Powaqqatsi: Life in Transformation

This is the first sequel to Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance, from 1982. It was followed 14 years later by Naqoyqatsi: Life as War. All three are words from the Hopi language, and all three were filmed by Godfrey Reggio. Dude was seriously determined to get his vision out there, over twenty years. All three also feature music by ... Read more »

The Power of Few

This was an experimental film that was supposed to be interactive, reaching all the way back to 2006. You went online and helped in the casting and the editing, somehow. I’ve never been much taken with interactive stuff, going all the way back to some paperbacks that included multiple endings. To me, if you have a story to tell, tell it. We watched the first two segments and it was clear ... Read more »

A Prairie Home Companion

Garrison Keillor has one of the homeliest faces in America, and one of the most beguiling voices. He loves to sing, but he’s not particularly good at it; he can carry a tune, but not elegantly. He is absolutely bursting with stories, both funny and sad, he is witty, compassionate, folksy, intellectual … I could go on and on, but the point here is that he was certainly Read more »

Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire

First, I have to say that this is possibly the worst title for a motion picture, ever. I understand why they couldn’t use Push, as there was a crappy Sci-Fi film of the same name, the same year. However, I don’t see why they couldn’t have gone with Precious, which is what everyone calls it, anyway. Second, I ... Read more »

Predestination

We were watching the previews on a DVD. I wasn’t paying much attention, and then I heard these words: “I know where I came from—but where did all you zombies come from?” I zeroed in on the TV like a coonhound catching the scent of that goddam Rocket from Guardians of the Galaxy. This is one of the most famous lines from one of the most famous short stories in ... Read more »

Premium Rush

First, you should know that this is a movie about people you would probably hate in real life, whether you are a bike rider or an urban driver. But the narrator acknowledges that right up front. Second, very little of what you see could happen in real life. If you run as many red lights as the riders do here, it won’t be long before you tangle with a vehicle, and guess what? The vehicle ... Read more »

The President’s Analyst

SPOILER WARNING. The big villain in the movie that has James Coburn fleeing from some of the biggies in the cinematic villain department—the CIA, FBI (here thinly disguised, apparently after some pressure from Washington, as the CEA and FBR), and the KGB, turns out to be TPC: The Phone Company! Remember when Ma Bell was this huge corporate monolith? (I’m sure ... Read more »

The Prestige

This is based on a novel of the same name by Christopher Priest. Most unusually, though many changes were made, Priest okayed them and was pleased with the result. It’s about magic … I hate that word, it’s about illusion, which I love. It is very well done. It concerns two rival magicians in 1897 (and before, in flashbacks) who hate each other, ... Read more »

Priceless

From almost the first frames this one reminded me of those frothy, sophisticated comedies set on the French Riviera in the ‘60s. Lots of fancy hotel rooms and restaurants, jewelry, clothes, fast sports cars. And sure enough, the director, Pierre Salvadori, says he used Breakfast at Tiffany’s as a model. Before long I was reminded of other films and stars. There ... Read more »

Prick Up Your Ears

I couldn’t figure out what this title meant. Did it symbolize something? Was there deep meaning I was missing? Then it became clear. Somebody was talking it up on the phone and got misunderstood, and the new title stuck. The original title was to be Prick Up your Arse …

Sorry about that, I just couldn’t resist. This is about the darkly ... Read more »