Gloria Swanson

Gloria Swanson stands amidst the ruins of the Roxy theater in New York in a Jean Louis sheath
(ph: Eliot Elisofon)

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960s (2009)

 

Critical review of the classic rock band, focusing on the band's musical output in the 1960s.

This Australian production comes without any credits to its makers, although this is a remarkably extensive and informative documentary which assembles a vast amount of rare original material and some good interviews. 

 

 

 

The House That Dripped Blood (1971)

Siu ngo gong woo: Dung Fong Bat Bai (1992)

 

Ling Wu Chung decides to hide from the chaotic world. Before leaving, he visits his friends, a tribe of snake-wielding women warriors. However, he finds that the tribe have been attacked, and their leader Yam Ying Ying has been abducted. 

Fast-paced and action-packed martial arts tale is beautifully photographed and the fight and battle scenes are stunning, but pace also makes it difficult to follow the narrative which is full of cultural references and has many twists. 

 

Anne Hathaway

Amarcord (1973)

 

 

A series of comedic and nostalgic vignettes set in a 1930s Italian coastal town. 

 

Basically a typically meandering stream of anecdotes and images without a plot Fellini manages to create a phantasm of small-town Italy, frivolous, ribald, nostalgic, tragic and humorous all at the same time. Very enjoyable.

 

A loving autobiographical tale of a bygone Italian time is both melancholic and satirical full of lively, exciting scenes, but always with a keen eye for realism and the surrealist aspects of life.

 

Halliwell**: "A bizarre, intriguing mixture of fact, fantasy and obscurity, generally pleasing to watch though hardly satisfying..."

 

Maltin***1/2: "...warm, poignant, bawdy episodes..." 

Alfred Hitchcock

Il mio viaggio in Italia (1999)

 

World-renowned director Martin Scorsese narrates this journey through his favorites in Italian cinema.  

Scorsese manages to present a both very personal and insightful history of Italian cinema, picking excellent singular films and scenes to delve more deeply into the art of these works and their relevance to cinema history in general.

 

White Pongo (1945)

Mr. Stitch (1995)

 

In a bid to create the ultimate fighting man, Dr. Rue Wakeman harvests organs and tissue from the dead to create Lazarus, an amalgam of dozens of men and women.

Interesting and imaginative take on the Frankenstein topic is stylish (the first half reminiscent of THX 1138) and explores the philosophical implications of creating an artificial human (Whil Wheaton in a surprisingly original make-up), but in its finale somewhat descends into a more action-oriented (and more clumsily staged) spectacle; nevertheless well worth a watch.

 

Tales from the Crypt (1972)

Ye yan (2006)

 

A loose adaptation of Hamlet, "The Night Banquet" is set in an empire in chaos. The Emperor, the Empress, the Crown Prince, the Minister and the General all have their own enemies they would like to finish off at a night banquet. 

More inspired by Shakespeare than a true adaptation of Hamlet, this sumptuous and obviously expensive production with visually stunning sets and martial arts scenes, but its narrative lacks logic and coherence and is difficult to follow.

 

 

Mad Max 2

Don't Drink the Water (1994)

 

An ordinary American family goes on vacation to Europe. Because of the Cold War they are stuck in the U.S. Embassy surrounding by the Soviet forces. 

Lackluster Woody Allen comedy made for TV comes with good cast and all the typical ingredients one would expect from this director, but it's all quite haphazard and, strangely, not funny at all.

Halliwell (no star): "Frenetic and stagey version of the play, with broad acting that diminishes what is left of the comedy."

Maltin**: "Uninspired adaptation...Cast works hard, with sporadic results." 

Mischa Barton

I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale (2009)

 

A portrait of the acting craft of John Cazale and a tour through the movies that defined a generation.

Insightful, but much too short celebration of a great actor; lots of famous actors of equal talent get to pay homage. 

On re-watching: makes you want re-watch all of John Cazale's films. 

Raquel Welch

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raquel_Welch

Animus Magazine, August 2021

 

https://animusmagazine.com

Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

 

Diana must contend with a work colleague and businessman, whose desire for extreme wealth sends the world down a path of destruction, after an ancient artifact that grants wishes goes missing. 

Although this sequel is a step down from the first film (with quite a silly plot), it still is enjoyable tongue-in-cheek entertainment with an accurate 80s feeling to it, lots of over-the-top action and some credible romance; and Gal Gadot once again proves that she is the absolutely best choice to impersonate this superhero.

Magda Schneider

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magda_Schneider

Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound (2009)

 

American Masters explores fifty years of folk legend and human rights activist Joan Baez. 

Good overview of Joan Baez' life and career gives special emphasis on her activism as well and leaves enough room to present the artist in her own words.

Les vampires (1915)

Captain Phillips (2013)

 

The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the U.S.-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years. 

Superior hijacking drama based on a true event remains realistic and suspenseful throughout and even avoids political bias; great, intense performances by Hanks and Abdi make it work.

Maltin***: "Gripping, believable account of the true-life hijacking, which extends to some understanding of the Somalis themselves. Director Greengrass' trademark vérité style serves the action, though the film (until its final moments) never quite transcends the status of a very well-done re-creation. Hanks' performance as Phillips builds intensity as it goes along, matched by newcomer Abdi, excellent as the pirate leader."

 

 

Hedy Lamarr

Françoise Hardy, la discrète (2016)

 

Portrait of Françoise Hardy, ex-"yéyé" singer and idol of young people, who has become an elegant pop icon, and a lively influence for many creators. 

Informative TV documentary gives a solid, straightforward overview of Hardy's life an career, but for fans there is not much new to be found here. 

Stephanie Vogt

Bio:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0901110/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Daikaijû kettô: Gamera tai Barugon (1966)

A giant monster that emits a destructive ray from its back attacks Japan and takes on Gamera.

Nerve (2016)

Screamers (1995)

 

A military commander stationed off planet during an interplanetary war travels through the devastated landscape to negotiate a peace treaty, but discovers that the primitive robots they built to kill enemy combatants have gained sentience. 

Superior sci-fi action drama successfully translates Philip K. Dick's dark imagination into a suspenseful and atmospheric thriller.

Halliwell*: "Paranoid science fiction, bleak in tone but interesting in its speculations about intelligent machines and violent people; judging by the soundtrack song, rock music will regress in the future."

Maltin**1/2: "Intelligent sci-fi action thriller is undermined by a bad ending." 

The Terminator (1984)

Umimachi Diary (2015)

 

A story that revolves around three sisters who live in their grandmother's home and the arrival of their thirteen-year-old half sister. 

A beautifully subtle and insightful study of familial, or rather sororal, conflict and solidarity, all set in seemingly everyday situations, but always relative to the main narrative; remarkable also is the great ensemble that makes this all the more convincing.

 

Carnival of Souls (1962)

Blutiger Freitag (1972)

 

After escaping from a courtroom during his trial, a criminal plans the biggest bank robbery every to have taken place in Germany.

Relentlessly tough and mean-spirited bank robbery drama is straightforwardly made as a sleazy actioner, populated throughout with disagreeable characters, but actually is not any much more than that (despite having gained a certain cult status).

Ava Gardner

Roma (1972)

 

A portrait of Rome, described through an autobiographical reconstruction of Fellini's arrival into Rome during the Mussolini years.

A very personal, even autobiographical, always loving portrayal of the city wildly mixes documentary and fictional elements in a seemingly chaotic order, but thoroughly entertaining and amusing.

Halliwell**: "Delightful mix of documentary and autobiography, combining fantasy and reality, artifice  and actuality; it is a record of the director's love affair with Rome, recalled with nostalgic affection for the past and distress for its future."

Maltin***: "Famed director's impressionistic ode to Eternal City of his youth, his adolescence, and the present - complete with fantasy sequence and usual carnival-of-life point of view."