About twenty years ago, I saw a series of movies in film class that really broadened for me what movies could do. Before the class, movies had three classifications for me: Violent action, funny, and boring. The film class I took showed me a series of movies that included Los Olvidados, Woman In The Dunes, Samurai I, Memories of Underdevelopment and the movie I watched last weekend - The Battle Of Algiers.
The Battle of Algiers is a powerful film brilliantly shot in black and white with a documentary style that includes handheld cameras, swishpans and sudden zoom ins that temorarily lose focus. The movie centers on the struggle of a terrorist group (the FLN) to remove the French government from their land. Primarily, it focuses on a specific terrorist named Ali. The movie was commissioned by the Algerian government after the French were forced out of the country.
In terms of filmmaking, the style of narrative (the visual style adds to the realism while a narrator illustrates the finer points) and raw acting (unprofessional actors) create a hard hitting experience for the viewer. The movie portrays the aftermath of violence somberly for victims on both sides (unless it's depicting murdering French policemen, in this movie apparently that's OK) and the French are not portrayed as evil caracatures. Despite some evenhandedness in the approach to the subject matter the movie sides with the terrorists, which can make the movie a little hard to take at times.
Still, there is enough objectivity in the movie to keep it from being like Triumph Of Will or Birth of a Nation to me. While I don't agree with terrorism, the movie does give some understanding as to what factors could cause it to exist because it illustrates how a terrorist may feel. Seeing how the historical events depicted in this movie made in 1966 resembles the current situation in the middle east was a bit depressing. There are definite differences in the two situations, but a lot of similarites as well. The fact that this movie is as relevant now as it was forty years ago is a testament to the filmmaker Gino Pontecarlo's talent and how we may not have progressed as a global society in that time.
I didn't plan on seeing this movie around September 11th which came about as coincidence. Given the timing, I could have found a more patriotic film to watch which would make me feel less guilty. Another coincidence is Number 75:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication (1999)
The reason I call this a coincidence is because all Red Hot Chili Peppers albums seem like they happen by accident to me. It seems like they're in a cycle where they clean up from drugs, record an album, tour, lose control of their drug habit and then clean up again. So, the only time they can record is when they're not smacked out of their minds. It was this cycle that made Californication a real surprise.
At this point in their career, it looked like RHCP was on their way out. They had peaked with the taut funk rock of Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991) and had to change guitarists because of drug problems. They recorded one mediocre album with guitarist Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction, TV show Rock Star, former Mr. Carmen Electra) and seemed about ready to drift into the alt rock twilight. But guitarist John Fruciante returned and reinvigorated the band.
Californication didn't just reestablish the Chili Peppers, it expanded what they could do musically. My favorite moments are still when they bring the funk ("I Like Dirt" and "Get On Top") that allow Flea to pop his elastic bass lines all over the place. John Fruciante's guitarwork became more textured during his absence, bringing slide guitarwork to the hit "Scar Tissue" and measured, emotional playing to ballads like "Californication". Anthony Kiedis is still at his best when he sounds over caffinated, giving out almost stream of consiousness rants over drummer Chad Smith's solid backbeat.
What expanded their sound was a more developed ability to deliver straight pop and ballads. "Otherside" was a somewhat sad song (about death) but had an engaging melody complete with background vocals. In ballads, "Porcelian" was extremely soft and slow while "Road Trippin" had a string section to back it. The fact that these songs didn't suck gave RHCP their most well rounded album that delivered top notch music no matter what genre they touched on.
My favorite song is "Around The World", a song that illustrates their newfound maturity. The song is anchored by a scratchy funk riff and slamming drums but the chorus is almost crooning and cushioned by a bed of sighing background vocals. The song sizzles and comforts at the same time!
No guilty feelings about this album, Californication stands as a modern classic.
1 comment:
I remember when I walked into the living room that you told me how much you liked "The Battle of Algiers". I didn't realize that it moved you so much though! What a sensitive guy I have :-)
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