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Cinema Banana - Andy Tope

 
Welcome to Cinema Banana. Peel a banana and watch a film. See banana ratings below for maximum satisfaction.

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The Maltese Falcon (1941)

June 27th 2010 06:39
The Maltese Falcon is the first feature from director John Huston, who went on to create films such as The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), The African Queen (1951), and Prizzi's Honour (1985). A stylish beginning to the film noir 'genre', this classic was banned on US TV for several decades due to its underlying sexual tension.
The Maltese Falcon


Dark sets, long coats, double crosses and the smarmy unforgiving tough guy. Such the were elements of the Maltese Falcon that inspired a chain of 'noir' films that lasted up until the late 50's. It was here that a change took place with the archetypal cinema detective, influenced by writers such as Edgar Allen Poe and Ernest Hemingway (The Killers, 1946), who helped produce a harder edged hero within Hollywood.

The story centres on Sam Spade (played by Bogart), a street-smart wise guy who runs a detective agency with his partner Miles Archer in San Francisco. Business seems quiet until along comes Brigid O'Shaughnessy (who calls herself Miss Wanderly), after which nothing is the same. By the end of the evening two men are dead, and Miss Wanderly has successfully involved Sam in a crooked ring pursuing a rare and valuable statue called the maltese falcon. What follows is a multitude of double crosses, cocky one liners and tough guy provado, all coated in layers of dark smoky criminal style.

Heading back to the early 40's, I found it difficult at times to appreciate this classic, as the script (infrequently) is read out like a nervous schoolboy speaking in front of class (in some scenes from Mary Astor), and some of the dialogue feels a little staged. That said, there's plenty to like about this gritty film noir thriller.

The Maltese Falcon

John Huston did a credible job directing his first film, purportedly copying the script almost word for word from Dashiell Hammet's book of the same name (which Warner Brothers immediately liked). Huston was also alleged to have written tight story boards for every scene, whilst offering actors to contribute their own ideas. The result was roughly 20% of scenes coming from the actor's input, while the rest was pre-planned down to the last detail. Huston's assiduous approach also shone through in the film's style, with low-key lighting, smoky rooms and his take on the unconventional hero, all which set the stage for the spate of noir films to come.

It is fair to say that a huge attribute to the Maltese Falcon is the addition of Humphrey Bogart. As a second choice for the lead role (George Raft turned the part down), Bogart went on to create one of his more memorable performances. His wily, cocksure, style heavy display is constantly entertaining, and appears to hold the rest of the performances in check (there is barely a scene where he is absent). Indeed, the film seems to revolve around his role for the most part, with the exception of Peter Lorre, who brings charisma to his part as one of several double crossing falcon hunters.
The Maltese Falcon

The film's age may deter viewers entrenched in a more modern era, but even still, The Maltese Falcon is an entertaining film by today's standards. Bogart's performance, the brooding atmosphere and classic soundtrack make this a must see for lovers of film and style.

Four in season bananas out of five.


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Shrink (2009)

May 4th 2010 05:05
Kevin Spacey and dysfunctional behaviour, in some city. Although the city didn't matter, but the theme and the man were there, and so the thing was viewed.
Shrink (2009)

The story centres on Henry Carter, a successful psychiatrist that helps the famous, who, throughout the film's duration, is going through a personal tragedy. Henry's wife has just committed suicide, and while he is ordinarily helping others, Henry is in lugubrious denial, becoming cynical over everything he thought he believed in.

Henry has taken to smoking loads of pot, dealt from a guy named Jesus, who looks like an albino version of Matt Damon. Jesus deals out of a pretty little case of pre-made joints, named anything from Christmas bon bons to emergency pot, the latter being laced with embalming fluid.

Throughout Henry's listless descent, the audience is taken into the lives of his clients, who are famous actors and porn star producers. It's through Henry's painful eyes that we see their dysfunctional world and self obsessed cries for help. Henry's path also crosses those of his clients friends, and a girl name Jemma (another dealing with a similar problem), who helps Henry and is helped in return.
Shrink (2009)

This scenario of subnormality, coupled with a few sparks of hope, has been done many times before, and I can say that shrink doesn't contain anything new except possibly a convincingly older and more hagged looking Spacey. The tone of the film is flat and remains so throughout. If this film's pace was measured in radio waves, there would be no oscillation what so ever.

Spacey plays the same old character we have seen him in before, fairly well (as Mr Spacey's off days are still reasonable), however it really offers nothing to the imagination. Just an exhibition in wowlessness.

Characters that proved slightly amusing throughout, were Patrick (played by Dallas Roberts, who puts in the film's best performance) the wealthy germophobic producer, who takes to organising people to shit on other people's front porches, and Jesus, the placid albino pot dealing friend of Henry.
Shrink (2009)

Shrink also contains Robin Williams, who plays a fairly short part as a man ostensibly addicted to sex, struggling to graduate into the world of fidelity. Williams does not shine here, mostly because he's not allowed to. In fact, none of the performances are particularly bad, they're just not given much room to move inside a story that is limited in both scope and imagination.

If you are an absolute die hard Kevin Spacey fan, then this one is worth a look. If you're not, save your money and buy a bar of Green and Blacks organic milk chocolate. You'll be more satisfied.

Two and a half sloppy bananas out of five.
56
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Coco avant Chanel (2009)

April 14th 2010 15:11
It's been a little slow going for French actress Audrey Tautou over the past couple of years, with the big brown eyed beauty taking time in selecting her roles. In a choice here that undoubtedly inspired the ostensibly feisty brunette, Ms Tautou has teamed up French writer/director Anne Fontaine to produce Coco Avant Chanel, a French period biopic drama covering one of France's most famous and controversial fashion designers.
Coco avant Chanel

Gabrielle Bonheur lived from the late 19th to well into the 20th century. 'Coco', as she became known (through her early showgirl performances), was a figure not without controversy, noted in her cutting edge designs (which were initially hard to digest) and later in her liaisons with Nazi officials.

The film, however, focuses on Coco's early life, before she formulated the august fashion brand 'chanel' for which she became famous. Beginning with her dysfunctional childhood, Coco manages to progress from boarding school, to making some measly pennies through early performances with her sister as a showgirl. When her sister becomes engaged in her own affairs, Coco, directionless, clings to playboy aristocrat Etienne Balsan. It is here, through a series of parties, affairs, hat sewing and horse riding, that she begins to define herself, formulating the woman she is destined to become.
Coco avant Chanel

Shot largely on the north coast of France, the film's scenery is splendid, helping the lavish parties and sewing expeditions seem all the more galant. The camera work also does the setting justice, as both the time period and wealth and grandeur of life appear both convincing and pleasing to the eye.

Coco Avant Chanel also reveals some solid acting, with the star, Audrey Tautou, putting in a credible performance. Ms Tautou has said how she likes to play strong-minded characters, confessing, "maybe because I'm like that". This is evident here, as her self reliant display of Coco throughout the film appears convincing. Likewise Benoit Poelvoorde, who plays her wealthy and bibulous playboy lover, comes across as damn good fun, with his friendship with Coco appearing genuine in between bouts of eccentric behaviour. The performances of Arthur 'boy' Capel, her more passionate affair, and her sister, Adrienne Chanel, were nothing spectacular, but then took nothing away from the film's believability either.
Coco avant Chanel

Gripes with the film would be with its pace or the fact that it focused on Coco's early life, leaving out a significant slab of the tumultuous behaviour that occupied such a part of her later years. The film's perspective, however, should give fans of Coco and her fashion brand Chanel a fairly detailed look into the formulation of events. The shifts thorough these early periods in her life were, to the film's credit, done smoothly, even though it had to pack it in, running at a mere 105 minutes.
Coco avant Chanel

What didn't launch this film into the outstanding category though, was its subject matter (and possibly its earlier perspective). Without any intention of belittling this fashion era, was Coco's life before chanel really that spectacular? Is a story about a staunchly independent woman who engages in affairs and makes a few hats really that riveting? I personally would have preferred to delve more into the sardonic naughtiness of Coco, exploring her Nazi love affairs and irascible behaviour for which she became well known later on. This aside, with Audrey and the scenery going for it, Coco Avant Chanel is still certainly worth 105 minutes of your time.

A solid film.

Three and a half bananas out of five.




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Micmacs (Micmacs a tire-larigot)

April 5th 2010 03:55
French Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet is no stranger to most film enthusiasts. With films such as Delicatessen, The City of Lost Children, A Very Long Engagement and the world renowned Amelie under his wing, it's no wonder this chap has emerged as one of the most internationally successful French directors. He even dipped his finger into Hollywood for the fourth instalment of the Aliens series (Aliens: Resurrection).
Micmacs

Renowned for taking his time in between projects, Jeunet crafts his work, and it had been four years since his last one. When, two years into adapting The Life of Pie, 20th Century Fox ceased funding the project, he felt he had to shoot something soon. Enter 'Micmacs', which was crafted in a purported four month period, and it shows


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Les miserables (1998)

February 4th 2010 12:25
Translated from French as 'the miserable ones', Les miserables is an epic tale springing from the mind of French writer and poet Victor Hugo. In a bold attempt to transform this all time classic onto the big screen, Director Billie August assembled a band of well known actors and headed off to Prague to create a modern adaption of this well known story.
Les miserables

Les miserables, a story full of fervour and rich in historical description, is set in the earlier part of the 1800's, spanning a 20 year time period. The principal character of the tale is Jean Valjean, a man who took to stealing a loaf of bread out of hunger and desperation. For this he pays dearly, spending the next 16 years of his life as a convict in chains, where bitterness over the injustice of society wells up inside his being. Jean Valjean comes out a changed man, full of rancour, until he meets Father Madeleine, who changes his life. It is here that Jean Valjean finds forgiveness and compassion before heading off to Montreuil-Sur-Mur, where he becomes a rich and successful town mayor. Redemption appears sweet, until the implacable detective Javert enters the scene. Javert, who recognises Jean Valjean, believes a man can never change, and is determined to expose his past and incarcerate him for life. Thus a chase begins over 20 years across France, during which Jean Valjean encounters other principal characters, changing their lives along the way


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Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

December 18th 2009 00:46
Spike Jonze's adaption of Where the Wild Things Are, the celebrated children's book by Maurice Sendak. I haven't read the book, although given its fame and length, adapting this one into a 101 minute motion picture adventure whilst managing to capture the essence of the story, would surely be no easy task. Bold and dashing. Well, I had no expectations going into this one, I just wanted a good adventure, hopefully with some originality behind it. I would surely remember Jonze if he screwed this one up.
Where the Wild Things Are

Where The Wild Things Are focuses on Max, an eleven year old boy with behavioural problems, who, on the surface, appears to just want to gnaw things and hit things and growl like an animal. I enjoyed the opening scenes where Max, in his little animal suit (which he wore throughout the entire duration of the film), tackled his dog, only to vehemently challenge it to a growling contest. Born to growl. Max's animalistic behaviour is challenging his struggling single mum, who also has two other children. Things get out of control when the recalcitrant little Max decides to bite her. With the two of them shocked at this turn, Max makes a run for it, ending up in a little cove where a sailing boat awaits him. Heading into the big blue, Max sails through the night until the following evening, and in rough seas he comes to an island, where he discovers the wild things and the beginning of an emotional journey


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Coraline (2009)

December 14th 2009 23:47
A friend mentioned a film where the characters have buttons in their eyes. Then one afternoon I walked past the video store at Broadway Blockbuster and saw a rather large poster, which spoke to me and said “Quinn, you should check this story out buddy”. Deciding not to mess with this menacing looking advertisement, I did just that. Besides, I have always liked the idea of other worlds waiting to be explored since I was a wee lad, especially with a touch of malice.
Coraline

The story opens with a dark hue, revealing an old house, a black cat, a few dead trees, and an only child moving house for the first time, all in stop animation. Coraline has a blue bob, and seems fairly tomboyish. Her self absorbed parents don't seem to have much to say to her from their heart, rather they are too occupied with writing about gardens, which they appear to dislike. Coraline is missing her friends, and to add to her gloom, her dad is a shit cook, and a loquacious kid who dons a welding mask appears to be stalking her. Feeling despondent, Coraline decides to explore the house on her own, until one afternoon she is lead to a little door in the wall by mysterious bouncing mice. What was yesterday a blocked up old passage, is now a violet tube that leads to somewhere else. Plunging headlong with excitement, Coraline arrives in what appears to be a parallel world, where she meets her 'other' parents. On the surface, everything is the same, except her dad is a successful inventor, her mum an amazing cook, the garden flashes garishly with wonderland excitement, and her parents have buttons instead of eyes


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The Man From Earth (2007)

December 2nd 2009 09:39
Directed by:- Richard Shenkman
Starring:- David Lee Smith, Annika Peterson, Richard Riehle, Tony Todd.

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An Education (2009)

November 17th 2009 08:09
Directed by:- Lone Scherfig.
Starring:- Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Olivia Williams.

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Directed by:- Emir Kusturica.
Starring:- Davor Dujmovic, Ljubica Adzovic, Bora Todorovic.

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