Oh Guy and Willem...

Cowards Bend the Knee(dir. Guy Maddin)
The Heart of the World is amazing just because it's ridiculously overdramatic and it's editing rhythm is interesting and keeps you a state of excitement. This film is overdramatic, but it's not funny or exciting. He uses a similar style to the short film, but this being 60 minutes instead of 6 or so creates a fairly strained experience. The style just becomes repetitive and not all that interesting. It was still an unusual experience that I can slightly recommend.
**1/2 out of ****
Light Sleeper(dir. Paul Schrader)
Paul Schrader obviously loves Pickpocket since he used the ending two times in two of his movies. The ending doesn't really work in this one and I'm not sure how it is in American Gigolo. It is an interesting portrait of a druggie gone clean who is selling the drug that he was addicted to. It creates a sense of guilt and he even looks after one of his clients. The lost romance between him and Marianne was easily the best part and when she leaves the picture, you can feel the sense of lost opportunity John must have felt. It's naturally similar to Taxi Driver, but this character is much more sympathetic. Taxi Driver is better just because this film feels too glossy for it's own good. If it got down into the grit like Scorsese did with Taxi Driver, it would have been a better picture.
***1/2 out of ****