The Searchers (9/13/11)

Finally watched the Western that seems to be referenced the most as one of "the greatest westerns of all time" (not sure who called it that, but I'm sure it has been called that).

It was pretty good. I suppose it was quite good compared to the vast majority of westerns out there (I've only seen a handful), and if they'd just cut a bunch of the corny music and melodramatic acting out, I suppose it would have been really quite good.  But as it was, I found it fairly enjoyable.

I have to admit I did feel kind of like an idiot. During the whole second half of the film I kept thinking, "who's the actress? I recognize her from something!" and I was really proud for at least recognizing an actress from an old film. Then I looked her up and it was...Natalie Wood. The fact that I didn't recognize HER is a little embarrassing.

Ah well.

Rating: 3/4 stars

Band of Outsiders (9/12/11)

Saw Godard's Band of Outsiders at Film Forum today. So good! I was a little worried it would be rambling and plotless and pointless. But no, charmingly rambling and sweet and so fresh. "Fresh" is a cliched term to use to describe film, but really, that is the word that came to my mind at the end. I mean, it came out in 1964, but feels so much more youthful and exciting and funny than so many Hollywood movies you'd see today.
But I guess that's not saying anything surprising, really. 

Highlights:

• Old man vaguely fondling the English teacher's butt (and the English teacher not seeming to care at all).
• Dancing at the bar, with Anna Karina talking at the end and it looking very unscripted
• The flashing of all the actors' faces at the beginning title sequence
• Odile "French kissing" Arthur
• Running through the Louvre

Rating: 3.5/4

Also: I felt the girl in this film, Odile (Anna Karina) was totally an iconic hipster in terms of both her personality and her style.