The Pretty Good German

Inspired by Jen, I decided that I'm going to (perhaps not always but occasionally) let you know about the movies I've seen lately - or fillums as they tend to be called where I'm from.

How am I qualified to do this, I hear you ask.  Actually, technically speaking, I have a degree in film theory.  However, I am the person who, memorably, when accosted by Ray D'Arcy  in our local Blockbusters during the first term,  as he shot promo vox pops for the chain's in-house advertisements, stutteringly claimed that her favourite film was "Anything with Tom Cruise in it".  Of course one of the fourth years (seniors) happened to be working at the facility where it was edited - yes, that followed me around for a while.  After that promising start I managed to get through four years of said film theory without, for example, seeing Citizen Kane; or indeed remembering much of what I did see (no, it wasn't a wasted youth, or a lot of partying, I just may not have been paying as much attention as I could have and things just do go in one ear with me).  In fact that's one of the good things about the blog - at least I have some memories stored.  Because my head is just a big old colander.  So these reviews are just completely personal reflections without any shred of credibility at all.  And because they are also aide-memoires for me, they will almost certainly contain **SPOILERS**, revealing bits of the plot that you might sooner discover for yourself in the theatre.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

The other thing to bear in mind is that Jen and I have The Card.  The Card is a magical little device (that you pay £14 per month for) which gives you unlimited entry at one of the major cinema group's screens.  Given that tickets run between £7 and £8.50 normally, you only have to go to the cinema twice in a month for it to more than pay for itself.  Economy, you see!

This economy sometimes rings a little false.  (Isn't it always the way?)  Because you haven't shelled out £8.50, or it artifically feels that way, there's not so much invested in the film, and you might even be tempted - gasp - to walk out if you don't think the movie is worth two-and-a-half hours of your life.  And indeed that's what would have happened with Jen the other day, if I hadn't been in the aisle seat and she's too polite to clamber out over me. 

Because the first ten minutes of The Good German are atrocious (as is the download speed of the official website so I haven't even bothered linking to it but try the trailer). With hindsight, it's a studied and deliberate part of Soderbergh's homage to movies of the post-war period, because there are certain cinematic conventions of that time that now seem archaic and iceberg slow to modern viewers.  So the acting seems incredibly stilted during the first exchanges between Tully (Tobey Maguire) and Jake (George Clooney) and it's only when Tully's 'soft lad' persona is revealed to be a sham, when you realised he's stolen Jake's wallet, that it gets interesting, admittedly that's not too far in but it's after that alarmingly false start.

Cate Blanchett (Lena Brandt) looks stunning, but not a little amusing at times as in a lot of the shots she's in an embrace with some man or other and has her head thrown dramatically back into the light, a la screen sirens of the time - just looks a bit funny to see more of her neck than her face. I mean, she's good, but it's a challenge even for her to emote using her neck only...  The lighting is interesting in that there are times when characters' entire faces are in shadow - I'd be interested to watch it again because I suspect that it's pointedly done, indicating a character is being duplicitous, for example.

It's a sort of whodunit - a whowilldoit - and it's stylish and visually impressive: I love the shot after Lena pulls the gun on Jake and runs out out on him, leaving him standing on the landing of the bombed building with the painted-backdrop sky behind him.  The dresses that Lena and Hannelore are wearing in the first flat are great - no real knitwear to report on, Jen was disappointed - and it was funny how Clooney is frequently shown with a cigarette but never, ever smoking. Neither Jen nor I understood the significance of the serial numbers on the money (I thought it was counterfeited because of Tully's comment on 'running the printing presses for another few hours, but we realised that was a comment on post-war inflation) and there were still unanswered questions at the end - but it's the kind of film where you want to talk about it afterwards and fill in the blanks, even if you wished it could have been a little more accomplished.

As for a rating - well I've decided to classify films as one of the following, in descending order:
I'd even pay to see this / Worth the popcorn / A card movie / Give me back those hours of my life

The Good German is 'Worth the popcorn'. Even if I was getting it a bit confused with The Good Shepherd (anyone for The Good German Shepherd?)

And this is 'A card movie'.  I'm a big Jane Austen fan - that's so uncommon, I know.  I've been subjected to trailers for Becoming Jane for what seems like months now, as they are obviously bundled with chick-flicks like Miss Potter and the like.  I was looking forward to it.

But it's terribly slight and the horribly contrived cinematography just drove me to distraction (interminable match shots and tracking shots: pulling back from Jane's face at Lady Gresham's dining table to the window where raindrops start to fall, nature in harmony with the emotions and all that - but wasn't that at the point of Cassandra's tragedy, not hers?) And perhaps it's my eyesight but lots of it seemed to be in such soft-focus I wondered whether it had been sponsored by Vaseline. 

It suffers from a terrible case of SWFS (Single White Female Syndrome - all the best bits are in the trailer).  Editing was clumsy - like that wedged-in shot of the letter that Lefroy shoves back in his wallet when he meets Jane in the forest, which will prove to be their undoing when Jane finds it later.  The most beautiful composition of the entire film was when they were running to catch the coach and they're tumbling through the forest which looks just like a Klimt painting. It did make me want to reread all the novels but that's not much of a challenge.  Perhaps I should also watch the season on ITV - please tell me I haven't missed the one with Rupert Penry Jones...

You're still reading?  Wow.

Comments

[lazylol]

I am a massive Jane Austen fan too! I am sky plusing 'Mansfield Park' as we speak. I don't think you've missed any, I've been watching out for them since I saw the trailer at Christmas. I am so excited to watch them all!! I also want to see Becoming Jane but I may have a difficult time getting John to come along with me!

[Jade]

I've been looking forward to "The Good German" for a bit now & I'll be able to drag the geezer along, too. At least, someone else has seen it...bodes well for when we do.

[ting]

You're very brave for watching BJ! Thanks for the warning. I think you can give Jonathan Ross a good run for his money.

[Leigh]

I'm impressed. One whole degree in media and film later, and all I can muster if somebody asks me about something I've seen is 'yeah, it was cool' or 'I didn't like it so much.'