DIRECTOR - Wim Wenders

Lightning over Water is a fascinating documentary of sorts, it's an interesting project I've not seen before or since anyway. Nicholas Ray was a charismatic director and also a bit of a workaholic, only really truly happy when working on a film. That is where it's hard to say if it was all planned or if wenders took advantage, as at times it is quite an uncomfortable film to watch, even for the more hardened voyeur. I think only two filmmakers such as Wenders and Ray could have actually pulled it off to be honest and it's a pleasure to be able to watch what is a very personally film for both of them. The last interview with Ray is something that stayed with me for days but then so was the image of the old sailing ship floating in New York bay. Not for everyone but for fans of either Ray and/or Wenders it's a must.

An interesting historical piece. I say that because it's basically pure speculation from 1982. Some directors get it right, some get it wrong, it's fascinating to see who has 'Made it' since and who has disappeared into nothingness. Highlights include Godard's mumbled wisdom, Herzog taking his shoes off, Spielberg being right on the money and Paul Morrissey getting it completely wrong and showing himself up for what he is. A great insight for real film fans!

A beautiful film by Wim Wenders, Harry Dean Stanton is fantastic! This is great film making, a true classic!

Tokyo-Ga is made out of love for Ozu and raises the Question - is there anything left of Ozu's world? - Simple answer is no, not really, but little reminders like the little boy at the train station who refuses to stand, reminding Wenders (and most fans I'd imagine) of many of the young characters in Ozu's films, really do make this film what it is. It's a love letter written out of the greatest respect and gratitude. OK, it does get a little self indulgent at times, that seems to be quite typical of Wender's documentary projects but it's very moving towards the end, particularly during the emotional interview with Ozu's regular camera man. That scene alone makes it worth a watch, although you should probably see a least a couple of Ozu's classics first.

My only criticism of Wings of Desire is that it has people playing themselves. It's a pet hate of mine but I'm really not too bothered as I love Peter Falk and I'm a big Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds & Crime and the city solution fan. I also love Berlin and so I think I was always going to love this film, although, I certainly don't always love Wim Wenders films. For me, he is either great or terrible, this is great though - probably my favourite of his although it is neck and neck with Paris, Texas. Every element of this film is sublime, the script, the imagery - I loved the way it was splashed with colour as the main character got closer to his dream of reality and feeling. This is some an awesome film and so beautifully filmed - a love letter to love almost!

"The documentary is as much a meditation by the director on the meaning of documentaries and information in the age of electronic data and computerised images as it is about the skill, dedication, philosophy and work of the fashion designer" - yeah, I get that but for me Wenders gets caught up in the words rather than in their meanings. I did like the method he used in recording a recording while also filming the city (usually in a car). It was a clever idea and one example why he is a director I admire. Unfortunately, I had and still have, no interest in the work of Yohji Yamamoto or the philosophies of either men. Wenders often gets it right but unfortunately not so here. This is dreadfully boring I'm afraid!

A trick of light is part documentary and part reenactment although in this film, the two cross paths - Instantly making this a standout film. It focuses on the Skladanowsky brothers, with the brilliant Udo Kier playing Max Skladanowsky and then switches to a real interview with Max Skladanowsky's real daughter, 91 your old Lucie who still remembers even the smallest details of the birth of the moving picture, thanks to her father and two uncles. It's full of anecdotes and factual references to other film pioneers of the time that occasionally jump into the present day interview in the cheeky style the brothers were famous for. It's a little self congratulatory with a 19 minute credit reel but it's forgivable considering that this film almost feels like a gift to film fans and those interested in the history of cinema. Outstanding!

40 international directors were asked to make a short film using the original Cinematographe invented by the Lumière Brothers, working under conditions similar to those of 1895 using a special wooden camera. There were three rules: (1) The film could be no longer than 52 seconds, (2) No synchronized sound was permitted, and (3) No more than three takes. Lynch broke two of those rules but who?s counting. This was a wonderful display of affection for a bygone era of film making. Lynch?s eerie and grainy short film displays mystery, suspense, intrigue and bemusement. Not bad for 55 Seconds!

Everyone makes mistakes. Wenders, a brilliant film director, made a huge one with The End of Violence. Convoluted nonsense, I'm sure it looked great on paper but the reality is that this is an awful film. Oops!

It?s not the greatest film ever made but the music is well worth watching it for. Had expected more from a Wenders documentary though.

A some good/some great collection of short films produced by Wim Wenders and directed by an impressive ensemble of talented directors. All were given the theme of time and 10 minutes to do whatever they liked basically. The results were varied and wonderful. You'd have to ask Wenders why it's called The Trumpet though, I suspect it's down to his own love of jazz or something. This is the companion piece to The Cello.

Aki Kaurismaki - Dog's have no hell - In this short film, Kaurismaki highlights the change 10 minutes can bring, a man starts afresh after being released from Prison. It drips Kaurismaki dark yet colourful style and stars favourite actors Markku Peltola and Kati Outinen.

Victor Erice - Lifeline - The film itself is shot in beautiful black and white but the story is uncomfortable viewing at first. It highlights the hopes and fears we all have, some times every second (or ten minutes) count. The salt and the sugar of life.

Werner Herzog - 10,000 years older - Herzog's entry into the project is a typical Werner documentary. It tells the story of a tribe that was discovered in the 70's and has since been thrust into the modern world and has aged 10,000 years in only 30 years. Amazing stuff and very typical of Herzog's (brilliant) documentaries.

Jim Jarmusch - Int.Trailer.Night - This short highlights the ridiculous nature and concept of time by showing a ten minute break on a film set to be anything but what it was meant to be. Typically cool, delicious black and white and Chloe Sevigny was pretty good considering I don't usually like her.

Wim Wenders - 12 miles to Trona - It's funny how it was Wenders who came up with the concept of this collection of short film and his is by far the weakest submission. It's a race against time idea that highlights the idea that time passes slowly in times of despair. It felt like a poor imitation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to me.

Spike Lee - We wuz robbed - Spike Lee was once quoted as saying
"Wim Wenders had better watch out 'cause I'm waiting for his ass. Somewhere deep in my closet I have a Louisville Slugger bat with Wenders' name on it". I don't know if this was before or after this film came out but I'm intrigued as to why he said it! Anyway, much like Herzog, Lee's film is a documentary into the rigged Bush election back in 2000. Old news now but still shocking.

Chen Kaige - 100 Flowers deep - This is a funny comedy about a sad subject. The realisation of time passing and of lost memories. A good way to end the chapter.

As a collection and because of a couple of real stand out films, this is a five out of five film.

The mood and pace of the film is classic Western, but for me something wasn't quite right, the balance was just a little to tilted. I understood the symbolism between Tim Roth's character and Sam Shepard protagonist but I didn't think there was anything new here, nothing that hadn't been done before. Strange for a Wenders film really - A far cry from the great Paris, Texas anyway - the poor performances from Gabriel Mann and Fairuza Balk didn't help either but strangely, I did kind of like it, although I'm cetainly not mad about it.

I knew nothing about Pina Bausch before this film and had pretty much no interest in Dance. That has now changed thanks to a) Wim Wender's fantastic approach to documentaries - particularly his tributes and b) Pina Bausch's dances are a little bit more interesting than a bunch of skeletons in false smiles and tutus. The visuals here are stunning, even if some of the dances are unintentionally quite amusing, there is always something new and exciting to look at. I found the film to be interesting, informative and quite relaxing. If a Pina Bausch production was to pop up in London any time soon I would definitely buy a ticket!