The Quarantine Collection: Week 8

Still praying for cinemas to be open in some format for Tenet in July. 

Fri. 8th May : Night Passage (1957)

DVD. 

The last in my James Stewart Western box set, the story of this by the books genre picture concerns money, trains, and bandits. It is standard issue, but the visuals are tidy and Joey from Shane (1953) is back playing a slightly older Joey. But other than that, its enjoyable enough to be passable, but not bold enough to be memorable. 

Also check out : Shane 

Sat. 9th : Flags of our Fathers (2006)

DVD. 

My post- VE Day WW2 film was this Clint Eastwood directed picture. The companion film to Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), this film instead looks at the Battle of Iwo Jima from the American perspective, whilst also investigating the intriguing story behind the iconic photo of the planting of the flag. The battle scenes zing but the film is told in a non linear frame narrative, criss crossing between three time lines at a quick rate. This does break up the action and tension somewhat, but if told in a linear way, you would have an action heavy first hour, and then a quieter, more character focused second half which perhaps would feel like two films. There is some inspiration to the direction; a dessert carved to resemble the soldiers raising the flag is covered in a blood red strawberry sauce. But the film would perhaps work best if it had the Native American soldier Ira in the exclusively in the crosshairs; his battle with heroism, drunkenness and discrimination gives the story an emotional beat. Also, ten years after this film it was revealed that the father of the book's writer (the son one of one of the three surviving soldiers of the flag raise) was not actually involved and therefore lied about it. But as an exercise in proto-fake news, this is a solid effort.  

Also check out : Letters from Iwo Jima 

Sun. 10th : Darkest Hour (2017)

DVD.

Another companion piece war film, Darkest Hour goes hand in hand with Dunkirk of the same year, offering the political backdrop to the latter's visceral front line intensity. Yes, Gary Oldman is terrific, with voice, movement and posture all ensuring his performance is not just make-up reliant. The speeches are rousing enough and it is funny in its own British way, but it does feel like *another* Churchill Oscar film designed to get an actor an Oscar. And the Tube scene is well intended, but far too fantastical and on the nose. Points for bringing up Churchill's involvement in Gallipoli though.

Also check out : Downfall (2004) 

Mon. 11th : Play Misty for Me (1971)

DVD. 

The directorial debut of a certain Clint Eastwood, Play Misty for Me is a psychological thriller that sees Eastwood's jazz DJ David encounter a fan of his radio show. They sleep together, but the fan soon starts displaying concerning, obsessive behaviour. Violence follows. It may not add anything new to the slasher genre, but this is a tight production, with Eastwood's direction citing the influence of Sergio Leone with its extreme close ups and rapid editing. It contains a hell of a satisfying death but could have done with David playing the policeman's song at the end. 

Also check out : High Plains Drifter (1973)

Tue. 12th : Breezy (1973)

DVD. 

The third Eastwood directed film of the week, and the last in my collection, sees Clint step back from acting as he directs William Holden and Kay Lenz as two strangers who fall in love. The catch? Holden's Frank is nearing 50 and Lenz's Breezy has barely finished high school. Murky with its sexual politics but unfortunately bland in the bedroom, the two actors do imbue their roles with complexity and, in the latter's case, a whole lot of fun. Largely set in Frank's house, where the two are not scrutinized by the public, it looks at image, perception and the boundaries of love. Bit tooooo Hollywood in its conclusion however. 

Also check out : The Graduate (1967)

Wed. 13th : The Big Short (2015)

Netflix. 

It took me a good hour before I clocked one of the characters was Brad Pitt with a beard and glasses, and my mind was blown as if it were a plot twist. Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale and Steve Carrel also star in this scathing look at the housing crisis and recession in the late 00s. Adam McKay brings wit and satire (best line: "so here's Margot Robbie in a bubble bath to explain") and fourth wall breaks, but it also packs a depressing thud at the end. 

Also check out : Vice (2018)

Thu. 14th : Le Mans 66 (2019)

DVD. 

I bought this for my dad's birthday and we all sat down and watched it and I was relieved they liked it. Not as much as I do though. This film is grade A filmmaking: the sound editing of the different engines, the lines of continuity in the racing scenes, the fantastic chemistry between Christian Bale and Matt Damon. The first 7000 RPM race and the entirety of the finale made me just as excited as I felt watching it in cinema. Sports movies can produce a lot of testosterone. 

Also check out : Rush (2013)