Sunday 29 September 2019
Idaho Transfer (1973)
A group of teenagers are sent to ecologically devastated 2044 in order to build a new civilization.
Idiosyncratic low-budget science fiction drama manages to create an atmosphere of doom andshocks with a fully surprising (and depressing) ending.
Mindhunter, Season 2 (2019)
Amid sweeping changes at the BSU, Holden deals with severe repercussions from his close encounter with Ed Kemper.
The second season successfully remains as excellent as the first and expands the dimensions and social implications in its exploration of the criminal mind.
What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966)
Woody Allen takes the Japanese action film Kokusai himitsu keisatsu: Kagi no kagi (1965) and re-dubs it, changing the plot to make it revolve around a secret egg salad recipe.
From memory: A silly parody at the expense of a Japanese movie, entertaining for what it is.
Halliwell*: "Woody Allen and his American cast re-dub a Japanese spy film to create an off-beat comedy that is amusing in fits and starts."
Maltin***: "...one long, very funny joke"
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)
The sensuous wife of a lunch wagon proprietor and a rootless drifter begin a sordidly steamy affair and conspire to murder her Greek husband.
From memory: Steamy adaptation of Cain's novel is not really better than previous versions, but Lange and Nicholson's performances are excellent as well as Nykvist's cinematography.
Halliwell**: "Not otherwise any better, but an interesting measure of the times."
Maltin*1/2: "Exceedingly unpleasant adaptation...David Mamet's screenplay may be more faithful to Cain than the 1946 version, but who cares? Despite its much touted sex scenes (more violent than erotic), it's dreary and forgettable...Moodily photographed by Sven Nykvist."
Home Movies (1979)
A cult guru urges a shy disciple to make life a movie and be its star.
Ostensibly made by director De Palma as an exercise with his film students this is a haphazard satire with some neat cinematic ideas and a lot of hit-and-miss humor.
Maltin*1/2: "Flaky farce reminiscent of De Palma's early work...Original in concept but tiresome in execution, although nobody eats a hamburger like Allen."
Friday 27 September 2019
Die Weibchen (1970)
A young woman joins an exclusive women's health clinic only to discover it's run by feminist cannibals.
Quite unusual and mostly tedious movie attempts to be an artsy pseudo-feminist satire, but leans more in the direction of sexploitation with some bits of gore.
A League of Their Own (1992)
Two sisters join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amidst their own growing rivalry.
Likable and mildly entertaining comedy drama with a slight feminist message is best when more focused on humor and the sport (and sport politics), but doesn't try to avoid sentimentality either; the stars help a lot, though.
Halliwell*: "A comedy that trundles along in a predictable fashion, settling for sentimentality rather than humour."
Maltin***: "Thoroughly entertaining comedy...Davis and Madonna stand out in a first-rate cast, with Hanks giving a terrific performance as the drunken ex-baseball star...Good-natured fiction that sheds light on a neglected chapter of real-life sports history."
Wise Blood (1979)
A Southerner--young, poor, ambitious but uneducated--determines to become something in the world and decides that the best way to do that is to become a preacher and start up his own church.
Quite loyal adaptation of Flannery O'Connor's novel with some good performances which brings the grotesqueness of plot and the characters to full power.
Halliwell***: "Odd story, not easy to like but with many impressive moments."
Maltin***1/2: "Brilliant translation of Flannery O'Connor's peculiar hell-and-salvation tale. Flawless cast, ledd by Dourif..inhabits Southern Gothic world as though born in it."
Thursday 26 September 2019
Detroit (2017)
Fact-based drama set during the 1967 Detroit riots in which a group of rogue police officers respond to a complaint with retribution rather than justice on their minds.
Harrowing reconstruction of a historical event exposing a shocking racist misuse of police officers' authority; excellently directed and photographed, and very convincingly performed by the cast.
Remember the Night (1940)
A shoplifter and her prosecutor fall in love, creating tensions for his career and family.
From memory: Hilarious screwball comedy, one of the best of its kind - and a classic Christmas family movie, wins over with pacing, excellent cast and a crisp script.
Halliwell*: "Eccentric but winning blend of comedy, romance and drama, deftly mixed by master chefs."
Maltin***1/2: "Beautifully made...builds masterfully as it creates a very special mood."
The Family (2019)
An enigmatic conservative Christian group known as the Family wields enormous influence in Washington, D.C., in pursuit of its global ambitions.
This documentary does fascinatingly shine light on a dubious religious sect trying to manipulate governments to their advantage; however, it does not come up with enough evidence to clarify the magnitude of the influence and thus seems more like a conspiracy theory.
Wednesday 25 September 2019
Life with Father (1947)
A financier from New York rules his numerous family, consisting of his wife and his four sons, with the meticulousness of a bookkeeper.
From memory: Lovable, old-fashioned family comedy, made the director's usual expertise, with a great cast, but foremost: William Powell is a treat.
Halliwell*: "Well-upholstered screen version of a long-running play; oddly tediousconsidering the talent involved."
Maltin****: "Rich adaptation...Utterly delightful, and a handsome production as well."
Tuesday 24 September 2019
La tragedia di un uomo ridicolo (1981)
A self-made Italian cheese manufacturer suffers personal and financial crises when his son is kidnapped.
From memory: Intriguing and puzzling drama, masterfully made, keeping its political message in abeyance throughout.
Halliwell***: "Engrossing study of contemporary terrorism and individual responsibility, though its refusal to explain everything alienated many audiences."
Maltin**: "Disappointing drama...Bertolucci seems to be commenting on moden social and familial stresses and upheavals, but his message is incredibly muddled."
Dead & Buried (1981)
In a small coastal town where, after a series of gory murders committed by mobs of townspeople against visiting tourists, the corpses begin to come back to life.
From memory: Above-average zombie horror movie has creepy atmosphere and some good (gory) effects.
Halliwell (no star): "Cheap horror movie along familiar and predictable lines."
Maltin**1/2: "Gory but well-made chiller..."
The Lake House (2006)
A lonely doctor, who once occupied an unusual lakeside house, begins exchanging love letters with its former resident, a frustrated architect. They must try to unravel the mystery behind their extraordinary romance before it's too late.
Silly and schmaltzy romantic drama doesn't care much to make us believe its far-fetched premise.
Maltin**1/2: "Romantic drama stretches credulity (to put it mildly) but still creates a moodiness that's intriguing...enough to allow a willing viewer to go along for the ride."
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