Screening Log
This new site feature is a collective effort to summarize our viewing habits. Occasionally, you will find titles here that are coming to a theater near you, in addition to films viewed on television, and even films viewed in piecemeal. The screening log is archived each month; to view past entries select a month in the menu below.
December 2006 activity
Total Log Entries: 74
- Adam (10)
- Andrew (0)
- Chet (0)
- Chiranjit (6)
- David (0)
- Eva (0)
- Evan (0)
- Ian (15)
- Jenny (8)
- Katherine (0)
- Leo (15)
- Megan (0)
- Rumsey (7)
- Teddy (1)
- Thomas (0)
- Timothy (0)
- Victoria (0)
Total Comments: 65
- Pan’s Labyrinth (0)
- Firewall (0)
- Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1)
- Interiors (0)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (0)
- The Kingdom (0)
- The Innocents (0)
- Les anges du peche (0)
- Night at the Museum (0)
- Children of Men (0)
- Dreamgirls (2)
- Invincible (0)
- Babel (15)
- The Good Shepherd (0)
- Scarlet Street (0)
- Little Miss Sunshine (0)
- The Illusionist (1)
- The Good Shepherd (0)
- Mon oncle d’Amerique (0)
- Flying Down To Rio (0)
- Yearning (0)
- The Good Shepherd (1)
- Little Children (4)
- Shortbus (0)
- Clerks II (3)
- Fires On The Plain (0)
- Cape Fear (0)
- Testament d’Orphée (0)
- Miami Vice (0)
- Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (0)
- Curse of the Golden Flower (0)
- Au revoir, les enfants (0)
- Freaks and Geeks (4)
- The Watermelon Woman (0)
- Wanda (0)
- The Wind That Shakes The Barley (0)
- Sayat Nova (0)
- Miami Vice (3)
- El Topo (6)
- Troilus & Cressida (0)
- Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (0)
- Deja Vu (0)
- Inland Empire (0)
- Shock Treatment (3)
- The Holiday (0)
- Inland Empire (0)
- Syndromes and a Century (0)
- The Chinese Boxer (0)
- Volver (0)
- Days of Glory (0)
- Paris, je t’aime (0)
- Frozen City (0)
- Network (0)
- Regular Lovers (0)
- The Double Life of Veronique (0)
- L’Amour fou (0)
- Lost Highway (0)
- McCabe & Mrs. Miller (0)
- Nosferatu the Vampyre (0)
- Le vent de la nuit (0)
- Fresh Air (0)
- In Smog and Thunder (0)
- Sissy Frenchfry (2)
- The Tenants (0)
- Little Children (1)
- Half Nelson (1)
- The History Boys (4)
- Inland Empire (1)
- American Movie (0)
- Hard Eight (2)
- V for Vendetta (5)
- Hearts of Darkness (1)
- Casino Royale (0)
- Borat (5)
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Troilus & Cressida / UK / 1981
This production of Shakespeare’s “problem play”, directed by Jonathan Miller, is simply one of the best spoken interpretations of the old tragedy I’ve ever heard (and I’ve heard/seen a few). It’s one of the best Shakespeare productions on film, period; despite the obvious fact that it was adapted for British television (Channel 4 productions). If you’re not familiar with the story line, the play takes place during the Peloponesian Wars where Cressida, daughter of the Trojan seer, Calchus, falls in love with Troilus (brother of Paris, the lad who abducted the infamous Helen, the wife of the Greek king, Menalaus and started the whole she-bang).
Cressida, played by Suzanne Burden, gives an impressive initial performance of worldly cynicism, bantering with her uncle, the devilish Chales Gray as Panadus (in fact, Shakespeare’s employment of the “quibble” gets overworked here, but it’s played admirably). Burden gets shrill, though, during the scenes where she has to part from Troilus, sacrificed for the Trojan cause. Anton Lesser as Troilus, on the other hand, gives a flawless performance throughout the film. Truth be told, the generals/soldiers are a bit on the flabby side – never really physically convincing as men of war though absolutely riveting in their performances, which includes some fairly long-winded soliloquies.
Intellectuals and those who simply enjoy reading Shakespeare, especially those who pick this play as their favorite will be impressed with the ensemble. If you can, see it!
by Marlin Tyree | Source: BBC/Time Life DVD
12 Dec 2006 5:45 PM | Submit Comment