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German Cinema Legend Makes Comeback With Cannes' Prestigious 'Crap d'Or' Trophy
Posted by Defamer Hollywood at 7:45 AM on May 29, 2008
And here we thought Che had it rough with critics at Cannes. Enter Wim Wenders, the New German Cinema pioneer whose Paris, Texas and Wings of Desire were among the fest's most beloved films of the '80s, but yet who's fallen on hard times of late with a string of dodgy bombs including Don't Come Knocking and Land of Plenty. His return to the Croisette with Palermo Shooting, about a fashion photographer who comes face-to-face with death, isn't likely to help matters much — particularly not with the Absolute Worst Review of the 2008 Cannes Film Festival now making the rounds.
Wenders has reached a new low with Palermo Shooting, a film of startling and embarrassing banality and, yes, even silliness. One is hard-pressed to imagine any commercial future whatsoever for this film, and a pickup by a U.S. distribution company seems virtually impossible. ...
Every time the film goes philosophical on us, the resultant dialogue is sententious and banal. We learn, among other things, that people during the time of the fresco that Flavia is restoring were afraid of death, and that they still are, and that, to live life to the fullest, we should do everything as though it were for the last time. He speaks meaningfully of "absurd freedom" and "desperate futility." [The lead character] Finn also is repeatedly warned that doing this "fashion crap" is hurting his reputation in the art world, another not-exactly-fresh theme. ...
For most viewers, the question of the meaning of it all will come down to this: Where does Wenders find people to continue to invest in his films?
Did the reviewer just indirectly suggest that Wenders should stop making movies? Come on — isn't one German auteur with a bounty on his head enough?
- Wim Wenders' new film an embarrassment [Reuters]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
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Carol Gardens
Posted 9:23 AM 29/5/08
God, I love those old ones in black and white. "Kings of the Road", "Alice In the Cities", and the much-more-famous "Wings of Desire". Too bad he got all pretentious, self-indulgent, celeb-fame-happy, and out-of-control. Then again, I can forgive him almost anything since he cast Rudiger Vogler and Bruno Ganz in so many movies.
Carol Gardens
jeffersonian
Posted 9:04 AM 29/5/08
@CourageousCoward:
Actually, I own the "Until the End of the World" soundtrack. The title track is by U2, but Pavarotti isn't on it.
jeffersonian
uncle_wiggly
Posted 8:56 AM 29/5/08
Can't wait to see it. If critics go out of their way to attack the film, there must be something worthwhile there.
uncle_wiggly
CourageousCoward
Posted 8:30 AM 29/5/08
@jeffersonian: Nope. Until the End of The World. 14 years and 15 different cities. Bono sings on the soundtrack (along with Luciano Pavarotti on one track!)
CourageousCoward
Old No.7
Posted 8:26 AM 29/5/08
Annie Lebowitz could certainly stand to drop by the Mac counter a little more often.
Old No.7
jeffersonian
Posted 8:22 AM 29/5/08
@CourageousCoward: I think you might be referring to "The Million Dollar Hotel", for which Bono received a story credit. Mel Gibson said the movie "made his ass itch", and he was in it!
jeffersonian
CourageousCoward
Posted 8:13 AM 29/5/08
Let us not forget "Until the End of the World" which even Bono couldn't save.
CourageousCoward
Saxon 212
Posted 10:34 AM 29/5/08
Lesbian glasses and British teeth,disgusting.
Saxon 212
restoration_rake
Posted 10:44 AM 29/5/08
@jeffersonian: And one f'ing amazing soundtrack it is. The movie is pretty decent, also; certainly has its moments. I feel bad for Wim.
@CourageousCoward: You're thinking of Miss Sarajevo.
restoration_rake
whoneedslight
Posted 11:22 AM 29/5/08
Wings of Desire will always be one of my favorite movies. I just refuse to acknowledge the rest.
whoneedslight
musicmope
Posted 11:56 AM 29/5/08
Haven't seen Palermo Shooting, and Wenders has directed some dogs over the last two decades but his the thing is that even if Palmero were any good, his aesthetic post-Wings of Desire (since becoming an Xtian) is intentionally messy, unironic and heart-on-his-sleeve -- which is to say that modern critics wouldn't like the film even if it were Dreyer's Ordet. Which they wouldn't like either if it were released today.
Until the End of the World is actually pretty good in its original six-hour miniseries version. The theater version is a butchering.
musicmope
misapostrophe
Posted 12:32 PM 29/5/08
Here's another vote cast for Until the End of the World, original version (LONG) version. One of my favorite flicks, cut or not.
misapostrophe
vulturesquadron
Posted 2:25 PM 29/5/08
@CourageousCoward: There's no accounting for taste. Until the End of the World is one of my top 3 favorite movies, right after La Dolce Vita and Fanny and Alexander. Go figure.
vulturesquadron
CourageousCoward
Posted 3:14 PM 29/5/08
@jeffersonian: You are correct, sir. I confused the soundtrack with Passengers: Original Soundtracks 1.
CourageousCoward
WGARefugee
Posted 3:23 PM 29/5/08
@Carol Gardens: I'm with you but let's not forget American Friend and The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick. Wenders is responsible for some of my fondest memories of film school. We all thought we would be just like him.
WGARefugee
STV
Posted 10:00 PM 29/5/08
Some people just deserve lifetime film-financing exemptions for one especially great work: Grand Illusion, Citizen Kane, Cries and Whispers, The Godfather, Blue Velvet, Pulp Fiction... It's like winning the Masters; you're always invited back. Cosmically, anyhow (except for Welles), this seems to hold for Wenders; Paris, Texas entitles him to as many Palermo Shootings as he wants. He's gotta make another good one eventually, right? Right?
STV
Jrocchi
Posted 7:35 PM 29/5/08
@uncle_wiggly: I have seen Palermo Shooting, and if after seeing it you find one thing in it worthy of regard, admiration or note then you're so high you must need a stepladder to scratch your own ass. Yes, Wenders has made great films. No, this is not one of them.
Jrocchi