogs:
http://ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.
http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.
Have a great year!
Open Your Mind
Keep the faith
Dlonzo
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
