Thursday 30 September 2021
Why Did You Kill Me? (2021)
The line between justice and revenge blurs when a devastated family uses social media to track down the people who killed 24-year-old Crystal Theobald.
Ambiguous, but compelling chronicle shows a dubious, but successful attempt to catch a killer; basically a very sad story revealing the harrowing effect and impact of meth addiction on all involved.
Tuesday 28 September 2021
Polytechnique (2009)
A dramatization of the 1989 Montréal Massacre, during which several female engineering students were murdered by an unstable misogynist.
Coolly observing analysis of a horrific crime, enhanced by the excellent b/w cinematography, very subtly makes a case for decency and honesty over barbarity and madness.
Sunday 26 September 2021
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
A young blade runner's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to
track down former blade runner Rick Deckard, who's been missing for
thirty years.
Highly successful sequel to a sci-fi classic, visually stunning and with
an even more bleak neo-noir vision of the future, assembles an
excellent cast for its complex, a bit overwrought - and overlong -
story.
On re-watching: like the original it's simply worth taking in all the visual style.
Saturday 25 September 2021
A Dog Called Money (2019)
PJ Harvey and Seamus Murphy on a journey through the creative process behind PJ Harvey's new album, conceived by their travels around the globe.
Highly remarkable documentary chronicles PJ Harvey's visits to Kabul, Kosovo and Washington D.C. and how the encounters and impressions directly inspired the songs of her album The Hope Six Demolition Project and includes the startling public recording sessions of the album; although it's complex project, we do get a clear view into the creative process for this album.
Friday 24 September 2021
Arrival (2016)
When twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world, linguistics professor Louise Banks is tasked with interpreting the language of the apparent alien visitors.
Satisfyingly intelligent sci-fi drama with great production and a good cast of characters emphasizes the science aspect (linguistics) and avoids which otherwise would have been another alien invasion and even offers some food for thought.
On re-watching: fully worth repeated viewing.
Thursday 23 September 2021
Valley of the Dolls (1967)
Three women, all of whom make a career in the world of glamour, experience a string of failed relationships. As they get older, they resort to pills to numb the pain they are going through.
A sordid pulp melodrama gets high-gloss Hollywood treatment; the result is what one would expect, and its not so good.
Halliwell*: "Cliche-ridden but good-looking road-to-ruin melodrama from a bitchy bestseller; production values high, but the whole thing goes over the top at the end."
Maltin BOMB: "Scattered unintentional laughs do not compensate for terribly written, acted, and directed adaptation of Jacqueline Susann novel..."
Zappa (2020)
An in-depth look into the life and work of musician Frank Zappa.
Authorized biographical documentary profits from getting access to the Zappa vaults with lots of previously unseen footage; furthermore, it is intelligently made, presents a good overview over Zappa's music and art, and still avoids adulation.
Tuesday 21 September 2021
Monday 20 September 2021
Time (2020)
Fox Rich fights for the release of her husband, Rob, who is serving a 60-year sentence in prison.
Very personal and gripping documentary reflects the a tale of love and waiting with a clear perspective on the inadequacies of the American justice system.
Sunday 19 September 2021
Hellraiser (1987)
A woman discovers the newly resurrected, partially formed, body of her brother-in-law. She starts killing for him to revitalize his body so he can escape the demonic beings that are pursuing him after he escaped their sadistic underworld.
Innovative and gory horror tale set new standards for the genre of its time, but meanwhile seems a bit modest and outdated.
Halliwell (no star): "Gloatingly sadistic and unnecessarily gory horror movie."
Maltin**1/2: "Grisly but stylish...; ugly fun all the way."
Saturday 18 September 2021
Friday 17 September 2021
Alien: Covenant (2017)
The crew of a colony ship, bound for a remote planet, discover an
uncharted paradise with a threat beyond their imagination, and must
attempt a harrowing escape.
Highly professional sequel to
the director's Prometheus and a great addition to the Alien saga offers
a more stringent plot than the predecessor and offers lots of
visually stunning scenes and shock moments; Fassbender is perfect in his
android double role.
On renewed viewing: I especially enjoy the fantastic scenery and Michael Fassbender's performance.
On rewatching: Worth the watch just to discover new details.
Wednesday 15 September 2021
One Night in Miami (2020)
A fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcom x, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the Civil Rights Movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.
Although obviously based on a one-room stage play, the director skillfully stages this adaptation with imaginative camerawork and several flashback scenes; moreover, the four main actors manage to present their interactions with drama, suspense and humor.
Saturday 11 September 2021
Prometheus (2012)
A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth,
leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe.
All the ingredients are there, and certainly this has been made by an
intelligent craftsman and a great cast, but the plot doesn't add this
all up and has too many open ends.
On renewed viewing: I still agree with my first assessment: the script is muddled, but the movie does deliver some of the goods.
On re-watching: meanwhile this film has become a guilty pleasure.
Maltin ***: "Companion piece to Scott's ALIEN offers echos of that film
in both good and not-so-good ways: it's thoughtful and intelligent, with
two strong female characters, and masterfully crafted, but gives way to
icky, gross-out moments...right up to the end. Fassbender is a standout
as a sly, watchful robot who's one step ahead of everyone else."
Alien: Resurrection (1997)
200 years after her death, Ellen Ripley is revived as a powerful
human/Alien hybrid clone who must continue her war against the Aliens.
Too ambitious for its own good this installment of the Aliens series is
quite messy, but has some moments, especially concerning the visuals.
On renewed viewing I need to correct my initial rating: this is actually
an imaginative and at times quite disturbing new take on the Alien saga
and, compared to the last installment, the plot is quite coherent.
On re-watching: meanwhile I do quite enjoy this version; it does have some intense moments.
Halliwell*: "Stylish, occasionally impressive movie that all too soon settles into familiar routine."
Maltin**: "Clumsy sequel with crummy logic, far too many wisecracks; a few good action scenes, but scrictly for series fans."
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