FILMTALK with POPCORNX (Session 3 / Season 2)
I'll be introducing 4 films in this second session of FILMTALK (Season 2) showcasing a quartet of preloved films I have on DVD, since made available for sale at Miku Market, for a ridiculously low price point too, I might add! The 4 films showcased today are:
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
The Accidental Spy (2001)
Magnolia (1999)
WHERE: Miku Market @ 02-09, Queensway Shopping Centre, Singapore 149053.
WHEN: Open 12noon-6pm only on Saturdays & Sundays.
"In 1953, an innocent man named Christopher Emanuel "Manny" Balestrero is arrested after being mistaken for an armed robber.". (IMDb.com)
WHAT-IS: The Wrong Man is a 1956 American docudrama film noir directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Henry Fonda and Vera Miles. The film was drawn from the true story of an innocent man charged with a crime, as described in a book and in a magazine article ... (Seek further info via Wikipedia). It is recognized as the only Hitchcock film based on a true story and whose plot closely follows the real-life events... and has been cited as an influence on Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver.
MY IMPRESSIONS: Besides the flavour of a "1950's film", you can see from the clips featured here of the visual splendour of composition, with the black-n-white awash in a balanced (IMHO) palette of greys showcasing near "everyday" life, without wholly dedicated not intense noir of mystery or drama, IMHO. Your patience may well be rewarded with the visuals, at least, IMHO.
"Having made a deal with the Devil himself for immortality many millennia ago, the now decrepit mystic Doctor Parnassus fights for the freedom of his only daughter's soul.". (IMDb.com)
WHAT-IS: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a 2009 fantasy film directed by Terry Gilliam. The film follows a travelling theatre troupe whose leader, having made a bet with the Devil, takes audience members through a magical mirror to explore their imaginations and present them with a choice between self-fulfilling enlightenment or gratifying ignorance.. (Wiki)
The film stars Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Verne Troyer, Andrew Garfield, Lily Cole, Tom Waits, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law. Alas the film is infamous for being Ledger's final performance on film, as he passed away 1/3 into filming, and his role was recast with Depp, Law, and Farrell portraying transformations of his character as he travels through a dream world.
MY IMPRESSIONS: As with most Terry Gilliam features, I'd be somewhat befuddled with the excess and multiple nuances flying past my headspace, while thoroughly enthralled with the visual splendour (Brazil, Time Bandits, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Fisher King, Twelve Monkeys) amidst high-concept adventures that drills into your memory space, leaving snippets of memory that continue to befuddle, at least for my simple watching experience (:p).
With the clips show here, the visual mise en scène is immaculate, and quite easily watchable even if you decide to switch OFF the audio/disalog while watching, IMHO. The visuals reminded me somewhat of Franke Goes To Hollywood music videos too, like "Welcome To The Pleasuredome" and "The Power of Love" ~ LOL
At a Hong Kong shopping center, Buck Yuen's (Jackie Chan's) intuition warns him. He saves a robbery's loot and gets on television, ends up in Istanbul via South Korea, and accidentally becomes a spy. Fortunately, he knows Kung Fu. ( target="_blank":>IMDb.com)
WHAT-IS: "The Accidental Spy (特務迷城)" is a 2001 Hong Kong martial arts action film directed by Teddy Chan, produced by Jackie Chan and Raymond Chow, and starring Jackie Chan. Filming took place in Seoul, Hong Kong, Cappadocia and Istanbul. Most of the dialogue is in English, particularly between characters of different nationalities. (Wiki).
MY IMPRESSIONS: With the success of Shanghai Nonn and Rush Hour, this all-spoken English project no doubt is Hollywood's attempt for Jackie Chan, and honestly it felt uneasyy for me, although much better than a "English-dub" (LOL). At the end of the day, it's your typical "Jackie Chan action comedy film", and I am here for Vivian Hsu .. and you can be apart of my tribe if you recognise and know of her, thanks :)
WHAT-IS: "Magnolia is a 1999 American drama film written, directed and co-produced by Paul Thomas Anderson. It stars an ensemble cast, including Jeremy Blackman, Tom Cruise, Melinda Dillon, Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ricky Jay, William H. Macy, Alfred Molina, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Jason Robards (in his final film role), and Melora Walters.
The film is an epic mosaic of interrelated characters in search of happiness, forgiveness, and meaning in the San Fernando Valley. The script was inspired by the music of Aimee Mann (from Til Tuesday), who contributed several songs to its soundtrack.. (Wiki)
MY IMPRESSIONS: As intense are wordy as you would imagine an "ensemble" to be, especially "90s' Hollywood". The "4th Wall"(-esque) self-introductions where refreshing at that time tho, which somewhat reminded me of tv sitcoms and the 'why so serious"-spirit of fictional filmmaking (IMHO), but the film is dense and packed with emotional echoes ... especially with the following scene recently making it's rounds on socials, of Tom Cruise's acting where he drew form the passing of his own grandfather to emote the fk out, and the tears from the late Philip Seymour Hoffman was apparently real, in reaction to that.
Cruise was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 72nd Academy Awards and won the award in that category at the Golden Globes (Wiki), and honestly well deserved.
BONUS: MV for "Save Me" by Aimee Mann, as directed by Paul Thomas Anderson:
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