Best Movies By Farr Newsletter - November 2008
What's New on DVD
Antonio Gaudi (1984)Documentary/Foreign. . Color. 72 mins. Rated Unrated. Directed By Hiroshi Teshigahara. Starring . Japanese director Teshigahara casts a bemused, respectful eye at the work of Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi in this near-wordless documentary. Cutting between still shots of Gaudi's otherworldly buildings, including the famed Church of the Sacred Family, and scenes from the streets of Barcelona, this bold visual tribute is as gorgeous to behold as the magical designs it pays tribute to. Teshigahara is best known as the director of "Woman in the Dunes," but here he adopts the persona of a documentarian and crafts a sensuous homage to the singular Gaudi, a mad visionary whose curvaceous work influenced Picasso, Miro, and Dali. With few subtitles, the film traces the Spaniard's influence back to the Romanesque era, and gives us a bracing dose of Catalan politics and regional history to boot. But it's Gaudi's elaborate structures and exotic design sense that truly fascinate. |    |
Bigger, Stronger, Faster (2008)Documentary. Brainy/Offbeat. Color. 107 mins. Rated PG-13. Directed By Christopher Bell. Starring . Anabolic steroid use is rife among athletes around the world. In this first-person documentary, Chris Bell looks behind the hype and hysteria, turning the camera on himself and his two bodybuilding brothers to understand why ideals of power and physical perfection in America have been so deeply internalized in our culture, often at the expense of steroid users' mental health and physical well-being.
First looking back at the'80s, at the height of Hulk Hogan and Arnold Schwarzenegger's fame, Bell offers a probing and well-balanced look at how rampant steroid use has become among athletic competitors, and why this regimen has become so controversial. Is our attitude justified or hypocritical? Should we recoil from performance-enhancing drugs? Bell doesn't have all the answers, but his frank, deeply personal portrait certainly leads him on a most intriguing journey.
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Rebecca (1940)Drama/Mystery/Suspense/Romance. Moving/Spine-tingling. Black & White. 130 mins. Rated Unrated. Directed By Alfred Hitchcock. Starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. After meeting on the Riviera, a demure young woman (Fontaine) marries a wealthy widower, Maxim de Winter (Olivier), and returns to his sprawling English manor at Manderley. But Maxim's battalion of servants instantly regard her with undisguised hostility, referring reverentially to the deceased Rebecca De Winter, whose death is veiled in secrecy. Bit by bit, she uncovers the truth about Rebecca's demise. Produced by the great David O. Selznick, Hitchcock's multiple Oscar-nominated domestic mystery, sort of a cross between Jane Austen and Daphne du Maurier (who penned the novel it's based on), was Hitch's maiden outing in Hollywood. And he couldn't have asked for a better cast: Fontaine is exquisite as the innocent new bride who narrates the film, and super thesp Olivier is masterful as ever playing the urbane tycoon with a secret. But Judith Anderson has the choicest turn as a sadistic housemaid, Mrs. Danvers, who has it in for the timid Fontaine. To top it all off, George Barnes's expressive black-and-white camerawork marries beautifully with Hitchcock's inimitable atmosphere of psychological menace. |  |
Surfwise (2007)Documentary. Moving/Offbeat/Scenic. Color. 93 mins. Rated R. Directed By Doug Pray. Starring Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz and David Paskowitz. After a successful career as a doctor in the '60s, surfer and sex guru Dorian Paskowitz bought a camper, got married, and moved to the beach—permanently. He raised eight boys and one girl completely off the grid, subsisting literally on pennies, passing on his love of health food and the ocean to his wave-riding brood, all of whom became renowned surfing champs. But the Paskowitz kids, in-"Doc"-trinated at a young age, were not so happy with the gypsy life, as they reveal in this illuminating film. If oddball families fascinate you, then "Surfwise" will really blow your mind. The Paskowitz clan is famous in surfing circles, but never before have we heard the unvarnished crackpot philosophy of patriarch Doc, still vigorous and active at age 85, or the myriad complaints of his estranged family, each of whom has pursued radically individual lifestyles. You can't help but admire Doc and the love he has for his talented progeny, while at the same time feel the pain (and see glimpses of bright humor) in their unenviable, almost militaristic domestic life. "Surfwise" is intoxicating, and the eleventh-hour family reunion may just leave a saltwater tear in your eye. |  |
The Lovers (1958)Drama/Foreign/Romance. Brainy/Intense/Moving. Black & White. 90 mins. Rated Unrated. Directed By Louis Malle. Starring Jean-Marc Bory and Jeanne Moreau. Bored with her lover, and leading a humdrum existence with husband Henri (Alain Cuny), housewife Jeanne (Moreau) experiences a catharsis when she spends a passionate night in the arms of handsome archaeologist Bernard (Bory). The next morning, Jeanne begins to radically rethink the life she's been living. A scandal upon its release in the U.S. and Europe, Malle's lyrical erotic drama made a bona fide star out of the preternaturally gorgeous Jeanne Moreau, who'd previously acted in the director's "Elevator to the Gallows." Here, she channels Madame Bovary, updating Flaubert's frustrated protagonist to mid 20th-century France. Sensual, liberating, and ahead of its time, "The Lovers" may seem tame by today's standards, but every bit of its poetic beauty and seductive storytelling remains intact. |  |
The Second Track (1962)Foreign/Mystery/Suspense. Brainy/Spine-tingling. Black & White. 80 mins. Rated Unrated. Directed By Joachim Kunert. Starring Albert Hetterle, Horst Jonischkan and Annekathrin Buerger. Railroad inspector Brock (Hetterle) witnesses two thieves burglarizing a train car one night. Though he recognizes one of the men, Runge (Walter Richter-Reinick), he keeps silent when questioned by the police. It is only when Runge, who also recognizes Brock, sends his henchman Frank (Jonischkan) to pump information from Brock's pretty daughter Vera (Buerger) that the truth about their dark past comes to light. A taut Cold War thriller in the vein of classic Hitchcock or Fritz Lang, Kunert's "Second Track" is legendary in postwar German cinema for dealing squarely with everyday citizens' complicity in the atrocities of the Nazi era. (Perhaps that's why the film was only recently unearthed.) Splendid acting by Hetterle and Buerger and a menacing ambience enhanced by Rolf Sohre's expressive black-and-white cinematography keep "Track"'s dark tale of repressed guilt from going off the rails.
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Theme of the Month: Thanksgiving – Feeding Your Soul
It's no surprise then that certain special movies have sought to capture the mystique and meaning of food, often to excellent effect. Here are my top picks for food-themed movies - all released in the past twenty years (with two exceptions), and most emanating from distant shores. So now, let's take a little trip around the world, both cinematically and gastronomically.
Babette's Feast (1987)Drama. Brainy/Moving. Color. 103 mins. Rated G. Directed By Gabriel Axel. Starring Jean-Philippe Lafont and Stephane Audran. Based on Isak Dinesen's story set in 19th century Denmark, two aging sisters have devoted their lives to religion, never venturing from their town of birth. When a French woman named Babette (Audran) comes into their midst, she invites the sisters and a few other townsfolk to share in a feast to celebrate their beloved, late pastor, and ends up performing an amazing act of grace and selflessness. "Feast" is subtle, sensitive and profound. The centerpiece of the film, both visually and thematically, is the magnificent meal that Babette prepares for her austere benefactors after winning a lottery - the significance of which soon becomes evident. With Axel's restrained direction and superb performances all around, "Feast" earned an Oscar for Best Foreign Film, and deserves an honorary spot at any film or food lover's table. Don't miss the old general's concluding speech! |  |
Big Night (1996)Drama. Moving/Witty. Color. 109 mins. Rated R. Directed By Campbell Scott. Starring Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub and Minnie Driver. In this warm, flavorful film, two Italian immigrant brothers, Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and Secondo (Stanley Tucci), struggle to launch a restaurant that features authentic Italian cooking in 1950's New Jersey. Unfortunately, Primo's lovingly prepared, delicately seasoned risotto is no match for the spaghetti and meatballs served up in quantity by successful competitor Pascal (Ian Holm). But a VIP banquet for their hero Louis Prima just might generate the publicity they've needed. "Big Night" is a small joy, whose success lies in its recreation of period detail, and in bravura turns by its ensemble cast, particularly Shalhoub, who steals the picture as brother Primo, the shy, eccentric, uncompromising chef. Minnie Driver and Isabella Rossellini offer memorable support, but the main course is, of course, the banquet - a coup for the brothers, if guest of honor Prima shows. Tucci's script, written with his cousin Joseph Tropiano, revolves around food and family, but it also involves a familiar quest: to realize the American Dream without selling out. |  |
Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)Foreign Language/Comedy. Moving/Witty. Color. 124 mins. Rated Unrated. Directed By Ang Lee. Starring Sihung Lung and Kuei-Mei Yang. This film tells the story of a widowed, tradition-bound master chef, Chu (Lung), who struggles to accept the life choices of his very different three daughters - cynical Jia-Jen, airline exec Jia-Chien, and sexually promiscuous Jia-Ning. The chasm in attitudes and understanding between generations is made painfully, often humorously, evident at Chu's sumptuous weekly dinner, which the whole family is forced to attend. Though the film is Taiwanese, the emotions and issues feel universal, as captured by "Wedding Banquet" director Ang Lee. Exploring the conflicts and disappointments that arise in the daughters' personal lives and how they get reflected in their father's old-world expectations, this film is as much about family as food, though the magnificent kitchen scenes may have you phoning for Chinese take-out even before the closing titles. "Eat Drink" will stimulate your taste buds, and all other relevant parts. |  |
Like Water for Chocolate (1992)Romance. Moving. Color. 105 mins. Rated R. Directed By Alfonso Arau. Starring Marco Leonardi and Lumi Cavazos. This magical-realist romantic fable from Mexico tells the tale of Tita (Cavazos), the youngest of three daughters, who by family tradition is forbidden from marrying until her evil mother (Regina Torne) dies. Her lover Pedro (Leonardi) misguidedly marries Tita's older sister just to be near her. So the kitchen becomes Tita's refuge and solace, as her almost mystical way with food helps her cope with the ever-present love she is officially denied. Set during the Mexican Revolution, this sumptuously filmed story of ill-starred romance was based on a novel by Laura Esquivel and is awash in beautiful, surreal imagery. Food is a metaphor for sex and sensuality, as Tita pours her heartache into the lavish dishes she makes, with magical results. Her thankless servitude in the kitchen could be imprisoning, but instead provides an outlet for her fiery spirit. Lush and pungent as a bowl of roasted chilies, this is a movie worth savoring. |  |
Mostly Martha (2001)Foreign Language/Drama. Witty/Moving. Color. 105 mins. Rated PG. Directed By Sandra Nettelbeck. Starring Sergio Castellitto, Maxime Foerste and Martina Gedeck. Martha (Gedeck) is an exacting young chef whose impressive culinary skills overcompensate for her inability to thrive outside a kitchen. But several events-the sudden death of her sister, the adoption of her 8-year-old niece, and the arrival of a male Italian chef at her popular eatery-forces a re-assessment of her outlook on life. This heartwarming story rings consistently true thanks to uniformly fine acting and a delicious atmosphere permeating the film. Authentic and would-be gourmets will delight in the comforting universe of aromatic kitchens and preparation of fabulous food. The oil-and-water pairing of Martha and Mario (Castellito)-she a timid control nut, he a spirited sensualist-brings the film's themes of loss and renewal into sharp relief. "Mostly Martha" is a delightful picture sure to awaken all your senses. |  |
Ratatouille (2007)Comedy/Family. Wholesome/Witty. Animation. 111 mins. Rated PG. Directed By Brad Bird. Starring Patton Oswalt and Ian Holm. In the tunnels far below Auguste Gusteau's haute French bistro, big-city rat Remy (Oswalt) dreams of filling the star chef's fragrant kitchen mitts. Remy has talent, and together with inexperienced aspirant Linguini (Romano), cooks up some mighty tasty grub. But what will snooty Parisians think when they find a filthy rodent in Gusteau's employ? A rat in the kitchen? Mon dieu! From filthy sewer to bubbling stock pot, Bird's rollicking Pixar hit has everything you could ask for in a restaurant-based family comedy: terrific, state-of-the-art animation, loads of knee-slapping sight gags, and a frantic chase through the kitchen worthy of Bugs Bunny or Buster Keaton. Plus, there's Peter O'Toole, voicing a hilariously sour food critic named Anton Ego. Simply put, "Ratatouille" is a delicious, madcap comedy about overcoming stereotypes and following your mouse, I mean muse. Bon appetit! |  |
Tampopo (1986)Comedy/Foreign. Offbeat/Witty. Color. 114 mins. Rated Unrated. Directed By Juzo Itami. Starring Tsutomu Yamazaki, Ken Watanabe and Nobuko Miyamoto. In this wonderfully inventive comedy, a young widow intent on learning how to make the perfect noodle soup meets Goro, a gruff truck driver in a cowboy hat who happens to be a master foodie. With the stranger's help, she's inspired to persevere and make her ramen-noodle café the tastiest in Tokyo. Deftly satirizing the culture of affluence in 1980s Japan, and cleverly alluding to genre classics like "Shane" and "The Seven Samurai," "Tampopo" is by turns hilarious, sensual, touching, and tragic. While several unrelated food vignettes are interspersed in the story, which keeps the viewer slightly (but agreeably) off-balance, two scenes alone will stay with me always: The young girls learning to eat Western-style spaghetti, and the two lovers sharing an egg yolk. Food and movie lovers should not miss the unique treat that is "Tampopo." |  |
Spotlight
• On October 29th, John delivered a lecture on "The Divine Escape: The Great Depression and Hollywood's Golden Era," sponsored by Sherrill,Seybolt & Meizels, private wealth management group in New York City
• On Wednesday, November 19th, John will interview A.E. Hotchner, author and playwright to discuss the life and work of his former business partner and great friend Paul Newman.
• Don't forget to vote!