Further thougths about Richard Brody's Everything is Cinema

I'm now into the middle of Everything is Cinema, Richard Brody's book about Jean-luc Godard. For awhile it was getting tough to get through it. After Breathless Godard went through a low period. I read about and watched Alphaville, Godard's foray into Science Fiction. The film wasn't horrible, but it just wasn't that great. Perhaps I should learn not to always compare Godard to Breathless because he did do some quality films after Breathless. Vivre sa vie might well prove to be his best film. It stars his muse Anna Karina and takes on a subject matter that is far more complex than Breathless and perhaps his subsequent films which, according to Brody are mired in self deprecation. At least Pierrot le fou is. I have seen that film prior to reading the book. I'm going to watch it again and reassess what I thought of it.

Since starting to read the book I have watched Breathless and all the extras on the Critierion disc, Vivre sa vie, and Alphaville, as well as an interview of Godard by Dick Cavett from the late seventies. The interview was a discussion about Godard's direction in filmmaking. After watching the interview he seems very complex and philosophical.

Furthermore after reading the book I started to develop a deep dislike of Jean-paul Sartre. I'm getting sick of hearing about existential crisis, etc. I really hope the book moves into a discouse about post-structuralism in film, rather continually bring up Sartre. Yet, Godard liked Sartre so I may be out of luck. Hopefully I can get through the end of the book by the end of the semester. I'm interested to read about Godard's Weekend which many think is his best film.

Last Days in Vietnam by Kennedy

I was in high anticipation to see this film. I drove to Ithaca, NY which is about an hour from my house to see it at Cinemapolis which is an Art House movies complex on the Quad in Ithaca. Ithaca is a nice cozy place, but I was surprised that the Quad was so deserted! There was practically no one there. It was a Sunday evening so, perhaps, it would interfere with football to go to the Quad and watch a film? Oh, who knows! I just hope Cinemapolis can stay open without much interest from the College kids.

The film was very well done. I think this one and Citizenfour will be up for awards for documentay come awards season Citizenfour is another documentary I'm looking forward to seeing even if I have to drive two hours to see it. Last Days shows exactly what the title says the last days that an American presence was in Vietnam. What went on during those last hours, minutes, and who was the last person to leave Vietnam. It was a very visceral portrait of the Ambassador to Vietnam as well as of Native Vietnamese who couldn't get out in time.

The range of interviews and the depth of information were first class. The editing was also really good as well as the writing. The computer graphics were very good too. Everything was top notch. I was gripped with attention throughout the whole film.