Last Tango in Paris

I put off watching Last Tango in Paris (1972) for years because I didn't feel I was old enough to appreciate it. I'm glad I waited because there are so many things in this movie meant for an adult mind to process, that I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much when I was a teenager.

The movie is as much about love as it is about fleeting romance. Two people meet, they talk, they become physically close, but through the whole movie they do not become mentally close. You see them share moments together that do not fill their potential because though they may show love for one another, they are not in love. This theme is played through to the end when they finally share a moment that feels real and genuine, only to leave the film as an open-ended romance. I think this movie represents so much, but for me it's the only film to question the uncertainty of love and whether it's possible/necessary at all to live your life with that emotion.

Really an extraordinary movie in its frank portrayal of the relationship between the main characters. (7.8/10)

Harold and Maude

For years I had heard of a quirky older comedy named Harold and Maude (1971) and I finally decided to rent it to see what I'd been missing out on. I soon found out that I wasn't missing out on much. The story itself was okay, but they really needed a better musical supervisor for the film.

The story follows a young boy named Harold as he lives day to day thinking about death and the meaning of life. His family is unimpressed with is antics and he doesn't have any friends to speak of. That is, until he meets Maude while they both attend a random funeral in town. The eccentric pair play together and try to establish meaning in each other's worlds. It's a very cute idea that doesn't quite work. I do love Ruth Gordon in the movie, but she's about it. And the music is horrible. I know a lot of people love the Cat Stevens songs in the film, but they are repeated to death and almost made me turn the movie off.

A nice enough idea for a movie that wasn't pulled off particularly well. (6.7/10)

Gone With The Wind

I recently had the pleasure of viewing Gone With The Wind (1939) at a local movie theater. The theater was packed full of people, both old and young, who wanted to view the movie on a big screen; the way it should be seen. I was blown away and enjoyed every minute of it.

I really see this as a near-perfect movie. The story sucks you in and makes you care about the characters even though some of them can be shallow at times. My only real gripe is its racial insensitivity. I'm sure it's almost accurately depicting the way African Americans were treated at the time, but everyone's such a caricature of a human being that it sometimes takes away from the believability of the film. That said, the rest of the film is beautifully presented and you really don't mind that you've spent four hours of your time visiting this fairytale.

A great film that deserves to be watched time and time again. (9.5/10)