Grand Illusion (1937)

Having just seen the new French film Renoir (reviewed this issue) about the last years of the French painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, his son Jean who would become a world famous filmmaker, and the woman who inspired both of them, it seemed appropriate to revisit some of Jean Renoir’s films of which the greatest is La Grande Illusion (1937).

This legendary film, which is set in a German fortress used for housing French prisoners during World War I, is one of the most stirring anti-war films ever made. Jean Renoir fought in the Great War and suffered a severe leg injury, so he came by his knowledge of conditions at the Front firsthand.

However instead of showing battle weary soldiers at the Front ala All Quiet on the Western Front, he chose a prison setting and then chose to highlight the similarities rather than the differences between the two sides. It is the humanity of the characters that makes Grand Illusion so powerful. Instead of battles and people dying there are discussions on what it all means and a surprising civility between members of both sides.

Of course some people do die and there are attempts to escape making this film a precursor to the more famous The Great Escape of 1963. The performances by all involved especially Erich von Stroheim as a crippled camp commandant are spot on and remain with you once the film is over. Once seen Grand Illusion is a difficult film to put out of your mind.

Not being able to see the film almost became a reality as it was banned by the Germans and the Italians once World War II started and for years it was thought destroyed until a partial negative showed up after the war. Several years later the complete print surfaced and has now been digitally restored for this Criterion DVD.

Yes it’s old, it’s in French w/subtitles, and there are no battle scenes per se but it remains one of the great films of all times from a master filmmaker and you owe it to yourself to see it at least once. Due to its importance, Grand Illusion is readily available locally and you can also get it from Netflix. Try it. Those of you who prefer meat & potatoes (or tofu & sprouts since this is Asheville) to fast food won’t be bored or disappointed.

Review by Chip Kaufmann

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

The Hangover III hit theatres recently. And while the first of the Hangover films was a truly a great comedy, the same cannot be said of its sequels. So if Hangover III isn’t your cup of tea, you may prefer another Bradley Cooper film instead. One of last year’s most acclaimed films, Silver Linings Playbook has just come out on DVD. If you missed it after all these months in the theatres, you’ve no excuses now.

Silver Linings Playbook was one of the best films of 2012 and it claimed an Academy Award for lead actress, Jennifer Lawrence. The film is simultaneously edgy and dark, funny and touching. Pat (Bradley Cooper) is a former teacher with bi-polar disorder and anger management issues. At the beginning of the film his mother (Jackie Weaver) is springing him from the mental institution, where he’s spent the last eight months after violently attacking his wife’s lover. Pat is newly invigorated; inspired by his belief is a silver lining. He intends to win back his wife and rebuild his life. The problem is he’s still bat shit crazy.

At a dinner party, he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). Tiffany is a young widow and the town tramp. Her issues are born more from insecurity, depression and pervasive loneliness than anything else. One of the film’s funniest scenes comes at the dinner party when Pat and Tiffany swap stories about psychiatric medications and their side effects, much to the dismay of their hosts.

Tiffany is interested in Pat straight away, but Pat still has his sights on his wife Nikki (Brea Bee). Tiffany’s sister Veronica (Julia Stiles) is friends with Nikki, so Tiffany agrees to get a note from Pat to Nikki, but he has to do her a favor as well. She wants to enter a dance competition but needs a partner. What ensues is crazy, discombobulated, perfect match in the making.

The ups and downs and twists and turns of our character’s personalities are a terrific ride. The supporting cast, including Robert DeNiro as Pat’s father and Chris Tucker as a fellow psych case, is great. The climax of the movie was more conventional than I would have expected, but I didn’t mind. Ironically by the end of the movie our bi-polar hero with violent tendencies is Mr. Sensitive, but then again they don’t call it a silver lining for nothing. It’s a story with chaos, pathos and above all, heart.

Review by Michelle Keenan