Is that John Lurie or that guy that looks like John Lurie? Hm… Ah, the latter.

This movie has a bunch of really accomplished actors. Harvey Keitel had even starred in a couple movies Auster had done with Wayne Wang, so you’d think this would be easy peasy — but the performances are really off. It’s weird that a bad/inexperienced directory like Auster could somehow make Keitel act amateurish, but there it is.

But it’s a pretty good movie overall, and it certainly has that Austerian mystery going on — you never know exactly happening, and it’s fascinating. And the ending could be seen as a groaner, I guess, but I really liked it.

Lulu On The Bridge. Paul Auster. 1998. ⚃

I’ve seen the remake before — it has Rock Hudson instead of Robert Taylor as the slacker who turns into creepy stalker and then saviour. And I think I remember that version being more successful?

The movies are very, very similar, though, and have basically the same issues.

Magnificent Obsession . John M. Stahl. 1935. ⚃

I’m not actually sure whether I’ve seen this one before, and it’s from the 90s, but I feel it was kinda vaguely part of what was being shown at the local cinematheque, so let’s watch this anyway, since I’m doing a blog series about that — it’s the final Branagh movie I remember anybody being enthusiastic about. His next movie had these actors:

And from there it was just downhill:

Nice-looking cat.

Emma Thompson is the best — another reason Branagh’s movies nosedived (they divorced).

Oh, I’m getting this movie confused with Four Weddings… makes sense; they’re from around the same time. I think I did see that one? I assumed that Stephen Fry was going to die in this one? But perhaps it’s that guy from Four Weddings…

The use of music in this movie is unreal… They seem to want to use all movies that were on Top Of The Pops in like 1984-85? We’ve had all the hits — Tears For Fears, Cindy Lauper, etc — and I don’t mind. But it’s odd!

Nice sweater.

By the way, I could only find this bluray in a Spanish edition (but it has an English language soundtrack, too). But it’s odd. Perhaps it’s a rights issue? Nobody in the UK or US has the rights for a physical release at the moment? It happens.

But it looks very nice. It’s a good 2K scan, and has been sensitively restored.

This is a lot of fun. I could totally see this being somebody’s favourite movie — it’s hard to stop smiling. But it’s a bit clumsy? Artless? Perhaps that’s a bit of the charm.

Like this shot, which is both a bit much and also not quite successful at the same time.

OK, the drama is a bit over the top… I think half of the cast has left the room to go off crying or something.

The funny bits feel genuine. But it’s like the drama parts are like… Ibsen via Bergman via Woody Allen?! OK, not accurate, but it’s like the drama parts feel second hand. Or third hand.

That’s a fun shot.

Such fake drama.

So, I’m guessing somebody has to die, so it’s probably Peter? He’s gay, and no gay characters got out of any movies alive during the 90s, so…

OK, this didn’t quite end like I expected. But… almost…?

I did quite enjoy watching this. But I understand totally people who’d think this kinda sucks, because it’s not quite successful.

I think that’s right. But I quite like bathos, anyway, so:

Peter’s Friends. Kenneth Branagh. 1992. ⚄