The classics of Imitation: Taking off (1971), a film by Milos Forman

Taking off (1971) (93min)

Director: Milos Forman

Writers: Jean-Claude Carrière, Milos Forman, John Guare, Jon Klein

Cast: Lynn Carlin, Buck Henry, Linnea Heacock, Georgia Engel, Tony Harvey, Audra Lindey, Paul Benedict

Even admitting the limitlessness offered to the cinema buff by the art of filmmaking, which renders any attempt at completeness pointless, there are certain films one is supposed to have seen. Taking off, Milos Forman's first American film, is one of those films, so last night I was pleased to finally cross it off my personal shame list courtesy of the superb summer program Écran Total at Cinema Aremberg. (Incidentally, if you haven't signed up the request to stop the ghastly plans to evict this marvelous arthouse cinema by the end of the year yet, you can do it here).

Click to read more ...

The classics of Imitation weekly (2): Le départ (1967), by Jerzy Skolimowski

Le départ (The departure) (1967) (93 min)

Director: Jerzy Skolimowski

Cast: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Catherine Duport, Jacqueline Bir, Paul Roland, Leon Dony, Lucien Charbonnier

(See general spoiler policy for this section)

The first film Skolimowski made out of Poland is an offbeat story of a young Belgian hairdresser apprentice (Jean-Pierre Léaud) driven by a compulsive obsession to become a racing driver. Together with his girlfriend (Catherine Duport) he embarks on a frenetic (more often than not illegal) trip all around Brussels to secure the means for his dream.

Click to read more ...

The classics of Imitation weekly (1): Leave Her To Heaven (1945)

Leave Her To Heaven (1945) (11O min)

Director: John M. Stahl

Cast: Gene Tierney, Cornel Wild, Jeanne Craine, Vincent Price, Mary Philips, Ray Collins, Darryl Hickman, Gene Lockhart, Chill Wills

(Click here to see general spoiler alert policy in this section)

Superficial but fascinating study of a clinically jealous woman (Gene Tierney) who is ready to literally go to any lengths to keep her husband's attention, including brutalizing her husband's disabled young brother or diving down a staircase to get rid of her unborn child lest her husband love the baby more than herself.

Click to read more ...

New section: the classics of Imitation weekly

The inevitable monotony of the film award season can tire out  even the most passionate follower. That’s why I have decided to make a break just a couple of days ahead of the decisive Oscar nominations announcement to launch a new section in the blog: the classics of Imitation weekly.

As the self-explanatory title indicates, I’ll present one of my favourite classic movies on a weekly basis. The aim is not to provide a thorough analysis like in the case of the films I review for the regular entries, but rather to present you with films I truly love in the way I would talk about them with friends over coffee. Regardless of that, I’ll try to be as accurate as possible in the description and the factual information.

Click to read more ...