PUMPING IRON (1977), GEORGE BUTLER / ROBERT FIORRE
06.12.2025
Watched this film with my parents at the beginning of my calorie deficit. Maybe I ought to watch it again. I felt so bad for Lou Ferrigno during it because he was so effing adorable. Ken Waller reminds me of Dr. Cox from Scrubs. I wish Mike Mentzer was here (here being the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest), but alas. If I had to describe this film in two words: 'SAUSAGE FEST!'
DEATH AT A FUNERAL (2007*), FRANK OZ
06.12.2025
I watched this immediately after Faust (1994) in real life, so I suppose it makes sense to follow it up with it here, too. What an absolutely delightful film! I adore it! My favourite English films were all directed by Americans - I guess that's a cinematic trait he got from Henson. Alan Tudyk reminds me of the entire cast of In The Loop (2009).
Perhaps the perfect Sunday film, with a distinct 2007-English-brightness we lost when I was born just a little later in the same year. Shame.
FAUST (1994), JAN SVANKMAJER
06.12.2025
So I am actually under the impression that this is one of the greater films of all time. I watched this for no other apparent reason than: I saw the poster on my film streaming site and thought 'Aha! Puppets!'. I love puppets. I love stories with religious overtones. The last Czechslovakian film I watched was half of The Cremator (1969) which sucked ass IMO. Interesting to look at though. Many such cases.
If you're into experimental (? art house ?) film, puppets, Czechoslovakia, religious imagery, stop motion, sex doll devils carved from wood with bushes of faux fur, extensive silence, or a guy who kind of looks like Oliver Reed, I really do beg you to watch Faust.
Everyone had something to say about this film in my house. Whilst watching it in my living room, my mother said it made her feel kind of weird and creeped out; my father asked me something to the effect of: 'Do you ever watch anything that isn't high-brow?' And to that I say: 'No.'