What is The Last Movie You Watched?

I watched three British films this week: a filmed version on Alan Bennett's play The History Boys which was on tv - this play/film is a tedious rehash of Bennett's inverted snobbery and another desperate attempt to write about his own homosexuality, not even worth the licence fee. The second film, Terence Davies Distant Voices, Still Lives, is a brilliantly filmed but characteristically sour piece of self-reflection that to me was too episodic to be anything but of passing interest; the songs were particularly second-rate, if popular in their day.

The Devils (Ken Russell, 1971)
Undoubtedly Russell's finest achievement, with a vivid set by Derek Jarman, music by Peter Maxwell-Davies, and based on real events in Loudon in 1634 -for some reason I didn't see the film when it was released, probably because I detested The Music Lovers (1970); but I read Huxley's book and was fascinated by it.

What is not referred to once in the documetary made by Mark Kermode on the two-DVD set I have (linked below), is the recurrence of gender-bending/transgendered characters in Russell's films: The Devils opens with the King of France (Louis 13th) appearing on stage in a pageant in which he plays Venus rising from the sea, in full drag, with most of his courtiers cross-dressed -the scene establishes a sense of corruption at the highest level of the state -Cardinal Richelieu is in attendance-, and is thus a key part of the narrative in which the same forces of the state seek to impose a 'pure' Catholic faith on independent towns like Loudon supposedly taken over by satanic forces- where the Catholic priest, Urbain Grandier refuses to purge Protestants or remove the city walls which symbolise the town's independence. The consequent descent into devil-worship and debauchery -manufactured by the Catholic Church- became the pivot of the collapse of provincial independence and a demonstration of the powers of a state ruled from Paris.

The film was censored before its release, the climactic 'the rape of Christ' by the Ursuline nuns in the church being considered too extreme at the time and since, although I believe there is a pirate copy with the scene restored. The film's weakness, common in Russell's oeuvre, is a lack of subtlety, it is full-on -and one reason why the film attracted such hostile publicity, at a time when Mrs Whitehouse in the UK (similar to Anita Bryant in the US) was campaigning for 'public morals' against 'filth, pornography' and so on.

Vanessa Redgrave is outstanding throughout in a brave and bravura exhibition of acting prowess.

THE DEVILS (Ken Russell) 1971 UK-Trailer - YouTube

The documentary is in six parts on youtube, part 1 is here:
Hell on Earth - The Desecration & Resurrection of "The Devils" (2004) 1/6 - YouTube

The execution of Grandier is discussed here:
http://www.executedtoday.com/2011/08...n-possessions/

Over here they keep teasing us about a proper Blu-ray for The Devils. I sit here patiently waiting for them to produce. Delay, delay, delay...

I went to see Iron Man 3 in 3D -I think I have said before that there is something about Robery Downey Jr that makes him compulsive viewing -an unconventional conventional hero if there is such a thing. The film is entertaining tosh with a delightful cameo from his eminence, Sir Ben Kingsley.

Probably said this before too: what is the point of 3D? I don't think it made that much difference in this film. In whichever dimension you see it, Ms Paltrow doesn't have appealing curves on her rear end.

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Originally Posted by Stavros

I went to see Iron Man 3 in 3D -I think I have said before that there is something about Robery Downey Jr that makes him compulsive viewing -an unconventional conventional hero if there is such a thing. The film is entertaining tosh with a delightful cameo from his eminence, Sir Ben Kingsley.

Probably said this before too: what is the point of 3D? I don't think it made that much difference in this film. In whichever dimension you see it, Ms Paltrow doesn't have appealing curves on her rear end.

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Haven't seen the film yet, but I think I know what you mean about Downey Jr. He's got plenty of charisma - as do many top actors - but he can also act. He's not going to make me want to see his Holmes films...but he does give weight to a movie.
One other thing he has over a lot of people - he comes across as very likeable. From what I've read, he is a very nice person in real life.

"Savages", by Oliver Stone.
Caricatural characters, silly storyline, big budget. I thought I would be at least entertain, but it was long and terribly boring.
Savages Trailer HD (Oliver Stone) - YouTube

I just watched Silver Linings Playbook and I was really impressed.

Thoroughly recommend it.

A 1983 film I never saw at the time, "The Year Of Living Dangerously" set in Sukarno's Indonesia during the Communist insurgency. A very young Mel Gibson and the remarkable linda Hunt starred. A interesting film - directed by Peter Weir.

Not the best Weir flick by a long shot but I agree, "interresting", Prospero. Subject should have brought much more interresting stuff.

"Picnic at Hanging Rock" is my favourite Weir film. Very haunting. Since then he has generally been a bit disappointing. But this was better than most

Totally agree, Prospero! It's one of the most unrecognised film I can think of. Botticelli's angels in a sublime setting. Just a breathtaking flick! Long and meditative film. I loved it. Weir showed how great he is there. Unfortunately, he was then recruted by Hollywood with "Witness" (am I drunk? it was him, wansn't it?). Well, like many others, the last of the kind being in my opinion great Christopher Nolan...