Monday, June 20, 2011

"Sometimes, if things are closed, you just, open them up." (Simon reviews EASTERN PROMISES)

As my Top Shelf pick, Eastern Promises still resides high on my list of favourite Cronenberg films. I mentioned, multiple times, the artistic references within the film and, way back, when I initially reviewed the film I managed to support my theory with images of the Mannerist Art Movement.

Strangely enough, the review even recalls my first discussion with Hatter on his Matineecast! Its strange how time flies ...


Here is a little more depth on the issue:

The stronger link is the sequence in the sauna as Nikolai is mistaken for Kirill and is nearly murdered - he is forced to fight for himself. Mannerism was a period in art history that followed the Rennaissance and preceded the Baroque period. Michelangelo was one of - if not, the first of the - Mannerist artists.

Read the full review by clicking here.

2 comments:

  1. Very nice review Simon,

    It's a shame this isn't getting any comments. Keep up the good work - and people will come around.

    Good luck!

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  2. 3 PINK Revision - 11/12/ EXT. A STREET NEAR BRICK LANE - EVENING 1 It s 5.30pm in late December and rain is pouring. The scant Christmas decorations are hanging limp in the rain. A young Turk (EKREM) runs through the rain with a Turkish newspaper held over his head. He ducks into a traditional barber s shop called Ozim s. 2 INT. OZIM S BARBER SHOP - EVENING 2 The shutters are drawn. OZIM (a plump middle-aged Turk) is cutting the hair of the last customer of the day (SOYKA). Soyka is a Chechen, well-groomed, wearing a sharp suit beneath the barber s gown. During the conversation we glimpse distinctive eagle- and star-shaped tattoos on Soyka s arms and hands. Ozim and Soyka are chatting as Ekrem enters. Soyka speaks with a Russian accent. OZIM Guvenilmez... daginik... bloody kids, you know... he says - but Amca it s Christmas?... Christmas! We re Islam! SOYKA Oi, how much are you taking off? OZIM Christmas! So I said to him... alisverise cimac. The kid s sixteen... Ozim brushes some hair off the customer s shoulder and Ozim finally acknowledges Ekrem, who is shivering and wet near to the door. Ekrem turns the Open sign to Closed. OZIM (CONT'D) They don t want to work do they. Shicma... EKREM (hesitantly interrupting) Uncle Ozim... We see for the first time that Ekrem is shaking with fear as well as cold.

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