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Freaked is awesome. It's a shame it hasn't even gotten cult classic status since it's still buried by Fox. I read somewhere that Alex Winter's current project is an epic multi-part documentary on Frank Zappa that's he's trying to crowdfund.
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Sep 28, 2017 16:40
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The Roaring Twenties (1939, Raoul Walsh) - 4.5/5 [TCM] Wow, what a breathless film! This is everything you'd want in a gangster film and more. Cagney is magnificent and this also has one of Bogart's first larger roles. The film covers around twenty years of time - from when Cagney's character returns from WWI to nothing, his meteoric rise as a bootlegger, to his downfall to a lowly cabbie. To cover the passage of time, there's these incredible newsreel-style montages while characters get a little greyer and wrinkled. The Phantom of the Opera (1962, Terence Fisher) - 2.5/5 [TCM] - See eventual horror thread post. I Walked with a Zombie (1945, Jacques Tourneur) - 3/5 [TCM] - See eventual horror thread post.
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Sep 30, 2017 20:18
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I like Tron Legacy more than the original. I'm not a huge fan of Blade Runner, but 2049 looks intriguing. Though, I appreciated the original way more after seeing the Final Cut version.
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Oct 7, 2017 04:27
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The Misfits (1961, John Huston) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 The Evil Dead (1982, Sam Raimi) [Blu-ray - 1.33:1 version] - 4/5 (rewatch) Evil Dead II (1987, Sam Raimi) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Army of Darkness (1992, Sam Raimi) [Blu-ray - director's cut] - 4.5/5 Phantasm (1979, Don Coscarelli) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Wait Until Dark (1967, Terence Young) [TCM DVR] - 1.5/5 Night of the Lepus (1972, William F. Claxton) [TCM DVR] - 1/5 UHF (1989, Jay Levey) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 (rewatch) Othello (1952, Orson Welles) [Blu-ray - European version] - 4.5/5 The Touch of Satan (1971, Don Henderson) [MST3K] - Movie: 1.5/5 / MST3K: 4/5 I Haven't Got a Hat (1935, Isadore Freleng) [DVD] - 4/5 (rewatch) The Blow Out (1936, Fred Avery) [DVD] - 5/5 (rewatch) Plane Dippy (1936, Fred Avery) [DVD] - 4/5 (rewatch) Porky's Duck Hunt (1937, Fred Avery) [DVD] - 5/5 (rewatch) Porky's Hare Hunt (1938, Ben Hardaway) [DVD] - 3.5/5 (rewatch) Punch Drunks (1934, Lou Breslow) [DVD] - 5/5 (rewatch) Pardon My Scotch (1935, Del Lord) [DVD] - 4/5 (rewatch) Hoi Polloi (1935, Del Lord) [DVD] - 5/5 (rewatch) Halloween (1978, John Carpenter) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Egbert Souse fucked around with this message at 14:32 on Oct 16, 2017 |
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Oct 16, 2017 14:27
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BeanpolePeckerwood posted:Always love to hear about this one. Somber film. Reminded me a lot of The Last Picture Show. Marilyn Monroe's performance is a highlight. I don't think many acknowledge how talented she was as an actor since she was stereotyped as the dumb blonde. Still, what a cast! Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift, Eli Wallach, and Thelma Ritter... screenplay by Arthur Miller and directed by John Huston.
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Oct 16, 2017 19:54
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House of Wax (1953, Andre de Toth) [3-D Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920, Robert Wiene) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Gorgo (1961, Eugene Lourie) [MST3K/DVD] - Movie: 2/5, MST3K: 4/5 M (1931, Fritz Lang) [Blu-ray - British Version] - Original film: 5/5, British version: 3.5/5 Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1956, Terry Morse/Ishiro Honda) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Dracula (1931, George Melford) [Blu-ray - Spanish Version] - 4.5/5 Noche de duendes (1930, James Parrott) [DVD - Spanish version of The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case] - 3.5/5 Vampyr (1932, Carl Th. Dreyer) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 Nosferatu (1922, F.W. Murnau) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 More detailed writings in the horror watch thread.
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Oct 24, 2017 14:00
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Didn't get to watch as many Halloween films as I wanted and had to miss House on Haunted Hill because I was working.  Rabbit's Moon (1972/1979, Kenneth Anger) [Blu-ray] - '72 version: 5/5; '79 version: 4/5 [r] Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome (1954, Kenneth Anger) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 [r] Lucifer Rising (1980, Kenneth Anger) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 [r] The Skeleton Dance (1929, Walt Disney) [DVD] - 5/5 [r] Lonesome Ghosts (1937) [DVD] - 5/5 [r] Shiver Me Timbers! (1934, Dave Fleischer) [DVD] 4.5/5 [r] Repo Man (1984, Alex Cox) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Jim Henson short films: Cat & Mouse, Alexander the Grape, Shearing Animation, Wheels That Go, Run Run, Ripples, Drums West (1960-1967, Jim Henson) [Filmstruck] - n/a Time Piece (1964, Jim Henson) [Filmstruck] - 5/5 [r] - One of my favorite short films of all time. The Cube (1967, Jim Henson) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 Monster Maker (1989, Giles Foster) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 - Produced by Henson, a wonderful hour-long movie with Harry Dean Stanton as a Harryhausen-like puppeteer with a giant dragon in his workshop. Dune (1984, David Lynch) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 - While it's barely coherent story-wise, one of the most imaginative and unique sci-fi movies I've seen. It's undeniably a Lynch film, too. The Mouse on the Moon (1962, Richard Lester) - 4/5 - Deserving more than being a footnote to Lester's career. Snappy pacing, some genuinely funny cold war comedy, and visually interesting. An American Werewolf in London (1981, John Landis) - 4.5/5 [r - sorta] - I've only seen this edited for TV, so it's nice to see all the gore intact. I forgot how darkly funny this was and how unique it presents the tropes. Also, TIL that the porno film in the film was shot specially for the movie.
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Nov 6, 2017 04:45
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BeanpolePeckerwood posted:Chungking bluray was apparently printed in 2008 and 2015, both rapidly unavailable. Leaves me hope for another shot. Criterion apparently got the rights back, along with other films of his and are doing new 4K restorations.
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Nov 6, 2017 20:24
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FancyMike posted:I know this is getting a little off topic but where do you find this news? I've seen them posting stuff from Fallen Angels and Happy Together on twitter since they went up on Filmstruck but I'm not finding any actual news on a quick search. Hopefully they've got more than just those three, though I (probably, hopefully) won't be buying all these movies for a third time. It maybe wouldn't be great for owners of the individual releases, but Chungking Express and Fallen Angels should really be put out in a set together, and Days of Being Wild + In the Mood for Love + 2046 would be amazing Chunking Express and In the Mood for Love are now distributed by Janus Films.
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Nov 6, 2017 22:10
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Kiss Me Deadly (1955, Robert Aldrich) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Cronos (1992, Guillermo del Toro) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 Geometria (1987, Guillermo del Toro) [Filmstruck] - 3/5 Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht (1979, Werner Herzog) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975, Terry Gilliam/Terry Jones/et. al.) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 (rewatch) The Tale of Zatôichi (1962, Kenji Misumi) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 Time Chasers (1994, David Giancola) [MST3K] - Episode: 5/5 Gunslinger (1955, Roger Corman) [MST3K] - Episode: 4/5 My Best Fiend (1999, Werner Herzog) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 Egbert Souse fucked around with this message at 19:56 on Nov 21, 2017 |
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Nov 21, 2017 19:37
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BeanpolePeckerwood posted:I'd rather watch B v S than Age of Ultron, but that's not saying much. Comic book movies are garbo. Nah, Ultron at least has James Spader. I can't even remember anything from Beavis other than Jesse Eisenberg making an rear end of himself.
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Nov 24, 2017 21:00
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His Girl Friday (1940, Howard Hawks) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Still one of the best screwball comedies of the golden age. It's constantly funny, it's breathless in pacing, and Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell have dynamite chemistry. Now that I've also seen the '31 The Front Page, I'm even more impressed with how Hawks tried a new take on the same material without making it redundant. Much like the '31 and '41 versions of The Maltese Falcon, they're both excellent films. The Philadelphia Story (1940, George Cukor) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 I think I saw this on TCM years and years ago, but this is a comedy just as fresh today. Katherine Hepburn is always a joy to watch in any movie, but she's outstanding here. It's not surprising this film saved her career since it's incredibly well-written. If that's not enough, Cary Grant and James Stewart are in top form, too. Once Upon a Time in America (1984, Sergio Leone) [Blu-ray - 3'49" "international" cut] - 4/5 I'm a little conflicted. As expected for anything by Leone, it's visually exquisite. The cyclical form of the narrative is fascinating. How the film could have ever worked missing an hour of footage I'm not sure. Great cast, too. I did find the 1920 scenes with the teenagers to be a little pervy. There's also one shot of a baby that even John Waters would have refrained from doing. Then again, I think the film is meant to be uncomfortable in parts. While The Godfather is far more elegant, this makes the 1920s and 1930s not really look like a time I'd want to live in. I'd probably need to see this again, though. (Also, I watched the "extended director's cut" added scenes, which didn't seem to add anything of substance to the film)
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Nov 29, 2017 05:41
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Videodrome (1983, David Cronenberg) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 I'll admit that I'm sort of new to Cronenberg besides The Fly and Dead Ringers, but I will say this gets an A for originality and sheer surrealism. Also, the guy exploding from rapidly growing tumors is just about the grossest thing I've seen in a movie and I've seen Pink Flamingos. God drat.  I'm in the process of rewatching all 13 feature-length films of Orson Welles (and also Kubrick's 13 by next week) in chronological order. The Hearts of Age (1934, Orson Welles/William Vance) [YouTube] - n/a Short experimental piece. I'm strongly thinking Welles was mocking experimental films, if just because there's an obvious reference to Leger's Ballet Mechanique. Otherwise, meh. It doesn't help that it survives in fairly awful quality. Citizen Kane (1941, d.p. Gregg Toland) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 Its stature probably overshadows how entertaining this actually is. Welles takes a running start, with the first act being almost a breathless race, followed by increasingly slower and more gloomy second and third acts. There's not a wasted shot. I also love how well he uses long takes to build up tension, clean overlapping dissolves, and jump cuts. It really plays more like a faster 50s film. I don't know if it's the restoration or not, but the sound design is absolutely stunning with overlapping dialogue, sound effects coming in and out, etc. It really is a film noir, though, between it being mostly in flashback and being more about how Kane negatively affects the people around him. I still can't get over how Welles was only 25 when he not only directed, co-wrote, and produced this, but also starred... and playing himself at multiple ages. Is there any weak links? It sags a little right when the butler gives his interview, which is right where that loving "ghost parrot" screeches. Welles managed to outdo himself multiple times, but this remains one of the great artistic triumphs of American cinema. The Magnificent Ambersons (1942, d.p. Stanley Cortez) [DVD] - 3/5 I've tried to like this and while I do appreciate the excellent camera work and performances, it's a jumble of a film. Where Kane, running just over two hours, speeds by, I kept looking at my watch during this 88 min. film. There's still some brilliant sequences here and there, but of the films Welles didn't get to complete on his terms, this is the weakest. The Stranger (1946, d.p. Russell Metty) [Blu-ray] - 4.25/5 While Welles was basically "for hire" on this, it's no less brilliant. I love the raw attitude it has about post-war Nazism. There's some great long takes, including the long walk to the woods with Kindler and Meinke. This is still one of my favorites of his films. The Lady from Shanghai (1947, d.p. Joseph Walker) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 An absolute fever dream of a film. I love how it's complete nonsense between the plot, Welles' hideous Irish accent, and that courtroom scene. But I think the film being ridiculous makes it work that much better. Whereas most film noirs are fairly serious, Welles goes for the rare black comedy approach. It would almost be disappointing to see Welles' original cut because it might make too much sense, spoiling the fun. The mirror scene at the end is still amazing and it's easy to see why it's been mimicked so often. Macbeth (1948, d.p. John L. Russell) [Blu-Ray - Director's Cut] - 4/5 This is the first film where Welles really starts to adopt the more surrealistic tone of his style. Again, lots of long takes, creative edits, and magnificent use of sound design. I really like how the low-budget charm makes it somewhere between the grimy realism of Polanski's adaptation, while anticipating Kurosawa's in terms of expressionistic design. I'll be watching the 1950 version for comparison sake since Welles actually oversaw it.
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Dec 4, 2017 01:24
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Macbeth (1948, d.p. John L. Russell) [Blu-ray 1950 cut] - 3/5 The shorter (107 min to 85 min) and redubbed version that Orson Welles modified for Republic. It's actually startling how neutered it is without the Scottish accents and a more robust story. Welles adds in a device using optical focus tricks to hide cuts. The dubbing is quite impressive, but the plainer delivery takes away its bite. There's still some great long takes, but the most famous one, lasting close to a whole reel was chopped up into bits here (and not that well). As a side note, the image quality is definitely better on this version on Blu-ray, as the director's cut survived only as a dupe. Day of the Fight (1951, d.p. Stanley Kubrick) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Flying Padre (1951, d.p. Stanley Kubrick) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 Nothing incredible, though "Fight" is based on a photojournalist piece Kubrick did for LIFE Magazine. However, these two short films look like the work of seasoned newsreel professionals, not the first-ever works of an amateur. Othello (1951, d.p. G.R. Aldo/Anchise Brizzi/George Fanto) [Blu-ray - 1952/European cut] - 4.5/5 My first viewing of Welles' Othello was via a DVD-R off the old Criterion laserdisc from years ago. The new restoration adds quite a lot of sparkle to Welles' use of Venice and Morocco locations, but what really shines is the amazingly tight filmmaking. Every single shot is a work of art in itself, combined with effortless readings of the material. Welles went for faces and the film fares well. I also love the score. I know it's probably controversial that Welles himself played Othello, but I took away from the film as a damning of racism. I see a lot of modern racism in the face of Iago - a malignant, unrepentant evil. Fear and Desire (1953, d.p. Stanley Kubrick) [Blu-ray] - 1.5/5 You couldn't have more disparate feature debuts between Welles and Kubrick. A Citizen Kane this is not. I get that Kubrick was trying to be artsy, but everything about this is cluttered. You could claim it was an Ed Wood movie and it would fare better for Wood's filmography. Still, there's some glimpses of Kubrick's filmmaking quality. Good photography, including some unusual shots that look an awful lot like newer tilt-and-shift. Kubrick was right in making the film disappear to an extent, but I think it's important to see the follies of talented artists. You can tell that Kubrick learned a lot from making a bad movie first. Though, I'm impressed that it was at least shot in 35mm and he had a friend (Gerald Fried) compose an orchestral score. The Seafarers (1953, d.p. Stanley Kubrick) [Blu-ray] - 2.5/5 I guess this would be more interesting if I was wanting to join the Seafarer's Union. Still, not bad for industrial filmmaking. Amusingly, there's some money shots of nude drawings. Mr. Arkadin (1955, d.p. Jean Bourgoin) [DVD - "Confidential Report" version] - 3/5 Confusing plot-wise and starring a wooden lead, but still interesting. I'm reserving more opinions after seeing the next two cuts (the "Corinth" version and "comprehensive"). I do like how the film sort of works like a fever dream.
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Dec 11, 2017 19:08
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Return to Glennascaul: A Story Told in Dublin (1953, dir. Hilton Edwards) [Blu-ray] - 3/5 Charming little "ghost story" produced by Hilton Edwards (co-star of Welles' Othello) also featuring Welles. Not much to it, but nicely shot. Killer's Kiss (1955, d.p. Stanley Kubrick) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Fear and Desire is such a failure, this next feature-length work from Kubrick is a huge step up. I think half of it is owed to him shooting in his neighborhood, rather than the alien lands of California. The whole film looks straight out of his LIFE/Look photography work. While the story is a little silly, this has some absolutely phenomenal cinematography. It actually reminds me a lot of Cassevetes' Shadows in the low budget, realism. There's some great setpieces, like the fight near the end in the mannequin warehouse. Jamie Bell and Irene Kane don't really have much to work with here, but Frank Silvera (also in F&D) is wonderfully slimy. I do think it's neat that Kubrick cast Silvera, a biracial actor, in his first two films in roles where race really didn't matter. Othello (1955 US/UK version, dir. Orson Welles) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 The original 1952 "European" cut is far superior to this one, but it's not slighted too much. The main drawback is an inferior soundtrack, lacking the elegant spoken opening credits, and oddly truncating Iago's initial reason for his hatred (left ambiguous in this cut). I'll have to check on other differences, but the '52 cut is definitely the best one. The Killing (1956, d.p. Lucien Ballard) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 After three non-fiction shorts, two semi-amateur features, Kubrick finally makes his first masterpiece. A genre-defining noir. Packed with stellar character actors, a breathless pace, and an ingenious non-linear plot. I never get tired of this one because there's so much to soak in. So many movies have borrowed from this, but never equalled. Standouts in the cast are the always-amazing Sterling Hayden, Marie Windsor ("You've got a dollar sign where other women have a heart"), Elisha Cook Jr, and Timothy Carey. Paths of Glory (1957, d.p. Georg Krause) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 Another masterpiece. So many films meaning to be anti-war end up being just war films unwitingly, but this is one I think can be considered a truly anti-war film. There's absolutely nothing glamorous about war and it's shown as the tool of egos. Fantastic cast. Kirk Douglas is great, as always, but George Macready and Adolphe Menjou are worthy antagonists. The central characters of the three condemned are played to perfection by Ralph Meeker, Joe Turkel, and Timothy Carey. Kubrick almost ends the film on a nihilistic note, but brings back one last goosebumps-raising scene. This is a film I'd consider almost sacred in the history of cinema. Touch of Evil (1958, d.p. Russell Metty) [Blu-ray - 1958 theatrical cut] - 4.25/5 This is actually my first time seeing the original theatrical cut of Touch of Evil after only seeing the 90s reconstruction. It's still a fun movie, but it has all sorts of bizarre moments that seem wedged in, like a useless scene in a hotel lobby. The superimposed titles on the opening shot are ruinous. Still, this is a slick noir that bridges the gap between classic noir and neo-noir. I don't think I noticed before that Vargas speaks Spanish a few times. I will say, as awkward as Charlton Heston playing a Mexican could be, he handles the role beautifully and disappears into it. Also, Janet Leigh is a lot of fun, with a lot of attitude. The scene where she meets with Grandi is hilarious between her mouthing off and Akim Tamiroff's reactions. Great to see a lot of familiar Mercury faces like William Alland, Ray Collins, and Joseph Cotten (plus Mercedes McCambridge in a creepy role). This is one of my favorite Welles performances and might be his best since Kane. Also, I'll never not laugh at the ridiculousness of Dennis Weaver's character. Spartacus (1960, d.p. Russell Metty) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 I'll first say that my first viewing of this film was the old Blu-ray, which is notorious for being a smudgy, pasty mess. This is from the new 4K restoration. While I think it's still a little too long, I really appreciate the film more now. While it's set in Roman times, it's clear the film has a subtext of the working man against the elites. There's a lot of great moments where the film is basically saying, "gently caress the rich" - especially Laurence Olivier's slimy Crassus. There's plenty of great character actors supporting Kirk Douglas' central role. John Ireland, Peter Ustinov, John Dall, Charles Laughton, and Woody Strode, just to name a few. I do think Tony Curtis is miscast, though. There's also some great photography courtesy of Russell Metty (and allegedly Kubrick himself for the most part). Lolita (1962, d.p. Oswald Morris) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 I've seen this twice now and I want to like it more. While I found this viewing to be way funnier, I think it's largely neutered by production code restrictions. However, I really don't want to see a movie where James Mason is loving a teenager. Still, the innuendos are often amusing and there's some great visual gags. Mason is great, though. Apparently this is David Lynch's favorite Kubrick film and I can see why - it looks so much like a standard melodrama, but has this darkness underneath. Mr. Arkadin (1962 "Corinth" Version, dir. Orson Welles) [DVD] - 4/5 Way better cut than the "Confidential Report" version. I watched with a commentary, though, so I'm saving my thoughts on the comprehensive version later. Decasia (2002, Bill Morrison) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 Hard to describe. It's basically decomposing film and experimental "atmospheric" music. I found it entrancing. Not something I'll watch again and again, but I bet this is really something in a live performance.
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Dec 18, 2017 00:52
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BeanpolePeckerwood posted:Sort of a testament to the quality of the source material. You could take the best elements of the Kubrick version and mix them with the best elements Lyne version and the end product would still end up feeling like it's missing something. I’ll add it to my list, but I do most my reading while traveling and don’t think it would be a good book to walk around with. Also, I kept thinking about how much better was Nicholas Ray’s perversion of the melodrama, Bigger Than Life, which also stars Mason. Though, that’s a horror movie, while Lolita is a comedy. Or is it?
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Dec 18, 2017 05:05
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By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume One (Stan Brakhage) [Blu-ray] Desistfilm (1954) Wedlock House: An Intercourse (1959) Dog Star Man (1962-1964) The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1971) Cat's Cradle (1959) Window Water Baby Moving (1959) Mothlight (1963) Eye Myth (1967) The Wold Shadow (1972) The Garden of Earthly Delights (1981) The Stars are Beautiful (1974) Kindering (1987) I... Dreaming (1988) The Dante Quartet (1987) Night Music (1986) Rage Net (1988) Glaze of Cathexis (1990) Delicacies of Molten Horror Synapse (1991) Untitled [For Marilyn] (1992) Black Ice (1994) Study in Color and Black and White (1993) Stellar (1993) Crack Glass Eulogy (1992) The Dark Tower (1999) Comingled Containers (1997) Lovesong (2001) I've held off on seeing much of Brakhage due to expecting watching films in complete silence to be odd. After taking advice from other posters, I dove in feet first. I watched everything over two nights as the Criterion Blu-ray is neatly divided into two programs. Wedlock House is where I really "got" what Brakhage was going for. It's about glimpses of light and using your imagination to connect everything. Dog Star Man takes it even further. I was hooked on the images, looking for shapes, and assembling the meaning. The most difficult film I watched was The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes, which is 30 minutes of Brakhage recording autopsies. At first, it was only somewhat uncomfortable, seeing dead bodies, naked and still. Then the bodies are disassembled and picked apart. It was horrifying at first, except the stress on images quickly makes it transcendent. Brakhage doesn't adorn images with anything other than what you're seeing. I kept thinking about what it must have been like for him, except I soon became fascinated. I was seeing the human body demystified. Of the second program, much of the films are hand-painted ones. I'm particularly fond of them, especially The Dante Quartet (which features 70mm and IMAX, allowing for a startling amount of detail). None of the films match the absolute splendor of Window Water Baby Moving. It features the birth of Brakhage's daughter with no attempt to hide anything. Yet it's beautiful. It's human life. With cuts moving back and forth in time, it seems to convey the excitement and stupor of the birth of a child. His films are about stirring up emotions with images. Two other films of note are Mothlight and The Garden of Earthly Delights, both created by placing organic matter between tape and converting it to a photographed image. I kept thinking about how that's what a "one dimensional" image would look like. I was also fond of The Stars Are Beautiful, one of the few films of his on this collection with sound. I'm looking forward to watching the second volume soon. The Trial (1963, d.p. Edmond Richard) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Orson Welles manages to capture the dread and absurdity of Kafka perfectly with this low-budget, but infinitely imaginative adaptation of his last book. Anthony Perkins is fantastic as Joseph K, maintaining a sense of paranoia and vulnerability. Especially impressive is the use of some lengthy takes, especially in the opening scene in K's apartment. There's a great supporting cast including Jeanne Moreau, Romy Schneider, Akim Tamiroff, and even Welles himself (as the Advocate). The cinematography is incredible, often with massive structures dwarfing the actors. But the best aspect of the film is the way it plays like a nightmare, with an adherence to dream logic that does justice to the source. Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964, d.p. Gilbert Taylor) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 One of the funniest movies ever made and hasn't lost any of its punch over the last 50 years. I particularly love how committed to making everything look like something from a documentary this is. The realism makes the comedy that much more effective because it's about the absurdity of nuclear war. The cast is what really carries the film. Peter Sellers is obvious amazing in all three of his roles, but I don't think enough is made about how George C. Scott steals ever drat scene he's in. It's one thing for Sellers to be funny because he's always done comedy, but Scott's facial expressions alone are enough to make me laugh. I chuckle just thinking of his face during the call with the Soviet premier, slowly chewing his gum. But I don't know to laugh or cry that it's still a relevant film 50+ years later. Chimes at Mignight (1966, d.p. Edmond Richard) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Welles and Shakespeare make for great cinema and this might be his best (even if I'm particularly in love with his Othello lately). Lots of great scenes. John Gielgud is a joy to watch in this, but Keith Baxter is, too. There's also some other familiar faces. Fernando Rey plays one of the lords, Jeanne Moreau has a brief scene (much of it laying on top of Welles, much to his likely delight), and Welles even cast his daughter Beatrice in a cute role as a page. Welles himself plays Falstaff in a larger than life role, often charming and hilarious, but also heartbreaking. There's also a battle scene that's simply jaw-dropping. One of the most beautifully shot of Welles' films, using light and fog to great effect. Suspiria (1977, Dario Argento) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 I'm not exactly a fan of slasher movies, but this is certainly the best I've ever seen of the genre. Argento seems less interested, though, in realism, but rather like something out of a dream or nightmare. Jessica Harper is wonderful in the central role (she's great in Phantom of the Paradise, which apparently Argento loved too). The most surprising role, though, as seeing Alida Valli as a somewhat butch creepy headmistress. She was also great in Eyes without a Face, which similarly used gore as a contrast between beautiful visuals. For that matter, the cinematography and production design are some of the most stunning I've seen. This looks like 50s Technicolor as shot by Mario Bava. The color just jumps off the screen. But there's also some incredible shots using the Technovision frame like a mural. And the score adds another layer of unease. I'm eager to check out more Argento films now, though I don't know if any will match this. (Also, this is via the new Synapse Blu-ray, which is one of the best restorations I've ever seen on the format). Scrooge (1935, Henry Edwards) [TCM] - 4/5 This is one of the best "straight" live-action adaptations of A Christmas Carol I've seen. It's almost minimalistic. You don't even see Marley or two of the Ghosts, which are represented with lighting and sound instead. While I think Alistair Sim is a better Scrooge, this doesn't have the baggage of unnecessary plot. This is no-nonsense Dickens, with nary a moment wasted. (For reference, my favorite live-action non-gimmick ACC is the 1984 George C. Scott one) Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938, George B. Seitz) [TCM] - 2.5/5 A bit grating, but alright. With the right editing, someone could turn this into something Lynchian. Santa Claus (1959, Rene Cardona/K. Gordon Murray) [MST3K] - Movie: 2/5; Episode: 5/5 This has to be the weirdest Santa movie. The MST3K episode is a standard at Christmas (I find Santa Claus Conquers the Martians to be a bit boring). I will hand it to the filmmakers for at least making it fascinating in a train wreck sort of way. Still, what the hell were they smoking? A Visit to Santa (1963, Clem Williams) [YouTube] - 0/5 Horrible in every way. It's so obvious that someone decided to take home movie footage of Santa parades and turn it into this disturbing little short. If the often out of focus footage isn't creepy enough, perhaps it's the creepy narrator, the cheesy organ music, or the fact Santa's workshop looks like Uncle Marvin's living room.
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Dec 26, 2017 03:27
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The Immortal Story (1968, dir. Orson Welles/d.p. Willy Kurant) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 God, I wish Welles got to direct more short form stuff like this. At just under an hour, Welles adapts a story by Karen Blixen (aka Isak Dineson). After a career in B&W, he finally got to direct in color. And it's gorgeous. Much of the film doesn't even feature movement, but the lighting alone is incredible. A tiny cast of just four, half of which being Welles and Jeanne Moreau (making her third appearance in a Welles film - The Deep would have been her fourth in a row!). Not much to say, but it's one of the most beautiful and haunting films I've seen. I think it's also the only film of his with a sex scene, which is handled as tenderly as something by Kieslowski. I watched both the French and English cuts, but the English wins if just for Welles' narration. Also, check out the quick cameo of Fernando Rey near the beginning. Christmas Evil [aka You Better Watch Out] (1980, Lewis Jackson) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 I went in expecting a tongue-in-cheek slasher, but got a dark satire on Christmastime capitalism. This is basically "A Taxi Driver Christmas" except there's some interesting differences. Harry is actually a successful upper-level worker at a toy factory, but his madness stems from being taken for granted and the soulless work. Brandon Maggart is likable, even when he's giving the axe to some snotty Christmas Catholics. One thing that impressed me was the amazing cinematography. Much is shot with diffusion lenses, much like A Christmas Story, made three years later. There's some great tracking shots and angles, almost like something from a Kubrick film. F for Fake (1973, Orson Welles, d.p. Gary Graver) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 (rewatch) I've said it before, but this is probably the film I'd pick as my all-time favorite movie. Whether it's the fact much of the film is just Welles talking or the breathtaking editing. The fact this didn't make a splash is infuriating because so many documentaries are modeled after the same essay style (especially Michael Moore). The real highlight of the film is a gorgeous piece on authorship, with Welles speaking over dreamlike shots of Chartes cathedral. "Maybe a man's name doesn't matter... all that much." The final act, with Welles spinning his own bullshit story after covering the masters of bullshit is the cherry on top. We're so easily led into garbage just because it's told well. Filming "Othello" (1979, Orson Welles, d.p. Gary Graver) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Finally, I've seen all of Orson Welles' completed feature films, at least until The Other Side of the Wind supposedly comes out in 2018 (from Netflix, no less). This isn't quite as polished, but it's similar to F for Fake in that it's an essay film. A lot of it is just Welles talking about his thoughts on the film and explaining motiviations. There's also a slightly awkward part with Welles having lunch with his co-stars Micheal MacLiammor and Hilton Edwards. Still, it's like an illustrated commentary. Makes me wish Welles had recorded some commentaries for his films because they'd own. The Puppetoon Movie (1987, Arnold Leibovit) [TCM DVR] - 4/5 I've seen a few of the George Pal Puppetoons over the years, but this gives a nice look at the best of them. There's short bookends with then-familiar stop-motion stars Gumby and Pokey that kind of seem out of place, but it's in good spirits. The real star are the shorts, with largely complete versions of The Philips Broadcast of 1938, Tulips Shall Grow, Jasper in a Jam, John Henry and the Inki-Poo, and Tubby the Tuba. While the somewhat embarrassing design of Jasper doesn't hold up well, John Henry is fantastic. This has to be the oldest film I've seen where African-American characters are portrayed in animation with absolutely no stereotypical looks. All the characters are modeled realistically and with dignity. No big lips or Stepin' Fetchit voices. Tulips Shall Grow is also amazing for being an anti-war piece. Tubby the Tuba was one of my favorites as a kid and seeing it in quite lovely Technicolor is a plus. This makes me want to see more of the original shorts! A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935, Max Reinhardt/William Dieterle) [TCM DVR] - 4/5 This has to be one of the most beautifully photographed B&W films I've ever seen. Largely looking like something from a dream, with glittery overlays and gauze. Just the lighting alone is gorgeous. The adaptation utilizes much of the Warner Bros. regulars of the time, including James Cagney (who spends half the movie in a donkey mask!), Olivia de Havilland, Joe E. Brown, and Hugh Herbert. Mickey Rooney also has a major role as Puck. It's a little overlong, but I kept staring at the photography and costume design. Also, now I know where a shot in Scorpio Rising came from. Catch My Soul [aka Santa Fe Satan] (1974, Patrick McGoohan) [Blu-ray] - 3/5 A flawed, but certainly unique and ambitious "folk rock" adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello. This time moving to the then-present day in what seems to be a Christian commune. It's a bit stagey at times, but interesting. Richie Havens is haunting as Othello. Seasons Hubley doesn't get much to work with as Desdemona. Lance LeGault alternates between devilish and silly, often reminding me of Pitch in the Mexican Santa Claus movie. Susan Tyrrell appears as Emilia and while appearing only briefly, is a standout role. The real star of the show is Conrad Hall's cinematography, which is outstanding. The songs are also really good, one sung by Havens that's stuck with me. Liquid Sky (1982, Slavka Tsukerman) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 I'll just paste Letterboxd's plot summary: "Invisible aliens in a tiny flying saucer come to Earth looking for heroin. They land on top of a New York apartment inhabited by a drug dealer and her female, androgynous, bisexual nymphomaniac lover, a fashion model. The aliens soon find the human pheromones created in the brain during orgasm preferable to heroin, and the model’s casual sex partners begin to disappear." If that doesn't make you want to see this, perhaps it's the non-stop amazing cinematography. The whole movie is lit with neon colors with saturation maxed out. There's even a shot of the New York skyline that's bright purple. Anne Carlisle is fantastic in a dual role as Margaret (the said fashion model) and Jimmy, the drug dealer. The film is punctuated with a synth soundtrack that's like something from an arcade game. It's an absolute trip of a movie and it runs with an utterly ridiculous premise in full confidence. Who needs drugs when you have movies like Liquid Sky?
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Jan 1, 2018 07:30
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I'll see how long I can keep it up, but I'm aiming to see at least feature a day (or at least a few shorts). Jabberwocky (1977, Terry Gilliam) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 I was expecting the worst, but then I realized Gilliam directed half of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This still has a lot of Pythonesque humor, but this captures a unique medieval feel that vastly more expensive films fall short on. Michael Palin stars as a hopelessly naive cooper's assistant Dennis (a cooper is a barrel-maker, by the way). What I enjoyed about the film is that it has this dream logic to it. Dennis is almost sleepwalking through one impossible situation after another, usually surviving only by sheer chance. There's kind of a bit too many jokes around piss and poo poo, then again, it's the dark ages. For being such a cheap movie (and possibly because of the stellar restoration), it's wonderfully shot. Grainy and diffused, much like Holy Grail, giving it a patina less like a studio epic. By Brakhage: An Anthology - Volume Two [Blu-ray, Disc One] Went through another disc of Stan Brakhage films on Criterion's set. The Wonder Ring (1955) Two:Creely/McClure (1965) The Dead (1960) 23rd Psalm Branch: Part I (1967) 23rd Psalm Branch: Part II (1978) Scenes from Under Childhood, Section One (1967) The Machine of Eden (1970) Star Garden (1974) Desert (1976) The Process (1972) Burial Path (1978) Duplicity III (1980) The Domain of the Moment (1977) Murder Psalm (1980) Arabic 12 (1981) I'm finding that the key to understanding Brakhage is to realize that his films are visual thought and as much about looking. You could argue that his work is a natural progression from the actualities of the dawn of cinema, except with an avant-garde flair. Something as simple as The Wonder Ring is "just" views of a train station and ride, but you look at the details of the frame. This is capturing a moment in time and the light. The first part of 23rd Psalm Branch is one of my favorites of what I've seen so far. Assembled from war footage primarily, it's a grisly assemblage of the components of war. Destruction, death, and horror. The second part almost pales in comparison, but I interpreted it as an antithesis, perhaps more about peace. Desert, Star Garden, and Arabic 12 are interesting because they're almost exclusively about the play of light. Murder Psalm was oddly nightmarish (appropriately enough, inspired by a nightmare Brakhage had) made up mostly of stock footage (including a Korean-colored Looney Tune!). Much of it is almost obscured except with faint images seen under layers of paint. Dekalog (1989-1990, Krzysztof Kieślowski) [Blu-ray] One, Two, Three, Four, and Five I still have three episodes to go, but the first seven have been some of the most deeply moving and wonderful cinema I've ever seen. Few, if any directors, have such a passion for their characters as Kieslowki. He digs deep into humanity and truth. While everything I've seen from him is absolutely beautiful on a cinematic scale, I've been in awe of how much focus is just on faces and observation. As for the individual episodes, every single one has had me glued to the screen. One had me bursting into tears by the end. Instead of relishing in sadness, we're only treated to the perspective of the character in question. I felt what the character must have. Two is similarly harrowing. While I've never been gravely ill, the scenes in the hospital room capture the sort of delirium of illness. Again, Kieslowski isn't interested in dwelling on the obvious - I cried again at the end of Two when I realized the past of the doctor. Three was a bit more surreal, almost bordering on comedy (not quite as much as Three Colors: White). Four is probably the most dialogue-dense of the series I've seen, but again I was totally absorbed. Five is probably the greatest of the parts I've seen so far. While I'm already against the death penalty, this is a film that explains why it's immoral. Through shadowy and drab colors, we see the day of a drifter until he commits the murder. It's shocking, though not graphic (I'm told the feature version is). But we're quickly shown the parallels between a murder and a state execution. It's shown in detail so that we see every step. Killing is killing, no matter who's doing it or why. The Sheik (1921, George Melford) [Blu-ray] - 3/5 This is like watching a well-done parody, except finding out it's what's been parodied for decades. While I really would have rather my first Rudolph Valentino movie be The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (which is MIA in any decent quality), this captures his screen persona. I do feel that the film was meant to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Kind of racist, though I can't say I'm shocked that a 1921 film would be racially insensitive. Gunga Din (1939, George Stevens) [TCM DVR] - 4/5 Wow, this is basically the ground floor for the modern action movie, not to mention a huge inspiration on Indiana Jones. While it's obnoxiously colonialist, I can't say it's not to be unexpected for something released on the edge of WWII. Still, the chemistry between the three leads - Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Victor McLaglen is fantastic. There's some great comic moments scattered around, between some great action setpieces. It's also quite rapidly paced, especially for a 1939 film. I was amused to realize that the end battle was what was being spoofed in the opening scene of The Party, plus the score was re-used for the newsreel in Citizen Kane. And some shorts by Jean Painleve [DVD]... Hyas and Stenorhynchus (1927) Sea Urchins (1958) How Some Jellyfish Are Born (1960) Liquid Crystals (1978) The Seahorse (1934) Shrimp Stories (1964) I've had the Criterion set for a while, but after watching a handful of films, I kind of forgot about it. I really wish some of these were shown in school when I was young because I would have loved these. Painleve takes nature footage and turns it into something exciting and fascinating, but never dry. The narration is often amusing and joval, plus some nice music. One standout is Liquid Crystal, which is almost psychedelic, which is neat considering this guy was making films back in the 20s. Also, the running gag of the end "FIN" spelled out with stuff like seaweed or seahorses is cute.
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Jan 8, 2018 05:04
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So far, I'm making good at seeing at least one film a day this year. Due to work, I've had to just fit in a short or two sometimes, but I've been making up for it on other days. Films from Science is Fiction: 23 Films by Jean Painleve [DVD]: The Love Life of an Octopus (1967) Acera, or the Witches' Dance (1972) Le Vampire (1945) Freshwater Assassins (1947) Sea Ballerinas (1956) Diatoms (1968) Pigeons in the Square (1982) Bluebeard (1936) The Octopus (1927) Sea Urchins (1928) Daphina (1928) The Stickleback's Egg (1925) Experimental Treatment of a Hemorrhage in a Dog (1930) I've really enjoyed Painleve's work. On the surface, they seem like just some educational films, except these are the ones that inspired what came after. Sometimes, he works in some amazing humor. La Vampire compares the vampire bat to Murnau's Nosferatu and there's even a comparison to Nazis. The photography is often quite beautiful, especially in the two octopus films. He's fascinated with these sights and wants to share his enthusiasm. Films from The Mack Sennett Collection, Vol. 1 [Blu-ray]: The Curtain Pole (1909, D.W. Griffith) The Manicure Lady (1911, Mack Sennett) A Dash Through the Clouds (1912, Mack Sennett) The Water Nymph (1912, Mack Sennett) A Grocery Clerk's Romance (1912, Mack Sennett) On His Wedding Day (1913, Mack Sennett) Bangville Police (1913, Henry Lehrman) A Fishy Affair (1913, Mack Sennett) The Speed Kings (1913, Wilfred Lucas) A Thief Catcher (1914, Ford Sterling) The Dentist (1932, Leslie Pierce) - 4/5 The Fatal Glass of Beer (1933, Clyde Bruckman) - 5/5 I've had this amazing set of Mack Sennett comedies for a while, but have only cherry picked a few so far. The first one was surprising between Sennett starring and it being directed by D.W. Griffith. Not a lot of people know he did comedies (including one with W.C. Fields in the 20s). Sennett directed and starred in several of these. Other familiar faces show up like Mabel Normand, Roscoe Arbuckle, and Dot Farley. Oh yeah, some short guy with a toothbrush mustache. According to the audio commentary for A Thief Catcher, the only surviving print in the world was found at a Michigan flea market and it's officially Chaplin's first screen appearance. The two W.C. Fields shorts are among my favorite short films of all time. The Dentist has a lot of great moments like the golf game and easily the most lewd tooth pulling I've seen in a pre-code film (it was cut out in later years). It also has Bud Jamison (who's in a ton of Three Stooges shorts) and the long-faced Louise Cavanna. The real classic of Fields' short films is The Fatal Glass of Beer. It's one of the funniest films ever made. It's a mockery of melodrama, even down to intentionally having bad editing, bad special effects, and other continuity faults. It's all how it was designed by Fields, based on one of his stage routines. And it ain't a fit night out, for man or beast! By Brakhage: An Anthology - Volume Two [Blu-ray - Disc Two]: Visions in Meditation #1 (1989, Stan Brakhage) Visions in Meditation #2: Mesa Verde (1989) Visions in Meditation #3: Plato's Cave (1990) Visions in Meditation #4: D.H. Lawrence (1990) Unconscious London Strata (1981) Boulder Blues and Pearls and... (1992) The Mammals of Victoria (1994) From: First Hymn to the Night – Novalis (1994) I Take These Truths (1995) The Cat of the Worm’s Green Realm (1997) Yggdrasill: Whose Roots Are Stars in the Human Mind (1997) "..." Reel Five (1998) Persian Series #1 (1999) Persian Series #2 (1999) Persian Series #3 (1999) Chinese Series (2003) For Stan (2009, Marilyn Brakhage) Now that I've seen a good amount of Stan Brakhage's work, I really have a better understanding of how light and the individual frame matter for filmmaking. His films are about moments and light. I always love the hand-painted films the most (the Persians are among my favorites now), but sometimes just light from unfocused subjects make for an alluring sight. I did find it interesting how his last works, that of the 90s, seem to be more accessible. Some have sound and almost take on a musical shape. I'd love to see more of his work now, though I'd imagine going through all 400 would be quite a task. Other Shorts: Free Radicals (1958, Len Lye) [YouTube] Trade Tattoo (1937, Len Lye) [YouTube] We Work Again (1937) [Blu-ray] Catalog (1961, John Whitney) [YouTube] Gus Visser and His Singing Duck (1923) [DVD] Why the hell are Len Lye's films so hard to find on DVD? There's a few on a UK GPO compilation, but no comprehensive edition. We Work Again is neat mainly for featuring footage of Orson Welles' "Voodoo Macbeth" production, which looks awesome. Also, Gus Visser and His Singing Duck is the strangest "antique" film I've seen.Dekalog (1988-89, Krzysztof Kieślowski) [Blu-ray - Episodes Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten] Combined score: 5/5 Kieslowski's epic is one of the greatest film experiences I've had. It's obvious why it's essential to see the films in order because they're all interconnected. Obviously, you realize that it's all set in the same small area, many in the same building. Six starts off somewhat lighthearted, but turns dark quickly. It's probably more realistic and the opposite of a typical Hollywood treatment. Seven is harrowing, even with a few red herrings to surprise the viewer (Kieslowski almost pokes fun at himself at one point, hoping people didn't forget One). Eight is one of my favorites of the entire series, though. It's an understanding of grief and regret, even with the best intentions. The classroom scene is absolutely brilliant. Nine is also a great one. It reminded me of Three Colors: White, except it's a more sobering and serious take on impotence rather than an ironic comedy. Or perhaps it's actually darkly funny? There's some incredible shots in this one, like an elevator ride having light appear only fleetingly over the actors' faces. Kieslowski rewards viewers with then tenth episode, which is a true comedy and often hilarious. It revels in becoming more ridiculous as it goes on. I also liked how it poked fun at the series, with it opening with the rock musician brother doing a punk rock song literally reflecting the nature of Dekalog. It's not just about humor, as it ends on a wonderful note. The Wind Journeys (2009, Ciro Guerra) [DVD - Thanks, therattle!] - 4/5 The road movie, Colombian style. An accordion player treks out to return the devil horn decorated instrument to its owner. Not much to the plot, perhaps, but it's rich in character and atmosphere. There's also some great songs, including an accordion duel. Really nice photography and likable lead actors. This is the first South American film I've seen, I think. La Dolce Vita (1960, Federico Fellini) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 While I think La Strada, 8 1/2, and Nights of Cabiria are all better films, this is still peak Fellini. Epic in scope, but surprisingly compact. The long running time at least serves to show the fatigue of so much happening in Marcello's life within a few days. Some of it gets a bit grim and I'm surprised to see Fellini go that far. The camera work is incredible - nothing looks as gorgeous on screen as B&W scope. Anita Ekberg is a temptress with the black dress and cavorting around the fountain. I did like the occasional turns for comedy, which took the edge off. There's one shot that's incredible in how it shifts perspective (and the Criterion Blu-ray has a featurette just on this aspect of the film). The Matinee Idol (1928, Frank Capra) [DVD] - 3/5 Charming formerly lost silent comedy. The fact that the main character is in blackface is kind of awkward, as is a rude homophobic bit. Capra made better films, but Bessie Love is a dream.  The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953, Roy Rowland) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Absolutely insane Technicolor fever dream written and designed by Dr. Seuss. Though, Hans Conried as Dr. T is a treasure. There's one scene where he tries to put the "whammy" on the plumber and it's like something out of a Bob Clampett cartoon. This was a failure upon release, but its imagination and penchant for the bizarre makes it more obvious how wrong-minded later live action Dr. Seuss films were. Yeelen (1987, Souleymane Cissé) [DVD - Thanks, therattle!] - 4/5 I've only seen two other African films (Touki-Bouki and The Gods Must Be Crazy), but this is a wonderful slice of magical realism. One thing I love about seeing films from "alien" countries to the norms of the United States is seeing what other cultures do. The language of cinema is the same. I found myself fascinated by this. The cinematography is excellent, even if simplistic. Even the one moment of special effects is handled like a Melies film rather than anything showy. The Lure (2015, Agnieszka Smoczynska) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 When I read about this being a Polish mermaid horror-musical set in the eighties, my curiosity was piqued. This lives up to the unusual combination. Some stunning musical sequences, but also plenty of blood. The two leads playing Silver and Golden, the mermaids, are entrancing. It's easy to see why they were cast, as their gaze is almost hypnotic. This dabbles in surrealism often, making me unsure what was really happening. Not for the weak-stomached, but well worth a watch. The Lost World (1925, Harry O. Hoyt/Willis O'Brien) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 One of the major silent features I hadn't seen yet. It's actually shocking by how much this resembles King Kong, except with dinosaurs instead of an ape. The special effects are impressive, even for the 20s. I loved the frequent comedy relief, which gave this a lighter tone. Wallace Beery is great as Professor Challenger, plus Bessie Love also co-stars (and as dreamy as she looks in The Matinee Idol). This is an essential film for fans of fantasy and adventure - I particularly liked finding out that Up had borrowed a setting. Do note that there's a blackface character, but graciously not too grating compared to other films. Make sure you see the new restoration on Blu-ray, as it looks fantastic and has a wonderful orchestral score. GOG (1954, Herbert L. Strock) [Blu-ray 3D] - 4/5 This is such a quintessential 50s sci-fi that's only missing aliens. There's a complex computer mainframe that wreaks havoc with testing chambers and robots. I was kind of surprised by the high body count. While not graphic, there's some disturbing deaths - two get frozen solid and shatter (off-screen). Others get cooked to death by ultrasonic waves and centrifugal force. The 3-D is really good here and helped by some rather stunning color. If you check out the Blu-ray (put out by Kino Lorber and with a restoration by 3-D Film Archive), you'd never know it was rather bad shape. The Mad Magician (1954, John Brahm) [Blu-ray 3D] - 4.5/5 Vincent Price as a murdering magician should be enough to get someone interested in a movie. And it's just over an hour long, without any wasted time. One thing I've noticed about 50s 3-D films is how graphic they are for the time - this isn't shy about severe heads and cremated bodies. Price gets some rather impressive makeup, playing multiple characters. This almost plays like a Columbo or Murder She Wrote episode in the way that we already know whodunit, but get to watch how characters find out. This also has some really nice 3-D, with a few 3-D gimmick shots but mostly taking advantage of the depth. There's also a lot of good illusions that even with movie magic, they look quite convincing. edit: Forgot the Brakhage films and La Dolce Vita. Egbert Souse fucked around with this message at 05:19 on Jan 22, 2018 |
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Jan 22, 2018 04:53
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Ivan the Terrible, Part I (1944, Sergei M. Eisenstein) [Filmstruck] - 5/5 Ivan the Terrible, Part II (1958, Sergei M. Eisenstein) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 The Old and the New (1929, Sergei M. Eisenstein/Grigori Aleksandrov) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 Three Songs About Lenin (1934, Dziga Vertov) [Blu-ray] - 3/5 Salo: or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975, Pier Paolo Pasolini) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Duel (1971, Steven Spielberg) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 The sheer quality of cinematography and montage in both installments of Ivan the Terrible make one wish Eisenstein had lived to make more sound films. It's actually shocking that in his lifetime, he only completed seven feature films in a ten year period. I've never seen a film lit as painterly. If the visuals weren't enough, there's the added bonus of Sergei Prokofiev scores. Yes, the films are over-the-top and not at all realistic, but it would be besides the point. I will say that the first Ivan must have left a huge impression on Orson Welles as it's really obvious his Macbeth and Othello were heavily influenced by Eisenstein's film. While Part II kind of drags, the last act is mostly in color and it's absolutely stunning. It's like an oil painting brought to life. I also watched Eisenstein's last silent film, The Old and the New (aka The General Line). While it's obviously full of propaganda, the actual craft is quite amazing. Two sequences of note. The first is a cream separator being used, which is way more elaborate and beautifully photographed than you'd expect for a simple machine. (It's also really obvious Kenneth Anger had seen this before making Eaux d'artiface, too). There's also this incredible scene of a cow being led out to mate with a bull that's about the most insane thing I've seen in a silent. While I get the sense that Eisenstein was more interested in cinema than socialism, Dziga Vertov was a true believer. Three Songs About Lenin is an hour-long love letter to him. It's actually kind of neat seeing Soviet propaganda pieces from that time and comparing it to current media - I wonder what E and V would think about Fox News cribbing their techniques. Two long-unseen films I've finally seen. Salo is one of the most disturbing films I've seen. It's an endurance test. At the same time, it has some dark humor that makes it even more disturbing. I can't say I want to see it again, but it deserves its reputation. Also, Spielberg's feature-length debut (if you don't count the first Columbo episode) is amazing. You'd never think it was some rookie that had been making TV episodes for a year or two. It's minimalistic, but rich on suspense and scares. There's also some incredible camera work. One shot goes from Mann's perspective to the front of the truck in one take. If you haven't seen it yet, do it. (Also, the version on Blu-ray looks and sounds incredible - they obviously put a ton of work into remastering the film) Finally finished Science is Fiction [DVD]: The Fourth Dimension (1934, Jean Painleve) - 5/5 The Struggle for Survivial (1937, Jean Painleve) - 3/5 Voyage to the Sky (1937, Jean Painleve) - 4/5 Similarities Between Length and Speed (1937, Jean Painleve) - 4.5/5 Even though these are meant to be educational films, they're quite fun. My favorites are The Fourth Dimension and Similarities... which have some incredible moments of surrealism. They also have a humorous tone, sort of reminding me of how shows like Bill Nye and Beakman's World would treat science with humor. It's also funny to see how wrong Voyage to the Sky is, but even the film makes it clear it's just theory at that time. and more Mack Sennett comedies [Blu-ray]: Recreation (1914, Charles Chaplin) The Great Toe Mystery (1914, Charles Avery) Shot in the Excitement (1914, Rube Miller) The Noise of Bombs (1914, Mack Sennett) Ambrose's First Falsehood (1914, F. Richard Jones) A lot of the early ones aren't exactly masterpieces, but there's fleeting gags and scenes. The highlight of this round is The Noise of Bombs, which has a ton of "before they were famous" comedy legends like Edgar Kennedy, Charley Chase, Charles Murray, and future director Eddie Cline. I did think the funniest was Ambrose's First Falsehood, which is helped by Mack Swain's look of stupor.
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Jan 29, 2018 22:43
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Was on a bit of a documentary kick this week. Palace of Silents (2010, Iain Kennedy) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Affectionate look at the Silent Film Theatre in Los Angeles (better known as The Cinefamily today). It covers the beginnings, as well as the life of founder John Hampton. It then goes into the second ownership with Lawrence Austin and the scandal that ensued, the next owners, and the up-until-recently current owners. A lot of it almost sounds too outlandish to be true, but there's testimonies by people who worked there and knew the players involved. Someone should make this into a dramatic movie. When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose (1983, Stephen Schaller) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 A documentary/essay on the making of the earliest surviving film made in Wisconsin. It's so close to coming off like one of Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, except it's 100% real here. I loved the interludes with a former theatre pianist playing tunes she used to play for the movies, as well as the son of the stars of the film opening up a can with the only surviving print of The Lumberjack, that this film covers the making of. Anger Me (2006, Elio Gelmini) [DVD] - 4/5 Mostly an interview with filmmaker Kenneth Anger as he talks about his early life, his films, and other experiences. Anger himself is absolutely riveting to listen to. Lots of great stories, such as meeting D.W. Griffith as a teenager or hanging out at the Cinemateque Francais. Only issue I have with this is that all the music, except for excerpts from Lucifer Rising, have a cheesy synth music track added. While I get why the pop tunes of Rabbit's Moon and Scorpio Rising had to be substituted, there's no reason to replace the Resphigi, Vivaldi, or Janacek pieces. More curious is the fairly awful condition of the clips from his films, despite the existence of the gorgeous HD restorations used for home video. Seven Wonders of the World (1956, Various) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 Another of the 50s Cinerama travelogues. This had to be amazing on a huge Cinerama screen, but you get a little taste of the grandeur on Blu-ray. Creative Process: Norman McLaren (1990, Donald McWilliams) [NFB app] - 4/5 Terrific documentary on the life and work of Norman McLaren. I will admit that I kind of spoiled this for myself since nearly everything is seen in the old DVD set that was released with his life's work, such as test footage and interviews. Still, this is perfect for anyone just getting into his films or wanting a starting point. (It's worth saying NFB Canada's Apple TV app is fantastic. Lots and lots of films in HD that aren't available anywhere) Buster Keaton Rides Again (1965, John Spotton) [NFB app] - 5/5 Made during the filming of one of Keaton's last films, The Railrodder, a film for the National Film Board of Canada. They sent along a crew to document the making of the short. As expected, it's pure gold. One of the best sequences is Keaton trying to convince the director (Gerald Potterton) to film a scene a certain way. He decides to do it differently, as to not put Keaton in danger. His persistance leads to them reshooting the scene his way and it's ten times funnier. I will say it's slightly macabre near the end, as you see Keaton go into a coughing fit - he died of lung cancer the following year. Yet he's running around and still putting 110% into his performance. (Also, The Railrodder is absolutely worth seeing) Lucky (2017, John Carroll Lynch) [DVD -  Netflix] - 4/5If you're seeing this movie, it's because of Harry Dean Stanton. Which is fine. There's not much else going on, but that's why you're seeing it, right? Kong: Skull Island (2017, Jordan Vogt-Roberts) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 At first glance, I was expecting this to be another dumb pro-war propaganda piece while trying to ape (heh heh) Apocalypse Now. Well, it wears the influence on its sleeve all the way, even down to preserving the "war is bullshit" tone. Terrific cast, even if half of them don't exactly make it alive. I've kind of soured on violent films lately, so it might just be me when I say it's a little too bloody. But then again, war is hell. More shorts: The Lumberjack (1914, O.W. Lamb) Fictitious Anacin Commercial (1967, David Lynch) Absurd Encounter with Fear (1967, David Lynch) Nothing really to say about The Lumberjack other than it's a decent film for its time. The two Lynch shorts are amazing because I assumed he didn't even pick up a camera until he made Six Figures Getting Sick and The Alphabet. They're homemade vignettes, but his trademarks are already showing. I'm guessing "Fear" was something Lynch found packed away in a closet, but it's one of the few times were film decomposition actually makes a film more effective.
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Feb 5, 2018 02:39
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L’Âge d’Or (1930, Luis Buńuel) [Filmstruck] - 3/5 Cinerama Adventure (2002, David Strohmaier) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Logan (2017, James Mangold) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Baby Driver (2017, Edgar Wright) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 A Boy and His Dog (1973, L.Q. Jones) [Filmstruck] - 3/5 Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962, Agnes Varda) [Filmstruck] - 5/5 Dont Look Back (1967, D.A. Pennebaker) [Filmstruck] - 4.5/5 Jimi Plays Monterey (1986, D.A. Pennebaker/Chris Hegedus) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 Shake! Otis at Monterey (1986, D.A. Pennebaker/Chris Hegedus) [Filmstruck] - 5/5 National Film Board of Canada shorts (NFB app and NFB YouTube channel): Favorites marked with * The Impossible Map (1947, Evelyn Lambart) Song of the Paddle (1978, Bill Mason)* Impressions of Expo 67 (1967, William Brind) Free Fall (1964, Arthur Lipsett)* Monsieur Pointu (1976, André Leduc/Bernard Longpre) Mr. Frog Went A-Courting (1974, Evelyn Lambart)* Fine Feathers (1968, Evelyn Lambart) The Lion and the Mouse (1974, Evelyn Lambart) The Hoarder (1969, Evelyn Lambart)* Paradise Lost (1970, Evelyn Lambart) The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse (1980, Evelyn Lambart) Toys (1966, Grant Munro)* Ashes of Doom (1970, Grant Munro) Dance Squared (1961, René Jodoin) Notes on a Triangle (1966, René Jodoin)* Rectangle & Rectangles (1984, René Jodoin) Norman McLaren: Complete Films (1933-1949) [DVD unless noted] 7 Till 5 (1933) Polychrome Fantasy (1935) Camera Makes Whoopee (1935) Hell Unlimited (1936, co dir with Helen Biggar)* Book Bargain (1937)* News for the Navy (1937) The Obedient Flame (1939) Love on the Wing (1939) Scherzo (1939) Spook Sport (1939 - dir. Mary Ellen Bute, animation by McLaren) [Blu-ray]* Stars and Stripes (1939)* NBC Valentine Greeting (1940) Dots (1940) Loops (1940) Boogie-Doodle (1940) [NFB app]* V for Victory (1941) Mail Early (1941) Hen Hop (1942)* 5 for 4 (1942) Dollar Dance (1943) Alouette (1944, co. dir René Jodoin) [NFB app] Keep Your Mouth Shut (1944)* C'est L'aviron (1944) A Little Phantasy on a Nineteenth Century Painting (1946) Hoppity Pop (1946) La-haut sur ces montagnes (1946) Fiddle-de-dee (1947)* La poulette grise (1947, co. dir Evelyn Lambart)* Begone Dull Care (1949, co. dir Evelyn Lambart) [NFB app]*
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Feb 12, 2018 02:58
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The Falls (1980, Peter Greenaway) [Filmstruck] 3.5/5 Shadows (1959, John Cassevetes) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 (rewatch) Faces (1968, John Cassevetes) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 David Lynch: The Art Life (2016, Jon Nguyen/Rick Barnes/Olivia Neergaard-Holm) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2009, Edgar Wright) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 The Eye Hears, the Ear Sees (1970, Gavin Millar) [DVD] - 4.5/5 Phantom Thread (2017, Paul Thomas Anderson) [4K DCP] - 6/5 Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017, Rian Johnson) [DCP] - 4.5/5 Lots and lots of short films (my favorites marked with an *) Masterworks of American Avant-Garde Cinema [Blu-ray]: The Life and Death of 9413, a Hollywood Extra (1928, Robert Florey/Slavko Vorkapich)* Skyscraper Symphony (1929, Robert Florey) Mechanical Principles (1930, Ralph Steiner)* A Bronx Morning (1931, Jay Leyda)* Poem 8 (1932, Emlen Etting) Lot in Sodom (1933, James Watson/Melville Webber) An Optical Poem (1937, Oskar Fischinger)* Thimble Theater (1938, Joseph Cornell) Pursuit of Happiness (1940, Rudy Burckhardt)* 1941 (1941, Francis Lee)* Meditation on Violence (1949, Maya Deren)* Four in the Afternoon (1951, James Broughton) Abstronic (1952, Mary Ellen Bute)* Bells of Atlantis (1952, Ian Hugo) Evolution (1954, Jim Davis) Gyromorphosis (1958, Hy Hirsh)* N.Y., N.Y. (1958, Francis Thompson)* 9 Variations on a Dance Theme (1967, Hilary Harris)* Castro Street (1966, Bruce Bailile)* The Film That Rises to the Surface of Clarified Butter (1968, Owen Land)* Our Lady of the Sphere (1972, Lawrence Jordan)* Love It, Leave It (1973, Tom Palazzolo)* Disintegration Line 2 (1970, Lawrence Janiak)* Transport….. (1972, Amy Greenfield) Sappho and Jerry (1978, Bruce Posner)* Ch'an (1983, Francis Lee)* Seasons (2002, Stan Brakhage/Phil Solomon) The Complete Films of Norman McLaren [DVD unless noted] (1951-1983): Now is the Time (1951) [Blu-ray 3-D]* Around is Around (1951, co dir Evelyn Lambart) [Blu-ray 3-D]* A Phantasy (1952) Pen Point Percussion (1952) Neighbours (1952)* [NFB App] Two Bagatelles (1953, co. dir. Grant Munro) Blinkity Blank (1955) [NFB App]* Rythmetic (1956, co. dir. Evelyn Lambart) A Chairy Tale (1957, co. dir. Claude Jutra)* Le Merle (1958, co. dir. Evelyn Lambart)* Short and Suite (1959, co. dir. Evelyn Lambart)* Serenal (1959) Mail Early for Christmas (1959)* Opening Speech (1960)* Lines Vertical (1961, co. dir. Evelyn Lambart)* New York Lightboard (1961) Lines Horizontal (1962, co. dir. Evelyn Lambart) Christmas Cracker (1964, co. dir. Grant Munro/Jeff Hale/Gerald Potterton)* Canon (1964, co. dir. Grant Munro)* [NFB app] Pas de Deux (1968)* [NFB app] Spheres (1968, co. dir. Rene Jodoin)* [NFB app] Synchromy (1971)* Ballet Adagio (1972)* [NFB App] Pinscreen (1973)* Animated Motion: Parts I-V (1976-78, co. dir. Grant Munro)* Narcissus (1983)* Others: A Short Vision (1956, Peter Foldes/Joan Foldes)* Walking (1968, Ryan Larkin)* Street Musique (1972, Ryan Larkin)* Ryan (2004, Chris Landreth)* O Canada (1952, Evelyn Lambart) [Blu-ray 3-D]* Twirligig (1952, Gretta Ekman, stereoscopy by Norman McLaren] [Blu-ray 3-D]* McLaren on McLaren (1983, Grant Munro)*
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Feb 26, 2018 19:51
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BeanpolePeckerwood posted:It'd be cool to read your thoughts on these if you've got the time. The Falls (1980, Peter Greenaway) - 3.5/5 One of the strangest films I've seen. It's certainly endurance cinema, for which I'd not be surprised if Greenaway only made it three hours long to see how long people would last. On one hand, it's often hilarious, but it's such a structuralist work that I couldn't help but think it wasn't weird enough. It starts off with the weirdest one (tens of thousands of people turning into birds), but the rest of the film becomes repetitive. Perhaps that's the point? One fantastical account, followed by 91 accounts of skin conditions. Shadows (1959, John Cassevetes) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 (rewatch) Faces (1968, John Cassevetes) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 I had seen Shadows years ago in college and was impressed by the almost documentary-like nature of the film. After seeing several Pennebaker documentaries, it doesn't seem as much like something acted for the camera. Faces takes it further. I got the sense of being with these characters as an observer, almost to the point of fatigue. The characters are so fascinating to watch that plot doesn't matter. I want to know what's going to happen next. The last act is incredible, with one of the most harrowing scenes I've seen in a film, followed by a real gut punch of an ending. I'm really looking forward to diving into the rest of Cassevetes' work. David Lynch: The Art Life (2016, Jon Nguyen/Rick Barnes/Olivia Neergaard-Holm) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Basically just 90 minutes of Lynch talking about his childhood and years as an artist before becoming a celebrated filmmaker. As many have seen the video of him preparing quinoa, he has this gift of telling stories and making them fascinating by the way he tells them. It was also neat to see things like his painting work, home movies, and even outtakes from his early short films. Don't expect anything relavatory about his films other than perhaps that the "bad" teens of Twin Peaks are more familiar than you think. Best story he tells, though, is about getting stoned before a Bob Dylan concert. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2009, Edgar Wright) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 Edgar Wright is one of my favorite filmmakers working today and this was the only one of his films I hadn't seen. While I think it's a little too silly for its own good, it's made up for being absolutely dazzling filmmaking-wise. I think it also has a clever sense of humor considering the protagonist isn't supposed to be that likable. Add in a great supporting cast and an nonstop assault on the senses. The Eye Hears, the Ear Sees (1970, Gavin Millar) [DVD] - 4.5/5 BBC documentary on Norman McLaren circa 1970. Some great interviews with the filmmaker, plus watching him work on his then-in-progress film Synchromy. Plenty of clips from his films, including the second half of Pas de deux at the end (it's clear the director was in love with it). Phantom Thread (2017, Paul Thomas Anderson) [4K DCP] - 6/5 Best film of the year? Decade? This is a magical, hypnotic film that exceeds expectations in every way. Day-Lewis, Krieps, and Manville are all amazing in their performances. It takes a lot of talent to command the screen as much as a great actor like Daniel Day-Lewis. I don't want to really describe the plot because it can't do justice. Other than this is definitely a romance film, but more akin to unconventional ones like Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut and Lolita or Peter Greenaway's films. Beautifully made in every way, whether it's one gorgeously lit and designed shot after another, or Jonny Greenwood's score making it reach the sublime. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017, Rian Johnson) [DCP] - 4.5/5 Finally, something new to Star Wars! While I liked The Force Awakens, I felt it was trying too hard to be a homage rather than its own thing. Rogue One was a superior film, even if it could be better. Here, we get a film about breaking traditions and looking to the future rather than the past. The plot twists and turns in ways I kept thinking, "How the hell do they get out of this?" This has so many great moments that left me smiling, including the return of a beloved character that couldn't have been handled more perfectly. And it's absolutely marvelously shot with shades of Leone and Kurosawa in their mastery of the wide image. It's almost a shame this is only the second film in the new trilogy since I really doubt the next one can live up to this sort of quality. But it's refreshing to see a movie that doesn't shy away from being a little political, even if a little too on the nose.
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Feb 27, 2018 00:05
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Allyn posted:I adore this and have been desperate to rewatch it. Would love your thoughts so they can inevitably get me to finally do so, if nothing else One of my all-time favorite short films! When I was in high school, I remembered switching channels and IFC was showing some short films. I came upon a series of shots as if it were shot through a kaelidoscope. It fascinated me, but I had no idea what it was since I missed the first half. Years later, I found a 20 second clip on Google, but nothing. Then I found a rip of a version aired on TCM years and years later, watched dozens of times. When it was announced as being on that avant-garde set, I ordered it just for that film. What makes it stand out from other "city symphony" films is that it's more about turning everyday sights into something abstract and almost four-dimensional. If it had been shot without prismatic lenses and bent glass/chrome, it would have just been a documentary. By giving it somewhat of a cubist appearance, it's about the art of seeing. And the way the editing and music are so perfectly timed. Gene Forrell's score is magnificent. (Also, in lieu of writing up more on Norman McLaren's films, I'm working on a comprehensive video covering his work that I'll eventually finish)
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Feb 27, 2018 03:49
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Darkest Hour (2017, Joe Wright) [theatrical] - 3/5 The Draughtman's Contract (1982, Peter Greenaway) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 Blade Runner 2049 (2017, Denis Villenueve) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 War for the Planet of the Apes (2017, Matt Reeves) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Robert Frost: A Lover's Quarrel with the World (1963, Shirley Clarke) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 Skyscraper (1960, Shirley Clarke) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 The Shape of Water (2017, Guillermo del Toro) [theatrical] - 4.5/5 Un chant d'amour (1950, Jean Genet) [YouTube] - Venom and Eternity (1951, Isidore Isou) [DVD] Black Panther (2018, Ryan Coogler) [theatrical] - 4.5/5 Cimarron (1931, Wesley Ruggles) [DVD] - 3/5 Hallelujah (1929, King Vidor) [DVD] - 3.5/5 Some avant-garde shorts: Schwechater (1958, Peter Kubelka) [YouTube] Remedial Reading Comprehension (1970, Owen Land) [YouTube] Film in Which There Appear Edge Lettering, Sprocket Holes, Dirt Particles, Etc. (1966, Owen Land) [YouTube] No. 3: Interwoven (1946, Harry Smith) [DVD] - 5/5 Notes on the Circus (1966, Jonas Mekas) [DVD] - 5/5 7362 (1967, Pat O'Neil) [DVD] - 5/5 Themis (1940, Dwinell Grant) [DVD] Ghosts Before Breakfast (1928, Hans Richter) [DVD] - 4/5 Celery Stalks At Midnight (1951, John Whitney) [DVD] Falling Pink (1959, Robert H. Spring) [DVD] Surface Tension (1968, Hollis Frampton) [Blu-ray] Carrots & Peas (1969, Hollis Frampton) [Blu-ray] Lemon (1969, Hollis Frampton) [Blu-ray]
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Mar 11, 2018 05:53
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The Florida Project (2017, Sean Baker) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 - One of the best films from last year. Beautifully shot and acted, touching, but with much needed humor. Husbands (1970, John Cassavetes) [DVD] - 3/5 - Some parts are hard to watch, but the ten minute scene of Peter Falk and Cassavetes puking while Ben Gazzara stands around smugly is great cinema. Take the Money and Run (1969, Woody Allen) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 - Terrific, flawed debut by Allen. Lots of great sight gags. A Woman Under the Influence (1974, John Cassavetes) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 - Who says who is crazy? Festival (1967, Murray Lerner) [Filmstruck] - 5/5 - Not a bit of wasted time, just lean and entertaining. The Exile (1931, Oscar Micheaux) [Blu-ray] - 2/5 - After seeing some terrific silents from Micheaux, his talkies are a big disappointment. The Connection (1961, Shirley Clarke) [Filmstruck] - 5/5 - Absolutely brilliant between the faux documentary format and some drat amazing dialogue. Lost Highway (1997, David Lynch) [DVD] - 3.5/5 - Flawed, but any Lynch is worth time watching. The Thing (1982, John Carpenter) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 - Can't believe I waited this long - great sci-fi, gory, but tense from start to finish. The Great Moment (1944, Preston Sturges) [DVD] - 3.5/5 - Can't decide what sort of film it is, but some good bits (it was heavily re-edited by the studio) Thundercrack! (1975, Curt McDowell) [Blu-ray] - - Film can be summed up by a shot of George Kuchar getting a graphic handjob by a gorilla in gooey close-up.The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976, John Cassavetes) [Blu-ray - Director's Cut) - 4.5/5 - Easily my favorite Cassavetes so far. Children of Divorce (1927, Frank Lloyd) [Blu-ray] - 3/5 - Worth seeing for Gary Cooper and Clara Bow together, though a bit melodramatic. The Saphead (1920, Herbert Blache/Winchell Smith) [Blu-ray] - 2.5/5 - Underwhelming compared to Keaton's own work through the 20s, but he's alright in the acting role. King of Kings (1961, Nicholas Ray) [TCM - rewatch] - 5/5 - My favorite Biblical movie. It's the Old Army Game (1926, A. Edward Sutherland) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 - W.C. Fields and Louise Brooks! Reworked into It's a Gift as a talkie, a superior film, but some good scenes. Zorns Lemma (1970, Hollis Frampton) [Blu-ray] - Three/Five - Hypnotic, even if tedious for being an hour long. Horse Feathers (1932, Norman Z. McLeod) [Blu-ray - with commentary] - 4.5/5 - One of the best Marx Bros. comedies. Lady Bird (2017, Greta Gerwig) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 - One of the best debut films I've seen. Saorise Ronan is incredible in this. Running Wild (1927, Gregora La Cava) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 - W.C. Fields turns his life around after being hypnotized into thinking he's a lion. Hilarious and briskly plotted. The Girl from Chicago (1932, Oscar Micheaux) [Blu-ray] - 2.5/5 - Almost reminds me of David Lynch, but crippled by amateurish production. The Covered Wagon (1923, James Cruze) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 - One of the big silent epics, also a good western. Highlight would be Charles Ogle as a grizzled cowboy. Master of the House (1925, Carl Th. Dreyer) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 - I never thought I'd laugh during a Dreyer film! Great plot and performances, but made me laugh quite a bit. Don Juan (1926, Alan Crosland) [DVD] - 3/5 - Pretty good silent known more for being the first feature with sync Vitaphone music. The Garden of Allah (1936, Richard Boleslawski) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 - Oddly plotted, but Marlene Dietrich in Technicolor is hard to resist. Moonlight (2016, Barry Jenkins) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 - This reminded me of "transcendental style" films like those of Bresson and Dreyer. Beautifully shot and edited, but with heart at its center.
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Apr 9, 2018 13:07
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Kedi (2016, Ceyda Torun) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Opening Night (1977, John Cassavetes) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Way Down East (1920, D.W. Griffith) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013, Isao Takahata) [Blu-ray - subtitled] - 4.5/5 L'inhumaine (1924, Marcel L’Herbier) [Blu-ray] - 3/5 Veiled Aristocrats (1932, Oscar Micheaux) [Blu-ray] - 2/5 Ten Minutes to Live (1932, Oscar Micheaux) [Blu-ray] - 2.5/5 L.A. Confidential (1997, Curtis Hanson) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 A Zed & Two Noughts (1985, Peter Greenaway) [Filmstruck] - 4.5/5 Birthright (1939, Oscar Micheaux) [Blu-ray] - 3/5 The Edge of the World (1937, Michael Powell) [Filmstruck] - 3.5/5 Sweet Charity (1969, Bob Fosse) [DVD] - 4/5 The Bronze Buckaroo (1939, Richard C. Kahn) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 mother! (2017, Darren Aronofsky) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 + Search for Paradise (1957, Otto Lang) [Blu-ray] - 3/5 The Man with the Golden Arm (1955, Otto Preminger) [DVD] - 4/5 More shorts (from ubuweb, YouTube, DVD, and Blu-ray): [Most interesting/favorite ones noted with asterisk] The Extraordinary Child (1954, Stan Brakhage)* The Way to Shadow Garden (1954, Stan Brakhage) Paradigm (1969, B.S. Johnson)* Ten Second Film (1965, Bruce Conner) Science Friction (1959, Stan Vanderbeek)* Wheeeels No. 1 (1958, Stan Vanderbeek) Corridor (1970, Standish Lawder)* Quasi at the Quackadero (1976, Sally Cruikshank)* Come Closer (1952, Hy Hirsch)* A Bird's a Bird (1915, Walter Wright) A Rhapsody in Black and Blue (1932, Aubrey Scotto)* Thanatopsis (1962, Ed Emshwiller)* Hold Me While I'm Naked (1966, George Kuchar)* Flaming Creatures (1963, Jack Smith)* (nostalgia) (1971, Hollis Frampton)* Classics from the Van Bueren Studio (compilation including Aesop's Fables, Tom & Jerry, The Sunshine Makers, and Neptune Nonsense)* Technicolor Dreams & Black and White Nightmares (compilation of public domain cartoons including the 1933 Wizard of Oz, The Snowman, Oswald Rabbit, etc)*
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Apr 23, 2018 12:09
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The Big Boss (1971, Lo Wei) [DVD - English dub] - 3/5 Fist of Fury (1972, Lo Wei) [DVD - subtitled] - 3.5/5 Raising Arizona (1987, Joel Coen/Ethan Coen) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Inland Empire (2006, David Lynch) [DVD] - 3/5 Sins of the Fleshapoids (1965, Mike Kuchar) - 4/5 The Secret of Wendel Samson (1967, Mike Kuchar) - 3/5 The Craven Sluck (1967, Mike Kuchar) - 3/5 Doctor Strange (2016, Scott Derrickson) [Netflix] - 3.5/5 I forgot that I had a cheap DVD set of Bruce Lee movies, so I finally have seen some of his work. It's easy to see why he became such a star since his charisma is there on the screen from the start. While not the most complex or intelligent plots, The Big Boss and Fist of Fury are both amazingly well shot and edited, with impressive fight choreography. I found the fights in Fist of Fury to be way more dazzling, including one where Lee takes on an entire dojo. Raising Arizona has been one of my favorite Coen Bros. movies and seeing it again after at least a decade or two is a lot of fun. Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter are amazing in this. Every line, every gesture is perfect. The surrealistic aspect works well, as it's already a fairly silly movie. I'll say the opening pre-credits sequence is one of the best sustained bits of cinema ever created. Though, as funny and weird the film gets, I forgot how wonderful and beautiful the ending was. Finally saw Inland Empire, leaving only Wild at Heart as unseen David Lynch features. It's a bizarre, disorienting film, though I didn't find it as powerful as the rest of his work. I really need to see it again since I'm still thinking about it. After seeing Thundercrack!, I wanted to see more films by George and Mike Kuchar. Sins of the Fleshapoids by Mike Kuchar is quite amazing for being no-budget and working like a silent film. It's funny, but I'm really impressed with how nice the Kuchars' films look. It's one thing to make a cheap film and it looks like junk, but they made stuff that was bathed in Technicolor hues. I'm catching up on Marvel films so I can see Infinity War before it gets spoilered to hell and back. While I thought Doctor Strange was incredible visually, it's mediocre on most other levels. It comes off as a movie heavily re-edited because of the lack of focus and a generally rushed plotline. Still, kind of neat to see a mainstream film take on this sort of trippy visual style.
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Apr 30, 2018 12:52
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Way of the Dragon (1972, Bruce Lee) [DVD] - 3/5 Game of Death (1978, Robert Clouse) [DVD] - 1.5/5 Flying Down to Rio (1933, Thornton Freeland) [DVD] - 4/5 Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017, James Gunn) [Netflix] - 3.5/5 The Decameron (1971, Pier Paolo Pasolini) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 The Canterbury Tales (1972, Pier Paolo Pasolini) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017, Jon Watts) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 Thor: Ragnarok (2017, Taika Waititi) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Triumph of the Will (1935, Leni Riefenstahl) [DVD] - n/a Avengers: Infinity War (2018, Joe Russo/Anthony Russo) [theatrical] - 3.5/5 Enter the Dragon (1973, Robert Clouse) [Blu-ray] - 2.5/5 Don't Look Now (1973, Nicolas Roeg) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Deadpool 2 (2018, David Leitch) [theatrical] - 4.5/5 All the King's Men (1949, Robert Rossen) [DVD] - 3.5/5 Que Viva Mexico (1978, Sergei Eisenstein/Grigori Aleksandrov) [DVD] - 3/5 I've now seen the key Bruce Lee films. To be honest, they're fairly middling at worst, but drat if Lee isn't magnetic every time he's on screen. Especially the fight scenes. Though, Game of Death is absolutely dire except for the actual footage of Lee in the last act. In preparation for Avengers: Infinity War, I caught up on the Marvel films - Doctor Strange, Guardians V2, Spider-Man, and Thor: Ragnarok. Only one actually stands out as an honestly fantastic movie and that's the latest Thor. It's not just visually stunning from start to finish, it's so lively. Great dialogue and it just looks like it was a blast to make. I did think Guardians V2 had some great moments, but still dragged in spots. There's some great visuals, though, like a mass of baddies being hurled into the air or the distortions from wormholes. The latest Spider-Man was kind of weak, but with Michael Keaton really standing out as a great villain. As for Infinity War... it's been discussed to death, but it's probably the "best" Avengers movie so far, it's still a mess of too much. But it's still entertaining and kind of odd to see a Marvel movie that had most of the audience in tears by the end (I wasn't among them). By contrast, Deadpool 2 is an absolute blast. I loved the first one and the sequel doesn't disappoint - much. It seemed to be cut a little too close (couldn't we have a little more of Negasonic and her girlfriend?) it works where it counts. I was laughing with the audience pret tty much from start to finish, whether it's big setpieces done for humor (X-Force getting killed almost instantly had the audience howling with laughter) or just little details. But it's primarily taking a piss all over the mediocre X-Men films and somewhat uneven quality of the mainline Marvel films. After starting with Salo, I figured any Pasolini afterwards would be easy to get through. While I still need to see Arabian Nights (as well as his 60s work), The Decameron and The Canterbury Tales are two wonderful films. Visually rich, but the fragmented narrative keeps things moving wonderfully. I particularly liked how funny parts were, especially a good majority of the latter (the vision of Hell is one of the funniest things I've seen in a film). It's also really obvious Monty Python and the Holy Grail took a lot of inspiration from these films. I figured it was about time I finally saw Triumph of the Will all the way through. Brilliant editing, but to a non-fascist American, the endless military pageantry and blustery speeches make it kind of boring. Only with it being in context of being a sort of testament by one of the most evil forces in the world does it have any relevance outside its original intended audience. I couldn't help but think of that Lambeth Walk short that used re-edited footage from this at times, though. (I'm hoping to watch Riefenstahl's Olympia soon since I'd like to see her rather effective technique used on less nefarious subject matter).
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May 28, 2018 03:47
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This is Cinerama (1952, Merian C. Cooper/Gunther von Fritsch/others) [Remastered Blu-ray] - 3/5 Arabian Nights (1974, Pier Paolo Pasolini) [Blu-ray] - 3/5 Heavy Metal (1981, Gerald Potterton) [DVD] - 4/5 Gentleman's Agreement (1947, Elia Kazan) [DVD] - 2/5 Cinerama Holiday (1955, Philippe De Lacy/Robert Bendick) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 The Great Ziegfeld (1936, Norman Z. Leonard) [DVD] - 2.5/5 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974, Tobe Hooper) [Remastered Blu-ray] - 4/5 Cinerama South Seas Adventure (1958, various) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 Windjammer (1958, Bill Colleran/Louis De Rochemont III) [Remastered Blu-ray] - 3/5
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Jun 12, 2018 02:40
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Touch of Evil (1958, Orson Welles) [Blu-ray - Preview Version] - n/a - watched with Jonathan Rosenbaum/James Naremore commentary Cavalcade (1933, Frank Lloyd) [DVD] - 2.5/5 A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, Wes Craven) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 Incredibles 2 (2018, Brad Bird) [Theatrical] - 4.25/5 Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984, Michael Radford) [Blu-ray - Director's Cut] - 4/5 Syncopation (1942, William Dieterle) [Blu-ray] - 3/5 Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971, Melvin van Peebles) [Filmstruck] - 3.5/5 Blind Husbands (1919, Erich von Stroheim) [DVD] - 2.5/5 Queen Kelly (1929, Erich von Stroheim) [DVD] - 3/5 The Ladies Man (1961, Jerry Lewis) [DVD] - 3/5 Also finally finished watching all of Criterion's A Hollis Frampton Odyssey. I can't say I loved all his films, but they're certainly interesting and clever. Almost too clever.
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Jun 25, 2018 20:09
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1984 - I regret that I haven't read the novel yet, so I can't say whether it's a faithful adaptation. I did feel that it was somewhat obscure at times, as if you're supposed to be more familiar with the book. Is it bad that I find Brazil to be a far superior take, even if it's not an official adaptation? (Also, I watched the Twilight Time Blu-ray which uses the bleach bypass color grading used by DP Roger Deakins and an orchestral score rather than the Eurythmics songs) Sweet Sweetback - I love how wild Van Peebles gets with the camera and editing. It's a real trip of the film, even if some parts really haven't aged well. Still worth seeing for being an important piece of 70s black cinema.
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Jun 25, 2018 21:07
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Rewatches unless noted: Seven Samurai (1954, Akira Kurosawa) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 Brazil (1985, Terry Gilliam) [Blu-ray - director's cut] - 4.5/5 Rebecca (1940, Alfred Hitchcock) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 Only Yesterday (1991, Isao Takahata) [DVD] - 3.5/5 new Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998, Terry Gilliam) [Blu-ray - director's cut] - 3.5/5 King of Jazz (1930, John Murray Anderson) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 new Brand Upon the Brain! (2006, Guy Maddin) [DVD - Isabella Rossellini studio narration] - 3.5/5 new The Innocents (1961, Jack Clayton) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 new Persona (1966, Ingmar Bergman) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Breathless (1960, Jean-Luc Godard) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Stagecoach (1939, John Ford) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 Blow-Up (1966, Michelangelo Antonioni) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Wild Strawberries (1957, Ingmar Bergman) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 Foreign Correspondent (1940, Alfred Hitchcock) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Forbidden Games (1952, Rene Clement) [DVD] - 4/5 Ghost World (2001, Terry Zwigoff) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 A Constant Forge (2000, Charles Kiselyak) [Blu-ray] - 3.5/5 Writeups in my Criterion Vacation thread.
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Jul 19, 2018 02:01
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In Cold Blood (1967, Richard Brooks) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 The Life of Emile Zola (1937, William Dieterle) [DVD] - 3.5/5 Naked Lunch (1991, David Cronenberg) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 A Matter of Life and Death (1947, Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 rewatch The Color of Pomegranates (1969, Sergei Parajanov) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 rewatch Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985, Paul Schrader) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 From Up on Poppy Hill (2011, Goro Miyazaki) [Blu-ray - subtitled] - 3.5/5 Street Angel (1927, Frank Borzage) [DVD] - 4/5 Seventh Heaven (1927, Frank Borzage) [DVD] - 3/5 Lucky Star (1929, Frank Borzage) [DVD] - 4/5 The Rules of the Game (1939, Jean Renoir) [Blu-ray] - 4.25/5 rewatch It Happened One Night (1934, Frank Capra) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 rewatch Sweet Smell of Success (1957, Alexander Mackendrick) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 rewatch Blind Chance (1981, Kryzstof Kieslowski) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 Tom Jones (1963, Tony Richardson) [Blu-ray - theatrical cut] - 4.5/5 Women in Love (1970, Ken Russell) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 The Love Goddesses (1965, Saul Turrell) [Filmstruck] - 3.25/5 Walkabout (1971, Nicolas Roeg) [Filmstruck] - 4.75/5 W.R. Mysteries of the Organism (1971, Dušan Makavejev) [Filmstruck] - 2.5/5 What We Do in the Shadows (2014, Jemaine Clement/Taika Waititi) [Amazon Prime] - 4/5 Patriotism (1966, Yukio Mishima) [DVD] - 4/5 Speedy (1928, Ted Wilde) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 rewatch Female Trouble (1974, John Waters) [Filmstruck] - 4/5
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Aug 22, 2018 04:59
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Scanners (1981, David Cronenberg) [Filmstruck] - 3/5 - I actually think this is a fairly awful movie, but it clicks with me. It's just so utterly ridiculous and nonsensical, but still entertaining. It helps that Michael Ironside and Patrick McGoohan make the most out of silly dialogue. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, Stanley Kubrick] [IMAX 70mm] - 5/5 - I've seen this dozens of times. Hell, I've owned it on tape, DVD, Blu-ray, and even have the UHD on pre-order. I'm working on an essay on how it works as the "final" Cinerama travelogue. It Happened Here (1964, Kevin Brownlow/Andrew Mollo) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 - Rewatch. One of the great unknown movies. Its premise is "what if the Nazis conquered England?" and it runs with it. It started as an amateur film and became a no-budget mini-epic that looks frighteningly realistic. Zero stock footage. This should be better known today. Morocco (1930, Josef von Sternberg) [Blu-ray] - 2.5/5 - Meh. I guess Marlene Dietrich in a tux is alluring, but not much going on here. Dishonored (1931, Josef von Sternberg) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 - Much better Von/Dietrich film! Lots of interesting character play, lovely lighting, and an unexpected ending. Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989, Aki Kaurismaki) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 - Often hilarious, even if droll and absurd. Check out Jim Jarmusch doing a Lee Marvin act. Leningrad Cowboys: Total Balalaika Show (1994, Aki Kaurismaki) [Filmstruck] - 4/5 - Fun, short concert film with a mix of rock and folk. Three's a Crowd (1927, Harry Langdon) [DVD] - 2/5 - Langdon's directorial debut after being in several by Frank Capra. This simply doesn't work. He's trying to do his own The Kid, yet Langdon barely does anything. It also has borderline inept direction and continuity. The Chaser (1928, Harry Langdon) [DVD] - 3.5/5 - Wow, huge improvement! I assumed Langdon simply wasn't suited to direct, but this is an often funny, inventive comedy. There's a great gag involving a repo man and a still-wrapped baby carriage, which is about the coldest joke I've seen in a silent. On the Bowery (1956, Lionel Rogosin) [Blu-ray] - 4.5/5 - New York neo-realism. Bleak, starkly photographed, but with razor-sharp focus on the human condition. Seconds (1966, John Frankenheimer) [Blu-ray] - 5/5 - So much to still take in about this film. This is about as bleak of a Hollywood film I've ever seen from the 60s. Film (1965, Alan Schneider) [Blu-ray] - 4/5 - Odd short film written by Samuel Beckett and starring Buster Keaton. More a curiosity, but it's neat seeing Keaton giving 110% in someone's weird little experimental work.
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Sep 12, 2018 12:27
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Been a while (early September!) since I've posted in this thread. Going to try a different ratings. Superfly (1973, Gordon Parks, Jr.) [Filmstruck] - Liked a lot Shaft (1971, Gordon Parks) [Filmstruck] - Alright Notfilm (2015, Ross Lipman) [Blu-ray] - Good Love Streams (1984, John Cassevetes) [Blu-ray] - Liked a lot One-Eyed Jacks (1961, Marlon Brando) [Blu-ray] - Liked Ornette: Made in America (1985, Shirley Clarke) [Blu-ray] - Liked Shanghai Express (1933, Josef von Sternberg) [Blu-ray] - Liked Waiting for Godot (1961, Alan Schneider) [Blu-ray] - Liked a lot Blonde Venus (1932, Josef von Sternberg) [Blu-ray] - Loved The Howling (1981, Joe Dante) [Blu-ray] - Meh The Wicker Man (1973, Robin Hardy) [Blu-ray - The Final Cut] - Liked a lot The Fog (1980, John Carpenter) [Blu-ray] - Liked Hobgoblins (1988, Rick Sloane) [Blu-ray] - Bad, but in a good way Forbidden Zone (1980, Richard Elfman) [Blu-ray - rewatch] - Love The Little Hours (2017, Jeff Baena) [Blu-ray] - Liked The Old Dark House (1932, James Whale) [Blu-ray - rewatch] - Love The Love Witch (2016, Anna Biller) [Blu-ray] - Meh Mr. Arkadin (1955, Orson Welles) [DVD - Comprehensive Version] - Liked (best version I've seen so far) Touch of Evil (1958, Orson Welles) [Blu-ray - Reconstructed Version] - Love The Other Side of the Wind (2018, Orson Welles) [Netflix] - Love, well worth the wait. Best film of the year to me so far. They'll Love Me When I'm Dead (2018, Morgan Neville) [Netflix] - Good, but for all the good clips and footage, it takes a shallow approach to Welles himself. Citizen Kane (1941, Orson Welles) [Blu-ray - rewatch] - Absolute masterpiece. Filmworker (2017, Tony Zierra) [Netflix] - Sort of incompetently made, but Leon Vitali is amazing in the interviews. The Devils (1971, Ken Russell) [Filmstruck] - Wonder Man (1945, H. Bruce Humberstone) [Filmstruck] - Liked, really weird plot. The Devil is a Woman (1935, Josef von Sternberg) [Blu-ray] - Alright. On Dangerous Ground (1952, Nicholas Ray) [Blu-ray] - Meh Du rififi chez les hommes (1955, Jules Dassin) [Blu-ray] - That heist scene  Kiss of Death (1947, Henry Hathaway) [Blu-ray] - Love - one of the best noirs I've seen. Hitler's Hollywood (2017, Rüdiger Suchsland) [Filmstruck] - Liked a lot, actually makes me want to see more Nazi cinema.  Sleuth (1972, Joseph L. Mankiewicz) [YouTube] - Love, even if the ending is bizarre.
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Nov 21, 2018 04:03
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The Wicker Man - I've seen two other films written by Anthony Shaffer - Hitchcock's Frenzy (which is a great film) and recently Sleuth. I read somewhere that Shaffer's writing makes use of puzzles and games in structure. I found this film to be somewhat hypnotic. I've never seen this film before, so I don't know how to compare to the edited versions, but what I assume was restored footage (looking like surprisingly clean faded print) never seemed to be extraneous. The Love Witch - While I found the retro 60s look to be neat, this fell flat on me. It's poorly acted and comes off like an Ed Wood movie with pretty colors. The Other Side of the Wind - Even the brief glimpses that had leaked over the years looked enticing. This is like discovering F for Fake was the "B-side" to an "A-side" which is this film. John Huston is magnificent, but so are Bogdanovich, Foster, and Strasberg. Even with almost dialogue, Oja Kodar looks amazing in the film within the film - as she certainly deserved to have such confidence. There's a scene halfway through in a bar and restroom that's eye-popping between the editing, use of color, and perfect timing to a Blue Cheer song (did Welles personally pick this out?). Even if this turned out to be a long-anticipated dud, the fact we have a "new" Welles movie is beyond wonderful. The fact it's a great film is the icing on the cake. The Devils - I've only seen two other Russell films, Altered States and Women in Love, but I enjoy his unrestrained visual bombardment. This was the edited US cut, so some parts are a bit unclear, but I found it fascinating. Wouldn't mind seeing a better print (it was non-anamorphic widescreen). Kiss of Death - This is best known for Richard Widmark's scene-stealing turn as Johnny Udo, a sadistic mobster with a rictus grin and laugh. But it's also incredibly economical in its storytelling and Victor Mature's performance is just as great. Some really nice photography, too.
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Nov 21, 2018 04:40
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Rick posted:It makes sense to me that The Wicker Man and Frenzy are written by the same person. From what I can find, Anchor Bay released a deluxe edition with the theatrical cut and the pre-release cut. The latter had to be sourced from a 1" analog master, so it didn't look great. Since then, a 35mm print was found at the Harvard Film Archive of all places and StudioCanal let Robin Hardy supervise a new cut. The UK edition is a bit more elaborate with all three cuts (theatrical, pre-release, and final), while the US only got the final cut. BeanpolePeckerwood posted:It's in my all time top 10, maybe even top 5. Just incredible. I'm tempted to import the UK DVD because it's at least anamorphic and the uncut British version (though, still missing a little bit of footage). I'm going to try to check out more of his films. I've wanted to see Tommy for a while since it looks like a trip. Plus, Oliver Reed is magnificent in anything.
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Nov 21, 2018 15:46
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