Roman Polanski
Noah’s Barks pages relating to movie/film director Roman Polanski.
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Frantic
Frantic is one of Polanski‘s first steps out of the darkness of his early work. From despair to mere cynicism. In what’s one of the director’s most Hitchcockian suspense tales, the nerdy side of Ford must unite with the naughty Seigner on an initially intriguing but quickly standard mystery. The plot lacks a sense of… (read more)
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Cul-de-sac
Polanski viewed the seminal Repulsion as a stepping stone to this forgotten, bizarre black comedy he intended to be a hit. For all its quirky and amusing antics and characters, Cul-de-sac bears the distinctive mark of a Polanski film in that he psychologically traps his characters and invites us to observe how they respond. There… (read more)
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Venus in Fur
It’s impressive and very pleasing to me as a fan that Polanski has still not lost himself after decades of films. Akin to many of his works, Venus in Fur is a single-setting psychological playground where Amalric and Seigner compete for dominance over each other and the screen. The two are wrapped in a clever,… (read more)
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Death and the Maiden
Death and the Maiden shows its source medium of a play very clearly in positive ways with a gripping single-setting that has a curious mystery and high stakes. The combination works like a guarantee and it’s entertaining throughout. Weaver incredibly overacts and actually loses sympathy, not as a victim, but as a relatable person. Wilson… (read more)
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The Ghost Writer
Great visual design and atmosphere thanks to the post-modern art and Polanski‘s heavy use of grey tones, but The Ghost Writer ultimately doesn’t pay off for all the suspense it builds. The writing lacks some self-awareness as well. Every character is a gigantic cunt for some unknown reason, and some parts are so silly that… (read more)
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Repulsion
The first of Roman Polanski‘s so-called “apartment trilogy,” Repulsion explores much of the same themes of the succeeding two films in its own way. Paranoia and phobia run the show here, with some astonishing camerawork during the dream sequences. Chico Hamilton’s chaotic jazz score raises your blood pressure through all the thrills. Both fascinating and… (read more)
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Knife in the Water
Considered Roman Polanski‘s first triumph, Knife in the Water is still a modest one at that. One of those simple “portrait of life” films, this one portrays a rivalry between a young boy and an older man as they both envy each other’s age, joined only by the older man’s wife. Conflict and tension arise… (read more)
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The Tenant
The last of Polanski’s claustrophobic “apartment trilogy.” The themes start to run thin this time around. The mental deterioration is stronger in Repulsion, and the paranoia is much more real and sensible in Rosemary’s Baby. Though Roman Polanski does a fantastic job as the lead, the story is ridiculous and not remotely believable. To say… (read more)
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Rosemary’s Baby
Rosemary’s Baby draws its power from the realistic universal discomfort of watching a very ill woman suffering during her pregnancy. Rosemary’s innocence and naivete are instantly charming, and when things go wrong for her we feel her same paranoia and worry, genuinely concerned for the safety of her and her baby. The film preys on… (read more)