Monday, 28 October 2019
The Brink's Job (1978)
Crime story based on the real armed robbery of the Brink's Building in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 17th, 1950.
From memory: Professionally made, star-cast heist movie is offered with humor, but not much excitement.
Halliwell (no star): "Farcical variation of a much-told true tale. Despite much mugging by the stars and a frantic narrative style, it does not come off."
Maltin***: "Entertaining, comically oriented account...Excellent period and location flavor."
Sunday, 27 October 2019
The Man Who Cheated Himself (1950)
A veteran homicide detective who has witnessed his socialite girlfriend kill her husband sees his inexperienced brother assigned to the case.
Slyly convoluted crime drama is lively and efficient; more sophisticated than the usual fare.
Halliwell (no star): "Efficient crime drama."
Maltin**1/2: "Generally absorbing murder yarn."
Lady Bird (2017)
In 2002, an artistically inclined seventeen-year-old girl comes of age in Sacramento, California.
Excellently executed movie about a mother-daughter drama made with cinematic sense and in good taste; Ronan and Metcalf are extraordinary.
Foul Play (1978)
A shy San Francisco librarian and a bumbling cop fall in love as they solve a crime involving albinos, dwarves, and the Catholic Church.
From memory: Likable, but messy Hitchcock spoof with lots of hit or miss humor, mainly watchable for its star cast.
Halliwell*: "Sometimes sprightly, sometimes tired rehash of Hitchcock elements, rather on the level of the similar Silver Streak."
Maltin**!/2: "Likable stars, good fun, but protracted story, tasteless comedy, and Hitchcock plagiarism detract."
Saturday, 26 October 2019
Blonde Ice (1948)
A society reporter kills men for fame and money, then tries to frame a sportswriter.
Watchable crime drama with a touch of film noir and a good female lead; however, her motivations remain vague, and the psychoanalytical mumbo-jumbo at the ending explaining it all is annoying.
Maltin**1/2: "Enjoyable noir-ish programmer; Brooks delivers as an icy femme fatale."
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