A few reviews . . (film or TV) — Page 162

Downtown - 1975 - 5/10

Inept private detective Al Pereira peers through the trick, two-way mirror.
Two stunning hustlers, planning to blackmail a rich playboy, need a photographer.
They have already fooled our PI once already, landing him in jail, but he is ever gullible.
Jess Franco outing mixes Noir with comedy with erotica. Plot is OK for once.
Beautifully lensed in Beaulieu-sur-Mer in the French Riviera.
Chemistry between Franco and Lina Romay is electric, as their real life relationship ignites.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3352990

Demons - 1971 - 6/10
AKA - Shura

Ronin Gengobei has already squandered his money and heirlooms on a smiling geisha.
Friends and fellow samurai loan him 200 ryo so he can repay his debts and join them.
He is to be part of the 47 Ronin, except the geisha and her heartless friends see the money.
Slow tale, composed as if for a theatre, dark throughout.
A story of lies, multiple deceptions, destroyed honor, revenge.
Neither cheating nor vengeance bring release or satisfaction.
Classical Japanese cinema; may be excruciatingly slow for the impatient.

The Reflecting Skin - 1990 - 7/10

The heartland, late 1940’s, young friends Seth, Kim and Eben idle away the summer.
They especially enjoy tormenting the English Rose transplant.
Seth’s mother is neurotic and unpredictable, harsh even.
His father reads a vampire pulp, which fires Seth’s imagination to the point he believes a neighbor is one.
Highly stylized film shot from the boy’s point of view.
His house and parents are browns and grays, rust and dust.
While the outside world is deeply saturated colors.
Darker concerns, not caught by the child, is his troubled brother, back from WWII.
And a long, black Cadillac.
A visual feast for the arthouse crowd. Casual crowd, you’ve been warned.

Juror #2 - 2024 - 7/10

During voir dire, those in the pool try to escape.
Our main protagonist, Justin, is selected despite having a pregnant wife who is a nest of worry.
The trial is a lowlife affair. Boyfriend accused of bludgeoning his girlfriend.
Plenty of tavern witnesses saw the fight, her defiant exit, him climbing into his vehicle.
Witnesses include Justin, who was not supposed to be anyway near alcohol.
And who, like a zillion other people, should never have checked his phone, while driving in a rainstorm.
Later, he reflects back, “It was a deer I hit, right? It couldn’t have been her!”
Excellent courtroom drama, with keen eye toward juror preconceptions.
Film makes a tense moral thriller – so long as you overlook plotholes.
(SPOILER > He could have dodged jury duty simply saying he was in the bar and saw the fight.)
Midway, my bride observed, “This is Georgia. Your drawl is heavier than anyone in this.”

Lot 249 - 2023 - 7/10

Smith is a hard-nosed pragmatist, a scoffer.
Nevertheless, the medical student has witnessed the deaths and near deaths.
He knows the prime suspect, and his method employed.
Something not quite of this world, existence of which the authorities would never accept.
Classic holiday ghost story, this outing courtesy one Arthur Conan Doyle.
These Mark Gatiss films seem to move from strength to strength each season.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3352989

Here In America - 2024 - 7/10

“When the government goes into the business of destroying trust, it goes into the business of destroying itself.”
Arthur Miller
A series of meetings, mostly in 1952, between Arthur Miller and Elia Kazan.
The HUAC meetings are underway, and the men may be targets.
Kazan was a member of the US Communist Party, Miller attended a few meetings.
Neither did anything overtly wrong, but the Committee is more interested in those who held influence.
Also who else belonged. Who were the other traitors? Names. What were their names?
Heady play about witch hunts and persecution, a cycle that resurrects over and over.
Miller would fashion his experience into “The Crucible”. Kazan … is what he is.
He is left to ponder Miller’s phrase about the gap between what’s right and what seems best for you.

The film Wolf Man (2025) is a fantastic addition to the supernatural genre. It serves as a perfect allegory for both toxic masculinity and man’s search to dominate nature. A must see for those with strong stomachs.

The Charge Of The Light Brigade - 1936 - 6/10

High powered adventure loosely based on historic fact, the Tennyson poem, and nonstop creative license.
The English vie for influence in the Khyber region. While the Vickers brothers vie for the love of Miss Campbell.
The India backstory is lengthy, mixing romance, intrigue and betrayals.
This seems straight out of Kipling.

Nonetheless, the scene inexorably shifts to the Crimean War and the Balaclava Heights.
The finale is thrilling and horrifying. Flynn blamed director Curtiz; the culprit was likely Breezy Eason.

Alien Vs. Predator Requiem - 2007 - 5/10

Pity the unloved child.
Unexpected followup to 2004’s AvP boasts more carnage with a barely coherent story.
Hard upon that film, the Predator crew is overwhelmed by a new chestburster, and the ship crashes in woodsy USA.
The Xenomorph survives and scampers away, laying fresh eggs.
A Predator fixer races to the area to clean the mess, remove evidence and liquidate all Xenomorphs.
What else? Law enforcement, overage teenagers, compositions that are far too dark.
Not as good as the previous effort (which received mixed reviews), this has decent scenes, absurd logic.
B-flick. Hopefully, the studio will resist the creators lobbying for another film.

Haunted Palace - 1949 - 5/10

Shaw Desmond presents a handful of reenacted hauntings.
A remorseful priest, waiting 200 years for forgiveness.
The evening arrival of spirits to a long past gathering.
Interspersed with a ballerina, gracing the proceedings with interludes.
Hauntings, not horror, catching sight of lingering presences.
Note Desmond’s circular bookcase in the background.

On Sunday night I watched the movie Watchmen (2009), I went into it without a clue as to what it was about. My response to this movie is that its story is a poor attempt at being edgy, written in a way that emphasizes the worst parts of the political landscape of the last decade and a half. For me it was hard to watch and I at many points was left feeling like I just couldn’t understand why so many comic book fans like it, and that the story is unnecessarily antagonistic. If I could I would have prevented its creation.

The Bride With White Hair 2 - 1993 - 5/10
AKA - Bak fat moh lui zyun II // 白髮魔女2

Disappointing, to say the least, sequel to the 1993 Hong Kong classic by Ronnie Yu.
The “white witch” recruits and builds a female army of lethal assassins.
New heroes are mustered, their purpose to end to the carnage befalling the major houses.
Despite the presence of Brigitte Lin and Leslie Cheung, their roles are small.
This actually feels like a showcase for new talent.
Quality action, complicated narrative, and pace that swings between busy and idle.
See the original first, Crave more, this will fill a hole.

Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters - 1985 - 8/10

Highly stylized film of the celebrated writer and patriot.
Childhood flashbacks mix with scenes of his final day, and failed coup.
Then there are scenes from several works: “The Temple Of The Golden Pavilion”, “Kyoko’s House” and “Runaway Horses”.
Familiarity with Mishima’s life and works is not essential as you will be spellbound by visuals.

Ken Ogata is a bit beefy for the role, but he is compelling and one soon forgets the physical disparity.
This is still something of a scandal in Japan.
I met director Paul Schrader one time and asked questions about this film. He is very proud of it.
I was in my teens when Mishima’s death made global headlines; I recall being quite shocked.

Cristóbal Balenciaga - 2024 - 7/10

Strolling biopic series of the formidable fashion designer.
Active in Paris haute couture from the 1930’s into the 1970’s.
This explores his obstacles, relationships, methods.
His rivalries / friendships include Dior, Chanel, Givenchy.
Homosexuality is touched on several times, as well as Fascist Spain, and Nazi occupied Paris.
Alberto San Juan digs into the lead role, showcasing Balenciaga’s innovation and almost monomaniacal need for control.
Superbly done – BUT – this is one of those series where one ought to have a handle on fashion history.
(I married a fashionista, one who is steeped in the major houses and keeps up with current designers and models.
I even went to an exhibition of Balenciaga’s garments a few years ago.
Hate saying this, but the less you know, the more you may miss out.)

The Temp - 1993 - 6/10

Peter is released from the mental clinic. Issue, paranoia.
Now divorced, he returns to work to find the company has been taken over – layoffs announced.
Help arrives in the form of a temp, Kris, who proves to be an adept workhorse.
Meanwhile, praise the maker, work enemies and adversaries encounter misfortune.
Better viewed as a black comedy, this is a Noir tinged thriller.
Studio interference crippled this one. Not to mention test audience surveys.
A twisted narrative, never properly resolved.
Coulda, shoulda. Guilty pleasure for me, yet a flawed movie.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind - 2004 - 7/10

A somewhat indescribable film of a tempestuous couple.
Clementine has already gone to the clinic and had all memories of Joel purged.
Afterward, reluctantly, Joel decides on the same.
Erasure proceeds from most recent (angry, hateful) to older.
Earlier memories are romantic, poignant, and Joel wants to hang onto them.
Chronology shifts wildly and abruptly. Camera techniques and styles vary.
Perplexing at times, likewise depressing, story of love, memory and Fate.
Also the only Jim Carrey film I ever liked.

The Coca-Cola Kid - 1985 - 6/10

Coke execs discover an untapped market deep in the Australian Outback.
It is the fierce stronghold of the local beverage.
They send their ace, Becker, to try and topple the rival.
Strange comedy runs quirky, sexy and bittersweet.
The best moments, the ones that linger, are pure Aussie.
I didn’t always understand some, yet that was OK.
“As Australian as a barbed wire canoe.” Making the jingle below. Brilliant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml0TURpHRuw

Rimfire - 1949 - 5/10

Army gold has been hijacked, and an incognito officer is dispatched.
Around the one-horse town somewhere, and the town ain’t nothing but lowlifes.
Saloon, cardsharp, brawls, a half drunk judge, shady cowpunchers.
Somehow marked as a Western Noir, this is just a B-oater.
Final feature by Breezy Eason, and the wild opening has his trademarks all over it.
Nobody could shoot charging horses like he could.
Reed Hadley is in this, but underutilized.
For an hour film, this has a pile of cold-blooded murders, close to a dozen.

Secrets Of Coca-Cola: The Billion Dollar Beverage - 2019 - 6/10

History of the obscure beginnings of the snake oil tonic to global dominance.
No, there wasn’t cocaine in the early product, it was coca, from the leaves.
Kept for a long time, eventually removed. Formula remains a guarded secret.
Upstart Pepsi mentioned, but the 90’s taste-test challenge, not the earlier Pepsi Generation.
Best for cola junkies, who I suspect are legion. +
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3353312

• My own father was the latter. He had a standing order with the local bottler to deliver 15 cases monthly.
  That’s the 16 oz bottles, 24 per case. Yes, he drank two six-packs a day.
  Also smoked a steady stream of cigars. Health conscious souls, he lived to be 86.

The film Flight Risk is a fantastic comedy that has twists, turns, and at some points it turns into a pear. This is a must see and yet another masterpiece from Mel Gibson!

The Wastelander: Sector 23 - 2024 - 6/10

Near future sees conflict in cityscape rubble.
Human soldier vs mechanized foes.
Our protagonist, carrying a battered map and tech gear he does not comprehend, is on a quest
Minimal conflict sequences (badly choreographed, overlaid with poor music). Quiet moments are better.
Borrows from iconic films, leading to a dark reveal.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3353238

Dirty Weekend - 1993 - 6/10

Even I knew her boyfriend was shagging half the females at his birthday party.
Bella, hurt, opts to move to Brighton and start freelancing.
With American flicks, the victim runs, screams, and falls down a lot.

In this, Bella takes matters into her own hands, or rather takes the hammer into her hands.
Black comedy of tables turned, the lamb into butcher.
Lia Williams, a dead-faced sponge in the first third, gradually reveals the hunter’s smile.
Large name cast, many acting against type, seem to be having fun.

Strange Darling - 2023 - 7/10

She is running, literally for her life, as she is being hunted, pretty much through the whole film.
Often she’ll ask, “Can you help me? Please?”
Usually folks will oblige. If not, she is in survival mode.
Six chapters, chopped, making the storyline trickier to get a handle on.
Outstanding chase thriller, veering into Slasher territory, with venomous turns.
If curious, I would go in stone cold; I fear most reviewers cannot be discreet.
Willa Fitzgerald gives a tour de force performance as the quarry.

Another Woman - 1988 - 7/10

Professor Pope takes a year off to work on a book.
Her apartment, undergoing construction, is too distracting, so she rents an office space.
Where, via the HVAC duct, she overhears a young woman and her psychiatrist.
The sessions are painful, and eavesdropping, Professor begins to identify.
Partly with the despair, partly by identifying herself as something of an oppressor.
One of Woody Allen’s serious films, filmed in subdued colors.
Quiet, thoughtful, yet brimming with self-identity and perceptions.
Casual viewers desiring his comedies might pass on this.

The film Companion is a fantastic art house Sci Fi horror movie that has a great deal to say about the horrible way that women are treated by men in our society. Like Poor Things it carries forth it’s message in a jarring manner, but with class. A must see but do be advised on the somewhat graphic nature of some elements.