Realism films

While Heintje torments the ears with his warbling, Peter Alexander – whoneeded a good director to be acceptable – bores the viewer to death by justbeing there, but especially during his bloody awful impersonation of HansMoser. Watching these two you would have give anything to have HanneloreElsner and even Uschi Glas back. Seeing this part I again wondered why suchgreat comedians as Theo Lingen, Ruth Stephan and Werner Finck (in this partonly) kept working in the series; were they forced or is it proof that inthe declining German mainstream cinema there was no place forthem?

There is a modernized version of Schiller’s "Wilhelm Tell" as school play,that combines Tell with Bonanza! O yes, this could have been a fine idea ifexecuted well and with a sense of humour and tongue-in-cheek, but it is ofcourse a very reactionary view on the social changes within society: in thiscase make fun of those who seriously wanted to modernize the classics.Alexander has to shoot an egg on top of Heintje’s head; he should havemissed.

2) Anything with Peter Alexander and Heintje as top-billed cast membersnormally qualifies as an embarrassment that makes you want to hidebehind the sofa – and this is not really an exception. The horriblecouple unsurprisingly burst into song at inopportune moments, often tooquickly to give the viewer time to hit the mute button. To make thingsworse, Peter Alexander plays his usual everybody-loves-me character – acharacter that was dated long before this movie came out.

However, this film can boost a few redeeming values – the support castof Lingen, Schündler, Golling, and Stephan is in good form, but aparticular jewel that really lifts the film is the scene with WernerFinck and Harald Juhnke. As brief as the scene is, it shows a primeexample of Finck's perfect comic timing; that scene alone makes thefilm worth watching.

Arto Paasilinna (novel)

David Rabe (screenplay)

• Continuity: When Eddie lies under the glass table while Mickey and Artie talk to him, the location (and amount) of cocaine changes between shots.

2) This is definitely not a movie for everyone. Heavy drug use,discomfiting sexual situations, bad language, violence, a talky,"stagey" atmosphere, and generally despicable characters. Evenif you like the actors involved, this may still not be the moviefor you (my aunt rented it for my uncle and herself on thestrength of Kevin Spacey’s name, and he still hasn’t forgivenher).

Having said that, I really liked this movie. I never saw theplay, but when I read through it, I thought it was the mostmisogynistic piece of garbage I had ever encountered. Seeing iton screen, though, was a completely different experience. I feltthat I understood what the playwright was trying to get at:namely, that this is a piece about how "Eddie, through the deathof Phil, is saved from being Mickey." In short, a spiritualredemption of sorts.

Performances are uniformly strong. I have never been a big SeanPenn fan, but I thought he did a more than competent job withEddie, particularly in the later scenes where he veers betweenarrogance and pathos. Kevin Spacey seemed uncomfortable withsome aspects of the dialogue (i.e. "blah blah blah" etc.), butotherwise did his usual masterful job, in a role which raisesthe same questions that many of us would like to ask of him.

The role of Donna was, I felt, disfigured by the many cuts inthe script–she is more of a victim than a wanton, IMHO–thus,the best thing I can say about Anna Paquin’s performance is thatshe did well with what she was given. I had no strong objectionsto any of the other casting choices, except for Meg Ryan asBonnie, who apparently cannot even play a stripper withoutresorting to her usual cutesy mannerisms.

FWIW, I liked the director’s technical choice of "opening" thescenes by putting the conversations on cell phones, etc.However, I would have willingly sacrificed some of the addeddialogue for some of the original lines that got cut.Final analysis: I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, and plan to buyit when it comes out on video,

3) This was an incredibly interesting movie. Besides an exceptional cast,thedialogue is sharp and witty and there are some very intriguing issuesraised. However, it seems that these positive points are lost on mostviewers. My guess is it’s because you cannot remain a passive viewer oranidiot and expect to find any redeeming qualities in this movie. On thesurface, Hurlyburly is populated by extremely unsympathetic charactersthatbecome more debased as the movie progresses. Eddie (Penn) provides thecentral thrust of the movie. Eddie is also almost continually snortingcokethat fuels extended often seemingly disjointed dialogue. But most of themeaning is lost and the movie can become a bit tedious if you take thisdialogue literally. The drugs and depravity serve to create a plausibleenvironment for the expression of a much greater range of thoughts andemotions. It would be hard to swallow Eddie’s neurosis and paranoia if hewasn’t high all the time. And, Eddie’s drug addled observations andfrustrations are the glue of the movie. The drugs provide the writer withadevice to verbalise many thoughts that normally would not be utteredaloud.More traditionally this type of problem might be solved by using anarrator.Eddie’s problems and fears are not all that different from most people…they are just extremely amplified.

4)

Highlighted by emotional, believable performances by its cast (Sean Penn inparticular is typically brilliant), Hurlyburly is not for everyone, but canbe a powerful and compelling drama for those who approach it with an openmind. The film is frequently referred to as a comedy-drama, a misleadingdesignation for what is a sometimes humorous, but ultimately emotional andsobering look at life in 1980s Hollywood. Particularly well-done are thecocaine-fuelled scenes which provide one of the most accurate depictions ofthe drug lifestyle and the effect it can have on interpersonalrelationships. The film can seem over-the-top in parts, but the excess isnecessary to convey the film’s message. Emotional, witty, thought-provokingand on some levels deeply depressing, Hurlyburly is an underrated andunder-appreciated character-driven drama that capitalizes on the talents ofan all-star cast to deliver a top-notch product.

5) A touching movie about friendship and dependency viewed through thedistorting lens of rampant nihilism.

There’s a theatrical eloquence to the dialogue that lends itmesmerizing power. It has a literary quality that some people will findunbearably pretentious, but which I found deeply moving.

The movie starts out with a fast paced barrage of hilariousabsurdities. As it gets slower and more ponderous it sometimes veersoff course, but in a sense this just deepens the sense of humanfrailty. Similarly the somewhat grasping conclusion does notsignificantly detract from the film’s main thrust.

Acting by Kevin Spacey, Sean Penn and Garry Shandling is absolutely topnotch. Chazz Palminteri isn’t always as convincing. Excellent showingby Meg Ryan.

6) Spoilers herein.

`Trainspotting’ meets `The Big Kahuna’ meets `The Ice Storm.’

Sean Penn is the best actor in film, period. He is one of the few actors whocan act several roles simultaneously. Kevin Spacey is the best ensembleleader in film today. Though here he does his old wise man character, heknows how to project his being into the actors around.

You’ll want to see this just to watch the craft. But the pacing is tedious.Some of the language is brilliant, And the basic notion, of obsessiveself-referential examination is rich, but the enterprise fails because ofthe misunderstanding of time.

7) You liked "Glengarry Glen Ross"? You’re gonna love THIS one. Kevin Spaceydoing his patented "snide" riffs. Anna Paquin growing up and showing somerange. Garry Shandling? Who knew? Meg Ryan finally playing something besidesAmerica’s Sweetheart.Disturbingly funny in some sequences (particularly the Sean Penn-ChazzPalminteri duets) and laugh-out-loud vaudeville in others (the Spacey-Penncell phone bit is an instant classic). The ensemble cast, with excellentdirection, gets all the rhythms of the script. It may look a littleover-the-top here and there but it seems to be a conscious choice by thedirector in this epic send-up of 80′s Hollywood excess.

While it’s readily apparent that no one is going to go home humming thetunes from this one, it’s still a bit surprising that the film garnered nomajor nominations. Same deal as "Glengarry". Give ‘em a great ensemble in ablack comedy with no discernible "star", a solid script and inventivedirection and be prepared for the icy shoulder at Oscar time. It’s an unjustworld we live in. This movie deserves a wider audience but owing to thesubject matter, it probably won’t get one. But I’ll give it an 85, Dick.It’s got a great beat and you can dance to it!

a lot of the negative reviews of this movie are a consequence of theviewerssimply not enjoying this type of work. it aint a happy movie and its notfor everyone. if you’ve never spent serious time in NYC, LA, SF or somesimilar city, then you probably do not 1) know and interact with peoplelikethis on a regular basis, 2) understand the true to life social context ofthe scenes/plot or 3) comprehend the use of drugs amongst nearly everyladder rung within certain industries and hence can’t recognize that thewriter/director is making a parody of it all. the writing is clearly verywitty (you try writing it) and if you know people like those portrayed,thenyou would also see that the acting also first rate. if you don’t likethisbecause of its repetitive babble, self absorbed characters, harshrealitiesand use of nose candy then perhaps you just don’t know that this movie isanear documentary. i recommend you visit your friends in any big city andsee if you can’t get to a few banker / journalist / academic / consulting/advertising / acting parties. experience, re-watch, then review.

9) In a HurleyBurley world with HurleyBurley people, talk is NOT cheep.Cocaine, Marijuana and alcohol give the briliantly portrayed characters thepower of speech. No… this movie is not about drugs and alcohol. Thismovie is about ideas and theories on life. I myself have to admit that notall of what was discussed in this movie was not understood by ME, but ontheother hand, I think that’s the beauty of the script. Who knows the secretsof the world? No-one knows all, yet we all have theories on our ownexistances… or existance as a whole.

Joel Siegal from GOOD MORNING AMERICA notes that "This Cast makes you wishthey gave an Oscar for ensemble acting.". I totally agree with thisstatement. A wonderful cast has come together on this movie and I havecomefrom it blown away by their abilities. It takes a tough mind and will foran actor to spend a whole movie talking, and by that I mean, no car chasesor things blowing up. No special effects or thrilling scenes of aliens andmonstars. It was speech and these actors spoke brilliantly. It waswonderfully casted and these people brought this original script to life.Ican’t wait to watch it again… and again… and again… and I can do thatbecause I own it myself.

10) Don’t be fooled by the negative opinions about this movie!

*** Warning, the following may contain slight spoilers *** Followingthis band of ironically (in?)compatible group of friends as theyconfront each other to the point where they question if theirfriendships are really worth the effort! And if so, is it based onanything that ISN’T self serving? And could it possibly be out ofkinship and love?

I think this movie questions the value of friendships, and creates asubtle mirror for us to evaluate our own friendships.

I felt pity for all the characters in their bid to find love throughmeans of friends, drugs, sex, hookers and girlfriends. Somehow theyseemed hopelessly stuck in their emptiness.

A brilliantly acted film… i’m sure the actors were delighted to ableto cut their teeth on something involving long dialogs and stage-likedrama.

Don’t miss it! 8/10

Gabriel Loid

Unfortunately, writer-director Michael Sturminger doesn’t have a lot to sayabout the topic. He is obviously a good director, impressively guiding theyoung boys who play the child Ozren and presenting good-looking, sometimeseven beautiful images. The problem is that he completely fails as ascreenwriter. His dialogues are stale and therefore really embarrassing. Thestory lacks ideas and surprise on the one hand, while being painfullyexaggerated on the other hand. And the Vienna demimonde is presented full ofclichés.

The leading actors are not bad but they appear to be because the things theyhave to say are unnatural and hackneyed. Hearing Ozren’s uncle and auntdroning out their pearls of wisdom makes you want to escape.

Maybe the novel was bad. I don’t know. But at least, Sturminger should haveleft the adaptation to somebody else and applied for a job as a soap operawriter.

2) THE WHORE'S SON ('Hurensohn'), based on a novel by Gabriel Loidolt andtranslated to the screen by Michael Glawogger is an interesting premisefor a film – how does a child learn to accept the fact that his motheris a prostitute? The problem with the cinematic translation underMichael Sturminger's direction is that the tale becomes a one-notesong. The ingredients seem to be right – gorgeous photography,beautiful actors – but the possibilities are simply never realized.

Covering a period of about fourteen or so years the film introducesSilvija (the very beautiful and fragile appearing Chulpan Khamatova), aCroatian refugee in Germany who throws out her abusive boyfriend who isthe father of her infant son Ozren and strikes out on her own. Her onlyway to make ends meet is through prostitution, and while she adores herson, she by necessity must leave him with his Aunt Ljiljana (InaGogalova) while she plies her trade. The film follows the growth of theboy to his early teens when his role is played by the very sensitive,charismatic actor Stanislav Lisnic. Ozren is convinced that his motheris a waitress, until his friends and adults in the neighborhood(including fellow hookers) force him to realize Silvija's trueprofession. Silvija manages to provide Ozren with the basics of life -clothes, food, shelter, and love – and Ozren responds to her withunconditional love: even when he accepts the fact that Silvija is aprostitute he maintains his adoration (is it beyond that???) for her.There are sidebars that mix Yugoslavian politics with the plight of theimmigrants in a foreign adopted land and there is a superficialrelationship between Ozren and a classmate that seems to go nowhere. Inthe end we are essentially where we started: a son loves his motherdespite her profession and her personality defects.

The film is a pleasure to view because of the excellent camera work bycinematographer Jürgen Jürges, an apt musical score by AdrianVonwiller, and actors are all strong, especially Stanislav Lisnic andChulpan Khamatova. The story outline has potential. It is a shame thatpotential got lost in the production values. Grady Harp

• Bugs’ final line, “I sure hope Petrillo doesn’t hear about this,” refers to James C. Petrillo, then president of the American Federation of Musicians, and his disapproval of recorded music.

I first remember hearing the term when Donovan had his hit song in 1968called "The Hurdy Gurdy Man." That's still a great song, and wasfeatured in the recent film, "Zodiac."

Anyway, Bugs is in Central Park in New York and comes across aclassified ad in the newspaper stating "Hurdy Gurdy and monkey for salecheap."

"Hey, I'll go into the music business," he says. Pretty soon, he'swalking down the streets of New York pulling this big instrument andhaving a little chimp sitting on top. Bugs finds out quickly that thelittle simian is holding out on him with the tip money, so he boots himout and decides to imitate the chimp himself. "Who needs thatchiseler," he thinks.

The fun starts when the chimp goes to the zoo and informs thishumongous ape what happened to him and the big gorilla breaks out andgoes looking for Bugs!

2) This short is a very good example of the 1950s Bugs Bunny cartoon-a mix ofsight gags and verbal jokes. Bugs is still having problems with primates.Here, they’re a bit farther down the evolutionary ladder than, say, ElmerorYosemite Sam. The best line in the short is at the end. Trivia note:slight spoiler here. Petrillo was the president of the AmericanFederationof Musicians at the time, which was a major union, probably THE union formusicians.

3) While director McKimson created a gem of a cartoon in Hurdy Gurdy Hare,thereal genius in this cartoon is the music arrangement by Carl Stalling.WhenGruesome Gorilla pursues Bugs through the byways of Manhattan, two musicalthemes predominate, one for our hero and the other for the ape. The twomelodies intertwine so intimately, it’s hard to tell that there are two,notone. This reaches its apex when takes takes to a ladder to escape hisfoe.Bugs climbs up and down the ladder, while Gruesome pulls the ladder up ordown so Bugs always ends up face-to-face with him. A xylophone (or,perhapsa marimba) plays a rising or falling scale to the motion of the ladder,while the rest of the orchestra plays a similar scale for Bugs, musicallyshowing simultaneous up and down movement. In fact, the only flaw in thisfilm is when, near the end, Bugs misquotes the proverb, "Music has charmstosoothe the savage breast." Oh, well – anything can happen in acartoon.

4) Directed by Bob McKimson, "Hurdy-Gurdy Hare" is a fairly good BugsBunny/Gruesome Gorilla cartoon. Bugs decides to go into the musicbusiness by purchasing a hand-cranked barrel organ, equipped with amonkey who steals, er, I mean, COLLECTS money in his tin cup fromanyone who appreciates the music. Bugs fires the little chiseler andtakes over, which gets him in potential trouble with the monkey'sfather Gruesome Gorilla!

Highlights: Bugs humorously mispronounces "Beethoven," "Bach," and"Brahms" as he becomes excited about getting into the music business.He is also funny acting like a little monkey carrying the tin cup andgetting doused with a bucket of water for his efforts. Composer CarlStalling uses a snippet of "She Was an Acrobat's Daughter" as Bugstricks Gruesome into bouncing on an awning. Stalling is also cleverwith the use of a clarinet & xylophone for Gruesome & Bugs,respectively, as Gruesome fiddles with a ladder and Bugs repeatedlyclimbs up & down the ladder.

"Hurdy-Gurdy Hare" is an enjoyable Warner Bros. cartoon. This ratherchubby version of Bugs Bunny that director Bob McKimson used at thattime is not exactly my favorite version of the wascawwy wabbit, but nomatter. Bugs will stop at NOTHING in using his clever wits to overcomeGruesome Gorilla!

5) This is a very good Bugs Bunny flick–especially because it's prettyoriginal. Bugs is minding his own business when a hurdy-gurdy player'smonkey begins pestering him for coins. Instead of just giving him acoin, Bugs is pretty mean and the monkey runs back to his friend–ahuge and ill-tempered gorilla bent on teaching Bugs a lesson!Throughout the film, Bugs is chased up and down and throughout abuilding by the beast and time and time again Bugs outwits the big lug.Finally, Bugs is cornered and in desperation, he plays music and findsthe gorilla LOVES music and becomes his slave as long as the musicplays. The film concludes with Bugs starting his own larcenoushurdy-gurdy business. He plays the tunes as the gorilla runs amoksmashing and grabbing and throwing the money out the window to thewaiting Bugs below. The sky literally rains money as the cartoon fades.

It's an odd flick because Bugs plays a rather nasty and antisocialguy–being mean to the little monkey and leading the gorilla to a lifeof crime in the end, but it's still a wonderful film.

6) Robert McKimson's 'Hurdy-Gurdy Hare' suffers from a feeble premisewhich never offers much of an opportunity for laughs. Bugs Bunny, in anunusually money-grabbing, greedy incarnation, purchases a hurdy-gurdycomplete with monkey in order to make some money. When the monkeyattempts to swindle him, however, he fires the simian and takes on hisrole himself. The monkey informs his father (an unattractivereimagining of Gruesome the Gorilla from McKimson's previous 'GorillaMy Dreams'), who comes after Bugs in search of retribution. Set againstthe dull backdrop of an apartment building, 'Hurdy-Gurdy Hare' feelsinstantly laboured and unfunny. It never even threatens to come to lifeonce throughout its seven minute runtime and, while it doesn't quiteplumb the depths of the studio's very worst output, 'Hurdy-Gurdy Hare'is a cartoon that I could easily live without ever seeing again.

7) It seems like often when I see portrayals of monkeys belonging tohurdy-gurdy men, the monkeys are real shysters, such as the one whotries to rip off Bugs Bunny here. But of course, "Hurdy-Gurdy Hare"gets really good once the gorilla – presumably Gruesome from "GorillaMy Dreams" – comes after Bugs. Bugs does his usual stuff to avoidgetting harmed. True, this was probably one of the cartoons functioningas a place-holder in between the really great ones, but how can you notlike what Bugs does? Definitely worth seeing.

Oh, and sorry for the Donovan reference in my summary. In case you'renot familiar with that, Donovan sang a song called "Hurdy-Gurdy Man",which recently appeared in the movie "Zodiac".