Miscellaneous Awesomeness
Now Playing: Stuff I plan to write more on in the future
KiLL BiLL: VOL. 2- Given that this doesn't open for another couple of weeks, and that most people who are dying to see this want to know as little as possible, I don't plan to write much. All I can say is that Tarantino pulled it off. Many fans of the first film's style may be put off by this one, which Tarantino does in a completely different style, but once one sees what he's going for, it really starts cooking. And once again, Quentin's knack for casting pays off- David Carradine is the films' ace in the hole, making Bill a guy who, in his own way, is just as fascinating as the Bride (Uma Thurman, who's just as great this time out) who has set out to kill him. Makes me hunger to watch this as one big film...
Rating for volume 2: ***1/2.
Rating for both films together: ****.

SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE- This is the first time I've seen the full-length miniseries, and I'd like to re-view the theatrical film before I comment in detail. But I think I prefer the longer version, though at this point I can't comment as to why in any kind of detail. One thing I appreciated about the miniseries was how naturally the conversations seemed to flow from the characters. The extended running time allows Bergman the freedom to let his characters talk, which throws their personalities, contradictions, and conflicts into sharper focus. One can also dwell more on how strangely matched Johan (Erland Josephson) and Marianne (Liv Ullmann) seem to be- he being a scruffy academic with those beady dark eyes, she a contented working mother with flashing bright eyes. Really, this is possibly the ultimate film about marital difficulties for the time of analysis, just as THE SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS (which may directly quote Bergman's film at least once) is a great marital-dysfunction film for a post-analytical time.
Rating: ****.

DUCK, YOU SUCKER- I don't feel comfortable with the idea of reviewing this in depth or giving it a rating because of a projection issue- one of the film's reel's was mislabeled, so the projectionist (through no fault of his own) accidentally showed one reel out of place. But this film, mangled though it might have been, was certainly fun enough for me to revisit at a later date. Rod Steiger and James Coburn are well-matched here, playing respectively a Mexican bandit and an Irish bomber during the Mexican Revolution. Steiger's scenery-chewing and over-the-top accent here is a hoot as time and again he finds himself placed in the role of a hero beyond his will, and Coburn's performance is perhaps the pinnacle of his brand of cool, subverting Steiger at every turn (the film's title comes from his trademark taunt before he blows something up) even as they form an unlikely bond. Even after pasting the film's chronology together in my mind, the story still doesn't make a whole lot of sense- come to think of it, Leone's films aren't exactly models of narrative cleanliness as a rule- but like so many of his best films the spectacle is most certainly worthy. A particular highlight is Steiger and sons' hit on a bank that doesn't turn out quite the way he'd hoped, but really, there's a lot here that's great. Ennio Morricone's score is highly memorable as well, particularly in the romantic/surreal flashback scenes that toe the line of self-parody. Oh yeah, you bet I'll watch this again.
No rating due to extenuating circumstances, but certainly awesome.