Patlabor: The Movie
The release of Mamoru Oshii's "The Sky Crawlers," brought this to mind, an early film of Oshii's and a staple of my late-formative years. This is what would happen if Agatha Christie had written about giant freaking robots. The robots in question, or "Labors" as they're called in the film, have begun occasionally going berzerk and moving on their own, and all the leads trace back to a programmer who seems to have committed suicide just before the crisis started. It's really a detective story at heart, and there's less robot-on-robot combat than you might expect, but the action is always gorgeous and satisfying. The big draw here is the atmosphere, the excellent characterizations, and an awesome high-tech mystery/thriller yarn. A bit dry and overly serious at times, but look past it and you'll find a mostly unsung classic of modern anime.
Sullivan's Travels
I have a special affection for the films of the brilliant american comedy auteur Preston Sturges, famous also for "The Lady Eve" and my favorite, "The Palm Beach Story," and while I'm still working on adding the rest of his deserving filmography to Jumbo's collection, Sullivan's Travels stands out as his signature piece. Sturges is equally comfortable dealing in verbal repartee and riotous slapstick, and both talents are used to their utmost here. A film director decides to abandon his Hollywood ivory tower and travel as a vagrant in order to research his masterpiece, "O Brother, Where Art Thou," a somber filmic tribute to the humble working man. The story plays out in unexpected directions from that simple premise, but it's always fast-paced, enjoyable and satisfying. This is a classic of American comedy the equal of anything from Billy Wilder or Howard Hawks. Be warned though, Sturges is addictive.
The Ice Storm
I just saw this the other week and it completely bowled me over. It's a bit frustrating that this film, an ensemble drama which was released two years prior to and treads precisely the same ground as 'Magnolia,' which spent some time as my favorite film, and 'American Beauty,' a certified modern classic, received attention so disproportionate with its quality. It's still a mystery to me how Ang Lee has a firmer grasp on the most subtle elements of American culture than almost any other working director. The film's overall theme is a longing for intimacy, and how it relates to sexuality, in both adults and children, and it's bookended by a brilliant interpretation of The Fantastic Four as narrated by a very young Tobey Maguire, and he's just the beginning of a veritable dream cast. There's endless complexity in the nuances of the actors' exchanges, this is a case of an already great script given even more depth and meaning by performances that squeeze every drop out of it. I suspect the film is well-known in certain circles, but simply the fact that Criterion deigned to release it tells me that a lot of people have yet to see it. Don't wait any longer. Makes a great contrast with sweaty summer nights!
Out with the old:
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