Category: Homage to the classics

Truffaut: the adventures of Antoine Doinel

January 22, 2016

francois truffaut adv Antoine DWay before “ Boyhood ”, François Roland Truffaut, French film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film critic, as well as one of the founders of the French New Wave, directed “ Les 400 coups ” (“ The 400 blows ”), a childhood movie featuring his own alter ego: Antoine Doinel.

Years later, Doinel appears in four subsequent films (including one short: “ Antoine et Colette ”) that masterfully portray love, marriage and the difficulties of daily life. Those movies remain some of Truffaut’s finest achievements.

francois truffaut adv Antoine D2

The 400 blows | Les 400 coups [1959]
A classic tale of childhood, family and the loss of innocence. Doinel is a young boy facing constant trouble at home and at school. As things go out of control, he decides to rebel. François Truffaut’s most personal film and one of the all-time greats.
4/4francois truffaut adv Antoine D3Stolen kisses | Baisers volés [1968]
Truffaut followed up “ Les 400 coups ” with this irresistible screwball comedy that takes place a few years after the events of the first movie, as we follow Doinel as an adult, trying to earn a living following his discharge from the army, and win the heart of the charming Christine. Easily one of Truffaut’s finest romantic comedies.
4/4francois truffaut adv Antoine D4Bed and board | Domicile conjugal [1970]
Third feature film in the Antoine Doinel series is faithful to its predecessors in every way, as we follow the married life of Antoine and Christine. Another wonderful film filled with laughs, tears and nostalgia.
3,5/4francois truffaut adv Antoine D5

Love on the run | L’amour en fuite [1979]
The last of the Antoine Doinel adventures portrays his separation from Christine, his love affair with Sabine and his brief encounter with his ex-girlfriend Colette. Not as good as the first three, but it’s still a delightful comedy and a fitting conclusion to Doinel’s romantic endeavors.
3/4 

Ten Classics worth watching

June 9, 2012

Freaks [1932]

The power of the film is within the freaks themselves. We are invited to stare, but ultimately sympathize with them. We want to see anyone who threatens them get what they deserve, and boy do they ever get that. Click for full review.

 

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Terror [1922]

Film buffs might argue which version of “Nosferatu” is the best. I’ll go with this one. It’s one of the most chilling movies I’ve ever seen. Click for full review.

The Thief of Bagdad [1940]

This 1940 movie is one the greats. It lifts up the heart. It has adventure, romance, costumes and wonderful music . Click for full review.

Videodrome [1983]

One of the most unusual Hollywood movies ever made, too shocking and too good to be called anything but a failure.One of the most important movies of that era. Click for full review.

The Last Picture Show [1971]

It’s a coming of age tale set in a small, dusty Texas town in the 50′s. “The Last Picture Show” is a wonderful accomplishment and worthy of its place on the list of great films of the 70′s. Click for full review.

 

Monty Python and The Holy Grail [1975]

I thought the film was a bit obnoxious at first; nothing made sense, and some of the jokes looked a bit dated. But it started to grow on me after the first 20 minutes, when I found myself laughing out loud at some of the silliest, yet smartest jokes I’ve ever seen (and I rarely do that). Click for full review.

 

Charade [1963]

One can truly say that this is the best Hitchcock movie never to be directed by Hitchcock. Click for full review.

 

Knife in the water [1962]

Roman Polanski’s first ever  movie as a director. Click.

 

Midnight Cowboy [1969]

One of the all time greats. Dark, disturbing dramatization of James Leo Herlihy’s novel was rated X in 1969, but it’s essentially an old fashioned story with a modern twist. Click for full review.

 

Vertigo [1958]

It’s easy to see that it was very risky for its time (afterall it wasn’t a succes back then), but it’s a movie that has aged perfectly well, and because of that, it’s considered by many as one of the Hitchcock’s greatest work. Click for full review.