Lost In Translation 2003, Coppola, US/JapNth time; big screen Two Americans in Japan, one an actor, the other a lonely wife over on her husband's business, meet up and enjoy each other's company. Underplayed, affecting tale of two people stuck in marital problems and finding unconsumated comfort in each other; it is a refreshingly minimalistic approach fuelled by excellent performances.
La Balance 1982, Swaim, Fr In order to bring down a ruthless drug lord in the Belleville quartier of Paris, the cops force an ex-criminal and his prostitute girlfriend into becoming informers. Moments of dated fromage detract from an otherwise solid thriller, with at least a few scenes of worth; quite clearly made as a French counterpart to The French Connection.
Bleeder 1999, Refn, Den Life turns sour for a reluctant father-to-be when his anger gets the better of him, and his girlfriend's vicious brother wants to settled the score; meanwhile, a video shop assistant and film buff has trouble communicating with a girl he's set his sights on. A small, brooding drama which packs a powerful punch to the gut. The overriding theme here is a lack of communication and the disastrous consequences that has on people and their lives; but the director also touches, quite cleverly, on Cinema itself and the notions of violence that come with it--quite clearly, a film directed by a man in love with the medium.
Mick
...dot com bold typeface rhetoric. You go clickety click and get your head split. 'The hell you look like on a message board Discussing whether or not the Brother is hardcore?
