DanWx Reviews

Pay It Forward (2000)

A cinematic marvel

[10/10 · 18 October 2000]

This film is truly amazing all around, and one of the most thought=provoking I've encountered in quite some time. The acting is fantastic, the story inspired, and the musical score very contemplative. It definitely leaves the viewer more than satisfied, and is to be highly recommended.

The Last Laugh (1924)

Masterful

[6 September 1999]

Der Letzte Mann is nothing short of the epitome of viewing pleasure. Beautifully shot, the urban landscape in which a noble doorman earns his keep (and humanity) is throughout dream-like, infused with a decidedly ethereal quality. Added to a magical visual backdrop is a haunting musical score, highlighted by sweeping cello chords which cut straight to the heart. With regard to prominent themes, the picture speaks volumes about the fragility of human existence and, specifically, human dignity. The shallow and arbitrary nature of a society bent predominantly on the acquisition and elevation of pecuniary wealth, as well as the perseverance of the individual through it all, is illustrated masterfully through both the zenith and nadir of the doorman's existence, as documented in this truly excellent work of the interwar period.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Classic Hitchcock

[8/10 · 29 August 1999]

This is indeed classic Hitchcock - a gripping and characteristically well-executed tale composed of just the right mix of humor, suspense, and irony. I hardly feel justified in faulting this film on any point, though one might conceivably point out that it does take a lengthy period for it to really get started, with the inevitable effect that it does tend to drag a bit at times. It might also be argued, however, that this is simply part of Hitchcock's genius - allowing the viewer to get comfortable before immersing them in the action.

The Blood of a Poet (1932)

Surreal to say the least

[3/10 · 29 August 1999]

Surreal doesn't begin to describe this thematically disjointed, if symbolically inspired work. Though at times delightfully whimsical (and supplemented throughout by a wonderful musical score), it was, at most other times, quite troubling and, far worse, impossibly difficult to follow. Though likely to be fully appreciated by the most sophisticated of film viewers, the cinematic amateur is to be cautioned before taking on this complex piece of the early 1930s.