That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)

This is a Bunuel film, so it's good. I didn't like it, but it's good. A middle-aged to older, wealthy French gentleman becomes entranced with his beautiful maid. He makes advances, she quits. He runs into her again, she encourages him, he gives her money, she leaves. This continues - he chases, she teases. She tells him she's a virgin, and teases him mercilessly.

And interesting point is that Conchita is played by two different actresses. They don't look alike, and they have very different temperaments. It's an effective conceit. She claims to be a virgin and never lets him touch her or have sex.

These two people are so messed up and so unlikeable that the movie isn't necessarily fun to watch. But we've all seen these couples. Maybe not this extreme - but we've seen them. And the conceit and arrogance of this rich man is insane. But the gal - she's just as arrogant. Youth and sex appeal and beauty are her assets, while his is money. And they are perfect for each other.

If you like movies, watch this one.

Robot and Frank (2012)

This is an interesting movie. It has a great cast, solid to great performances, good pacing and a film style that really works. But the end is pretty sad. I'm not sure I want to watch it again, because that end was realistic.

Frank Langella plays Frank, an aging jewel thief who is sinking into dementia. He wants to live alone, but it's getting harder. His son gets him a home health care robot (this is a bit in the future), which Frank originally detests. But he soon figures out that his robot can help him become an active thief again.

The memory issue is not going to go away, however, and that's why the ending is sad. I'm glad it was.

Susan Sarandon and James Marsden are great in this. I recommend it.

Brute Force (1947)

This is a decent prison movie, but a bit too sappy for me. It has a good ending though.

Burt Lancaster plays a tough con trying to break out of prison to get to his cancer-stricken girlfriend (sappy). Hume Cronyn is the violent, piece of shit prison guard who hopes to use the prison break as a stepping stone to warden.

Best part of the movie? Burt Lancaster picking up Hume C, holding him overhead and throwing him out of the guard tower.

Prometheus (2012)

This is a hot mess by Ridley Scott, and he should have known better. Prometheus is the ship that takes us to the beginning of the Alien / Aliens saga (because 4 movies already weren't enough?), and it does so poorly. I still don't understand the opening scene. Answers to the story really aren't shown to us, they're given in declarative sentences by characters - because the movie makes no sense.

Basic problem with Prometheus - too many story lines and too many characters. The best of the earlier films had a core group slowly getting picked off. This has a father / daughter conflict, sex, a pregnancy - all kinds of predictable shit that doesn't belong in an Alien flick. It needs to be tight and tense.

Second problem - we've seen it all before - and done much better - by Ridley Scott himself. Skip this and pop in the first two again. They are still groundbreaking and fresh.

Best thing about the film? Scott likes strong females who survive. But Noomi Rapace is no Sigourney Weaver; she was miscast.

Pitch Perfect (2012)

This is a totally predictable movie about an all-girls a cappella group that has lost its way, only to be revitalized by new members - who totally care about the music.

It relies a lot on stereotypes and way, way too much on vomit humor. They should have skipped the vomiting and had more singing. Also - Rebel Wilson was underused!

Anyway, it's a decent rental.