Tony Scott making a genre film. A full-fledged, no doubt about it genre film and doing a damn good job while he’s at it. The Hunger, a vampire film at its simplest, a sensual exploration of desire at its most surreal, delivers an atmospheric, moody horror. … More Tony Scott makes a genre film? “The Hunger”(1983) Review
Carlos Saura’s Honeycomb is an unbearable exploration of regression into childhood. … More “Honeycomb” (1969) is an annoyingly misguided attempt at storytelling
Aside from being hit repeatedly with her inner turmoil, the playful approach to the actual history of Monroe makes this even more of a bother. Instead of getting genuine scenes with Billy Wilder or when making The Asphalt Jungle, it’s again, glossed over to move the focus back to the pain. This approach is mind-numbingly boring to watch and there’s virtually no reason for me to ever return to this film in the future. … More Blonde (2022) is offensively one-note on Monroe, but the bigger offence is being incredibly boring
Three Outlaw Samurai (1964) is akin to a Hideo Gosha morality picture, simple in terms of concept, plot, and characters but relating a story of trauma hidden away from nobility. It’s ostensibly a story of the Shogun coming face-to-face with the hurt their greed has caused and having to reconcile with this fact. The wandering Samurai caught in the midst of a village conflict and his humanity rising to the surface narrative. … More Hideo Gosha’s “Three Outlaw Samurai” (1964) a brilliant use of the wandering Samurai trope
The Dead End Kids being sold with Humphrey Bogart, Crime School (1939) is the Warner Bros version of Dead End (1937). A cheap attempt to profit off the discovery of this group of Brooklyn teenagers with charm, comedic timing and acting instincts
… More Crime School (1939) the Warner Bros obvious Dead End (1937) knock-off
Many films have been made about the 47 Ronin story. No other piece of Japanese history has been portrayed this many times in 24 frames and Hiroshi Ingaki’s take is one of my favorites.
… More Capsule review: Chūshingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki (1962) – the best of the 47 Ronin
Allowing Toshiro Mifune full range of the set to play around. It’s a marvelously fun performance featuring parts of romance, machismo, and genuine empathy, while splashing in stylish battle sequences. … More Red Lion (1969) Returns to a more familiar time in Toshiro Mifune’s career
Review of 1982’s On Golden Pond. The multiple Oscar winning film … More On Golden Pond (1982) is unremarkable Oscar bait from the 1980s
Two soldiers caught in no man’s land – one Bosnian, one Serb, barely keeping the thin veil of civility held together, while the threat of grave violence sits overhead. The pressure comes and goes, as the two soldiers seek a general truce with the understanding that violence could erupt at any time. Danis Tanović understands the psychology of the soldiers, the media covering the absurd event, and the UN soldiers having to take the impossible position of peacekeeper. It paints the situation as the evil and the obscurity of war impacting all interested parties. … More No Man’s Land (2001) the messy, unthinking psychology of war
Martin Ritt’s adaptation of Larry McMurty’s 1961 novel Horseman, Pass By is a nearly perfect adaptation that creates an overwhelmingly powerful acting vehicle for an all-time cast. Starting with Paul Newman’s best performance, bar none, his womanizing, apathetic and lost Hud paints a picture of disturbing ambivalence. Next is the fantastic Patricia Neal (Alma) who … More Hud (1963) explores the brazen world of American egocentrism
Weird Cinema 