Diva (Jean-Jacques Beineix, 1981)

Some films are like old friends. "Diva," for me, is one of those. I first saw this film in the mid-1980s as a young teen. Before watching this film I would have told you there were two styles of music I didn't like...country and opera; after watching this it was just country (and then once I got a bit of Hank and Patsy in me, I had to admit there was some country I could stand as well). "Diva" is every teenage boys dream. To meet the woman in your dreams and give her that which she desires. To live a life of adventure and intrigue. Certainly not what you'd expect from the life of a moped delivery boy. Interesting to watch this film today when cassette, reel-to-reel, vinyl recordings are nearly obsolete. When everyone is carrying a hi-quality recording device in their pocket. But nonetheless, 20 years later this film still retains its charm. I watched it most recently with my 16-year-old son. He too enjoyed the film. It was fun to catch Dominique Pinon, who we'd just watched recently in Delicatessen, Micmacs and The Oxford Murders). I also love Richard Bohringer and Thuy An Luu as the savior and his angel who come to our main character Jules' (Frederic Andrei) aid. I used to dream about having a warehouse with a great stereo and a steel clawed tub.

Rating: 7/10

To think ask of this flm: What does this film tell us about our modern-day selves? How much have we changed in 20 years? What's your take on Cynthia Hawkins? What qualities does she represent in the film? What about Jules (Andrei)? Alba (Luu)? Gorodish (Bohringer)? How might this film look if remade today?

Flammen & Citronen/Flame & Citron (Ole Christian Madsen, 2008)

This film focuses on two members of the Holger Danske resistance during World War II. Thure Lindhart, as "Flame," is always on edge and quick to the trigger; his decision-making faculties are eventually impacted by his choices of lovers and friends. His closest friend, "Citron" (played by Mads Mikkelsen - Casino Royale, Valhalla Rising, Clash of the Titans), has issues of his own - a broken marriage, a penchant for drunkenness, but loyal to the core. Enter Copenhagen, 1944 as Nazi occupation weighs heavy on the Danish ideal. Citron & Flame are widely known for their Nazi killing sprees and seen as heros by the populus. They meet their match in Gestapo leader Hoffman (played by Christian Berkle - Valkyrie, Inglorious Basterds). The blend between their violent encounters and their reality moments makes the film tangible. Worth a view.

Rating: 7/10

Questions to ponder while you watch: Who are your friends? Who are your enemies? What is of value to you? Where do your loyalties lie? Toward your country? Toward your family? Toward your friends? How far are you willing to go to defend your loyalties and allegiances?

The Mothman Prophecies (Mark Pellington, 2002)

Richard Gere plays John Klein, a reporter who loses his wife Mary (Debra Messing) after a series of mysterious events transpire. Soon after her death he is lured to a small West Virginia town where he teams up with the local sheriff (Laura Linney) to try to solve a string of mysterious happenings there.
The premise of the film is picked up from true events that happened in Point Pleasant, West Virginia in 1966 and 1967. Residents there claimed to have see a mysterious figure known as The Mothman.  These stories were brought together in the book The Mothman Prophecies (John Keel, 2007) where the mysterious force is seen as alien and tied to UFO phenomenon. The bridge collapse which occurs at the end of the film is a real event that occurred with cause that still remains a mystery.

The movie does not dwell so much on the UFO possibility, but rather leaves the viewer asking: What is the mysterious force? Is it demonic? Is it alien? Is it a force from another dimension? Is it some human mutation? There are definite ties to technology as the key conduit by which the force communicates. This trick me of Japanese horror films like Ringu or Suicide Club.

I find it interesting that more and more, horror films are downplaying the spiritual aspects of these types of mysterious incidence. In the Paranormal Activity series psychics and experts in the paranormal are brought in, but no priests. In Insidious a minister friend is brought into the discussion but quickly dismissed, there too it is a psychic friend who ultimately is able to help. In Mothman it is actually a former scientist who Klein turns to for help.

Lots of loose ends in this film. The relationship between Klein an his wife is not built up enough in the beginning; an his relationship with Linney's character is implied, but not built up much in the storyline. There are several other chinks in the plot that keep this film from earning higher marks.

Worth seeing if you're a fan of horror or sci-fi genres.

Rating: 5/10

Questions to ask while watching: What are you afraid of? What would scare you? Do you believe in the supernatural? On what do you base this belief? Do you believe in God or not? How does that impact your viewing this film? Do you believe in the possibility of alien life? This story is based on a true story. Plausible? If so, why? If not, why?

Stranger: Bernie Worrell on Earth (Philip di Fore, 2005)

The electronic keyboard legend who nobody knows. He's inspired many. Been sampled by plenty. But who, indeed, is Bernie Worrell. The keys behind Parliament Funkadelic who also accompanied the likes of the Talking Heads and the Allman Brothers. Yet in a Robert Johnson type of tale. The talent has come at a price. Maybe it was his soul he traded away...or his sanity at least. Worrell lives when he plays. And when he's not playing...the precariousness of life becomes his pre-occupation. An interesting snapshot of a life teetering in balance. And a revelation of a talent you might have missed. Music fans, especially those of the aforementioned artists or even electronic music or spaced out jazz will find this film of worth.

Rating: 6/10

Das Leben der Anderen/The Lives of Others (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, 2006) - Rating: 4/5

Two films kept buzzin' in my brain as I watched this: Coppola's "The Conversation" and Truffaut's "Fahrenheit 451." In "The Conversation" Gene Hackman plays the man listening in on people's lives who gets drawn into their stories. In "Fahrenhit 451" our lead firefighter finds that he too is drawn more to the interests of those he's supposed to destroy.

Rating: 7/10