100th Post: Another Woman

Couldn't find any video for this, on of the Woodster's greatest films, a mesh of Ingmar Bergman's Wild Strawberries and Woody.

So, here's the image:


There simply is nothing to fault in this film, from the use of Erik Satie's Gymnopaedie #3 (topping its use in My Dinner With Andre), to the cinematography and screenplay. Perfect. And, as great as she was in her husband, John Cassavetes' films, this is Gena Rowlands' greatest role. Given that my mom is now in hospice care, and near death, I find that deeper, more meaningful art, as this, takes on an even greater power, because what soothes the mind ultimately soothes the soul, but the reverse is not always true.

It's always open, to me, whether this, Stardust Memories, or Crimes And Misdemeanors is Woody's numero uno film. Which do you think?

BTW- this is the 100th post, despite what it might say on the side. One of our co-bloggers has yet to officially post his first post- it's in waiting, so this is 100, despite it stating 99!

My Dinner With Andre

Found out not long ago that My Dinner With Andre, by Louis Malle, was finally gonna get The Criterion Collection release it deserves, this summer. As a pre-reviewer for some of their titles, I hope I make the list to get a free pre-release copy. If not I'll get it anyway.

Along with Chris Marker's La Jetee and Bela Tarr's Satantango, this film pushes huge cinematic boundaries. Marker's film uses still photos that seem to move in recall, Tarr's film uses super long shots that seem to condense the seven hour film down to the length of a standard release, in recall, and Malle's film is all spoke about a restaurant table, but, in recall, one can 'see' the scenes that are only described. A marvelous film, and one of the best screenplays ever written.

Here are three great 'scenes' from this film:







Terrific writing.