Wings of Desire and Into Great Silence
Both of these movies have something in common. That is that I watched them late at night and while I was very tired. Unlike REAL film critics though, I’m going to admit it as a caveat to my remarks. Both movies really should be watched when one is alert and attentive but for different reasons.
Into Great Silence is more than 2 and half hours long and has next to no dialog. It is a documentary look inside the monestery life at Grande Chartreuse I think in France or Switzerland. It is visually impressive. If you think you could look at a high quality photography exhibit for 2 and half hours then you will have no problem with this film for that experience alone. It is interesting that the cinematographer goes back and forth between sharp and grainy images. I suspect that a lot of the grainy images are too keep the filming as unobtrusive as possible but the result is good. There are even Rembrandt still-life like pauses at windows or doorways. Its lack of commentary is the most important commentary of all. It certainly gives on pause to consider what revelations might be beyond the din and activity of our everyday lives. I unfortunately was tired when I started and an hour and half in was actually paying little attention. Not proud of that, but its true. Mostly thumbs up, but I have to say - WORST ACTION/CHASE/SEX SCENES EVER!
I popped “Wings of Desire” in the DVD on another late night when I was already tired. I watch a lot of foreign films so I am used to sub-titles, but I found following this movies sub-title dialog a little tedious. Not because the dialog was bad but because it was complex like poetry. Also the film is in a noire-ish b&w a lot and the white sub-titles were occasionally plain hard to read. So I found myself constantly going back to double check the dialog. Also the scenes themselves were complex and sometimes changing rapidly. The premise - angels electing for mortality - is roughly used in a lot of stories but there is quite a different twist to this one. There is also some humor, albeit, of a not-that-funny German ilk. The screenplay reminds me of T.S. Elliot poetry. Not sure how much of that is the translation. Some of the movie is in English mostly from a most surprising role by Peter Falk quite effectively playing himself - sort of. Saying any more would be a spoiler.
Curmy,
I’ve seen both the films reviewed here. You really need to give ‘Wings of Desire’ another chance.
As for ‘Into Great Silence,’ I liked it, but I felt the special effects overpowered the character development; nor did it live up to the book.
Cinematically,
-kk
Another chance for what? To see if I’ve actually learned to speak German? I guess I should have clarified that I liked the film. It was just difficult to keep up with, particularly when I was already tired. Maybe someday I’ll check it out again.