ANYONE WHO KNOWS THE MOB HAS BEEN TO "MILLER’S CROSSING"

Put your hands on your hearts… Admit it. You like a good old-fashioned gangster movie. I don’t mean the new-fangled genre, you know, gang wars, drugs and shootouts, that kind of jazz. No, I mean the old-fashioned ones. About wise guys. I mean films like the Godfather(s) (naturally) and Goodfellas in the U.S. , films like Borsalino and C.O. (starring Alain Delon in case you’re interested) from France. The ‘40s. Wise guys with automatic weapons and slick hats rule the streets. Heck, sometimes they even rule the town. The wit, the power, the danger the adventure… All from the security of your own living room… Miller’s Crossing is one of the best examples of the genre, oh yes and by far. This oeuvre bares the signature of one of my favorite directing / producing duo the Coen brothers and is guaranteed to take you on a bumpy ride, back to the times when wise guys ruled the streets, and you could almost smell the danger in the air…
Leo is the “big guy” in town. He basically runs everything with his moody and cool-as-ice right hand man Tom (played by the charismatic Gabriel Bryne). Things go pretty smoothly as a rule but soon a problem emerges. Leo is the big guy in town but he is by no means the only major player. Johnny Caspar, along with his own right hand man Eddie Dane, is determined to get a piece of the action. And Leo’s refusal to compromise on what we shall for the present call a “minor point” will push the town to the brink of gang warfare. Tom pleads with Leo to be reasonable, but Leo cannot be budged. Plus there is another problem. Tom and Leo have found themselves on either corner of a love triangle – an occurrence that doesn’t best please boss Leo who is both used and determined to get his own way. Which leaves Tom in quite a lot of trouble no matter which way you cut it. But, as we said, if one thing Tom knows how to do, it is to keep calm and use his head. And he will need every single ounce of wit he has if he wants to turn this sticky mess around…
There are many different ways of creating suspense. Chases are a good one in this genre, and check a little further down for one of the greatest car chases in film history in Bullit. Another one is by keeping back information. You know, just giving the viewer a tiny drop at a time, one single clue at a time just enough to go the next step and then wait, biting your nails, for what is coming next. In a lot of films, the viewer is “omniscient”, that means that we are kinda “all seeing and all hearing” a lot of the suspense here comes from the “It’s behind you!” effect. Here however, the audience is by far the one who knows the least in the whole mess. Thus we, like Tom, are left with nothing but our own wits to puzzle out what the heck is going to happen next. And the film is ingenious in the balancing act it produces; there are so many really cunning characters (such as our unlikely hero Tom and Verna, a class- A femme fatale played by Marcia Gay Harden) and each one of the characters has woven such a complicated web of intrigues leading to completely opposing goals that you will, I guarantee it, not only be completely unable to unravel the whole thing until the very end (i.e. when Ethan and Joel Coen damn well feel like it) but you will marvel at the engineering of the whole thing. If there was ever a film that pushed you to use your head, here it is. And that makes a brilliant change from the violence-packed movies that are usually thought of as typical of the genre. I also think this makes the film more realistic. Think about it, the times when the wise guys ruled the streets were real. No doubt there. And just as real was the amount of danger, blood and violence. But as in every power struggle, bigger and more effective than going in all guns blazing was the scheming. Be it the really “wise” wise guys like Tom who use their wits to keep themselves and/or the people around them on top, to Verna and her brother Bernie (a character who later became a classic played by John Turturo) who used the inflated egos to chisel a living for themselves. If you think about it that is also what makes the Godfather films great. The “factoring in” of intelligence, Michael Corleone’s careful planning and creating of strategies to get to power and stay there, as opposed to his brother Sonny whose hot-headedness gets him murdered. Oh, this is a classy little number no doubt about it. Watch out for a couple of cinematographically rather brilliant scenes too – especially on the attack on Leo’s house, my personal favorite – you’ll know the one I mean if you watch the film… =)

MIXED BAG WEEK! : FARGO

This is actually the second time I watched this film. I thought it only fair seeing as I barely remembered anything at all about the first time. I was NOT drunk at the time, I was, however, very young. Far too young to understand the Coen Brothers’ very dark style. Having grown a little (and being over 25 yet under five feet tall I can safely add “not a lot though!”), I decided it was time to re-evaluate this one. It was, after all, the Coen brothers. So now, the film is officially one of my favorite films ever as opposed to some obscure little number in my past. No kidding and no exaggerating, this film makes my top 10, heck it makes the top 5. Not because I’m a violent person by nature you understand (my top five of films aren’t exactly David Attenborough documentaries if you get my drift) but… I dunno it’s a sort of dark humor to be found in directors like Tarantino and the Coen brothers that really REALLY get me… But more on that later, now Fargo; the story of the best made plans of mice and men and how they can go truly and terribly wrong… Oh and by the way… True story…
Jerry Lundegard (William H. Macy – don’t you just LOVE the guy?) is a man with problems. You wouldn’t think it to look at him, I mean sure, he IS a little too soft spoken and indecisive for a car salesman but he’s doing alright. He works in his father in law’s car showroom (which is already an embarrassment) but at least he has a loving wife and son. His wife’s family is very well off so they have nothing much to worry about but Jerry himself has money problems. His father in law neither respects nor likes him, so asking him for help is basically out / useless. So, in his “wisdom”, Jerry comes up with a plan. He’s going to have his wife kidnapped, just like in the movies. His father in law, fearing for his daughter’s life, will cough up the one million dollar ransom money (only Jerry’ll con the kidnappers it’s much less of course and take most of it himself), then Jerry will pay off the kidnappers, he’ll get his wife back – a little traumatized but otherwise OK –life will go on as usual and his problems will disappear, right? No. True, Shep Proudfoot a friendly mechanic has put him in touch with the right guy for the job (Steve Buscemi, another one of my favorites) but the thing is, he’s brought a friend along (Peter Stormare). You might class this as a minor detail, however no one, no not even his friend is able to fathom what a MASSIVE difference this one extra man is going to make…
First of all, I have to say on a serious note that I am flabbergasted that such an event actually took place. As you can imagine, it ends in loss of life and more than one life at that… It is a perfect, TEXTBOOK example of what happens when normal people like you and I try and apply tactics from films to real life. On the one hand you watch Jerry struggle. You watch the frustrations mount. You can imagine yourself thinking this would be the ideal way out if you were in his shoes, the thing is you may or may not be able to imagine yourself actually doing it…
I will not say the film mocks the events in any way. The “two headed director” (nick name for the brothers who are notorious for working very closely apparently) spares nothing in the portrayal of the shock and horror that unfurls as one man tries to find a quick fix for his money problems. And the other characters are brilliantly put forth too, there is Marge the sheriff for instance (Francis McDormand who won an Oscar® for her troubles) ; seven months pregnant, a sweet person with a loving marriage trying to figure out what in the world happened, as the bodies just keep piling up… And although what you are watching is horrific and you are gripping the arms of the chair with baited breath, there are moments where you just can’t help breaking out into partially nerve-induced laughter…

A SERIOUS MAN

This week is definately one of my “visit the favourites” weeks. Because now that we have passed through my latest review of Truman Capote – now one of my newest “favorite” authors – and we are hankering for something to watch, why not go for an old favorite this time. My favorite writing – directing – producing duos the famous “two headed director” , The Coen Brothers. More specifically their latest film, A Serious Man. Now, A Serious Man was highly publicized. I usually have very high expectations of the Coen Brothers – they are my favorites after all! And ladies and gentlemen, this film did not disappoint either…
Meet Physics Professor Larry Gopnick. He is a devout Jew, a family man, an idealistic teacher. A serious, sensible man with a serious sensible life. Then, quite unexpectedly he hits a bad patch – or rather, the bad patch kinda hits him. One of his students decides to bribe him for a passing grade – and that in itself starts a chain reaction of unfortunate events but there is more. His tenure is now in danger because of anonymous letters that circulating about him. At home, his brother Arthur is stuck on the couch indefinitely and is causing mayhem in more senses of the word than one. His son’s Bar-Mitzvah is approaching but his son only seems interested in the television and his radio. Oh, and his wife has just told him she is cheating on him and she wants a divorce. She also wants him to move out of the house. Yes, Larry Gopnick is most definitely in a tight spot. But at least things can’t get much worse, right?
First and foremost I must hasten to tell you that those among you who usually avoid the Coens because of excessive violence (with classics like Fargo and No Country For Old Men no one can blame that attitude, although it is not my attitude in the least) need not do so this time.
Ok, so I was in two minds as to wether to point it out but it took a while for me to notice this (I started watching the film with virtually no research) but it’s actually a modern adaptation of the Book Of Job (from the Old Testament). I hesitate on “banging on” about this fact but really, the film makes a lot more sense if you bare it in mind I foundBut don’t let that put you off – there isn’t a single actual reference to this fact in the film. I mean, the Gopnicks are a devout family but reference-wise that’s about as far as it goes. Infact, in the able hands of the Coens, the film almost becomes a dark comedy in parts. And there are some very intelligent jokes and references. I mean, I am not Jewish and I was not alive in the 60’s so a lot of the period stuff was lost on me. But there are some very intelligent details that become apparent on closer inspection so this double Oscar® nominee (Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Direct For Screen) is definitely worth your attention. Hell, I’m thinking of watching it at least twice… And that’s not just because I’m a fan…

A BLAST FROM THE PAST FOR A CLASSIC : "BLOOD SIMPLE"

I hate to sound biased but the Coen Brothers are my favorite writer/director / producers ever. I have spoken of them before, and be warned, I definitely plan to speak of them again. And as you all know, most of their films make headlines, but you may not have heard of this one… I’m talking about Blood Simple, their first feature film. And anyone who saw that film saw them coming…
So, I hear you cry, what is the story-line, how does it go ? Well, actually it’s a pretty typical Coen Borthers film. You know what I mean, just cast your mind back to their other films. An innocent looking story begins. Then suddenly an unpredictable and often violent character enters the scene. Suddenly the story has gone in a direction you NEVER thought it would. And the true beauty of all this is that the movie is quality every time and you willingly go for it every time, if only just to see what the twist will be this time…
Well, this one’s no different, in story and in quality. I mean it got the grand prize at the Sundance film festival and that’s saying something for a first feature. At the beginning we have a simple matter of infidelity on our hands. Julian Marty is a particularly unpleasant man. He runs a bar in a small town and gives both his wife and his employees a hard time 24 / 7. His wife is called Abby, and unsurprisingly she is seeking affection elsewhere, namely in a bar worker called Ray. Julian Marty may be many things but a fool he is not. Soon he guesses there is trouble afoot and hires a private detective to confirm this. Once the affair is out in the open though, Abby moves out and gets ready to start a new life with Ray. Not so easy with Julian around. He contacts the detective again and asks him to do the one sensible thing he can think of – killing them both. The private detective however has a much better plan and is not afraid to put it into action. However, his decision has rather unexpected consequences…
As we all know, knowledge is power. The Coen brothers play unashamedly with this concept for the full 91 minutes. Throughout the film we are totally confused by who knows what and we are unable to guess what these people will do with the knowledge they have. The Coen brothers being the Coen brothers, they rarely react the way you think they will. The result is a arm-chair arm gripping nail biter from beginning to end. You’d be a fool to miss it; it will be a classic if it isn’t one already.

TRIBUTE TO THE MASTERS : "THE BIG LEBOWSKI"

At 26, I am very probably the last person of my generation to watch this Coen brothers classic. I hang my head in shame. Here comes the review for those of you who were too young, too old or like me just too darn lazy.
Ok, so let me sum it up right away. Yes; it is as good as they say it is. I am a massive Coen brothers fan – and the brilliant way they seem to blur the line between the believable and the absurd. Here the use of hallucinogenics (Ehm ehm) among other things help to blur the line even further making it in my view one of the best examples of absurd comedy I have ever seen. As far as the acting goes, John Goodman and Steve Buscemi – two of the Coen brothers favorite actors and don’t get me wrong though they’re two of my favorites too! – are absoloutely hilarious. Recent Oscar winner Jeff Bridges who needless to say became part of movie legend as “The Dude” and simply has to be experienced to be believed. And another small point I found amusing (something that doesn’t seem to get mentioned on the DVD sleeve, possibly because our actor hadn’t “made it” at the time) is the prominent presence of one of my favorite actors : Philip Seymour Hoffman!
Tradition dictates that I touch on the storyline a little: well, this is a story of mistaken identity. Of ruined rugs. Of framing innocent men. Of severed toes and White Russians. And a Vietnam vet with SERIOUS anger-management issues.
Just watch the bloody thing, it’ll make more sense… :)