A-Z #90: A History of Violence

You can pick up hundreds of DVDs for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. It's never about quantity, it's about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#97 - A History of Violence 

Why did I buy it?

This is one of those films that people told me I needed to get. The sleeve always looked very cool and, at the time, I had no real connection with Cronenberg except via Crash. So many people praised this film and, following Lord of the Rings, I was keen to see Viggo in another role. If I'm right, it was a bargain too. Badd-a-bing. 

Why do I still own it?

Well, its quite short. An hour an' 20 minutes - so it has always been an easy pick when choosing 'what to watch'. Secondly, its a brilliant film! Starting off with this loving couple and descending into horrific chaos when two fellas come into town - the whole small-town-disrupted-by-extreme-evil is always a brilliant starting point  - Shadow of a Doubt, Blue Velvet - and A History of Violence does not disappoint.

A-Z #34: Carlito's Way

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#34 - Carlito's Way 

Why did I buy it?

I had wanted to purchase this film for many years for multiple reasons: Brian De Palma, Pacino, Viggo Mortensen Pre-Lord-of-the-Rings, classic-Gangster film, etc. I remember watching the opening scenes in a Media Studies lesson many years ago - and analysing the use of camera and use of effects to show disorientation, etc. By chance, Good Friend Rob purchased this for me as a present in an Al Pacino boxset alongside Scent of a Woman, Scarface and Sea of Love.

Why do I still own it?

 

Because it is potentially better than Scarface. Seriously, Pacino's gangster-trying-to-gte-out is much more likable than Tony in Scarface. The visual style is more restrained with a more interesting context - whilst, though I love the excess-culture Scarface lives within, I'd much rather visit the world of Carlito than the world of Cocained-up Scarface.
Maybe you can only own one? Maybe I should shift this and keep Scarface?

  

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