Lost In Translation

Circle Of Deceit

Volker Schlondoroff's 1981 Circle Of Deceit is another one of those gritty wartime journalist films like The Year of Living Dangerously and Under Fire. This time the journalist, Laschen (Bruno Ganz) decamps from a tempestuous domestic life to Beirut, Lebanon to report on the Christian-Palestinian conflict that is tearing the city apart. His photographer friend, Hoffman (Jerzy Skolimowski)  merely records images and is not moved by the horrific violence that they encounter there. He is drawn further into the conflict through an affair that he has with a German widow of an Arab, Ariane (Fassbinder regular Hanan Schygulla), he meets there. He finally returns and no longer feels the need to report on the conflict as if it were a career building exercise. Another provocative mediation on the violent 80s.

Under Fire

After watching The Year of Living Dangerously I cam across a list of 80s films that dealt with journalists covering the many wars that took place in that decade. I had seen several but of those I hasn't seen Under Fire (1983), directed by Roger Spottiswode, stood out in particular because it takes place in Nicaragua and because of its stellar cast that included Nicke Nolte, Gene Hackman, and Ed Harris. The film starts out in Chad, where Russell Price (Nolte), a photographer, is on assignment to cover the civil war there. In the field he chances upon soldier of fortune Oats (Harris). later we are introduced to his other journalist friends Alex Graizer (Hackman) and his colleague and lover Clair (Joanna Cassidy). As that conflict comes to an end, all of these characters are reunited in Nicaragua during the last days of the corrupt Somoza regime despite Graizer's wish to quit and become a TV anchor man. Graizer decides that he's had enough and leaves and Price and Claire become lovers as they cover the conflict. As they get caught up in the covering the conflict they have trouble maintaining neutrality and question the ethics of that stance in the face of an unpopular and unjust government. The film manages to capture the chaos of war, but he strength of the film lies in the true-to-life performances of the lead actor.

The Year Of Living Dangerously

I am going to Indonesia (Lombok and Jakarta) during my winter break, so I thought I'd revisit Peter Weir's The Year Of Living Dangerously (1982). It is about the bloody coup that took place between end of the Sukarno regime and the establishment of the Suharto in 1965. The film was banned in Indonesia until Sukarno was overthrown in 1998. I am sure I was inspired by a Roger Ebert review to originally see it and what I mainly remember is Helen Hunt's award winning role as the Chinese-Australian dwarf Billy Qwuan and Mel Gibson in an early role as journalist guy Hamilton. I had forgotten that Sigourney Weaver was in it as the love interest after her winning performance in Alien. The film stands the test of time well and this time I could also recognized the excellent score by Michael Jarre and Vangelis.

The Killing Of America

A friend recently recommended The Killing Of America (1981) a documentary film directed by Sheldon Renan with narration written by Leonard Schrader (Paul Schrader's late older brother). It is a mediation on violence in America as it radiated from the assassination of JFK in 1963 up to the assassination of John Lennon on which the film ends. The Killing of America doesn’t leave the audience with a call to action, or an uplifting end-credits song. What the audience gets is “Imagine” playing over footage from the public memorial service after Lennon’s 1980 killing, with a note that two people were shot during the vigil. In between there is a relentless array of uncensored footage of death by firearms, reports on serial killers, and other well-known and unknown violent acts that had occurred in that time period. The film was never released in America on DVD until 2016, but the fact that it seems to relevant today is testament to its power. There have been several high profile sniper attacks and after the 1966 Tower attack in Austin, Texas (it had its own documentary recently as well)-with footage of Lyndon Johnston calling for tougher gun laws and the voice over telling us that mail order purchases of guns was the only measure passed. Charles Manson died this year-he is featured prominently in the film. Several of the serial killers were fictionally depicted in  David Fincher's recent FBI Netflix TV series Mindhunter. It is a relentless onslaught of disturbing images, but perhaps they are images that every American should see to wake them out of their stupor of indifference and apathy.

Personal Shopper

Olivier Assayas' latest film Personal Shopper (2016-it got its American release in 2017) is an unusual film for the consistently compelling French director. His said to have written the screenplay for Kristen Stewart, who starred in his last film The Clouds of Sils Marie. In this film she plays a twin who works as a personal shopper for a famous actress whose twin brother has recently died of a heart problem. They have made a pact to make contact with the other after dead. So it something of a supernatural horror film (complete with CGI), a mystery, as well as a mediation on grief and memory. There is a subtext about the importance of the spiritual world and relationships between people that is juxtaposed with the shallow world of commerce and fashion in particular that is also running through the film. The film is shot on location in exotic Paris, London, and ends in the mountains of Oman.

Atomic Blonde

I thought I'd give Atomic Blonde (2017), directed by David Leith (John Wick), a chance after hearing it being praised on a podcast. It is not high art, it is an action spy film set in the late 80s starring Charlize Theron-and it is a lot of fun. It's great to see Theron kicking ass and seducing exotic women in Berlin in the late 80s set to a great 80s soundtrack. I suppose it owes something to the TV show, The Americans. There is something of a labyrinthine plot that doesn't make much sense, but it is a fun ride. There's an excellent supporting cast with the likes of James McAvoy, John Goodman, and Toby Jones among others.

James Baldwin: Collected Essays

I was inspired to get a copy of James Baldwin: Collected Essays (1998), after seeing Raoul Peck's provocative film I Am Not Your Negro in which passages from Baldwin's letters, notes, and other writings are paired with various images depicting racial strife in America over time as well as today. I had realized that although I had read a few novels by Baldwin, I had not read any of his nonfiction. Baldwin's tone in these essays is angry, defiant, indignant, and ultimately consequential. The first collection is Notes of a Native Son (1955) which is primarily concerned with the issue of race in America and Europe. The next collection was Nobody Knows My Name (1961), which has a variety of essays several of which are related to literature. I was surprise to learn that he didn't get on with Richard Wright, but he was friendly with Norman Mailer. The Fire Next Time (1963) has "My Dungeon Shook — Letter to my Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of Emancipation," and "Down At The Cross — Letter from a Region of My Mind." The first essay, written in the form of a letter to Baldwin's 14-year-old nephew, discusses the central role of race in American history. The second essay deals with the relations between race and religion, focusing in particular on Baldwin's experiences with the Christian church as a youth, as well as the Islamic ideas of others in Harlem. No Name in the Street (1971) was more interesting to me since it was concerned with world events of the 60s such as  people involved in the civil rights movement such as Bobby Seale, Malcolm X、Huey Newton, and Eldridge Cleaver as well as the Algerian war and Albert Camus' attitude about it. The final essay collection was The Devil Finds Work (1976), which is essentially a book length essay that is a memoir of his experiences watching movies and a critique of the racial politics of American cinema. The last section,"Other Essays" has several interesting previously uncollected essays such as "Nothing Personal" (an essay about the civil rights movement), "A report from Occupied Territory (about the race races riots in the summer of 1964), "Negroes Are Anti-Semitic Because They Are Anti-White" (which helps explain the distrust of Jews who worked in the civil rights movement), and "The Price of the Ticket" (about all the people who mentored and supported Baldwin in his struggle to become a writer). This collection is a powerful body of push back and resistance against the country that claims equality for all.

Eight Burger's

I heard about a new burger shop in Shimokitazawa, Eight Burger's and it's not bad but most of the burger's are chili burgers and I wanted to try a regular cheeseburger first the buns are chilli resistant but all the fillings spill out the top and bottom. I think Village Vanguard in Shimokitazawa is better. The shop has a nice atmosphere and outdoor seating as well. It a small thing, but I also hate it when burger places just have packets of ketchup and mustard as well.

War Of The Planet Of The Apes

Matt Reeves' third installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot, War Of The Planet Of The Apes (2017), maybe the best yet. Andy Serkis is back as resilient Caesar and Nova, Charleton Heston's girl friend in the original, is introduced as a child as is Cornelius as Caesar's child. There are some great actions scenes and Woody Harrelson chews the scenery as the human rival of the apes.

King And Country

King And Country (1964) is a bleak WWI antiwar drama directed by Joseph Losey. I was surprised to learn that Losey was an American since this is such an English production. Tom Courtenay gives a standout performance as a dimwitted soldier on trial for his life for deserting the trenches during World War I, and Dirk Bogarde is also quite good as the officious officer charged with defending him.