tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post5480142519015824961..comments2024-01-18T21:56:21.875-05:00Comments on House of Self-Indulgence: Possession (Andrzej Żuławski, 1981)Yum-Yumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17897678877069611172noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-24490166224458245952015-01-05T19:36:59.511-05:002015-01-05T19:36:59.511-05:00I swear, I get queasy just thinking about Adjani&#...I swear, I get queasy just thinking about Adjani's freak-out down in that tunnel. I seriously thought she was going to crack her skull open or something.Temmerehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06027801487521915249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-72425130746558728652012-08-16T20:08:34.923-04:002012-08-16T20:08:34.923-04:00Reading your amazing-as-always review and these co...Reading your amazing-as-always review and these comments has me drooling. I have this to watch. Maybe tonight.<br /><br />p.s. I've spent most of my adult life obsessively watching experimentally Japanese films. Lots of people running around decaying cities screaming while bleeding. Haven't seen many Europeans run around screaming and bleeding in an urban environment.idohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04182559907045813643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-38757886896369862722012-01-30T01:36:32.486-05:002012-01-30T01:36:32.486-05:00Okay YY. Just for shits and giggles, I''m ...Okay YY. Just for shits and giggles, I''m sending you my Amazon review for this movie. I t may be the only piece of my writing I feel confident showing you; as I think you're the broken bees knees to the crotch of B-movie reviewers. <br /><br />There's Much More Going One Here Than You Think, April 21, 2005<br /><br />Yeah, Possession. The First time I saw this film I was catatonic by the end. Three friends and I talked about it so much we got 4 new friends to watch it with us again. We continued marveling over it and watched it yet again on the third night (ten people this time). Why? Because this isn't really a horror film. Yeah, there's a "monster", but only in America would this get relegated to the "Horror" genre. Because here, we usually make films to fit in a box, follow a formula or entertain; whereas this one seems to be about catharsis for the director.<br /><br />Several years ago there was an amazing fan site to this man's work (which doesn't seem to exist anymore) that went into infinite detail about his films and personal life. Suffice to say, there's much more going on here than you think.<br /><br />During 1970's and 80's Poland, all films were approved by the Polish film commission and Zulawski's second film "Diabel" (1975) was banned. Made in Polish, it was essentially cut off from it's only possible audience. He took a trip to France, made his 3rd film and returned to his homeland to do the 4th. After two years work the authorities would not allow him to finish it. Since then he has lived and created successfully in France.<br /><br />"Possession" is the first film he made immediately following the second incident in Poland; just as his marriage was dissolving, and is better described as 3 films in 1. The first part is a drama centered around a couple who's marriage is falling apart. As the discord escalates, it becomes a horror film with some scenes potentially taking place only in the psyche of the wife. The finale is an action film that drives the frenzied pace even higher through chase sequences.<br /><br />Other confusions seem to stem from many lines of dialog (especially in exchanges between Hans and Sam Neil) that may be interpreted as critique of Zulawski's treatment by the government of Poland. Consequently some conversations leave viewers perplexed, as characters words don't appear to have any bearing on the scene at hand. The mysterious "agents" that pop up from time to time, simply create the social context the director must've felt as a persecuted artist. And as for the doppelgangers... I like to think they are the plastic versions of each character that the government or society's values would have them become.<br /><br />In many ways this film is an examination of the internal landscape of Zulawski at that moment; divorced from his wife and exiled by his beloved homeland. The high drama of these characters has the actors screamingly portraying every pent-up emotion Zulawski felt about his marriage, and wasn't allowed to say to his fellow countrymen about their homeland. I love this film. I love every gut wrenching, hysterical, chaotic minute of it. Viva Zulawski!sambsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12644725117909948716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-83821798912092353952010-10-18T06:50:11.919-04:002010-10-18T06:50:11.919-04:00I'm as confused as a 37 year-old woman all alo...I'm as confused as a 37 year-old woman all alone at a Tori Amos concert.<br /><br />I'd rent Last Tango in Saskatchewan. And its sequel: The Regina Monologues. <br /><br />If I were to make "First Tango in Cheektowaga," I'd open with a shot of Emily Mortimer aggressively licking Wendie Malick's pussy. Where it would go from there is anyone's guess.Yum-Yumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17897678877069611172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-6036851766738678782010-10-18T00:38:36.182-04:002010-10-18T00:38:36.182-04:00Wait, am I "awesome ball crazy"? I'...Wait, am I "awesome ball crazy"? I'm not sure if that's an insult or not. "Crazy for awesome balls?" I do like those Madball things. That makes sense.<br /><br />Forget about any last tangos in Cheektowaga. Hell, they don't even get around to FIRST tangos down there. I did enjoy Last Tango in Saskatchewan though. It mostly involves a hot chick masterbating while staring at a confused moose. Not every porno needs a cock (the moose may have had one, but that clearly doesn't count).Thomas Dukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00804326045764733280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-84078946371116182212010-10-08T23:17:54.916-04:002010-10-08T23:17:54.916-04:00Thomas Duke: Szamanka, eh? 1996?!? Weird, I figure...Thomas Duke: Szamanka, eh? 1996?!? Weird, I figured it'd be a gritty flick from the 1970s. Anyway, I guess Last Tango in Paris-esque is a helluva lot better than Last Tango in Cheektowaga-esque.<br /><br />According to Wikipedia: "The soundtrack is an electronic score..." Interesting. I'll add it to my list.<br /><br />Someone's a little awesome ball crazy. :D<br /><br />Russ: Hey, Russ. Go see A Serbian Film? But I have such a delicate sensibility. ;)<br /><br />I'd be surprised if there would be any walkouts. After all, this is the crowd who usually laugh in the face at suffering). But then again, the only way to find out is to go see the freaking movie.<br /><br />Was it really three minutes? Damn. Even though it felt like an eternity, I had no idea it was actually that long.Yum-Yumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17897678877069611172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-76710482775340183652010-10-08T13:44:00.379-04:002010-10-08T13:44:00.379-04:00Yums, go see A Serbian Film...and let us know how ...Yums, go see A Serbian Film...and let us know how many walkouts there are. You should also check out the NSFW red band trailer.<br /><br />Ah, jeez...I adore Possesion. It gave me everything I look for in a film...and more!<br /><br />That scene in the subway where Ms. Adjani goes absolutely bonkers for three full minutes instantly became one of the all-time great viewing experiences of all my years of watching movies.<br /><br />Talk about an actress devoted to her craft!Russhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06018270837212714581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-606479193402563962010-10-08T11:50:24.351-04:002010-10-08T11:50:24.351-04:00I'm a huge fan of Zulawski. I've seen all...I'm a huge fan of Zulawski. I've seen all of his films except for his version of Boris Godounov. You need to see Chamanka aka Szamanka aka Shaman, which is almost like a "Last Tango in Paris-esque" precursor to the relationship in Possession. It's crazy and awesome and crazy awesome and sexy as balls.<br /><br />Yes, it DOES have awesome crazy balls. I'm glad you asked.Thomas Dukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00804326045764733280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-53301223374120070732010-10-08T05:52:19.570-04:002010-10-08T05:52:19.570-04:00Is Gordon Lightfoot Canadian?!? Does Ernest Borgni...Is Gordon Lightfoot Canadian?!? Does Ernest Borgnine shit in the woods?<br /><br />On a more positive note, they did include "Nova Heart" by Spoons. <br /><br />A Serbian Film is coming to town on the 21st. I'm afraid. ;)Yum-Yumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17897678877069611172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-7988218075951720652010-10-07T22:37:49.358-04:002010-10-07T22:37:49.358-04:00East Prussia? No way!
I was steamed by the exclus...East Prussia? No way!<br />I was steamed by the exclusion of NeoA4. <br />dissent: "Gordon Lightfoot is Canadian??" Me: hahhahhahah.<br />We have that Fallon with Diane Lane on our DVR queue (along with all the Jeopardys!). Thanks for the heads up.Karim Amirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12548335754518818364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-5645828113054211072010-10-07T21:54:36.682-04:002010-10-07T21:54:36.682-04:00The wrapping is actually a makeshift bandage that ...The wrapping is actually a makeshift bandage that Sam Neill puts on her neck after the electric knife incident.<br /><br />Yeah, the list was printed in Saturday's Star. <br /><br />No Strange Advance! No Platinum Blonde! No Skinny Puppy! No Jolly Tambourine Man! I mean, what the fuck, man? ;)<br /><br />At first, I was a tad confused by the inclusion of Steppenwolf. But apparently they got their start in Toronto. Quirky fun-fact: Their singer, John Kay (Joachim Fritz Krauledat), was born in East Prussia.<br /><br />I've seen dick and not a lot of all this year.<br /><br />Check out, if you have the means, Diane Lane's appearance on Wednesday night's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Roots play "The Professionals" from Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains as she is introduced. The look on Diane's face when she realizes what they're playing is awesome.Yum-Yumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17897678877069611172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-50120072622083963432010-10-07T19:47:07.126-04:002010-10-07T19:47:07.126-04:00Indigo is a very cool colo(u)r, by the way. And t...Indigo is a very cool colo(u)r, by the way. And the pic with the turtleneck-like wrapping on Adjani's neck is awesome.<br /><br />Just watched the trailer. I love those 80's trailer voiceovers.<br /><br />Have you seen the list of the Top 100 Canadian Singles? <br />http://arts.nationalpost.com/2010/10/04/the-top-100-canadian-singles/<br />Ron Sexsmith made the list! At 98!<br /><br />Movies this year have been, well, kind of sucky. :/ Wasn't crazy about the Facebook movie. The highlight has definitely been Inception.Karim Amirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12548335754518818364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-62017253937342265942010-10-05T22:06:37.657-04:002010-10-05T22:06:37.657-04:00Kingwho?: It's definitely not a regular deligh...Kingwho?: It's definitely not a regular delight.<br /><br />The Vicar of VHS: A steel-plated two-by-four? I think I know what you mean. My mind, as I started watching this, was gearing up for yet another slice of campy Euro-cheese (Faceless, Stripe Nude/Killer, Nightmare City). But as you know, it didn't turn out that way. Damn, I get the willies just looking at the DVD box. <br /><br />I hope someone gave Isabelle Adjani a non-denominational hug after they finished filming the subway sequence. <br /><br />Cinema Du Meep: The ability to tingle in two places at once is a rare gift.<br /><br />Scott (gotankgo): Thanks for the "dig," and the "it" as well. :) <br /><br />Karim Amir: I think there have been a few "Possession" movies over the years. <br /><br />"It takes two Deutschlands to make a thing go right / It takes two Deutschlands to make it outta sight / Hit it!"<br /><br />"Girl crushes" always seem to focus on people who have an elegant or classy aura about them. And Isabelle Adjani is unquestionably both of those things.<br /><br />What movies have you dug so far this year?<br /><br />Mealy-mouth? That's so mid-September, yo. ;)Yum-Yumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17897678877069611172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-32460311162107544592010-10-05T20:36:58.151-04:002010-10-05T20:36:58.151-04:00I haven't seen this movie, but I always see it...I haven't seen this movie, but I always see it with (1981) written after it, so it won't be confused with the Paltrow/Eckhart film from about ten years back. LOL, as the kids say.<br /><br />Despite my obsession with the two Germanys (Germanies?), the Cold War, and the Berlin Wall--I lived in Deutschland a couple of years removed from reunification--I think I'll skip this one. Isabelle Adjani has always been a girl crush of mine, too, but that's not even enough.<br /><br />I have one "me" word to say to you: Mealy-mouth! (We're still behind on Jeopardy!)Karim Amirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12548335754518818364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-82626848279014875422010-10-05T20:06:48.156-04:002010-10-05T20:06:48.156-04:00"a cryptic entanglement masquerading as a col..."a cryptic entanglement masquerading as a cold war demon romance" - well put - dig itScott (gotankgo)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07311008715438350869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-51353892156023055452010-10-05T14:10:03.672-04:002010-10-05T14:10:03.672-04:00Possession makes me tingle in all the wrong (and o...Possession makes me tingle in all the wrong (and oh so right) places.Cinema Du Meephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07945241807461396451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-22045548479231094542010-10-05T11:17:12.229-04:002010-10-05T11:17:12.229-04:00Sounds like this movie did the same thing to you i...Sounds like this movie did the same thing to you it did to me--which is to say, it hid in the closet, waited until I had switched off the lights to climb naked into my warm inviting bed, then leapt out screaming guttural demonic gibberish while bashing my brain in with a steel-plated two-by-four! There's really no other movie I can think of that's "like" this one, and it stuck with me long after the first viewing. No spoilers, but the final action we see the kid taking, though it had no blood or monsters or surreality on its surface, somehow managed to chill me to my very soul. Which I think is a testament to the movie's supreme artistry.<br /><br />BTW, legend has it that shortly after (or maybe even during, I forget) the filming of this movie, Isabelle Adjani attempted suicide! I think she's since poo-poohed this story, but watching her performance, esp. in that subway sequence, it's easy to see why the rumor had such legs. :PThe Vicar of VHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06832137990485130735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9109073679101688906.post-66361320827238733002010-10-04T22:00:29.293-04:002010-10-04T22:00:29.293-04:00I love this movie. I ordered a copy from Video Se...I love this movie. I ordered a copy from Video Search of Miami back in the day before it was released on a legit label. Bought the legit vhs as well. <br /><br />Such an odd delight.Kingwho?https://www.blogger.com/profile/02474560455739504154noreply@blogger.com