Friday, May 30, 2008
Malle, Moreau, Davis
Cl, do I remember you saying that you are a fan of Jeanne Moreau? I just watched Louis Malle’s 1958 “Elevator to the Gallows” with that fantastic score by Miles Davis. Strange how I can have been a fan of Davis’s music all these years and never have seen this movie. You’ve seen it?
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5 comments:
Yes, I have seen it! It kept me on the edge of my seat. And it didn't do anything for my elevator claustrophobia. Moreau is wonderful. I don't think I realized that was a Louis Malle film. Maybe I should look under his name at FilmAffinity and see what else he's done. Do you have any recommendations?
One of my favorite Moreau roles was in a dark little film called "Mademoiselle." She plays a sexually repressed schoolteacher setting fires in a small village. It's a strange role, but she's fantastic. She dons a pair of little black gloves like a chastity belt that will never come off.
“Elevator to the Gallows” was his first film. Very cool and confident for a first time out. Having Miles do an improv score was a brilliant, if gutsy, move. Since it is such a simple story, it might have fallen flat if it wasn’t for the amazing presence that Moreau has as she wanders the dark rainy streets of Paris to that mournful, brooding music. Talk about a movie with atmosphere.
Malle is probably best known in the U.S. for “Pretty Baby” and “My Dinner with Andre”. I wouldn’t want to watch “Andre” again since I really liked it a lot as an eighteen-year-old and rather doubt it would seem near as cool now. But I saw “Pretty Baby” a couple of years ago and was expecting it to be kind of cheesy. I was surprisingly pleased with it mostly because he again created a very appealing atmosphere. I also thought his 1992 “Damage” was very good. “Au revoir les enfants” seems to be highly regarded, but I haven’t seen it yet. “I’m about to watch “Murmur of the Heart” from 1971. I’ll let you know.
Oh, and I’ll look for “Mademoiselle”. That certainly sounds promising.
Oh, I really liked "Damage." Juliette Binoche. Jeremy Irons. Miranda Richardson. Great cast. And a really great ending.
Maybe I should watch “Damage” again. That was made about the same time as “Blue”.
Oh, and “Murmur of the Heart” is a coming of age story. Well done, but it certainly doesn’t stand out from that crowded field.
I had meant to see "Damage" because of that great cast. Also "Au Revoir," which seems to be a favorite on most video store staff picks.
Geez ... I may have to revive my on/off relationship with Netflix.
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