There are very few films that shape every film made after it. People always talk about Citizen Kane in this way; I would consider the Matrix to be one of these as well. Well, the Bicycle Thieves is one of these as well.
A poor man out of work struggles to support his family. He finally finds a job that requires a bicycle of which he has none and sells his belongings to purchase one. He heads to work only to have it stolen on his very first day. Scanning the streets of Rome, he and his son wander through an endless sea of bikes and bike parts. Feeling so desperate, the father decides to steal one himself only to be caught losing his credibility with his son and his honor as a man.
While studying in England, I had the pleasure of taking an Italian cinema class that previewed many Italian films made in the 40’s and 50’s. While Hollywood was putting out great and glamorous classics like the Maltese Falcon and Casablanca, Italy was putting out films of a dark and gritty nature. Torn by the war raging on within their own borders, filmmakers made cheap, raw, and real films with real people and real situations that lacked the pretty Rita Hayworth or glamorous plots of Hollywood.
This is a film that every film buff should watch. The camera work is thoughtful and the acting is very good given the actors are not professional. You identify with the main character in his continual unfortunate circumstances; it’s hard to watch such charming people suffer. All in all it is inspirational but depressing.
7 of 10
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Maltese Falcon
1941's “The Maltese Falcon,” #69 on the IMDb Top 250 list, is an iconic piece of film that not only defined, but truly set the standard for all future film noir. In fact, many film historians credit “The Maltese Falcon” as being the first ever example of the genre.
The plot, according to IMDb, is such: “A private detective takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette.”
To be honest, I thought there would be a lot more fuss over the actual falcon, especially after hearing that “It’s the stuff that dreams are made of” line roughly a bazillion times in various movie countdowns. But, to be fair, we did learn that the falcon is “considered a classic example of a MacGuffin, a plot device that motivates the characters of the story but otherwise has little relevance.”
I loved seeing such an affable, jokey Humphrey Bogart, especially coming after “Casablanca” where Bogart’s Rick is serious, angry, and cynical. Conversely, Bogart’s Sam Spade in “Falcon” is quite irreverant and good-humored.
I recognized Mary Astor from her role as Mrs. Smith in “Meet Me in St. Louis,” and her turn as a femme fatale in “Maltese Falcon” was quite a change from the way I was used to seeing her! And of course our old friend Peter Lorre, who we’ve previously seen in “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Casablanca,” made his required appearance in the film as yet another snivveling double-crosser.
The movie was a bit confusing, with numerous twists, lies, and double-crosses—by the end I was still trying to piece together where the true alliances had lain, why certain characters had made the choices they had, and who had committed the murders after all.
The group’s reception of the film was mostly lukewarm, but generally favorable. Stephen and Kyle don’t particularly care for dramas, so I think the movie ended up being a bit of a chore for them. When Jesse saw the menu screen pop up revealing the title of the movie, he exclaimed, “I’m so glad we’re watching this!” In the end, my feeling is very much the same. I’m so glad I finally saw this movie, which is #31 AFI’s Top 100 list. It’s a film that I can recognize as being well-crafted and certainly worthy of laud, but one which I will probably not have a desire to see again anytime in the near future.
7 out of 10 stars.
The plot, according to IMDb, is such: “A private detective takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette.”
To be honest, I thought there would be a lot more fuss over the actual falcon, especially after hearing that “It’s the stuff that dreams are made of” line roughly a bazillion times in various movie countdowns. But, to be fair, we did learn that the falcon is “considered a classic example of a MacGuffin, a plot device that motivates the characters of the story but otherwise has little relevance.”
I loved seeing such an affable, jokey Humphrey Bogart, especially coming after “Casablanca” where Bogart’s Rick is serious, angry, and cynical. Conversely, Bogart’s Sam Spade in “Falcon” is quite irreverant and good-humored.
I recognized Mary Astor from her role as Mrs. Smith in “Meet Me in St. Louis,” and her turn as a femme fatale in “Maltese Falcon” was quite a change from the way I was used to seeing her! And of course our old friend Peter Lorre, who we’ve previously seen in “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Casablanca,” made his required appearance in the film as yet another snivveling double-crosser.
The movie was a bit confusing, with numerous twists, lies, and double-crosses—by the end I was still trying to piece together where the true alliances had lain, why certain characters had made the choices they had, and who had committed the murders after all.
The group’s reception of the film was mostly lukewarm, but generally favorable. Stephen and Kyle don’t particularly care for dramas, so I think the movie ended up being a bit of a chore for them. When Jesse saw the menu screen pop up revealing the title of the movie, he exclaimed, “I’m so glad we’re watching this!” In the end, my feeling is very much the same. I’m so glad I finally saw this movie, which is #31 AFI’s Top 100 list. It’s a film that I can recognize as being well-crafted and certainly worthy of laud, but one which I will probably not have a desire to see again anytime in the near future.
7 out of 10 stars.
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