May 18, 2010

235. La battaglia di Algeri



  • Year of release: 1940
  • Director: George Cukor
  • Genre: Comedy, Romance
  • IMDB Page

It's been some time since my last update and I've got this movie to blame. Now, don't think that this movie is bad. It isn't. But, it's a 2 hour movie about a historical revolutionary war. Despite the fact that I like history, I just couldn't bring myself to watching it. But I did and I'm glad I have.

The story, if you could call it a story, is simple and straightforward. The FLN, an Algerian rebel group wants to get Algeria out of France's colonial hands and independence for its people. Their means aren't humane nor friendly. They use bombings and terror. The French government counters with heavy policing and eventually is forced to send in the paratroopers, under the command of a kickass macho Colonel. The Colonel brings down the rebellion and is victorious, but a few years later the colony achieves independence.

"Fuck you, I'm a Colonel"

I find the movie very believable. The movie feels like a documentary and the black and white setting helps it coming to life. The main actors are also highly credible and it feels as if you're really there. The only downside I could find was that some of the background actors were not doing their job properly, there was even a dude laughing in a scene where laughing wasn't favorable. But that doesn't bring the movie down as much as a random love story would have.

Buy the Collector's edition

March 19, 2010

236. The Philadelphia Story


  • Year of release: 1940
  • Director: George Cukor
  • Genre: Romance
  • IMDB Page

Another Cary Grant picture. The third one so far. I liked the first one I saw, I didn't like the second one, so the third one needs to be a good one for poor old Cary.

The story is very simple (and boring). Girl is going to get married, old and new loves show up on the doorstep and girl changes mind. It's a simple and effective story, unfortunately it's brought very boring and more long winded than it should have been. This movie takes a very slow start and it felt like something grand was going to happen later in the movie. Unfortunately, I was kept waiting on this finale for the entire movie. In fact, I'm still waiting on that finale.

I was also expecting some comedy...

[insert a picture of cary grant slapping a bitch]

In conclusion, this movie didn't deliver, sorry Cary. I wouldn't even recommend to borrow it.

Burn it.