Dirty Harry

A great picture designed around ideas and contradictions that is not simply a vigilante, might makes right or fascist story as has been claimed for decades. In fact there are many parallels between cop and killer let alone Harry being a loner like the Western gunslinger but estranged in the modern world.
Even the ending is left open but thematically fitting.
I dislike the fake stereo mix though.
I can’t believe it took me so long to watch the whole thing, but the moral here is don’t believe everything you read. Sadly the sequels aren’t on the same level in a way like comparing First Blood to its sequels.

Seven Days in May

Saw this at a revival screening. This one needs BD badly.

One of the great thrillers and totally dominated by Lancaster. However I’ve never felt it was as effective as it should be for some reason I can’t put my finger on. It may be just because it is sandwiched between Manchurian Candidate and Seconds.
But it is a great classic that has been largely forgotten. They do not make them like this anymore at all. Some scenes make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up from the dialogue alone…and then there’s that B&W photography…oh my god…with the trademark deep focus… Frankenheimer was a complete genius in every sense. To me he is probably the most underrated American director of them all.