Film Friday

Decided I would skip music for a week and focus my attention on films instead for a moment. Indeed, I am over due on a "book Friday" post; however, I am currently occupied with reading the mammoth tome by Mark Pendergrast on the history of Coca-Cola which I will blog about in due course.

Anyway onto films, as with music, I will cover three a post. As I am not that much of a film fanatic the posts will not be regular. 

First off my favourite film of all time - Bubba Ho-tep.

What to say about this film? The basic premise is that a geriatric Elvis and a Black man who thinks he is JFK, both of whom are in the same nursing home, team up to defeat a cowboy mummy (hence Bubba - good old boy and Ho-tep - reference to Imhotep). Although don't let this put you off, this is no trashy B-Movie (well I suppose it sort of is, but there is much more to it). Its stated genre is a comedy horror drama film, although it defies classification into one genre. Whilst it contains some elements of the aforementioned genres, the main theme of Bubba Ho-tep is decline, the underling emotion throughout is melancholy. Never have I seen a film that explore this as comprehensively as Bubba Ho-tep. What is really amazing is that Bubba Ho-tep blends all of these genres into one gracefully. 

One the key strengths of this film is the beautifully crafted dialog, which enhances the comedic and more tender moments in the film. With quotes ranging from the poignant “always the hopes never the fulfilments, always the question never the answers”; to the hilarious “felt my pecker flutter once, like a pigeon havin' a heart attack, then lay back down and remain limp and still”. Indeed, it is a very quotable film.

The plot of Bubba Ho-tep is not especially complex however this is countered by the atmosphere of the film. This is helped by the soundtrack which contains several excellent songs that accompany the film well.

 

So to summarise Bubba Ho-tep is a through entertaining, humorous and enjoyable film and is also though provoking. It is well acted and has great music and a fantastic sprit. It is well worth a watch and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 

 Second up is - Last Man Standing

I personally think this is Bruce Willis's best performance in any film, where he plays a worldly hit man "John Smith" who is on the run to Mexico. This film is set in Prohibition era Texas in the fictional town of Jericho, which leads to beautiful sepia toned shots of the barren Texas desert, ala Paris, Texas style. Also in common with that film is the superb Ry Cooder soundtrack, which with every film that features one, enhances the film and adds significantly  to the atmosphere, building tension throughout. The town of Jericho has two competing  gangs, the Doyle's (Irish) and Strozzi's (Italian), both of whom John Smith plays to his financial advantage.


That said, this is no typical shoot em up. Indeed, at the time of its release this film was no well received due to the "oppressive and depressing atmosphere of the film". I think these criticisms miss the point, there are plenty of films that are stuffed full of action (although that said there is still a fair bit in this one!); what this film has (which many others don’t) is a lot of tension which then exacerbates the action contained within. It is the atmosphere that makes this film great, with the tension building at every stage as John Smith continually makes more and more enemies, playing both sides. What action scenes there are in Last Man Standing are well done, with John Smith outclassing his opponents with his awesome skill.


In some ways this film was ahead of its time, with its gritty, no one wins style. It is a film with no heroes and has an ambivalent, life goes on, ending. As with most films the hero wins, it is just that in this film the viewer is left wondering whether the victory was worth it.


This is a movie that is well worth watching, most suitable with a glass of whiskey (although not if you are impatient), with a enthralling plot, a excellent use of atmosphere to build tension, and a more interesting and complex morality than most films. I would recommend this film for fans of No Country for Old Men.


Last, but not least is - Gomorrah

 This Italian film is one for fans of "The Wire". The film is based upon real events and follows the consequences of a violent spilt of the Casalesi clan of the "Camorra" (Neapolitan mafia) and the effects upon the community. The film is well shot and acted, with a gritty realism present throughout, the dialogue is in Italian with subtitles. There are five subplots that all relate to each other and that all have a array of complex characters that are believable and well acted.