[psycho d]

Cries and Whispers (1972). This brilliant classic that is all about despair and grief, loneliness and hatred, with a little peasant warmth sprinkled in at all the right places. A story of three sisters and a maid, this one threatens to become a chick flick, but thankfully veers in the direction of a study of the human condition. The four characters could not be a better contrast of people, very believable but a polar sorts. The cinematography was incredible; the direction masterful. The acting was sublime; the story itself was simple yet engaging and profoundly moving. Simply another masterpiece from the inimitable Ingmar Bergman.

Five Easy Pieces (1970) What starts out to be a mess of a movie becomes a character study in the mess of a man. No straightforward story could come to disentangle the twisted character of Robert, which was nailed by Jack Nicholson. As the story unravels we begin to see why his character seems so out of place with the rest of the world. The diner scene, which in a way explains everything, was infamously splendid. His trashy and needy girlfriend was just as engaging, a part incredibly portrayed by Karen Black. The ending was both sudden and profound, though we know this was not the end of the story, just the the end of our involvement in the story of Robert. The direction was solid, and the camerawork perfect, with the piano and pictures scene coming off as brilliant. Dark, moody, and abrupt, this wonderful flick deserves its accolades. Mercie beaucoup.
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