Classic Throwback: The Wages of Fear (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1953)

The Wages of Fear is a 1953 French suspense thriller directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, based on the 1950 novel by Georges Arnaud. When a South American oil well owned by an American oil company catches fire, the company hires four European men, down on their luck and stranded in a backwater Latin American village, to drive two trucks over 300 miles of hazardous mountain roads, carrying the nitroglycerine needed to extinguish the fire. In 1953 The Wages of Fear won both the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and Palme d’Or at Cannes and catapulted Clouzot to international fame. He next directed Les Diaboliques. 

Clouzot’s film opens in Las Piedres, a village in the heart of a poor, unnamed South American country. It is a lost, backwards village of stifling heat where a variety of interracial men sit around listlessly, working menial labor jobs and waiting for some kind of escape. It seems to be a place where desperate men have come to escape their pasts, but having found themselves down on their luck and with no cash, they cannot afford to escape. If the film has some minor flaws it is the opening 45 minutes or so. It did feel like it dragged, but it is essential to revealing the desperate situations of the men, and establishing why they would be so willing to undertake such a high-risk job. It is also an excellent way to introduce the characters, and to differentiate between whom they become when faced with the pressures of their mission. It’s a little bit confusing initially to work out who is who, but the central characters start to stand out.

Classic Throwback: All About Eve (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1950)

Films now considered to be ‘cinematic classics’ are often difficult to judge when viewing them in a completely different context, and not to mention the absence of a cinema, decades later. It is near impossible to escape preconceptions, and quite often you enter the film with extremely high expectations of the film being nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece. In some cases, one can be left disappointed and confused as to why the film was endowed with such acclaim and status. For me, The Maltese Falcon and Bonnie and Clyde are two such films that I really wasn’t thrilled with. But Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Double Indemnity, The Third Man, The Apartment and Sunset Boulevard are all films that I feel have transcended time, and still prove to be entertaining and resonant today. All About Eve, Joseph L. Mankiewicz’ highly polished, literate and sophisticated 1950 drama is certainly another.

All About Eve is both written and directed by Mankiewicz (Sleuth), based on the 1946 short story “The Wisdom of Eve” by Mary Orr. As one of the finest examples of old-school Hollywood filmmaking, the film stars Bette Davis as Margo Channing, a highly regarded but ageing Broadway star. Anne Baxter plays Eve Harrington, a willingly helpful young fan, who has been plagued by a hard life and is befriended by Margo. But soon enough Eve’s secret ambition becomes more and more evident as she slyly insinuates herself into Margo’s life, ultimately threatening her career and personal relationships. All About Eve is renowned because it was nominated for 14 Academy Awards (a feat not matched until James Cameron’s Titanic came along in 1997). It won six, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay. As the quintessential depiction of ruthless ambition in the entertainment industry, it features legendary performances from its brilliant ensemble cast.

Monday Links (18/07)

Despite only seeing Oranges and Sunshine and Deathly Hallows Part 2 at the cinema I had quite a busy week. I made up for the ordeal of watching Battle: Los Angeles and The Expendables with screenings of Talk to Her and Animal House. Also re-watched Rango on DVD and grew to appreciate Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. I hated that film on my initial viewing.

Check out some of the weeks top articles (after the jump):

Classic Throwback: Animal House (John Landis, 1978)

Before American Pie at the end of the 1990's and The Hangover a few years back, there was Animal House, the frequently hilarious teen comedy directed by John Landis (American Werewolf in London and Blues Brothers) in 1978. The culturally significant comedy classic is not only considered to be the film that launched the gross-out genre but the film that best defined coming of age amidst the zany college fraternity life of the 1960's. Just as the aforementioned titles had an entire generation of filmgoers in hysterics, Animal House did too.

The year is 1962 and the film opens focusing on two freshmen, Lawrence 'Larry' Kroger (Thomas Hulce) and Kent Dorfman (Stephen Furst), as they try to join a prestigious fraternity at Faber College. Unsuccessful in their attempt they try at Delta Tau Chi House instead. Here they find a group of misfits, led by Bluto (John Belushi), who need 'the dues', so they permit the pair to pledge. They receive the fraternity names "Pinto" (Larry) and "Flounder" (Kent).

Vernon Wormer (John Vernon), the Dean of Faber College, wants to remove the Delta fraternity from Campus due to the repeated conduct violation and their poor grades. He puts the Deltas on 'Double Secret Probation' and orders the Omega president Marmalard (James Daughton) to find a way to get rid of the Deltas permanently. A number of crazy antics and hilarious situations ensue as the fraternity men challenge their college administrators.

Harry Potter Competition Results

Well, my Harry Potter competition, though it had far less responses than I had hoped and expected, was a success. The rules simply included a response to the question: What is your favourite Harry Potter film and why? Emily and Steven selected Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, while Castor and Tom selected Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, which I thought was very interesting. S.S.L couldn't go past the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, while Sam declared Deathly Hallows Part 2 to be his new favourite. 

The winner of the competition, taking home the prize of the $30 JB Hi-Fi voucher, was Tom Clift. Congratulations Tom. Huge thanks to everyone who responded. Keep an eye out for future competitions on Film Emporium. 

Classic Scene: Being John Malkovich (Spike Jonze, 1999)

My favourite scene from Being John Malkovich, a remarkable, clever and audaciously original black comedy/drama from Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman. John Malkovich and Mr Hiroshi (who had entered Malkovich's personal portal moments before Malkovich himself) are thrown into the ditch near the New Jersey Turnpike where the experience concludes. Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) is waiting by his car to meet them. 

Schwartz: How was it?

Mr Hiroshi: It was amazing this time.

Malkovich: That was no simulation!

Schwartz: I know. I'm sorry.

Mr Hiroshi: Mr Malkovich? (Recognising Malkovich) It's such an honour.

Malkovich (clambering up the slope and grabbing Schwartz roughly by the collar): I have been to the dark side. I've seen a world that no man should see!

Schwartz: Really? For most people it is a rather pleasant experience.

Malkovich: That portal is mine, and it must be sealed forever for the love of God.

Schwartz: But, Mr Malkovich, sir, with all due respect I discovered that portal. It's my livelihood. You Understand?

Malkovich: It's my head, Schwartz! IT'S MY HEEEEAAADDD! I will see you in court.

Schwartz: What makes you think I won't be seeing what you're seeing...in court?

'B-Movie Friday' Review: The Expendables (Sylvester Stallone, 2010)

I don't readily surrender myself to films I have a high expectations about being crap. Lately, I have been trying to keep films in perspective and have willingly suffered a couple of dire releases just to remind myself that awful films do exist (as if Transformers: DOTM wasn't enough). The first film was the woeful Battle: Los Angeles, and the second, which I watched as part of a recent Friday Night B-Movies Marathon a friend of mine and I are undertaking, was Sylvester Stallone's overwrought, adrenalin-charged muscle film, The Expendables. 

Now, I remember when this was released at the cinema last year, to the infamy of squeezing as many hardcore action heroes into the one film, but I was never unfortunate enough to catch any scenes. I had initially expected it to be an homage to the classic 80's and 90's action flicks of Arnie and Stallone, and might be a bit of brainless fun. While I had read some pretty scathing reviews about the film (over-indulgent brutality, misogynistic themes pop up), it was so much worse than I feared, that I felt I had to report.

The film opens with Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham leading a team of elite mercenaries known as 'The Expendables' to the Gulf of Aden, Somalia, to stop local pirates from executing hostages on board a merchant vessel. Barney Ross (Stallone) and Lee Christmas (Statham) are joined by Yang (Jet Li), Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), Caesar (Terry Crews) and Toll Road (Randy Couture). Each macho-man apparently has his own specialty - Christmas is a knife expert, Gunnar a sniper, and Toll Road a demolitions expert for example. If you picked up that they had individual attributes, you have deciphered the indecipherable action sequences better than I. An intense shoot-out ensues following Jensen's instigation, which results in much machine gun fire, the first of many large body counts, Ross' dismissal of Jensen from the unit (for psychological problems and alcoholism) and the crew's eventual return to their base in New Orleans.

Trailer: The Thing (Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.)

Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead (who is damn fine I have just come to realise) and Joel Edgerton, the prequel (or is it a shot-for-shot remake?) to The Thing is set to hit cinemas later in the year. John Carpenter's 1982 version is one of my favourite horror films, so naturally I am a little concerned about this. What are your thoughts? Here is the trailer: