Polanski - Film Exhibition @ the MoMA

Whatever your personal feelings about Roman Polanski are you cannot deny that the guy is so extremely talented. I'm not going to go into my personal feelings about Polanski as a person, or what he may or may not have done in his life outside of being a director of films. This post is just to celebrate his talent as a filmmaker, especially since the MoMA are doing a Film Exhibition based on his work this month (going from September 7th to the 30th). See this page on the MoMA site for more information on screenings and times and all the rest.

Polanski is hands down my favourite director (followed closely by Tim Burton of course). Here are a few of my favourites, with a few words on why.

1). Tess: adapted from one of my favourite novels of all time, Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles. I'm usually highly critical of book adaptations, because it's so hard to maintain not only the storyline, but also the atmosphere of a novel. This one is spot-on. The gloom, the sadness, the betrayal... Nastassja Kinski is perfect as Tess, with her haunting eyes and beauty.
(Polanski dedicated this one to Sharon Tate).

(Image taken from IMDB)

2). The Pianist: if you don't think this is an amazing piece of work then I think there may be something wrong with you (sorry). Of course it appeals to me because I am a little obsessed with WW2 and Europe, but this story is so heartbreaking, and so full of torn emotions that you really can't help bawling your eyes out all the way through. Like Nastassja Kinski in Tess, Adrien Brody also has those sad, haunting eyes that follow you everywhere.

3). The Fearless Vampire Killers: cult vampire movie guys - it's hilarious and silly and a great watch. Counts and vampires and vampire killers and snow and Transylvania and a beautiful lady!