logo Sign In

A few reviews . . (film or TV) — Page 79

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Change Of Plans - 2009 - 6/10
AKA - Le Code A Change

French dinner party from Hell.
Spousal sniping, family conflicts, old flames, food nazis.
There were almost too many characters, but by the end of the film you knew who was who and what their stories were.
Passable. Some reviewers were too harsh. What did they expect?
Going in, I knew this would be a talky dinner party.
One character, praying inside the church, echoed my own thoughts every time I have a party to attend.

“Lord …
Give me the strength to go to this damn dinner!
Give me the strength to pretend, to laugh.
To ask questions, when I don’t care about the answers.
To pretend that I’m there, when I’m far away.”

Author
Time

Berkeley In The Sixties - 1990 - 7/10

Caveat. Documentary is about Berkeley political protest and unrest.
Not the “Summer Of Love” city, San Francisco.
Released in 1990, aging participants recall the rise and demise of campus activity 25 years earlier.
Genesis was in demonstrations against HUAC, police over-response, escalating confrontations.
Well arranged materials deliver an organized history from campus speakers to People’s Park to Panthers.
Enthusiasm for heady, early days is contagious.
Likewise, regrets and brutal honesty about mistakes that led to the collapse.
25 years seems a good time to look back. No telling how many of those interviewees are around or have their mental faculties, now 50 years on.

Author
Time

The Last Of Robin Hood - 2013 - 6/10

Kevin Kline disappears into world weary Errol Flynn in his last years.
Movie spotlights relationship with 15 year old Beverly Aadland and her eagle eyed mother.
From what I have read on and by Flynn, events seemed accurate.
Flynn was still a name star, but the glamour roles had dried up a decade earlier. (Warners dropped him in ‘53)
There were mentions of Oscar nods for The Sun Also Rises and Too Much, Too Soon but nothing came of those.
Fine acting all around in a warts n all portrayal. No one escapes.
Bad reviews seem more from fans who prefer the rollicking swashbuckler, not the worn out wreck.
Kline captures the charm and grace that never failed the man.

Last hurrah - Flynn & Aadland on the Red Skelton Hour (episode aired posthumously).

Author
Time

Dead Mountain - 2020 - 7/10
AKA - Pereval Dyatlova // Перевал Дятлова

Docudrama based on the 1959 Dyatlov Pass Incident, where hikers mysteriously froze to death.
Nine students from Ural Polytechnic head for the Otorten peak in January.
Accompanying them is a helper / observer, we later discover is KGB, mission undisclosed.
The series has two narratives, the hike and subsequent investigation.
In addition, there are numerous WWII flashbacks of the storming of Berlin by two characters.
Finally, local Mansi natives repeatedly warn the group the mountain is dangerous, an evil spirit.
Gripping throughout with superb photography and production values.
Best viewed during the coldest months.

Happier days. Students relaxing, checklisting inventory, eager for adventure.

Author
Time

Big Eyes - 2014 - 7/10

Based on the true story of Margaret Keane who drew wildly popular “big eyed" children in the 50’s and 60’s.
Her husband claims credit, since womenfolk lack serious artistic talent.
Christopher Waltz steals more than credit, he steals every scene with his cringeworthy portrayal of the oily husband.
This is a Tim Burton film and I was concerned going in that it would be another excursion into repetitive weirdness.
Not to worry, this was a straight ahead drama / female empowerment journey with nice San Francisco locations.
Turns out Burton is an admirer and collector of her work.
Narrative never drags, though it is spare on the aftermath.
Terence Stamp delicious as sarcastic art critic.

Creepy, big eyed children would make perfect zombies.

Author
Time

A Woman In Danger - 2001 - 6/10
AKA - Une Femme Piégée

Hit n miss French thriller seems like a throwback to the 1980’s.
Florence, after spending the night bouncing the local stud, slinks home by morning.
Before she can concoct a plausible fairy tale for her husband, she scans the headlines.
Hey, isn’t that her lover who was murdered?

Wait a minute! He did not look like that. Hold on, wait! Oh no, the police!
So begins the footrace. Barefoot Florence with the dogged gendarmes in pursuit.
Stylistically, this resembles one of those erotic thrillers from the 1980’s.
Overuse of zooms to frowning closeups, music crescendos to punctuate a point.
Retro angle kept me watching, though this is far-fetched, cinema meatloaf.

Author
Time

Shoot To Kill - 1947 - 5/10

Wife threatens blackmail to her crooked District Attorney husband, who is in thick with three rival gangs, after hurling a fourth leader into the slammer on falsified testimony. Only then, the jailbird escapes and . . .
Whew! At 63 minutes, this B-film percolates briskly.
While it has Noir photography, the plot is straight gangster flick.
Wooden acting, decent score, OK twists.
Selected this when I wanted something quick and brief. Enjoyable time waster.

Author
Time

She-Wolves: England’s Early Queens - 2012 - 6/10

Three episode documentary on six women who attempted to rule Medieval England.
Historian Helen Castor is several cuts above the witless, perky presenters who litter docs.
The material itself is a mix of intriguing and sketchy (as Castor confesses) from lack of records.
Narration, illuminated manuscripts, picturesque ruins. No talking heads.
Not necessarily compelling, but will be of interest to history buffs.

Author
Time

Hamish MacBeth: Season 03 - 1997 - 7/10

Quirky drama comedy set in remote Highlands village.
Robert Carlyle plays the local constable.
Fans of Beaton’s books, read no further, as Carlyle will never substitute for the tall, red haired book original. Indeed, the series bears next to no resemblance to the books.
This third - and final - season concludes a couple story arcs, and is also a little darker than seasons one and two.
Most of the episodes were written or directed by Danny Boyle.
Beautiful Scotland - severe, craggy, lush - give a good sense of place, though the time is harder to pin down.
Some stories drift into allegory or fairy tale.

One warning. There were NO subtitles I could find.
A few conversations were difficult to translate, and subs would have been helpful.

Author
Time

Altitude - 2019 - 6/10

“What was that sound?” she asks.
He looks, alarmed, then says, “Probably an animal.”
They both know better. They have been climbing for hours, they have not found the cabin, and the fog thickens.
Short is a mix of rural horror and psychological horror.
Ending lacks oomph, this should have been a couple minutes longer.

Author
Time

Sin City: A Dame To Kill For - 2014 - 5/10

The sequel earned acceptable ratings scores, but atrocious reviews.
What do critics know?
Perhaps they don’t like black n white.
Maybe they didn’t appreciate Noir.
Possibly they get turned off by florid dialogue.
Could be they wanted a more timely, more faithful sequel.
Five minutes in, I grasped I was watching an inferior clone of the original.
While not as bad as feared, this was flawed. Writing was fruity and stilted, action was contrived, the characters were even more caricatures than before. It reminded me of a parody and I decided to interpret it thus.
All the visual flourishes that punctuated the first film, are done to death here. Too bad.
Worse, resolutions on stories abrupt and poorly thought out.
Is this a decent Noir? No. This is a fifteen year old’s comic book mentality of that genre.
Acceptable time waster, also a downer.

Author
Time

Last Cab To Darwin - 2015 - 7/10

Taxi driver, Rex, listens as his doctor reads his fate.
Cancer. Three months, tops. Death in a hospital bed.
Resisting the sterile white room, Rex embarks on a road trip to Darwin and the promise of death with dignity.
Euthanasia.
As in many road trip films, he encounters lost souls along the way.
Forthright, deceptive, and of course, appearance is often illusion.
The journey toward death, this trip is inconceivably uplifting.

Author
Time

The Hidden Face - 2011 - 7/10
AKA - La Cara Oculta

Quicksand thriller from Spain.
Insecure female decides to “test” her boyfriend.
“Does he really love me?”
“Would he miss me if I left?”
She disappears.
Big - big - big mistake.
After a couple of days, he gets drunk at a cafe and goes home with a new bang bunny.

Males, being creatures of limited depth, rarely recall ex-girlfriends once new the new face drains the mojo.
Slow to get going, but a nightmare for asthmatics, the claustrophobic, and the insecure.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Little Forest: Winter, Spring - 2015 - 7/10
AKA - Ritoru Foresuto: Fuyu/Haru // リトル・フォレスト 冬編・春編

Followup to Little Forest: Summer, Autumn.
Winter snow blankets the landscape and Ichiko’s struggles deepen.
A punishing part time job, the bitter temps, her larder emptying.
She has to face realities, or herself, and stop her habit of turning away.
As before, absolutely stunning photography, and a lot of cooking.
The ending feels like the writers had painted themselves into a corner, what they offered was insufficient.
Nevertheless, this a magical a soothing depiction of a rural paradise.

I reworked subs = https://subscene.com/subtitles/little-forest-winterspring/english/2691926

Author
Time

Bettie Page Reveals All - 2012 - 7/10

I was still active on FBook when Bettie Page died, and I posted a news blurb.
Some of my friends asked, “Who’s she?”
I uploaded a photo.
They may not have known her name, but they recognized her immediately.
Arguably the greatest pinup model of all time.

Loving documentary succeeds despite flaws.
First problem, the editing of the first half is below amateur level.
Brief scene or story plays out for a minute or two with accompanying music.
Quick wipe, then another vignette unspools with totally different music.
This buggy bouncing tone mars the fame period, her “glory” years.
There is a well known group of film “faneditors” out there.
At least twelve among them could have produced a more polished, more fluid, result.
Ain’t no use crying, however. Jumpy is what it is.
Better by far, Page provides most of the narration herself, in a hoarse Southern drawl that bears witness to decades of hard road.
Covering her later years, the director grows more cohesive, and that half is better composed.

Another problem is less tangible, more subjective.
I have been buying Bettie Page “stuff" since the 70’s.
When she resurrected in the 80’s, collectors gradually learned which photographers peddled her photos, yet never paid her a dime in royalties, knowing of her poverty.
Some were among the doc interviewees. Sorta stuck a craw in my throat.
Page’s image is iconic. Regarding icons, there is an uneasy line between appreciation and appropriation.
Early on, you see individuals borrowing the Bettie look.
Ordinary souls in search of an identity are one thing. Celebrities out for an extra dollar, though …
Takes all sorts in this world.

Even though I am kicking parts of this documentary around, I enjoyed it tremendously.
Of all the Bettie Page shorts, reels, and that godawful movie, this is the best.
Honest, unflinching, packed with sexy images, as well as bitterness.
Not always a fun documentary, but altogether satisfying.
One gets the feeling Bettie departed this world, touched with grace.

Author
Time

Malignant - 2021 - 6/10

Appears Madison is being troubled again by an old companion.
Folks are starting to die, horribly, because of him.
And of course, being suspect numero uno, when she tries explaining to the police.
“What? Say what? You had a dream?”
Until they check out the address.
Rocket paced horror thriller is well scripted and shot, though it is actually absurd.
It moves so quick, and has ongoing answers and exit doors, giving you little time to wonder at the nonsense.
When over, you’re like, “That was fun, but how … or why … how did he dodge …?”

Author
Time

Bothersome Man - 2006 - 7/10
AKA - Den Brysomme Mannen

Norwegian parable.
Office drone wakes up on bus roaring down oblivion highway.
He is dumped at a shack, then ferried to his new city, new apartment, new job.
Everyone is cheery, friendly, and work duties are undemanding.
Bonus, he lands a girlfriend who is agreeable and willing.
Sound like Paradise to you? Yeah, well, some types are never happy with their lot.
The new man is dissatisfied. He cannot pinpoint what his problem is with Eden, but he wants something else.
And he gradually makes everyone around him uncomfortable.
Well thought out visuals, maddening dialogue, and steady pace as the reveal unfolds.

Author
Time

As Above, So Below - 2014 - 7/10

I’m normally as patient with “found footage” genre fare as I am with “dead teenager” flicks.
Still - - when those with subterranean settings beckon, I often cast aside misgivings.
Young archaeologist and historian/translator join with explorers and descend into Parisian catacombs.
Holy relics for one group, treasure for the other.
Above ground proceedings slow. Characters irritating, voicing reluctance, then feebly acquiescing.
Once into the depths, though, hold on!
For viewers who have done unguided caving, especially the wet caves, this captures the claustrophobic exhilaration and disorientation. Narrow, twisting tunnels, watery passages, surprise chambers, and ever-present mud.
Excellent midnight movie.

Layered meanings and symbolism throughout, though frequently convoluted.
I recommend Dr. Sapirstein’s (fan)edited version, slightly cut and rearranged.

Author
Time

The Legend of Barney Thomson - 2015 - 6/10

50 year old barber with anger issues escalates into homicide.
Hmm, the body. What to do? I know, ask Mum!
Mum, an acerbic, spiteful soul bails him out. From frying pan into fire.
Now, police suspect him of being a notorious serial killer!
Very black comedy of murder, treachery, dismemberment.
Robert Carlyle - Emma Thompson - Ray Winstone, all must of had a field day in this.

Buyer beware! My DVD has no SUBS, and the Glasgow dialect is thick and actors slur lines.

Author
Time

Before I Go To Sleep - 2014 - 5/10

Woman (Nicole Kidman) wakes up next to “husband" (Colin Firth).
Only she has no idea who he is. After an accident ten years earlier, she suffers from anterograde amnesia.
Each day is a blank, she cannot remember the previous day, only memories up to her late twenties remain.
Every night when she sleeps she forgets that day all over.
There are mysteries.
A psychiatrist is trying to help her - is he really a psychiatrist?
Is Colin Firth really her husband?
What happened ten years ago? Who was she?
Less imaginative and creative than 50 First Dates, let alone Memento.
Slow, stagey, cheap looking. Ill thought out script rutted with plot holes.
Waste of talent.

Author
Time

Thundering Sword - 1967 - 5/10
AKA - Shen Jian Zhen Jiang Hu // 神 劍 震 江 湖

To bring balance to the martial arts world, mystical sword must be found and destroyed.
Two rival clans seek. One righteous, one wicked. One handsome male, and one attractive female.
Do they fall in love? Can love conquer all?
Overtly theatrical looking story features only a handful of swordfights.
Instead there are three songs, some sweeping musical cascades, and moral lessons.
Not a terrible film, but less action than expected from a Shaw Brothers production.

Author
Time

The Guest - 2014 - 5/10

Recently discharged soldier shows up at doorstep of family of his combat buddy. Recently deceased.
Politely gains their trust with -
“He wanted to me tell you he loved all of you.” and “I would have been here earlier only I was in the hospital.”
Red flag alert for any family other than a movie family! What kind of hospital?
Aarrgghh, they never catch on. Instead they confide and reveal themselves.
Straight off the audience sees Dan Stevens is wound tighter than a rabbit trap.
First half of the film actually pretty good, before the plot bounds into the Land of the Preposterous.
Experimentation - civilian contractors - mercenaries - don’t wonder.
Not that I have to have explanations, in fact I enjoy ambiguous narratives.
Yet the script laid down miles of plot rail and left numerous questions suspended.
Better for non-demanding action buffs.

Author
Time

Hell Bound - 1957 - 6/10

The heist unwinds like clockwork. The castaway, the doctor, the nurse.
Military brass won’t know until too late, opiates for injured troops have been lifted.
Street value = 250K. Dreams for druggies, green for smart men. Whatya say?
Sure enough, it’s only a pitch to “investment bankers” from the smooth hustler in a cheap suit.
What could go wrong? Damn near everything.
B-Noir will appeal to buffs of the genre who will nitpick and dissect throughout.
Many scenes involve lengthy tracking shots, clearly meant to pad the film to an hour.
Fine Les Baxter score, often mondo interesto, other times having no bearing whatsoever on the plot.
John Russell, usually in Westerns, owns this one. Smiling, ruthless, violent.
One of my favorite padded sequences involves the burlesque club. Split, Jack.

Author
Time

Surge - 2020 - 7/10

A journey of self-liberation? Please.
Overworked, overstressed travel security worker is already running off the rails when we first see him.
Surely his colleagues and supervisors see this. Or maybe they pretend not to.
Within thirty minutes, he is out of control.
Frantic, reckless, dangerous to himself and to others.
Uncomfortable watching, especially since all of us have worked with primed-to-blow coworkers.
Ben Whishaw ought to have received accolades for this. Mainstream viewers will go, “Q who?”

Author
Time

The Wing Or Thigh? - 1976 - 6/10
AKA - L’aile ou la Cuisse

Gourmet cuisine clashes with fast food and elephants in French farce.
Editor publisher of annual dining guide intends to retire and leave ratings guide business to his son.
The son, however, prefers being a clown in a children’s circus.
Meanwhile, greedy entrepreneur is snapping up regional cafes and turning into his fast food franchise.
Can the gourmet editor save France from going the American diet route?
Fast, funny, best of all, not oversubbed.
Great sequence finds our critic undercover as an American cowboy, wearing pink rodeo garb.