The Dresser (1983)

Clay

If you're not aware of it, I have a biased love for British culture, specifically Shakespearean-influenced art.

That said, The Dresser is an excellent movie. But don't take my word for it: it was nominated for 5 Oscars in 1984 and won a pile of others (Golden Globes, etc). But yet again, if you're the sort of person who is offended by cinematic portrayals of queers, or perhaps have a total distaste for stage drama, I would say that you might not be the sort of reader who enjoys my reviews, and therefore, should stop reading now.

The Dresser is a fictional story of a famous Shakespearean stage actor and his fussy personal attendant. The events of the film take place in WWII England, and are primarily concerned with the troupe's troubled performance of King Lear. One does not need to be familiar with Lear or Shakespeare in order to enjoy this movie, but clearly, one will derive more enjoyment if you are familiar with both.

The acting is superb, the plot is surprising and mostly unpredictable. I recommend it highly (7/8 slices) with the understanding that the movie regards itself as high drama, and therefore, is not for everyone.

Fun Fact, Per IMDB:

Ronald Harwood based his play and subsequent screenplay on his experiences as the dresser for the noted Shakespearean actor Donald Wolfit.

Gwoemul (2006) ["The Host"]

TARA

Hold this one for the video rental. No need to race to the theater. Perfect for a Friday evening, perhaps with a group of friends, for some light entertainment.

Most memorable aspect of this film might be it's ability to make one feel uncomfortable in terms of the expected response: Should I be laughing? Empathizing with the character? Crying? Scared?

In my opinion, the monster was rendered in a very unique style. It wasn't a rip-off or a borrowed creature from other films. . . a very original appearance and presentation. It wasn't a puffed up Godzilla, or a redo of the Blob. I appreciated the fact that the directors seemed to have made a conscious effort to create a non-derivitave, horrific creature.

There were occasions during the film when I found myself wondering about the accuracy of the Korean-English translation. Yet on the other hand, some of the best comedy in the film comes from what may be the lack of a true Korean cultural understanding for American viewers.

The trend of absentee monther-figures, displayed in several places throughout the film, was intriguing to me. I would be open to commentary regarding this aspect, because I'm not sure what, if anything, it might mean. The absence of strong mother-figures, or women in general.

Final view: Its a fun film for a group of friends to laugh at (and occasionally be horrified by). 7.5 out of 10. A strong "C".

CLAY

A lot of folks missed this one in the theaters. "The Host" is a South Korean film that didn't receive a great deal of promotion in USA markets. Nevertheless, its worth checking out if you're a fan of the underrepresented sci-fi/action/comedy/drama/monster genre.

Think "Shawn of the Dead" with a pervasive east-asian flavor. I'm not saying that this movie is necessarily a must-see, but it isn't a waste of time, either. The film's strongest point, IMHO, is a tendency to challenge comedic conventions. One often wonders if one is expected to laugh at the characters or sympathize with their plight. At it's core, Gwoemul is an action/monster movie, but the film's essential 'foreignness' makes it far more interesting than the standard american hollywood fare.

Overall, I give it a 6 out of 8 slices, with the warning that it's a movie 'just for fun'--i.e. not epic storytelling.

Fun facts:
I got a kick out of one of the film's unusual cameos: Paul Lazar, who played the role of the crosseyed scientist in Silence of the Lambs, reprises a similar role.

From IMDB:
The event described in the beginning of Gwoemul is based on an actual event. In February 2000 in a US military facility located in the center of Seoul, US military civilian employee Mr. McFarland ordered to dispose formaldehyde into the sewer system leading to Han River despite the objection of a Korean subordinate. Korean government attempted to prosecute Mr. McFarland in Korean court but US military refused to hand over the custody of Mr. McFarland to the Korean legal system. Later, a Korean judge convicted Mr. McFarland in absentia. Public enraged at the Korean government's inability to enforce its law on its own soil. In 2005, nearly five years after the original incident, Mr. McFarland was finally found guilty in Korean court in his presence. He never served the actual prison sentence, however. No sighting of mutant creature has been reported in Han River, yet.