Friday, July 15th 2005: DEODORAMA: Terry Gilliam’s Brazil!

Finally KWKL has got its shit together [a bit!!] and now restarting our long-dormant DEODORAMA (Free But Donation Accepted Film Appreciation Series).

COME!

Date: 15.7.2005 Friday
Time: 8:30PM
Admission: FREE
Place: UBU, Wisma MalaysiaKini, 48, Jalan Kemuja off Jalan Bangsar, 59000 Bangsar Utama, KL {see the map below}

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go to kwkl site: KakiWayangKakiLima

BRAZIL
1985 | UK | Fantasy | 142 mins | Color | 20th Century Fox / Universal
Director: Terry Gilliam
Starring: Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond, Bob Hoskins, Peter Vaughan, Ian Holm, Michael Palin, Kim Greist

“Just as George Orwell’s 1984 is an alternate vision of the past, present and future, so Brazil is a variation of Orwell’s novel. The movie happens in a time and place that seem vaguely like our own, but with different graphics, hardware and politics. Society is controlled by a monolithic organization, and citizens lead a life of paranoia and control. Thought police are likely to come crashing through the ceiling and start bashing dissenters. Life is mean and grim.” – Roger Ebert 1986

here’s a fan page that will answer a lot of the mysteries about the movie even for those who’ve seen it several times: Terry Gilliam’s Brazil

and here’s Roger Ebert full review of the film

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Joe Kidd’s Notes: As a huge fan of absurdist/black humour and OTT sheenanigans done with taste and supremely wicked wit, Terry Gilliams has been a hero of mine forever. Well, my obssession with Gilliam started after I had the benefit of watching Monty Python’s Life of Brian (currently available on DVDs at Sg. Wang, ehem) many, many years ago.

Terry made his name working with the Monty Python gang on their TV series, the odd American in the all-Brit ensemble. When the Python stopped making movies, the man moved on with his very films and Brazil is his greatest (at least in my opinion lah). You may have seen Time Bandits, and that’s like the weakest link in his repertoire. Compared to that, Brazil is like Citizen Kane lah. Anyway, another movie to check out by him is The Adventures of Baron Munchausen; another silly, OTT movie which will make you wet your pants with laughter.

Anyway, Brazil deftly mix grave political concerns with exquisite humour and tragic romance. A bit like 1984 meets BladeRunner meets Casablanca!!

here’s more about Gilliam: Dreams: The Terry Gilliams Fanzine

MAP:

COMING UP NEXT!: Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane