Damage

Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive

The one should watch on the Saint Valentine’s Day some romantic film. I am a cynical lawyer, that is why the traditional love stories «love from the first sight-looking for a lost love-a sudden meeting-first date-and they lived happily» amuse me. Because of this, I gave decided to watch some unusual love story.

The Right Honourable Doctor Stephen Fleming MP is Minister without Portfolio, but he is expected to get the Department of Health. The family life of Stephen also good: loving wife, successful son and cute little daughter. One day at the French Embassy Stephen meets Anna Barton, to whom he is immediately attracted. After a few days his son introduces his fiancée – the same Anna Barton, - but it cannot stop Stephen…

The storyline of Damage, at first sight, is rather banal and boring. Nevertheless Louis Malle, as in his earlier works, took the trivial story and turned it into a spectacular story of all-consuming, doomed and passionate love. As I said before, the conventional love stories bores me. When you think about Damage you could say one word, which the most accurately characterize this film – the fatality. The affair of Anna and Stephen is a mad waltz of mentally traumatized woman and vehemently insane man. The one could feel the fatality by watching the sex scenes, which looks like a fight and does not even hint any tenderness.

Anna Barton reminds of a fire, which attracts butterflies. Every word, gesture and look of Anna hints the hidden danger. As Catherine from «Jules et Jim», Anna is capable of loving of two at the same time – Stephen and his son. However, the son, because of his naiveté and intellectual limits, cannot fully sense the dangerous aura of Anna. The mother instinct of Stephen’s wife feels Anna’s danger, but she is incapable to protect her son.

Any normal person would tell that Stephen Fleming’s behavior is despicable. On the other hand, who has not dreamed about such affair? Stephen’s action are driven by his attraction to Anna’s «fire», it is not the usual short affair between bored old politician and cute girl. He tries to break-up with Anna, but his mind cannot shut his passion.

Louis Malle has never judged his heroes – neither the collaborator Lacombe Lucien, neither the bored socialite Jeanne nor the petit bourgeois family in «Milou en Mai». He watches and feels certain compassion for the weaknesses and vices of his heroes. This feature makes the films of Louis Malle more interesting than «black and white» films of other directors.

«Damage» is a clever and subtle film, which would be interesting to everyone.    

9/10

House of Cards (Season 1)

It only takes ten seconds to crush a man's ambitions

I admire the original BBC House of Cards. That is why, when I heard about the Netflix remake, my attitude was rather skeptical. Nevertheless, after looking at a cast and watching the trailer, I have decided to give a chance to the American Version.

The President-elect Garrett Walker is in a middle of transition. Frank Underwood – a Congressman from South Carolina's 5th congressional district and House Majority Whip – was passed over for the Secretary of State, despite an early promise. Devastated Frank swears revenge and, at first, he sabotages the confirmation of Walker’s choice for the Secretary of State – Senator Michael Kern. In order to do his dirty work, Underwood enslaves the troubled Congressman Peter Russo. In addition, with his wife’s silent consent, he starts an affair with Zoe Barnes - ambitious young political correspondent – in order to get a good ally, who would print his «leaks». The killing of the nomination is just a first step; Underwood starts to grab control over all relevant political and legislative agenda in order to get closer and closer to the President…

The US Congress usually «enjoys» low levels of popularity. Every day in the news, people hear about the divided House, which cannot pass anything, about another 15-hour filibuster from another egocentric Senator and so on and so on.

Strictly speaking, House of Cards is a not a remake of the original BBC series. It is better to call it the translation of Michael Dobb’s original novel to the US political language. It was so because the UK and the US has a different political system – the US got a presidential republic and the UK is a constitutional monarchy – and a «clean remake» would be a disastrous one.

The longevity gives House of Cards the advantage of detail. Every character is well-written and well-realized. For the first two series, the spectator is carefully introduced to every character in a shady water of D.C. (congressmen, senators, their spouses, mistresses, lobbyists, police officers, bodyguards and etc.). Plots of some characters takes unusual twists. As Gillian Cole – at first an idealistic and talented girl – hired by Claire Underwood to promote her non-profit, starts her own game with a possible lethal end to political games of The Underwoods.

Frank Underwood is not a copycat of Francis Urquhart. They differ in everything: the background, the political stance, the personality. Even the using of the fourth wall is quite different – if Francis Urquhart used it in order to poke opponents and audience, Frank Underwood uses it in order to explain his machine-like plans, which strongly differs from his idealistic political speeches.

The main paradox of Frank Underwood is that, despite his ruthlessness, cold cynicism, immorality, the one could feel a certain admiration for him. I think some spectators might even that real Frank Underwood as the POTUS would not be a bad choice for the US, because of his ability to get things done. The best quote about Frank Underwood comes from Oscar Wilde: «Sin is the only real colour-element left in modern life».

The only weak spot of this series is a little cooling off and repetition of plots in the middle of a season, but it fixes itself, when the game of Underwood reaches conclusion.

House of Cards deserves a place near such masterpieces of political cinema as «All the President's Men». If you have not seen it, fill the gap in your education and immediately watch it.

10/10