"It's heavy. What is it?" - The Maltese Falcon, d. John Huston
"What is it? It's heavy." - The Bridesmaid, d. Claude Chabrol
It's also Day Three of the Claude Chabrol Blogathon taking place at Flickhead's. I plan to contribute a much better and bigger piece than this screengrab post but just wanted to point out the two shots anyway because whenever one movie makes me think of another movie and it isn't because it's churning out the same cliches over and over, it makes me feel good. Oh and in both cases, the answer to the question is it's the stuff dreams are made of, only the dreams in the second turn into nightmares. So just how far should you go for love? Tomorrow... the answer?
20 comments:
I thought about watching The Bridesmaid for Flickhead's blogathon, as I've read the Ruth Rendell novel on which it's based, but it's been a while, and I didn't much care for the book, so maybe I'll watch something else. I actually have a copy of Flowers of Evil, so...
I love that, too--- when a non-narrative element in one movie reminds me of something in another. While film is most often thought of as a purely story-telling medium it's things like this that add to how rich a film is.
Bill, I enjoyed it and will write it up tomorrow. I never read the book but in the movie the actress playing Senta is hypnotic in her insanity... but more tomorrow.
Ryan, I love that too. I mean, it's the same line, only reversed and he's picking up something wrapped in paper. I assume it was intentional but maybe not. Maybe just an odd coincidence but the thing wrapped in paper is a dream for the hero of the film.
I was going to do Madame Bovary, but I really lost interest in it fast and turned it off. Looking for something else.
Greg, You might want to delete Mr. Cavin. I have a feeling if you leave it up, you'll be spammed rather a lot.
Don't worry, I took care of it. Sorry.
Mr Cavin, I deleted my comment because I see you deleted yours but thanks for your concern.
Marilyn, I liked The Bridesmaid a lot. I've got two other Chabrols at home to watch and another I've seen before and liked, La Ceremonie. Maybe I'll write them all up.
Though I didn't like the novel, I can see a good film being made from Rendell's novel. I was new to her at the time, and have since become a fan, but I just thought that novel didn't quite work. The outcome was clear from the beginning, but Rendell acted as though it wasn't.
But honestly, Rendell and Chabrol is a match made in heaven. Both tend to take a cool, Kubrick-eye view of human depravity and disaster. Chabrol could do wonders with Rendell's A Judgment in Stone, which has one of my favorite opening lines of any novel ever:
Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write.
Chabrol could do wonders with Rendell's A Judgment in Stone...
And I see that, in fact, he has, since La Ceremonie is based on that very same novel.
I'm a moron.
I didn't know what La Ceremonie was based on because I hadn't paid attention myself, I just know I liked it. And it's interesting where you say the outcome is clear (with The Bridesmaid) from the beginning as a bad thing in the book because to me, like with Hitchcock, in the movie thats what makes it appealing is that the outcome is clear and you feel a building sense of dread as it approaches.
Greg, I'm fine with outcomes that are clear from the beginning (obviously, the first line of A Judgment in Stone sort of gives away the whole game), but when I read The Bridesmaid it felt as though Rendell didn't realize that. She kept trying to throw off the reader, and I wasn't buying it.
It sounds as though Chabrol cut to the chase, which is a good idea.
I see what you're saying. Chabrol doesn't let on as much as it sounds like Rendell does but the second Senta makes her appearance and starts "allowing" or "disallowing" things and says things like "we cannot disagree with each other" you know there's trouble ahead.
I'm embarrassed to say that I've never seen a Claude Charbol movie, so that's the reason I won't be participating... but I will be watching.
Fox, the blogathon runs for 10 days. Go get one and watch it and write it up. He's an excellent and very accessible filmmaker.
Greg-
I could, I just feel my perspective on the director would be so limited for an event is supposed to celebrate his work. Eh... but I guess Flickhead probably wants all kinds.
Perhaps I will.
I've always wanted to see that "Girl Cut in Two" movie b/c it has Ludivine Sagnier in it who I find just adorable!
I like The Bridsmaid too!
By the way, my "Ed Wood" blogathon piece is ready. It's not on an Ed Wood, Jr. film, though. Make sure you have room on your Netflix queue because I know you'll want to see the film I wrote about.
Peter that's actually great to hear. I certainly would love to have as many Ed Wood entries that are out there but I'm worried most people will think it has to be Ed Wood, forgetting that I made this the Spirit of Ed Wood Blogathon so any low-budget fare could be discussed. But don't put it up before the blogathon starts.
Fox, here's another encouragement to watch something by Chabrol for this blog-a-thon -- there's no bad time to explore a director for the first time. I've been saving a lot of unwatched Chabrol films for this occasion, myself. A Girl Cut In Two is a fine film, not one of his best but I wouldn't dissuade you from checking it out.
My first Chabrol was Cry of the Owl, a very taut, slow-burn suspense picture, and I'd also recommend the slyly ironic Innocents With Dirty Hands.
My first and only Chabrol was "Le Boucher", which I quite liked, but I don't feel competent to comment on it, because it's been a while ... besides, I think that's the most obvious choice ...
So don't feel bad, Fox ...
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