Li'l Duce's Reviews Palace

[titoli]

Oberst Redl (1985) A fictive interpretation of the Archtraitor Redl's case based on a Osborne's play which, in the end, makes little sense (the Archduke was planning his own death in Sarajewo?). Still the movie is very good, especially if one doesn't know about Redl's case. It's true that, apparently, it is still dubious how facts really stood, but to make Redl simply a victim of conspiracy looks to me quite hazardous.  Visually excellent (not in the Visconti's approach, thank goodness) and with excellent players. 9\10 

[Groggy]

Well, the film claims to be based on Osborne's A Patriot for Me, but aside from the early duel scene there aren't any similarities. Osborne showed Redl as a conscious traitor (albeit blackmailed by the Russians), with a heavier emphasis on his homosexuality. This must be one of the loosest adaptations on record.

[titoli]

This must be one of the loosest adaptations on record.

Agreed. And explicitly said in the introductory written note (aside from the Osborne's quite inexplicable link). Still, having read some more on the matter in the german reviews of newer studies, it seems that the homosexual side of the matter and, still more important, the decisiveness of Redl's informations to the Russians about the plans for attack on Serbia were quite doubtful. I don't know whether this is another case of wanting to refute the simpler truths for more complicated plots's sake, but the story as it was traditionally relayed (and as I read it in Dulles anthology, with the footballer hired as a burglar into the Redl's home) is unsatisfactory and with too many loopholes left.

[Groggy]

You raise an interesting point, Titoli. The main source for Osborne's play (I don't know about the film) is Robert Asprey's The Panther's Feast. Don't know if you've read that one, but it's an "interpretive biography" - basically a novel masquerading as fact. Half of it is conversations that must be invented, unless Redl or his spymasters had stenographers transcribing their briefings (or Redl's lovers had photographic memories). Would be interesting to read the newer accounts you mention.

As for the movie, yeah, it's borderline absurd making Redl a martyr to the Austrian system. Artistically an interesting approach, but even the most sympathetic reading of Redl's actions don't go that far.

[titoli]

In one of the reviews to this new (last year published) book

http://www.amazon.de/Oberst-Redl-Spionagefall-Skandal-Fakten/dp/3701731691/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388269900&sr=1-1&keywords=alfred+redl

on the case it is said that new documents prove the Russians didn't know about Redl's supposed homosexuality, but that he was him who offered his services to them merely to substain his expensive lifestyle.

The fact that he offered his services makes me think about Cicero, actually a doppelagent for the British. In facts:

http://www.amazon.de/Doppelagent-h%C3%B6chsten-Befehl-Guido-Schmitz/dp/3938098988/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388270553&sr=1-2&keywords=alfred+redl

seems by the title to confirm the view that he was "a double agent by higher command". A pity there's no review of this one, all the more amazing as it was published only last summer.
 

 

[titoli]

Anatomy of a Murder (1959) I don't like Stewart's performance: he constantly overacts and voice is the usual mess (better dubbed in italian). Still, reading the book, one can't help thinking his youger self was designed to impersonate the character. The movie takes inevitable liberties with the book for dramatic effectiveness's sake (for example, the Lee Remick charcter isn't that exaggerated in the book, she doesn't make a pass at Stewart, though her enhanced whorishness is effective to induce doubts about her story). 7\10

[drinkanddestroy]

Anatomy of a Murder (1959) I don't like Stewart's performance: he constantly overacts and voice is the usual mess (better dubbed in italian). Still, reading the book, one can't help thinking his youger self was designed to impersonate the character. The movie takes inevitable liberties with the book for dramatic effectiveness's sake (for example, the Lee Remick charcter isn't that exaggerated in the book, she doesn't make a pass at Stewart, though his enhanced whorishness is effective to induce doubts about her story). 7\10

did you read the book before or after you saw the movie?

when you read a book and then compare it to a movie, you'll often be disappointed (or so do the people who read books tell me). I never read the book but IMO Anatomy of a Murder is at least a 9/10

[titoli]

did you read the book before or after you saw the movie?

I read first a hundred pages, then watched the movie, and then finished the book.

[titoli]

Goal! (1967) The movie on WC 1966 will give you the headache as the shooting is from the worst possible angles. the filmakers had trouble procuring passes for the pitches and had to opt for a catch-as-catch-can politics. The audio was in large part concocted in the editing room. Still the movie sucks as they should have more of what was happening outside the stadiums, of which there is next to nothing. A pity, as this was the last of the old WC or the first one of the modern ones and should have earned a better treatment. Thank God it was the first one to be televised with rather modern devices and in Europe it was possible to watch the matches live. 5\10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro_dp4s1gAE

[titoli]

It Happened Here! (1965) Excellent in the"documentary" part, it fails a little in the more melodramatic ones, especially that involving the doctor and the wounded partisan (we can do without the political discussion, let the images and the actions do the explaining). 8\10.

[titoli]

Cybèle ou Les Dimanches de Ville D'Avray (1962)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuG29zStZBA (french audio with castellano subs)

Hailed by many as a masterpiece I have to admit that, though not my cup of tea it kept me glued to the pc screen.  Still it's not a movie I would see again.  The actors (the little girl it's incredible) are perfect, the images and the music same (Decae and Jarre). So what doesn't work? It is the fact that the Kruger character is not credible. He lost his memory in Vietnam. OK. But as he was repatriated he must have been given his generalities by somebody (and he was one of the few jet pilots, not just a grunt. BTW, that makes me wonder if the French alreadt operated with jets in Vietnam. Bah). And he must have been granted a pension (the fact that he's pennyless makes him dependent on his fiancèe, which fact is important storywise but makes it little credible psychologically). And the death is also unsatisfactory (in fact is not shown): the cops are able, in the dark and from a distance, to see him getting near the girlie with a knife while the girl sleeps. Bah. 8\10   

[titoli]

Richard Pryor Live on Sunset Strip (1982) and Richard Pryor Here and Now (1983).

I like Pryor, though he rarely makes me laugh during the almost three hour run time of this double dvd which, for unfathomable reasons found a local release. Interesting only to compare with local stand-up comedians: they're just as good. Or bad. 7\10   

[titoli]

Deux Hommes Dans La Ville (1973) A series of incredibly melodramatic scene that makes you want to turn off the vision at every plot turn. I had to force myself to get to the end hoping for some good action scene (totally absent). Delon totally miscast, while Ilaria Occhini is  prettier than I remembered her. Gabin, as usual, is class. But it is not enough. 3\10

[titoli]

Count Yorga Vampire (1970)   Good movie with a shoestring budget, with excellent lead and good-looking gals though not bare skin is to be seen: a great minus. 6\10

[titoli]

Maigret voit rouge (1963 )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rFCNcnic9E&feature=kp  (english captioned)

Mediocre story interesting for actors (Gabin is playing Gabin, as usual; but good Sanipoli, Costantin, Bozzuffi). 5\10