Review of Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) by Sara B — 27 Jun 2005

Summer's going slow, but then again, nothing wrong with that! Have to make this entry brief though. Here are some recent viewings:

[b]Coffee and Cigarettes[/b] (2003) - So uneven! Some vignettes were entertaining and funny, others were glib and dull. The only ones I would want to watch again would be 'Somewhere in California', 'Cousins?', and the one at the very end, 'Champagne' (or something along those lines).

[b]The Chorus[/b] (2004) - French films and children's choirs are two of my weaknesses. So this movie was almost adorable overload. But it managed to be sweet and charming without getting overbearingly sugary. Not everyone will be able to handle the cuteness factor of this one. But if you can, it's good fun.

[b]Nosferatu[/b] (1979) - I saw the original in film class and wanted to compare. Herzog's images are so achingly beautiful here and Klaus Kinski is unbelievably creepy. Kudos to the downbeat ending too. It ended well, I think. It should be said, though, that Tom Waits is still the best Renfield (in Coppola's otherwise atrocious 'Bram Stoker's Dracula').

[b]Hud[/b] (1963) - Ohh, 60's/70's-era Paul Newman still makes me weak in the knees. He's a total brute in this film, but he does it well. Patricia Neal and Melvyn Douglas are also good in their Oscar-winning roles. The cow-slaughtering scene was very well shot. Loved the guitar score too.

[b]Next Up:[/b] Still have 'Nights of Cabiria', 'Unforgiven', 'Barton Fink', and 'The Thin Red Line' on the table. And some fine day 'The Machinist' will be at my video store. Someday, someday ...