What makes a film bizarre : Is it our fascination for violence or grossness of life ?

C'est arrivé près de chez vous (1992) directed by Rémy Belvaux/André Bonzel/Benoit Poelvoorde

It is very rare in the history of Belgian cinema that such an abrasive film was made by three broke youngsters who cast their own family members in their film.To begin let us have a word about this film's titles.Let us assume that when one considers an apt title like "Man bites dog" it should be made clear that it is a very rare happening.It can mean that men are doing things which were formerly done by the animals.There are too many of such grotesque happenings in this film.If we choose "It happened near your place" to be a far more superior title then we are to be blamed for not having paid any attention to all the grossness which was happening around us over a long time.What the film is all about is difficult to decide as it is an assault against women,children,old people and homosexuals.Its strangeness comes from the fact that although it has adopted a tough stance against depiction of morbid violence there is additional visual violence in the form of a television crew shooting violent scenes.This film has got many supporters one of which is famous American actor Steve Buscemi.

Laughter at the rate of 100 laughs per minute.

The Big Lebowski (1998) directed by Joel Coen

Coen brothers are famous for their inventiveness as they never repeat the themes of their films.The same thing can be said about their erratic choice of actors.In "The Big Lebowski",we see some of the best talented actors of Hollywood doing highly unconventional roles.The beauty with a brain Julianne Moore plays a hard to believe adult movie star,Jeff Bridges is nice as a bum.John Goodman and Steve Buscemi are good too as a bunch of good for nothings.Regarding "The Big Lebowski" the best comment should concentrate on the film's raison d'être.It is about creating funny episodes out of nothing.Sometimes it is a nice feeling when while watching a film people decide not to bother about plot,camera etc and start enjoying the poetry of nothingness.It is this senseless yet charming session of mirth that has been created by Coen brothers.A different yet unusually similar film comes to my mind "A Fish called Wanda".Those who have seen both the films will not hesitate in declaring that both of them provide a century of laughs.

Violence for violence's sake might set a bad precedent.

Reservoir Dogs (1992) directed by Quentin Tarantino

Everybody knows that criminals are big losers but still there is a strong tradition in American cinema especially in Hollywood of making films which glorify criminals.Everybody knows that Godfather,a film about a mafia family is hailed as a classic film.People know well as to what kind of things mafia do and how harmful they are to human society in general.Reservoir Dogs is one such dumb film which through its antics champions the cause of crooks without morals.Tarantino is believed to be a humorist however his humor is undoubtedly bland and mainly consists of filthy abuses.A word about the violence in the film: by showing macabre scenes of senseless violence Tarantino has shown that in the name of creative freedom and in order to gain easy publicity all rules can be broken and more the violence the more controversial the film is going to be.Good that this film has not been emulated by other film makers. It is a good development that till now no studio has come forward with the idea of making a sequel of this film.God save America who has Quentino.

Kidnapping going bad : à la Coen !!!

Fargo (1996) directed by Joen Coen & Ethan Coen

Coen brothers are known to be one of the most original film making duo working in Hollywood.A lot of adjectives can be used to describe their films and the great thing is that no two films made by them are same. Fargo is a great film as it doesn't hover around neither Hollywood type conventional narrative structure nor sometimes hard to fathom independent cinema style.It is a film in which mystery elements are revealed following a chronological order.Coen brothers have taken proper care of the screenplay as they have added their own material to a real life event which took place years ago.It is not at all a film about mistakes made while killing people. It is a film about human sentiments such as greed,helplessness and dedication to work.All those who like films with story are going to enjoy it.There are no special effects,animation and other high tech elements.What is to be seen in the film is pure emotional poetry-a poetry of human sentiments.The cast is outstanding especially Frances McDormand who makes a good try at being a workaholic pregnant policewoman.

A good film of its time.

Barton Fink (1991) directed by Joel Coen

When it was released Barton Fink was different from the other films of the era.May be it was this aspect of something out of the common non Hollywood cinema which won the hearts of the Cannes Festival jury and a price was awarded.This film runs on many surfaces and the great thing is that none of them come under permanent focus.There is mystery, suspense,frustration and romance too.All of them are equally and evenly distributed.John Turturro is good as a confusing screenwriter working for a studio.The only plausible thought coming to a viewer's mind might be:why did he choose to stay in a not so decent hotel ? John Goodman is good too as a serial killer in the garb of a salesman. His performance reminded me of Dustin Hoffman's role as a traveling salesman.Steve Buscemi has kept a low profile as the bellboy.This is a good entertainment to be enjoyed with creative people.