recent movies

[J.D. P. Lafrance]

matthew.percy writes:

but, there's barely anything worth seeing on the big screen right now, 
anyhow.  I've gone the video route, picking up pretty much everything i 
can get ahold of by wong kar-wai and jean-pierre melville.  I'd really 
encourage anyone and everyone to pick up w.k-w's "fallen angels" or 
"chungking express" (recently re-released by tarantino's vanity lable, 
rolling thunder).  It's fascinating how these films attempt to construct 
a cultural identity and cultural memomry out ofthe objects and detritus 
of global capitalism.  If you get a chance to see any film by mr. wong on 
the big screen, run to it... I'd go so far as to say he's the most 
important filmmaker (esp. stylistically) of the last 10 years.


----

i'd have to agree with your praise of Wong Kar-Wai... I just saw CHUNGKING
EXPRESS a little while ago and i was very impressed by it... it's easy to see
why Tarantino is a fan - lots of Scorsese-esque hand held camera shots and such
but Wai gives it all his own unique stylistic spin... the film consists of two
stories about hopeless romantics are linked by a single location - a deli called
The Chungking Express... but Wai shoots both stories with different styles and
yet the film still works as a cohesive whole even though it is essentially two
small films. but i thought it was refreshing to see that there are still
hopeless romantic/dreamers out there...

bfn,
JDL