A decade later, Brazil is regarded by many critics, historians, filmmakers, and film buffs as one of the most original and influential movies of the past fifty years. "Brazil is the most potent piece of satiric political cinema since Dr. Strangelove," wrote critic Kenneth Turan in California magazine. Best-selling fantasy author Harlan Ellison, writing in Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine, declared Brazil "the finest SF movie ever made." In a Time magazine piece celebrating Gilliam's victory, critic Richard Corliss wrote: "A terrific movie has escaped the asylum without a lobotomy. The good guys, the few directors itching to make films away from the assembly line, won one for a change."

Has made numerous appearances in Terry Gilliam's rear-view mirror.


GEOFFREY NOWELL-SMITH 1901-1966
Visionary and Producer of Major Entertainment Empire, Film Art-Animation and Huge L'Avventura freak.

In other respects, however, Antonioni and Hitchcock can be seen as opposites. In L'Avventura, events just happen; nothing signals them as significant. Anna does not actively disappear, she just is no longer on screen and neither the audience nor the other characters are aware of her not being present. Tension is generally slack and, when it builds, it builds obscurely, brought to life more by a surrounding uncertainty than by careful preparation and accelerating rhythms. Above all, chance is chance and no inexorable train of events is ever generated.

Understands that film-making requires committment. In for 'the long-haul.'


J HOBERMAN
Innovative, Iconoclastic, Free-Spirited, Unconventional, Countercultural Film Critic

On the other hand, the film projects an entire world-or rather the sense that, as predicted by Andre Bazin's "Myth of Total Cinema," the world itself is trying to force its way through the screen. Undirectable creatures animate Tarkovsky's compositions-a cat bounds across a corpse-strewn church, wild geese flutter over a savaged city. The birch woods are alive with water snakes and crawling ants, the forest floor yields a decomposing swan. The soundtrack is filled with bird calls and wordless singing; there's always a fire's crackle or a tolling bell in the background.

Once declined chance to go live in Russia.


ANDREW SARRIS 1935 -
Memorable Musicals Director Who Integrated Song and Dance And Film Critic.

Most of Alphaville is nocturnal or claustrophobically indoors. Yet there is an exhilarating release in many of the images and camera movements because of Godard's uncanny ability to evoke privileged moments from many movies of the past.

Never looks back, once he finishes a review.


JONATHAN ROSENBAUM 1935 -
Witty New York-Based Screenwriter/Director/Film Actor/Comedian/Critic.

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