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

239. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

• Year of release: 1966
• Director: Mike Nichols
• Genre: Drama
• IMDB Page

Drama. That's all what this movie is about.

The story can be boiled down to this: a middle aged couple invites a younger couple and they argue throughout the night. During these fights or to put it better, battle of sarcastic wits, we learn of a few truths that the characters were hiding. To emphasize the conversations and the interactions of the characters, this movie only has a setting or two and it works splendidly.

As it is described above, it is obvious that this movie revolves around its characters, thus you need to have interesting characters and good actors. Two things this movie obviously has. The actors are splendid and the dialogues are both hilarious and dramatic. The characters are interesting, one could argue that "Honey" isn't an interesting character, but the truth is: she is less interesting than the others. Not not interesting.

One of the best things about this movie is its wit in the dialogue. I laughed at a few conversations while the conversations were seriously bitter. There's a lot to say about the acting of Ms. Taylor and Mr. Burton and that's the acting is superb and worthy of some prizes.

"I'm not sure how to tell you this... But, you see... I'm a better actor than you are."

The conclusion of this movie is highly confusing. Is what the middle-aged couple said all true or fiction? And if it is fiction, how much of it is true? The mindgames they played throughout the evening all boil down to the last five minutes. I had to sit down for a moment of two and think about what the issue at hand really was about. 

The only negative remark I have is its pacing at the beginning. I was very bored for the first half hour, but once past the 20-30 minute mark the movie became good.

Buy It