A few reviews . . (film or TV) — Page 189

The Diplomaniacs - 1933 - 6/10

Wheeler & Woolsey are barbers on the Adoop Reservation in Oklahoma.
The tribe has reaped millions from oil, so they pay the duo to go to Zurich and establish world peace.
Before their departure, half-dressed Indian dance around them.
On the good ship Periwinkle, munitions manufacturers enlist hotties to seduce the men.
In France, a half-clad villainess and her crew are recruited.
Should I mention the singing, swinging hotel chambermaids?
Or a cringing scene in the Peace Conference after a bomb explodes?
Zany comedy roars pellmell, silly, embarrassing, and sadly prescient
In 1933, the world was drifting to fascism, to totalitarianism, leading to the deaths of millions.

Scandal Eve - 2025 - 7/10
AKA - スキャンダルイブ

Rafale is a small talent agency. So when their major star is exposed in a tabloid, it damages.
An old incident, of him drinking / sleeping with an underage female.
Readers were shocked! She was 19 (age of consent in Japan is 13, so please).
Turns out there was collusion between a mega-agency and the scandal sheet.
Brief J-dorama of the small upstart trying to survive opposition by the colossus.
Well written, fiercely acted, some sharp turns.
Problems for viewers may be the tabloid or print angle.
In most of the world, those are passé.
Readers, by and large, grow more extinct daily.

The 2026 Documentaries are a hard watch. Do not watch unless you have either a strong stomach or a box of tissues.

Murders In Auvergne - 2017 - 6/10
AKA - Meurtres en Auvergne

Jennifer had hardly been popular, firing many from the health spa.
New visitors required new methods and new faces.
Not oldsters who had worked there for decades.
Her death, murder actually, yielded plenty of suspects.
The following murder, however, seemed unrelated.
Tangled French mystery benefits from no romantic entanglements.
Lead delivers one-note performance, similar to his role in Murders in Valenciennes.

Hollywood Horror House - 1970 - 6/10

Straight off, there is a serial killer dismembering ladies in Hollywood.
Next, we view the wayward man hop off the sightseeing bus (driven by Joe Besser).
The mansion is owned by a recluse from the Golden Age, living with memories and alcohol.
Plotting could be tighter, the pace quicker.
Nevertheless, Miriam Hopkins revels in juicy role (her last), Gale Sondergaard gives starchy support.
Plus, plus, you get a peekaboo tour, inside and out, of the old Norma Talmadge estate.
Psychedelic 60’s visuals intersperse proceedings. A guilty pleasure.

Spider’s Web - 1982 - 6/10

Really, a corpse is the most deplorable thing. Especially when one is expecting company.
So Clarissa discovers an hour after a regrettable argument with the now-deceased.
While she enlists a trio of menfolk, sadly men so often bound away on their own initiative.
Then, when police arrive, and stories have not been rehearsed, oh, the muddle.
Very fine adaptation of lesser known Agatha Christie play, boosted by Penelope Keith’s comedic flair.
Mystery, comedy and spoof of the genre, nicely done.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3367797

Saya: Perspective In Love - 1988 - 6/10
AKA - Saya no Iru Tousizu // 沙耶のいる透視図

Softcore photographer gets drawn into a triangle by his publisher.
The female, Saya, is one of those moody types, gloomy, likely clinically depressed.
Nevertheless, a type of honeypot tempting to certain males.
Like the publisher, then the photographer.
Backstories for two are sordid, incest and parental misconduct.
Film is more arthouse than exploitation or pinku eiga.
Afterward, I felt I had watched something repellent.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3367796

The Offering - 2013 - 5/10

Father and son drive through the heavily wooded road.
Clock reading 11:55, one realizes they had a midnight deadline.
Preparations hurry, climaxing when one realizes something had been forgotten.
One wonders if the omission had been accidental or on purpose.
Horror short feels like an incident in a longer story; backstory and aftermath jettisoned.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3367794

Wake Up Dead Man - 2025 - 6/10

The young priest, an ex-pugilist, has anger problems.
While his new boss, the monsignor, is a toxic soul, decimating his flock.
The clash is immediate, the senior priest’s circle choose to hate the newcomer.
An eventual murder is not unexpected, although being a locked room one heightens interest.
Enter the slick detective, Benoit Blanc, intrigued by the “impossible” angle,
Overlong mystery with plenty of suspects. Funny initially, although the humor fades.

Knock On Any Door - 1949 - 6/10

Lawyer Morton takes the case of defending a police killer (newcomer John Derek).
The story flips back and forth between courtroom dramatics and flashbacks.
Narrative remains stodgy, and Derek, while distractingly pretty, is a poor foil to Bogart.
And the defense tactics? Please.
“Killers are the product of their environment,” says the attorney. “Who’s at fault? Us, society.”
Becomes predictable, perhaps sadly so.

The Robe - 1953 - 7/10

Large Biblical epic finds Roman tribune overseeing the crucifixion.
Following the possession of Christ’s robe, he is transfixed, gradually turning into a believer.
Spectacle in every sense of the word with lavish costumes, wonderful sets, a magnificent score.
Burton and Simmons fine as ill-starred love interest. Rest of the cast excellent (and I had no issue with Caligula).
Growing up, this was still quite popular, often airing as an Easter event on TV.
My parents owned the soundtrack, packed with memorable, rich themes by Alfred Newman.
Somewhat overlong, and impossible to imagine being remade today.

Bolero - 1980 - 3/10

Witless erotic comedy of recent school graduate setting forth to lose her virginity.
She is blonde and attractive, thus, the challenge seems insurmountable.
Wait, there is a bullfighter in Spain, and a lust struck sheik.
Will ecstasy flow in raptures?
The comedy 10 made Bo Derek a sensation, this film killed that right quick.
The heroine prances around mostly naked, common sense on par with cold potato soup.
George Kennedy, why, oh why are you in this?

Gentleman Jim - 1942 - 6/10

Biopic of boxer Jim Corbett, and one of Flynn’s favorite roles.
Boxing is still illegal, although a San Francisco judge wants to legitimize it using Marquis Of Queensbury rules.
Alexis Smith brings the “romance”, yet scant heat. (Flynn & Smith were good, if platonic, friends.)
Flynn perfect as brash, almost unbearably egotistical Corbett.
Ward Bond, however, quietly steals every scene as champion John L Sullivan.
Flynn was on top of the world in 1942, yet Fate proved fickle, then dark.

Becoming Karl Lagerfeld - 2024 - 7/10

Mini-series on the iconic fashion designer, set mostly around the 1970’s.
During his tenure as artistic director of Chloé.
The industry aspect of this is compelling – if one is into this world (I married a fashionista, there is no escape).
His previous relationship with Yves Saint Laurent, conflicts between haute couture and prêt-à-porter.
Much of the series regards his relationship with Jacques de Bascher, French aristo and dilettante.
Bascher suffers low self esteem, substance abuse, limited talent, pettiness.
Nevertheless, for many, I imagine the relationship may be more riveting than fabric.
Essential for those who know and wear brands.

Smarty - 1934 - 5/10

The Thorpes are happily married, although Vicki likes to push the passive aggressive teasing.
Tony, past his limit, slaps her one evening, whereupon she wants a divorce.
Just as abruptly, she marries her divorce attorney and soon pushes his buttons.
Pre-Code drawing room comedy feels forced, with everyone trying to make something from air.
Joan Blondell, in particular, is unbearable as Vicki, mugging and flirting.
Feels and looks quite stagebound.
Perhaps relished by audiences observing the well-heeled misbehave.

Secret Chronicle: Prostitution Market - 1972 - 5/10
AKA - Maruhi: Jorô Ichiba // (秘)女郎市場

Young Oshin is not the brightest bulb.
Her uncle unloads her to a brothel, where she misunderstands her new occupation.
She is highly attractive, and male clientele are eager to sample.
Yet, every attempt becomes a painful odyssey owing to her foolishness.
Lighthearted parody of Roman Porno is pratfalls and farce.
A little goes a long way. Know thyself.

Donovan’s Brain - 1953 - 6/10

The millionaire is badly injured when his plane crashes in the backwoods.
Luckily, a nearby scientist is experimenting on keeping brains alive.
Ever the eagle scout, Dr. Cory succeeds in keeping Donovan’s brain going in an aquarium.
What could go wrong?
Fun 1950’s SciFi all but invites heckling from the audience.
“Don’t do that!” – “Stop!” – “Dude, what are you thinking?”

Ghost In The Shell - 1995 - 8/10
AKA - 攻殻機動隊

Spellbinding anime, awash in style and unforgettable imagery.
Major Kusanagi and partner Batou are assigned to locate and stop the Puppet Master.
Kusanagi’s team is a mix of cyborg and human.
The Puppet Master seems to be spearheading traitorous activity.
Corruption exists between defense contractors and officials.
Don’t want to say too much, other than to say this was groundbreaking on many levels.
Far ahead of its time, more relevant today as we grapple with what defines being human.

Thank You For Smoking - 2005 - 7/10

Tobacco lobbyist Nick works for the cigarette industry, arguing there is no link between smoking and cancer.
Fellow lobbyists represent alcohol and firearms. “It’s not the gun’s fault.”
He is well paid, smoothly professional, until he catches the eye of a do-gooder journalist.
For such a cynical soul, how’d he lower his guard? That rings false.
Otherwise, this is extremely funny – unless one has loved ones who smoked themselves to death.
Eckhart especially fine here, his debating flair and excuses laugh out loud moments.

Cat-Women Of The Moon - 1953 - 5/10

The rocket lands on the far side and navigator Helen leads the men.
Beforehand, one of the men grabbed his pistol, while Helen took her cigarettes and matches.
After twists and turns, the crew discovers a two-million year old civilization.
Oxygen almost depleted, the surviving moon women plot to murder the men and steal the ship back to Earth.
Low-grade SciFi has the concept of a dying world, with survivors planning a soft invasion.
Good looking backgrounds, minimal effects, yet the overall cheapness hampers this.
Subsequently influential as an early feminist SciFi.

Diabolic - 2025 - 7/10

Saving non-Mormon souls, Sister Elise endures the baptism by proxy.
Until she is told to save one damned, whereupon her memories obliterate.
Ten years on, she is a troubled artist, traumatized, actions increasingly destructive.
Friend Gwen suggests “exposure therapy”, meaning returning to the site where her spiral began.
A region still swayed by a fundamentalist offshoot of the Latter Day Saints.
Genuinely creepy film that seems to unearth rock after rock, with twisted reveals.
Warren Jeffs is referenced, and a viewer might benefit from a bit of research beforehand.

#Anniversary - 2020 - 7/10

Wedding day jitters aside, Eric wants to say goodbye.
For two years, Sarah has been his emotional support and solace.
Sarah, understand, had been his fiancé.

Only thing, Sarah had died, so what Eric held onto was an algorithm. AI.
He needs to let go.
She is so real, however, possessing all the obstinacy of the real thing.
Emotionally packed short.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3367791

My Dinner With Jimi - 2003 - 6/10

Nighttime in Swinging London, Turtles frontman Howard Kaylan encounters two obscure musicians.
Iffy docu-drama of the group’s momentous 1967 year is endless fun.
Depending on how steeped one is with the whole 60’s vibe and the sunshiny nightmare it was.
Plenty of songs, plenty of names and faces (such as Jimi and Brian above).
How much is accurate? With all the substances, who remembers?
Nor is that the point. The joie de vivre of this is infectious.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3368643

A Flower In Hell - 1958 - 6/10
AKA - Jiokhwa // 지옥화

Dong-shik arrives in Seoul searching for older brother Yeong-shik.
The older brother has already fallen in with gamblers, prostitutes and criminals.
South Korea, following the war is a dog-eat-dog landscape.
The young Dong is naive, innocent, and attractive to the females.
Older brother Yeong has a steady in Sonya, herself wildly popular with soldiers.
Nonetheless, Sonya quickly seduces Dong; she is a piece of work.
After a slow buildup, this is a terrific period piece and the lead playing Sonya is treacherously unforgettable.

Rental Family - 2025 - 7/10
AKA - レンタル・ファミリー

Brendan Fraser plays a struggling actor in Tokyo, drawn into the world of impersonation.
Guest at the funeral, marital partner, the “other woman”, whatever the role.
His empathy causes him to excel. His empathy draws him into too deep.
By and large, he gets too close to those who have no idea he is fake.
Wonderful small film, and a rather creepy one, especially when he is to be a small girl’s wayward father.
Herzog explored this back in 2000 with Family Romance, LLC.
Overall, a film of loneliness, regrets.