shovlin1 Reviews

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

Look at the face.

[29 August 2004]

Look at her face. You can see it on the DVD cover.

Were you stunned, like me. Yes, the people living before 1928 had all the passion, the feelings and the beauty found in our present day society. Now brace yourself, because when Maria Falconetti animates that face in 'Joan of Ark' you'll wish she had continued on in at least one other film in her career. Her unadorned splendor in this film is unsurpassed by any other performance I have ever seen. The sparse geometries of the production set create a 'Picasso like' setting for this church sponsored judgment. Finally, the story is told within the realistic confines of Joan's trial, leaving her warrior past for a different movie script. I recommend this movie.

Rare Birds (2001)

The lead characters fit perfectly into the geography and the actors fit the characters like a glove.

[10/10 · 28 August 2004]

I love Canada and more importantly I find a built in appeal for the Maritime Provinces. The sophistication of our 'Islandic' Northern neighbors is combined, in this movie, with a naive understanding of life on the mainland. Some lawful transgressions are treated with the direct and forthright honesty these illegalities deserve, while others are misunderstood and explode like a bomb, literally. William Hurt is great, as usual, as the straight man and Andy Jones, as Phonce, is the kind of optimistic friend everyone needs when times are hard. Small stories weave together with comfortable twists and turns while the rugged Newfoundland coast is always pounding away in the background. I sympathize with Hurt, trying to patch a broken relationship while being tempted with a new one. Molly Parker, as the new temptation, is appealing. I highly recommend this remake of Das Boot.