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L'Auberge Espagnol ((The Spanish Inn) Pot Luck, Cédric Klapisch, 2002)
I'm not sure whether I rented this for the actor (Romain Duris) or director, as I can't see that I've seen any of their work before - unless I did see Paris. A likeable confection in which Xavier tries to get a job at the European Union, and is advised to do a Masters in Spain under the Erasmus programme. After an unfortunate flat share, and then crashing with a newly married couple whom he met on the plane, he finds a flat share with half a dozen Erasmus students from all over Europe. The rest of the film shows him learning about the real Spain, seducing the newly wed wife, splitting from his girlfriend (Audrey Tatou), and dealing with the various European stereotypes - with the English being the worst. Amiable enough, although his angst over his split from his grilfriend is hard to take given his ongoing infidelity, and I think his final choice of career s sprung on us. But there is much neat editing and split screen, as if Richard Lester had got his hands on the editing suite. There is a sequel, Les Poupées russes, which I've added to my list to rent.
Religulous (Larry Charles, 2082)
Documentary about monotheistic religion, fronted by American stand-up Bill Maher, who is quite clear about his agnosticism, in part derived from his dual Catholic/Jewish identity. Maher talks to various Christians, Jews and Muslims - both fundamentalist and questioning, a Jew Against Zionism, an ex-gay Christian, two gay Muslims, a stoner who sets fire to himself (accidentally), a Jesus in a crucifixion theme park, a descendent of Jesus and so forth, as well as Dean Hamer (discoverer of the gay gene), George Coyne (Vatican astronomer), Francis Collins (from the Human Genome Project) and Andrew Newberg (neurtheologist). Maher challenges them on contradictions in scripture and historical parallels - scientist Collins seems to feel that the evidence of two generations after the Gospel events is evidence enough, for example - and there is a certain amount of slipperiness between literal and metaphorical truth. Maher is somewhere between Michael Moore and Louis Theroux - allowing people to condemn themselves, but not showing much empathy (although after some sticky moments with the ex-gay minister, the two hug). Speakers are further undercut by onscreen subtitles, contradicting or mocking them, and editing in stock footage or other viewpoints.
The presence of Larry Charles as director is noteworthy - best known for Borat and Bruno, he was also author for Seinfeld and director of much of Curb Your Enthusiasm, especially those which push the boundaries of race and religion. The result is very funny - but it's rather scatter gun in its approach. The final words are striking, if contradictory:
Totals: 54 - [Cinema: 16; DVD: 35; Television: 3]
I'm not sure whether I rented this for the actor (Romain Duris) or director, as I can't see that I've seen any of their work before - unless I did see Paris. A likeable confection in which Xavier tries to get a job at the European Union, and is advised to do a Masters in Spain under the Erasmus programme. After an unfortunate flat share, and then crashing with a newly married couple whom he met on the plane, he finds a flat share with half a dozen Erasmus students from all over Europe. The rest of the film shows him learning about the real Spain, seducing the newly wed wife, splitting from his girlfriend (Audrey Tatou), and dealing with the various European stereotypes - with the English being the worst. Amiable enough, although his angst over his split from his grilfriend is hard to take given his ongoing infidelity, and I think his final choice of career s sprung on us. But there is much neat editing and split screen, as if Richard Lester had got his hands on the editing suite. There is a sequel, Les Poupées russes, which I've added to my list to rent.
Religulous (Larry Charles, 2082)
Documentary about monotheistic religion, fronted by American stand-up Bill Maher, who is quite clear about his agnosticism, in part derived from his dual Catholic/Jewish identity. Maher talks to various Christians, Jews and Muslims - both fundamentalist and questioning, a Jew Against Zionism, an ex-gay Christian, two gay Muslims, a stoner who sets fire to himself (accidentally), a Jesus in a crucifixion theme park, a descendent of Jesus and so forth, as well as Dean Hamer (discoverer of the gay gene), George Coyne (Vatican astronomer), Francis Collins (from the Human Genome Project) and Andrew Newberg (neurtheologist). Maher challenges them on contradictions in scripture and historical parallels - scientist Collins seems to feel that the evidence of two generations after the Gospel events is evidence enough, for example - and there is a certain amount of slipperiness between literal and metaphorical truth. Maher is somewhere between Michael Moore and Louis Theroux - allowing people to condemn themselves, but not showing much empathy (although after some sticky moments with the ex-gay minister, the two hug). Speakers are further undercut by onscreen subtitles, contradicting or mocking them, and editing in stock footage or other viewpoints.
The presence of Larry Charles as director is noteworthy - best known for Borat and Bruno, he was also author for Seinfeld and director of much of Curb Your Enthusiasm, especially those which push the boundaries of race and religion. The result is very funny - but it's rather scatter gun in its approach. The final words are striking, if contradictory:
The only appropriate attitude for man to have about the big questions is not the arrogant certitude that is the hallmark of religion, but doubt. Doubt is humble, and that's what man needs to be, considering that human history is just a litany of getting shit dead wrong. This is why rational people, anti-religionists, must end their timidity and come out of the closet and assert themselves. And those who consider themselves only moderately religious really need to look in the mirror and realize that the solace and comfort that religion brings you comes at a horrible price. If you belonged to a political party or a social club that was tied to as much bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, violence, and sheer ignorance as religion is, you'd resign in protest. To do otherwise is to be an enabler, a mafia wife, for the true devils of extremism that draw their legitimacy from the billions of their fellow travelers. If the world does come to an end here, or wherever, or if it limps into the future, decimated by the effects of religion-inspired nuclear terrorism, let's remember what the real problem was. We learned how to precipitate mass death before we got past the neurological disorder of wishing for it. That's it. Grow up or die.
Totals: 54 - [Cinema: 16; DVD: 35; Television: 3]
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