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Thank you for showing up for our latest film in such a large number as to create a historical evening at the CINEMATIKI= where we had, in addition to our steady, weekly core audience, the pleasure of receiving a large contingent of screenwriters, actors and directors from L.A. and beyond that  helped us examine, digest and critique “HABEMUS PAPAM” aka “WE HAVE A POPE”…the writer/director/actor NANNI MORETTI in his own prescient way anticipated by a couple of years some of the events that are taking place @ the Vatican right now with all the creative freedom and limitations of his own mind…i would have liked that he explored more of the real issues of the Catholic church in this 21st. century- or any other century- instead of addressing mainly the “parental deficit” of the new Pope and give MICHEL PICCOLI, an emblematic actor that we grew up watching in films like; Belle de Jour, La grand Bouffe, Les chose de la vie = the possibility to show us at this stage of his life and career something more than incipient senility…MORETTI‘s intentions as an intelligent writer/director were good and yet he created a giant mish-mash of styles that kept on taking us through different situations that never quite gel into a sustained symphony…his checkovian opus that started at the hotel where the fugitive Pope  was staying had the surreal quality that added to the delirium of the theatrical representation towards the end with all the cardinals showing up @ the theatre ???…in contrast to the restaurant scenes w/ the chekovian players which were naturalistic  as everyday life for a group of thespians…i found many of the scenes very pleasing as presentations of characters and situations and yet they were disjointed from the film as a whole; the different rides of the Pope in public transportation, the cardinals playing tournaments of cards and volleyball, their usage of medical drugs, the shrink  and her family, etcetera…

it was a real treat to hear as part of the musical soundtrack of the film MERCEDES SOSA singing  “TODO CAMBIA” in contrast to a imaginary and real world where nothing changes…

to be continued ?!?…

Reflecting on God’s Comedy, I definitely plan to archive the scene where Joao de Deus directs the young woman in the swim suit as she swims on his desk. I find that my favorite part of the film and perhaps the most memorable scene in any film I’ve seen. I can only speak of my own gut reaction to the film as a whole. I found the film extremely entertaining: a film about an obsessive slightly perverted man with a passion for poetry, music, dance, literature, swimming and girls..? Count me in! I loved his movements. I loved the way he was effected by classical music. I loved his concern with cleanliness. I enjoyed his ability to archive an organize and label his bizarre collection of women’s pubic hairs (“God shave the Queen”)

Yes, I realize we are speaking about a lot of things that are not politically correct but I must remind you that the history of art is full of such things. Think Duchamp, Man Ray, Luis Buñuel, Dali, Polanski, Hitchcock, Bertolucci, Nabokov, Kubrick, etc.

Remember it is just a film. It is director Monteiro as Joao de Deus exploring parts of his shadow, pushing boundaries and having fun making art.

Tom Sewell

My first informal mentor was Domingo De Nubila who talked about cine on a weekly radio program that I used to listen as a child in Buenos Aires. Later on we became friends and  I was a frequent guest in his TV programs about films and entertainment.

When I first lived in the USA – New York in 1959 – I subscribed to “Esquire,” which at that time was redolent with talents like Dwight Macdonald, a very cultured and different film critic of those times. I was fascinated by his deep knowledge of world cinema – a very rare thing among movie critics then and now. My admiration for Macdonald’s had only one single flaw: he liked Antonioni, and I let him keep that opinion and did not try to convince him otherwise.

These days when I read a film review by David Denby or Anthony Lane at “The Newyorker” I feel completely articulated in their POV and analysis of artistic and technical points.

Looking forward to seeing Orpheus Negro tonight with you all!

Aloha,

JJ

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 5,600 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 9 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

Queridos Cinematikeros…

Thank you, muchas gracias, arigato, danke schon, merci beacoup, grazie tante, obrigado, Mahalo and Aloha tambien…

Five thousand six hundred views of our blog in 2012…
One single vision since 2008= showing the best of world cinema here in Maui, Hawaii…
CINEMATIKI MAUI it has been an idea attached to a passion, an opportunity for both of us=Tom and I- to do “one from the heart”, and create an artistic partnership made in the CINEMA-PARADISO of our minds…
Over one hundred eighty film shown weekly one-at-a-time ,collectively reviewed, individually received and interpreted, duly commented and somewhat digested and filed in the archives of our growing cinematic-minds…

learning more about the art of cinema every week…

see you on Monday…

J.J.

I am unable to watch films on a video screen for a number of reasons. First, I so enjoy our Cinematiki Group that to see a film without them would be like cheating on my wife. I just like the history we share, the commitment to learning, the camaraderie, the whole adventure. I enjoy the discussion after the film almost as much, and sometimes more than the film itself.

We have seen, dissected and digested so many great films and the process works for me. I love the big projected image reflected back on me, off the screen, almost including me as a character. I can more readily step in for a distinct visceral experience. Plus, it is easy on the eyes and the brain. The electronic image projected directly from a flat screen into my eyes is just a little more harsh, numbing information than I need. I also find that if I know I will be discussing the film with others, I pay more attention.

Sharing cinema has become a very meaningful part of my Maui life. The early years I lived in Minneapolis, in the Uptown area, were tantalizing times for me. The Uptown Theater and The Suburban World Theater were a huge influence opening vast worlds of wonder. These Maui Monday nights have become a splendid continuation of the magic and I welcome your presence for the exploration.

Aloha

Tom Sewell

It reminds us of the power of music, in spite of the horrible drum beat of the Nazi buildup. These five men created amazing art that brought happiness to a multitude. Their story is very inspiring. It was so good to see a film about that era that feels uplifting. I really enjoyed the goofy music, and the five main characters were all wonderful! Seeing it for the second time, after 6 years even better, I was more relaxed and knew Harry would come out okay and not get sent to a camp.

P.S. On a side note, I am glad to see that both my new interns, Anh and Tony, have been watching movies every night and discussing them with gusto and great enthusiasm. They have watched Jules and Jim, Psycho, and The Clockwork Orange, and much more. They have been helping Cinematiki with film researches and poster-making as well. I look forward to seeing the future of Cinematiki with the contribution of these new young guys!

Tom Sewell