Saturday, 9 May 2020

Janet Leigh


(ph: Virgil Apger)

Deadpool (2016)



A wisecracking mercenary gets experimented on and becomes immortal but ugly, and sets out to track down the man who ruined his looks.

Satirical superhero actioner is well-made for its purpose,  but in deliberately bad taste and with hit-and-miss humor.

Thursday, 7 May 2020

Mary Anderson

Gisaengchung (2019)



A poor family, the Kims, con their way into becoming the servants of a rich family, the Parks. But their easy life gets complicated when their deception is threatened with exposure.

Top-notch satire shows director Joon-ho Bong at the height of his art with an eventful, multi-layered tale with several twist, great cinematography and a good ensemble of characters.



Tuesday, 5 May 2020

Destry Rides Again (1939)


On the set: Una Merkel & Marlene Dietrich

Hagazussa (2017)



In the 15th century, a young goatherd living alone in a mountain hut feels a dark presence in the woods.

Engrossing, dark supernatural tale creates with an excellent sense for style a puzzling, surreal atmosphere that is meant to be experienced rather than to be understood.


Monday, 4 May 2020

Elizabeth Montgomery


Sous le soleil de Satan (1987)



A priest stuck in a rural congregation and burdened with his overwrought spirituality, finds purpose in a troubled woman accused of murder.

Audacious, and heavy-going drama that is more theological thesis than a mere story; Depardieu is excellent as the over-sensitive, painfully soul-searching priest, but the puzzling, irritating metaphysical content of the movie might annoy a more secular audience.

Halliwell*: "Austere examination of the nature of religious belief..."

Maltin***: "A very demanding and difficult film, not for all tastes but most rewarding to those who can relate to the subject: the questions, conflicts, and torments of rural priest Depardieu." 

Friday, 1 May 2020

Olivia de Havilland

Pet Sematary (2019)



Dr. Louis Creed and his wife, Rachel, relocate from Boston to rural Maine with their two young children, and soon they discover a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near their new home.

The script takes gracious liberties with Stephen King's original story; the result is definitely no improvement and rather a tired, cliche-ridden horror flick.