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An error has ocurred. Please try againFavorite Japanese films reviews on La Saveur (in French) : https://lasaveurdesgoutsamers.wordpress.com/tag/limeko-japanese-films/
Ranked (series used as a whole).
[link] https://lasaveurdesgoutsamers.wordpress.com/tag/lims-favorite-comedies/[/link]
8,5-10 films.
Top films Reviews (in French) on La Saveur : lasaveurdesgoutsamers.wordpress.com/tag/limguela-top-films/
lasaveurdesgoutsamers.wordpress.com/tag/films-francais-preferes/
Films avec moins de 400 checks sur iCM.
Obscure films reviewed on la Saveur (in French) :
https://lasaveurdesgoutsamers.wordpress.com/tag/lobscurite-de-lim/
Reviews
Sorcerer (1977)
That's not even good
It bears comparison with the Cluzot's film.
I don't know which film is more attached to the original book, but the Friedkin's plot doesn't work. There's one main rule in a story, it's to got one principal (even unique) subject. In the Clouzot's film, that's obvious: they have to go to point A to point B with dynamite. That's all. Simple, efficient. You can evoke the personal stakes of each characters in a first act, then during the development to enhance their character, etc. But that's not essential in the story. In the Friedkin's film, the first act is one hour long! What's the point?! Give us the dynamite and en route Germaine! One hour to explain why the characters are here... Don't explain! Show!... You can make a very long first act, like in Deer Hunter, but it has to have a point, like creating an opposition between two states, two times. And once it's show-time (at last) 20m on ONE bridge! 50 times the same shots. I understand the idea, move on! At least, the actors are great. But some effects, the music, the sounds, the editing work... all seem very outdated, abusive, and out of tone. The Cluzot's films is centered to the characters, their fear; that's universal and primitive concerns: just survive to this absurd quest. In the Friedkin's films, it's focused on the oil company interest, and their own interest to make money... OK, I take the simple and the cathartic angle, approach.
Friedkin just missed to make a better film with an unique and very simple film. You can't enhance a masterpiece giving it more material. So if Steven Spielberg would love Bergman's Persona, he would try to give special effects to the film? more characters, more scenes with different locations? Typical American approach with remake movies. That's a terrible fail.
At the same time, there was Fitzcarraldo, Aguirre, and at the opposite, two Spielberg masterpieces, Duel (vroom-vroom: simple, efficient) and Jaws. They all have made necessary films, with genuine innovations. Friedkin wanted to be part of this movement -- he clearly crashes leaving the road. Stay on the main track, Willie! One subject! Watch out, Willie... "It's OK, I take the lead!" -- Boom.
Yep, you took a lead balloon.