Gilda (1946)

The first time I heard about Gilda was in The Shawshank Redemption. It's movie night at the prison, and they all gather around to watch a movie they've seen many times before. Right before Rita Hayworth's entrance, Morgan Freeman says "I love this shit she does with her hair." Why am I sharing this pointless bit of information? No idea, but I kept thinking about it through the movie.

I really dug Gilda. It's not as much of a traditional noir as many others, but it's still got plenty elements, and in spades. The shadows loom around, menacingly, as vertical and diagonal lines divide the frame. There's a great scene, where Johnny arrives home with Gilda, and her husband is waiting for them. You know that he suspects something, and he dominates the frame in the foreground, in silhouette, his neck and head out of frame, grilling them as they walk in. Hello, symbolism!

I've always been a fan of the femme fatale in film noir, and Gilda's one of the best. From the moment she first 'does that shit with her hair', she's as seductive as they come. However, she seems to enjoy it all on an almost innocent level. She smiles and giggles in a very honest way as she playfully teases just about everyone, especially Johnny. Hayworth, at least in this film, had less of a glamourized look and more of a down-to-Earth look, contrary to the rest of the Hollywood bombshells of the time. She was still quite glamourous, of course, but there was a raw sensuality that she brought to the screen as well.

The Station Agent (2003)

I wasn't sure of what to expect from the Station Agent, but it turned out great. It's the story of a dwarf who works in a model train shop. He's stared at and laughed at in the town he lives in, but he doesn't let it bother him much. His only friend dies and leaves him a tract of land in a secluded area in New Jersey, with a Train Depot on it. He decides to go live there, seeking the seclusion as a way to concentrate on his studies on trains. Instead, he meets up with a hot dog vendor who won't shut up and a klutzy woman who seeks his companionship.

It's a really great character study, and a study on lonliness, isolation and seclusion as well. It's interesting to note why the characters are so lonely. Fin obviously chooses it, and is annoyed by peoples' attempts to reach out to him and bother him. Joe is an interesting character. He's tall, dark and handsome, very well-built and athletic and charismatic. Yet, he spends most of his time in solitude, reaching out for Fin's friendship. It's definitely an interesting dynamic. Olivia obviously has her own issues to contend with, and rejects Joe's overbearing attempts to converse, and yet she's drawn to Fin's shy, reclusive nature.

The plot's very loose, but the film's more about characters anyway. You really don't mind, since you're drawn into the world and you care for the characters, that you can't wait to see what does or doesn't happen to them. It's very funny in spots, but it's definitely more of a dry, character-based humor. But, like everything else in the movie, it works well.

I was surprised when watching the opening credits, to see Original Music - Stephen Trask. I loved Trask's work on Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which he wrote the songs for. The Station Agent's music was very good overall, very sparse but relaxing. The overall design was good too, with a ton of little details in the background of the sets, just to add to the atmosphere of the picture.

I was surprised at how good The Station Agent was. I'd advise anyone reading this to go check it out and fall for it.