OSS 117: Lost in Rio. 2009. Anglo-French super-spy Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath is at it again in this sequel to 2006's OSS 117: Cairo Nest of Spies. As with that film, it's a parody of a popular French espionage book and film series featuring the character of the same name (as if the Austin Powers films [which they resemble a bit] parodied a previously legit Austin Powers character). In this one, de la Bath is rooting out Nazis in Brazil with the help of a beautiful Israeli agentess. Plenty of giggles here if not guffaws. **1/2Bad Timing. Nicholas Roeg, 1980. Brooding, semi-linear
narrative about an American psychiatry professor in Vienna (Art Garfunkel) and his love affair with the young American wife (Theresa Russell) of an older Czech man whom she crosses the border to visit at times. Her reckless behavior--sleeping around, boozing, etc.--disturbs the psychiatrist deeply, and his inability to define her, control her, and possess her eventually drives him to commit an atrocious act while she is unconscious (due to an intentional overdose of pills). Harvey Keitel plays a Viennese detective investigating the sordid situation. Not one of Roeg's better films, I think, but hardly deserving of the scorn it received on its first being released (a "sick film for sick people" one reviewer famously said.) However, it's not merely exploitive twaddle--it's an honest attempt to examine the psychology of a controlling narcissist. *** (Great poster, eh? -->)
narrative about an American psychiatry professor in Vienna (Art Garfunkel) and his love affair with the young American wife (Theresa Russell) of an older Czech man whom she crosses the border to visit at times. Her reckless behavior--sleeping around, boozing, etc.--disturbs the psychiatrist deeply, and his inability to define her, control her, and possess her eventually drives him to commit an atrocious act while she is unconscious (due to an intentional overdose of pills). Harvey Keitel plays a Viennese detective investigating the sordid situation. Not one of Roeg's better films, I think, but hardly deserving of the scorn it received on its first being released (a "sick film for sick people" one reviewer famously said.) However, it's not merely exploitive twaddle--it's an honest attempt to examine the psychology of a controlling narcissist. *** (Great poster, eh? -->)My Name is Bruce. Bruce Campbell, 2007. B movie stalwart Bruce Campbell plays himself in this send-up of the genre that almost made him a star. Here he's been recruited by a fanboy to fight an ancient evil--the spirit of a Chinese sorceror (or something) who has been unintentionally revived and is wreaking vengeance on behalf of a group of 19th century Chinese miners killed in a cave-in. The plot isn't important. What's 
important is...well none of this is important. It's Bruce directing Bruce playing Bruce. But I wouldn't mind a little less self-conscious cheese and a few more honest to goodness thrills. Sam Raimi understood that to be be funny and horrifying in the same instant you need to fight the temptation to wink at your audience too much. Here the eye-lids never stop fluttering.**
important is...well none of this is important. It's Bruce directing Bruce playing Bruce. But I wouldn't mind a little less self-conscious cheese and a few more honest to goodness thrills. Sam Raimi understood that to be be funny and horrifying in the same instant you need to fight the temptation to wink at your audience too much. Here the eye-lids never stop fluttering.**Here's a link to a great blog discussion of Bad Timing. Enjoy.
~CD
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