Jessica Alba

(ph: Thomas Whiteside)

The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)

 

A young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world.

Gore master Eli Roth directs a PG-rated film and, indeed it's very PG: an enjoyable, but made-for-children Gothic adventure in a spooky fantasy house; Jack Black and Cate Blanchett seemed to have had fun with their roles. 

 

Maya Deren

 

(ph: Alexandr Hackenschmied)

Run, Cougar, Run (1972)

 

In Utah, the idyllic existence of a mountain lion family is threatened when tourists, bent on sport-hunting cougars, make their appearance.

From memory: Standard Disney family entertainment with an agreeable, but otherwise harmless environmental stance.

 

 

Emilia Clarke

(ph: Marcus Ohlsson)

Lupin (2021)

 

 

Inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief Assane Diop sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family. 

Intriguing espionage series is presented with wit and esprit and offers a lot of Parisian sights to see, but generally it's all up to Omar Sy who makes this as enjoyable as it is.

 

The House on Skull Mountain (1974)

 

Fitzcarraldo (1982)

 

The story of Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald, an extremely determined man who intends to build an opera house in the middle of a jungle.

From memory: Werner Herzog's magnum opus is a massive and powerful film, it's story of a Gargantuan and nearly mad project clearly references to the making of this work itself, captured in breathtaking pictures and set pieces, and with Klaus Kinski in a role that is obviously the culmination (and summation) of his career.

Halliwell****: "A strange and brilliant film centring on the hero's successful attempt to drag his massive boat from one river to another."

Maltin****: "Vivid, fascinating portrait...Astonishing and captivating movie, in spite of its length; admittedly not to everyone's taste."

 

Dick Van Dyke

Bio:

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

The Boy (2016)

 

An American nanny is shocked that her new English family's boy is actually a life-sized doll. After she violates a list of strict rules, disturbing events make her believe that the doll is really alive. 

An intriguing premise offers a lot of imaginative possibilities, but the makers decided to stick to the most predictable horror tropes; well-made with a capable cast, but not much more.

Sophie Marceau

La caza (1966)

 

Three men go hunting rabbits during a hot day. Heat and talking about events happened in the past make them angry, until they go totally crazy. 

Intense psychological drama, obviously intended as a political allegory, relentlessly exposes its protagonists' toxic masculinity, suitably staged in stark black-and-white and a overheated barren landscape, entrenched in a whirlpool of absurd moments and violence (the hunting scenes are quite hard to take).

 

 

Willem Dafoe

 

(ph: Bertrand Laforet)

Bio:

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

Düsman (1980)

 

Ismail is an educated Turk who travels to Asia from Istanbul to escape crushing unemployment in this somber social drama.

From memory: Based on a Yilmaz Güney script and project, who was unable to realize it due to his imprisonment, this remarkable film gives us a convincing, touching and harrowing portrayal of Turkish life and society of the time.

 

 

Return of the Fly (1959)

 

Les fantômes du chapelier (1982)

 

Labbé is a quiet hatter in a small town, living with his handicapped wife who never goes out. His neighbour, a tailor, is fascinated by him. A series of female murders shakes the town. Is Labbé involved?

From memory: In this film, Claude Chabrol seems to sum up his mastery of the art with a slickly made, macabre, ironic crime story full of Hitchcock elements and top performances by Serrault and Aznavour.​

Maltin*1/2: "Disappointing murder mystery...Potentially exciting thriller is badly handled." 

 

Corlé Bunch

Bio:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8353226/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Thoroughbreds (2017)

 

Two upper-class teenage girls in suburban Connecticut rekindle their unlikely friendship after years of growing apart. Together, they hatch a plan to solve both of their problems-no matter what the cost. 

A teenage crime drama is imaginatively presented as a psychological study of two girl buddies, wonderfully played with understatement by Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy, tinged with wry sense of humor.

Meet John Doe (1941)

 

Fade to Black (1980)

 

A shy, lonely film buff embarks on a killing spree against those who browbeat and betray him, all the while stalking his idol, a Marilyn Monroe lookalike.

From memory: An usual thriller with an interesting premise is at times creepy, suspenseful and disturbing; meant as a homage it includes many cinematic references.

Halliwell (no star): "Violent, off-beat thriller that makes black jokes at the expense of movies."

Maltin*1/2: "Interesting idea ruined by excessive violence, poor performance by Christopher. Marilyn Monroe lookalike Kerridge...is like a rose in a cesspool."

 

 

 

Lupe Vélez

 

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupe_V%C3%A9lez

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

 

A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape Earth and return to his home world.

From memory: This film is a perfect children's pic that will appeal to the whole family, it's heart-warming, uplifting as well as thrilling, presents top-notch special effects and a remarkable cast of kids, and of course: the most lovable alien in cinema history.

Halliwell****: "Stupefyingly successful box-office fairy tale by the current wonder kid Soielberg, taken to the world's heart because he dares to make films without sex, violence or bad language: This one could hardly be simpler, but it works; and the ailing cinema would love to know how to repeat the trick several times a year."

Maltin****: "A warm, insightful story of childhood innocence, frustration, courage, and love...with a remarkable  "performance" by E.T. An exhilarating experience for young and old alike."

 

Coffy (1973)

 

One From the Heart (1981)

 

The five-year romance of a window dresser and her boyfriend breaks up, as each of them finds a more interesting partner.

From memory: An expensive, audacious, but failed experiment by Francis Ford Coppola, it's visually stunning,  but narrative (and music) are simply not quite from the heart; it's all too obviously artificial.

Halliwell*: "Extraordinarily slim (for its cost) romantic fantasy which makes one wonder why, of all stories in the world, its creator chose this one. It does however boast attractive visuals."

Maltin**: "Lavishly produced but practically plotless romantic comedy...Dean Tavoularis' stylized Las Vegas set and the cinematography by Vittorio Storaro and Ronald V. Garcia are astonishing! Unfortunately, pretty images do not make a film...one of Coppola's most surreal entertainments. A must for the curious - others beware." 

Monica Bellucci

The Last House on Dead End Street (1973)

 

After being released from prison, a young gangster with a chip on his shoulder decides to punish society by making snuff films. 

Infamous, hard-to-digest, lowest budget exploitation horror is actually made with quite some cinematic intelligence, and the grimy photography adds to the thoroughly malicious, disturbing atmosphere of the film, which is told from the perspective of the evil perpetrators; supposedly, this is a shorter version of a 3-hour long, but lost original cut - unimaginable to bear this in such a length.

 

Otona no miru ehon - Umarete wa mita keredo (1932)

Stan & Ollie (2018)

 

Laurel and Hardy, the world's most famous comedy duo, attempt to reignite their film careers as they embark on what becomes their swan song.

A melancholy, at times even sad rendering of the duo's final tour together projects the Laurel & Hardy antagonism that worked so well for their comedy onto the their true-life relationship; very well made with good period detail, and Coogan and Reilly are nearly perfect personifying Stan and Ollie.

Natalie Portman

New aquisition: Sight & Sound

 

Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

 

Tre fratelli (1981)

 

Three men face their mother's death.

From memory: Beautifully shot family tale with an excellent cast of top-notch actors is obviously meant, with its multi-level narrative,  as fable for life and society in Italy.

Maltin***: "Wise, touching, but slow-moving account..." 

 

Katharina Thalbach

 

(ph: Sibylle Bergemann)

Bio:

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

Eine deutsche Revolution (1982)

 

About the Hessian conspirators of 1834 around the poet Georg Büchner and the pastor Friedrich Ludwig Weidig.

From memory: A calm and careful examination of the failed German revolution of 1834, in which the famous author Georg Büchner had been participant, does compel with some beautiful imagery and the tragedy of the events, but the performances are a bit stiff and inadequate. 

 

Liya Kebede

(ph: Cass Bird)