A few reviews . . (film or TV) — Page 121

I Came By - 2022 - 7/10

A pair of graffiti taggers hit homes of privileged wealth.
Until one explores too deeply in one home and sees something better left unseen.
A secret, and the home belongs to a powerful judge. Retired judge.
Superior thriller, written with very good logic.
None of the – “How’d that happen?” or “Where’d he come from?” plot cheats.
Most of the characters are intelligent, if flawed as individuals.
Each makes calculated moves, unaware other players observe them.
Smart film that does well by its audience. An ugly story, however.

Truck Turner - 1974 - 6/10

♫ There’s some dudes in a bar, with busted heads and broken jaws ♪
Yeah, and who did it? Truck Turner, fool!
Isaac Hayes is a lotta fun in this roaring Blaxploitation fest.
He and his buddy are skip tracers, bounty hunters.
After an especially deadly track, the pimp daddy union puts out the hit.
Violent film, punctuated with car chases and shootouts (nary a cop in sight).
A hospital sequence might seem to inform Hard Boiled decades later.
Funny throughout, as well, especially head pimpette Dorinda, a potty mouthed Nichelle Nicols.

The Amazing Maurice - 2022 - 6/10

Cheshire cat Maurice and his rat cohort, travel from village to village.
Using their hired piper to rid the town of rat infestation … for a fee.
Yes, scamsters. Only this time, this town, they’ve run into an adversary.
Entertaining effort, draws from Shaun the Sheep entries, but without the heart.
No songs here. It does not seem aimed at children nor at adults.
This feels curiously underwritten. An attempt.
Voices ~ Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke, Hugh Bonneville, David Thewlis, Gemma Arterton, David Tennant …

Trespassers - 2019 - 6/10

Their car breaks down on a lonely country road, so Ben and Lucy start walking.
They reach a farm – appears abandoned – and like all movie victims, proceed.
Even after the owner allows Lucy to use the restroom, she decides to explore the interior.
While Ben wanders out back. Why, oh why, oh why?
This is a pitch, and a good one at that, for a proposed larger film.

Two Women - 2022 - 6/10
AKA - Deux Femmes

Out making his cash runs, the village banker is murdered, car soon set ablaze.
Paris dispatches a veteran commissioner and a fledgling (female) magistrate.
Set in 1965, the inspector disrespects his female counterpart and hones in on the village outsider.
Colette, independent and financially well off.
She has sexual affairs, and, on the sly, assists with illegal abortions.
As ever, “guilty until proven innocent” applies in France.
The “two women” function as models for how females were (are) regarded.
This should pair well with Happening (2021).
Based on the real case: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affaire_Georges_Segretin

Alien vs. Predator - 2004 - 6/10

Coulda, shoulda, or maybe shouldn’t have.
Viewed outside the chronological canon, this remains a spotty actioner.
Weyland Corp. heads to the frozen wastes, then deep into a hitherto unknown underground environment.
Why? OK, forget that it’s a little vague here.
With the party are armed mercenary types … whom Mick Taylor could snuff with a chuckle.
Once the two main characters get going (A & P), then this is solid hunt or kill mayhem.
The human representative is OK, and having Lance Henriksen is a shrewd nod.
Enjoyable, for me, although I realize none of the installments after Aliens has ever measured up.

Next Stop, Greenwich Village - 1976 - 6/10

Circa 1953, 22 year old Larry decides to make the Herculean move!
From Flatbush to Greenwich Village.
There, the aspiring actor mingles with a boho set.
Writers, poets, thespians, wannabees, hustlers.
A film of moments, Village lite, and bad casting.
The actor playing 22 year old Larry is too old for the role, everyone else fine.
Shelley Winters unforgettable as his insufferable noodge of a mother.
Early film appearance of Christopher Walken who radiates presence.
Dave Brubeck music a highlight.

The Secret Garden - 1993 - 7/10

Mary, newly orphaned, is shipped off to live with her morose, absent uncle.
The manor and estate are not so much in decline, but hibernating, comatose.
Mary Lennox is a deeply unhappy sort, neglected by her parents while they were alive, then abandoned.
Nevertheless, she begins to bloom, and in so doing, reinvigorates the household.
Children’s film that adults can relish, as well. Gorgeously photographed.

The DVD always struck me as a missed opportunity for extras. And the extras I longed to see were manor tours.
Grouchy Mrs. Medlock with the rooms, cook and her kitchen, Martha and the back stairs and hallways, Ben with the garden. If only creators realized how valued these bits are to viewers.

This Must Be The Place - 2019 - 6/10

Near-wordless short sees young female attempt to join a small crew of females.
Entry involves pain and ritual, as well as obstinacy.
Rewards strike one as minimal. Advantages of the five ‘n dime variety.

Faking Hitler - 2021 - 6/10

Art forger Konrad Kujau peddles recently “found” paintings by Adolf Hitler.
Wealthy collectors are dwindling, and proving increasingly suspicious.
In a brainstorm, he decides his next forgery will be a diary by der Führer.

Whereupon a news magazine gets wind of it and offers huge money for each journal.
Based on true events, this was an 80’s headline.
Principles Konrad and Stern reporter Gerd Heidemann are the core and best part of this series.
To help dramatize this, a pointless character is inserted for sex, romance and parental drama.
Meaningless liability.

The Unchastened Woman - 1925 - 5/10

Deciding to surprise her husband with news she is expecting, instead she spies hubby on the couch canoodling on the couch with the scheming secretary.
What to do? Why, sail to France and deliver the baby there!
When she returns, she draws a flock of admirers, driving her husband wild with jealousy.
Turgid, stodgy, melodramatic, angst-ridden, what else?
Theda Bara in another “irresistible vamp who drives men crazy” role. I don’t get it.

Twenty Plus Two - 1961 - 6/10

She sees her old flame, actually the man she promised to marry, until she mailed him a Dear John letter.
Now he tracks missing heirs. This time, a big one, an heiress gone for a decade.
Latest lead, the murder of a film star’s fan club secretary.
Yes, pretty slender, as is the plot itself.
The construction is odd, with an extended flashback midway (making one realize how dumb the investigator is).
Swanky jazz score and a strong supporting cast.
Janssen himself is stiff, surprising since this is so similar to his Richard Diamond series.

Consent - 2017 - 6/10

The barristers work the trickier cases such as rape.
Was it consensual? Date rape? Martial rape? Or a fitty puck?
And what happens when they get entangled in their own marital conflicts?
Texting, sexting, adultery, recriminations, revenge.
Over-busy play tries to cover a lot of mileage, goes mostly nowhere.
Spartan sets bring all focus to the dialogue. Mostly jousting banter.
Seats in the balcony, this capture.
Audio poorly caught, cameras are far removed.

Holy Spider - 2022 - 7/10
AKA - Ankabut-e Moqaddas

The serial killer dubbed “the holy spider” has strangled ten at least.
Police are hunting, but – well – victims were only prostitutes after all.
He is happily married, a war hero, with a steady job.
Still, prostitutes, drugs, and decadence corrupting sacred Mashhad.
Someone ought to do something!
Intense, dark thriller based on the true story of Saeed Hanaei during 2000-2001.

Quintessentially British - 2022 - 6/10

The passion for gardening, clothes from Savile Row, West End theatre.
How about temperamental motor cars, rich literature, or cricket?
Midway through this happy go lucky documentary, I said quietly, “These are English traditions, not necessarily British.”
England is one part of Great Britain, and this doc excludes Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Feel good remembrance of what was.

We traveled there for decades. Over time, we noticed the distinctly English identity of London subsumed a trifle more each visit. London now equates with New York, San Francisco, Paris, Mexico City, multicultural Babylons.

Agatha Christie’s Hjerson - 2021 - 6/10

She is a showrunner for the popular MILF TV show, running out of ideas.
What if we do a series with famed inspector Hjerson, retired after a case error?
Odd couple premise based on obscure Christie character (actually a character of a character).
One watches formula mysteries for plots, twists and clever characters.
Plots here are half baked, meaning each 2-parter needed a more imaginative rewrite.
Twists range from adequate to obvious.
Our characters are quirky, though not on Poirot level.
They also lack chemistry and the female, Clara, grows more grating each outing.
OK enough if it’s airing.

Japanese Summer Double Suicide - 1967 - 6/10
AKA - Muri shinjû: Nihon no natsu // 無理心中　日本の夏

During Japan’s violent summer, a sex hungry girl latches onto a suicidal man.
They accidentally wind up at a Yakuza meeting place and are forced to remain.
The men wait for weapons, as a conflict with rival gangs is imminent.
Add a young male, obsessed with guns and bent on killing as many people as possible.
Symbolic of the “youth crisis” in Japan.
And, a Westerner, a sniper, eluding police and shooting at random.
A slow film, saturated in various death wishes.
Also of a specific time, which is passed, largely forgotten, so outside events seem incomprehensible.

The Assailant - 2022 - 6/10

“Here. You dropped your wallet, I wanted to return it.”
“Thanks, we thought you were going to kill us.”
“Oh, no. Eventually yes, though.”
Michael (a harrowing Casper van Dien) has a thing about impolite behavior.
He does give bad souls three chances to apologize.
But how few people actually apologize in this world?
Completely, utterly unbelievable married couple mar this Most Dangerous Game remake.

Die Screaming Marianne - 1971 - 6/10

Sisters, not always the warmest relationship.
Half-sisters? And where money is involved? A lot of money?
Marianne has been pursued across Spain and France, and into London.
A quickie marriage is attempted, except she registers the best man as her mate.
Curious mystery filled with liars, sociopaths, shadowy types, and innocents.
Sun washed Portugal acts to blind viewers to the dark, murderous undercurrents.

Living - 2022 - 6/10

Mr. Williams heads a faceless bureaucratic nook, Public Works.
Paper shufflers. Where public projects linger a dusty death.
Given a terminal diagnosis, Williams has a small, very small, awakening.
Too little, too late. Life, indeed living, experiencing, has atrophied.
Low powered film is mannered almost to the point of being stilted.
Williams, an empty soul, merits pity more than sympathy.
As far as the overall message, take it to heart, younglings. It is later than you think.

The Clue - 2016 - 6/10

For Noa, dull days flow listlessly by.
Until one morning, scrawled on her mirror is “Come on an adventure.”
I don’t know about you, but I’d freak over an intruder.
Instead, she follows a pattern of clues. Her adventure.
Contrived mystery short defies logic and requires immense suspension of disbelief.

Kama Sutra: A Tale Of Love - 1996 - 6/10

Fabulous looking, if empty-headed melodrama of childhood friends, Tara and Maya.
Adults, Tara marries the prince, who, bored with her boudoir limitations, begins an affair with Maya.

Also lusting after Maya is the prince’s hunchbacked, dwarf brother.
Meanwhile, Maya initiates her own affair with a handsome, muscular sculptor.
Ravishing scenery is a joy for armchair travelers.
Otherwise, steamy story of jealousy, revenge, comeuppance.

Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind - 2002 - 6/10

Shaggy biopic based on the memoirs of Chuck Barris.
Who? Therein lies a wee problem. One should be a certain age to remember Barris.
Host of TV’s “Gong Show”, creator of “The Dating Game”, producer of “The Newlywed Game.”
Also … according to his autobiography … during this time, he worked as a CIA assassin.
This film plays those claims kinda straight, kinda tongue-in-cheek.
Nevertheless, this ridiculous film has a smart performance by Sam Rockwell, and boasts an incredible supporting cast (George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Rutger Hauer, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon!).
View as a goofy spoof (not as someone who believes everything they see).

Navalny - 2022 - 7/10

Alexei Navalny, political rival and thorn in Vladimir Putin’s side.
Until he suffered an assassination attempt in Siberia.
Fortunately, his wife arranged emergency transport to Germany where Novichok poison was treated.
Unfortunately, once well, he returned to Russia, was seized, is currently in solitary confinement in Melekhovo.
Petitions, marches, polite discontent = big, fat fail.
Watching this reinforced my suspicion that the vast majority of humanity will revert to its historic rank within a generation. Two at most. The servant, worker, prole, serf, slave.
Again and again and again, nations and citizens empower the “strongman”: who promises to solve their problems.
More often than not, the solution becomes king, chairman, emperor, czar, generalissimo, dictator, tyrant.
Once in place, they gerrymander the rules, making removal impossible.
The sharpest way to topple the corrupt regime is the spilling of blood.
Afterward, we swear “Never again” over the graves of millions. Until we forget.
“Whatever has happened, will happen again; whatever has been done, will be done again.” Ecclesiastes.

Copenhagen Cowboy - 2022 - 6/10

Three unconnected stories of Miu drifting through the Danish underworld.
At one point, Miu is referred to as a “lucky coin”.
Like the coin, she shows two sides. Good luck or misfortune.
Fans of Nicolas Winding Refn (I’m grudgingly one) will declare this awash in style.
Detractors (on the fence here) will argue Refn is mired in stall.
Lengthy takes serve to permit viewers to feast on visuals, as well as pad the time.
Refn’s eye, which to me most resembles Cattet & Forzani, is his strength.
His storytelling, or lack of, is his prime weakness,
Stunning scenes aside, this offers neither substance nor emotional involvement.
The conclusion of the sixth episode seems to point toward Fantasy Island territory, which holds no interest for me.
Not that it matters. Refn has unwisely aligned with NetFlix.
In patience and foresight, the cable behemoth rivals King Joffrey, who would axe this series.