Thursday, January 24, 2008

Polish Film Poster of the...


This time: Rosemary's Baby (1984); artist: Wieslaw Walkuski.

Ed Says: The chief reason for this post is to prove that I'm still among the living. I don't usually burden my readers with personal information, but many have sent along friendly inquiries so I don't feel it's too inappropriate. Poverty has forced me to find a Wi-Fi connection down the hill in the cafe at Whole Foods, to cancel my Netflix membership and cut down on theater visits. Personal turmoil, preparations for my first semester at university, and a commitment to acting in and helping out with the production of a film has reduced my energy for criticism to none. Happily, San Francisco State has a reputedly massive film library and enrollment in at least one cinema class will keep me writing about film. And I'll continue to post 24 Words Per Film on anything I see--The Bucket List and Eastern Promises are up next--which will hopefully include a large amount of movies from the '30's and '40's, eras I have mostly ignored until now.

The other reason for this post is because I'm sure those of you who are still checking back in hopes of an update are as tired of the Pollyanna poster as I am. To remedy this, I offer this fascinating take on Rosemary's Baby by the same artist who did that creepy Tootsie poster I put up a while back.

Two recently learned (by me) fun facts on the subject of Polish film posters: a.) Paul Verhoeven got his start in poster design. b.) Richard Linklater has been building a large collection of Polish film posters since before anyone had ever heard of him.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

24 Words Per Film #20



Dano's preacher and religion is slightly hokey, but Day-Lewis and Anderson almost make There Will Be Blood as powerful as it wants to be.


24 Words Per Film #19



A perhaps cruel and somewhat off-topic comment: Meg Ryan's plastic surgery is downright distracting. Adam Brody is rather charming In the Land of Women.


24 Words Per Film #18




William Hurt kills as Mr. Brooks' imaginary friend. Kevin Costner tells Dane Cook he is neither funny nor charming, which sums up both performances.



24 Words Per Film #17



Great Outdoors: Hughes' script is strangely devoid of insight into teens. Akroyd's comic power can't undermine Candy's singular hilarity--makes you really miss them.


24 Words Per Film #16



That Juno's soundtrack and its heroine are hipster's wet dreams doesn't detract from the inherant emotional honesty. Michael Cera gets a bit shafted, though.