The Last Movie

US (c) 1971 Universal Pictures / Alta-Light. D: Dennis Hopper. DP: Laszlo Kovacs. ED consultant: Alejandro Jodorowsky. Starring Dennis Hopper, Stella Garcia, Julie Adams, Tomas Milian, Roy Enger, Samuel Fuller. 109 min. A Théâtre du Temple print avec sous-titres francais viewed at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 17 Feb 2009. - Print ok, a slighly duped look. - Revisited: the beginning only. An acid trip. Strong energy. A sense of disaster. Kris Kristoffersson's "Me And Bobby McGee" effective (a special recording for this film?). Samuel Fuller's signature role.

Elegy

Kauneuden valta / Elegy - skönhetens makt. US (c) 2007 Lakeshore. D: Isabel Coixet. SC: Nicholas Meyer - based on the novel The Dying Animal (2001) by Philip Roth. DP: Jean-Claude Larrieu - 1,85:1 - color. LOC: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. CAST: Ben Kingsley (David Kepesh), Penélope Cruz (Consuela Castillo), Patricia Clarkson (Carolyn), Dennis Hopper (George O'Hearn), Deborah Harry (Amy O'Hearn), Peter Sarsgaard (Kenneth Kepesh). 108 min. A Future Film release with Finnish / Swedish subtitles by JS. Viewed at Kinopalatsi 5, Helsinki, 5 Jan 2009. - A digi-mastered look, not grating, as the film is based on close-ups and medium shots of people. - There are parallels here to The Human Stain: the male protagonist is a senior professor, and the female protagonist is a young woman who faces a crisis. The affair between the two is both profoundly fulfilling and deeply disturbing. The professor's breast fetish is not exaggerated in the movie, but Penélope Cruz's gorgeous charms are wonderfully displayed. Among other things, the film is a celebration of her beautiful naked breasts. For the female viewer, Ben Kingsley's naked body is in perfect shape, he could be 30 years old. - The professor has always been emotionally immature. One of the big themes of the story is that reaching maturity is still possible at an advanced age. - All performances are good. Patricia Clarkson is the professor's grown-up lover. Dennis Hopper and Deborah Harry are the couple who are his best friends. Peter Sarsgaard plays the perennially frustrated son.