On the set: Michelangelo Antonioni, Monica Vitti & Alain Delon
Thursday, 9 January 2020
Sniper 2 (2002)
A former Marine sniper is lured back in on a top-secret mission to take out a rogue general who is committing atrocities on the Muslim population.
Above-average actioner is professionally staged with a suspense and a fairly well-considered script.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
When seeds drift to earth from space, mysterious pods begin to grow and invade a small town, replicating the residents one body at a time.
Strangely, I keep reading that this quite efficient horror thriller is a remake of the old classic, but it actually is a straight continuation which even includes the ending of that movie re-staged with the same actor.
On rewatching: excellent sci-fi horror, one of the best of the 1970s.
Halliwell: "Flashy updating of the 1956 classic, mistakenly set in a big city and confusingly unravelled, with nobody for the audience to empathize with. Its nicest effect is to have Kevin McCarthy appear in a cameo."
Maltin***: "Chilling remake of 1956 classic with many new twists and turns; unfortunately, it runs out of steam and offers one climax too many."
Sunday, 5 January 2020
Mr. Brooks (2007)
A well-respected businessman is sometimes controlled by his murder and mayhem-loving alter ego.
Satirical in intent, this serial killer tale packs far too many subplots into the mix making it implausible in any direction you choose to understand it: at least, William Hurt is obviously enjoying his part as the cynical alter ego.
Maltin**1/2: "Interesting ingredients, but a lumpy stew; sometimes laughably absurd."
Manbiki kazoku (2018)
A family of small-time crooks take in a child they find outside in the cold.
Subtle, humanist and touching drama of a patchwork outside family is portrayed as more loving and sincere than 'normal' families and plays out like a warmhearted inversion of Nagisa Ôshima's Shônen.
Friday, 3 January 2020
The Mob (1951)
Johnny Damico botches a murder case and is suspended from the force. In reality, he is put undercover to identify the mysterious boss of the NY waterfront who has murdered everyone in his way.
Above-average crime drama is tough and suspenseful with a great cast, but Broderick Crawford sure-handedly runs the show.
Halliwell*: "Tough, lively thriller with effectively sustained mystery and a serial-like finale."
Maltin***: "Crawford is tough as nails as undercover cop...Sharp dialogue..., good suspense in this combination crime drama-whodunit."
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