A few reviews . . (film or TV) — Page 175

The Keeper Of Lost Causes - 2013 - 7/10
AKA - Kvinden i buret (The woman in the cage)

Mørck doesn’t wait for backup, and he and crew are ambushed.
He survives and is demoted to the basement, sorting and marking cold cases as closed.
Department Q is a dead end, although Mørck is assigned a motivated assistant, Assad.
One case surfaces, a young politico who supposedly committed suicide on a ferry.
Very much a hard core procedural, as the men interview, dig, unearth and irritate.
Taut thriller, followed by two films and a copy-cat TV series.

Ward - 1973 - 6/10
AKA - Štićenik

Young man Mihael, on the run in a bleak countryside, seeks refuge in an asylum.
Steadily pursuing is a man in a black cape.
Mihael begs for, and is granted, shelter, where his paranoia and violence escalates.
The mysterious hunter could be a guardian, could be Death.
Yugoslavian film mixes supernatural hints in obscured mystery.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subscene/155246

Your Past Is Showing - 1957 - 6/10

He publishes a monthly tabloid, you see?
Nothing but dirt and the juicy stuff.
Unless the “profiles” pay £10,000 to quash the issue.
Oh, please, don’t call it blackmail. That’s so … squalid.
Terry Thomas, Peter Sellers, Peggy Mount, Shirley Eaton.
Broad comedy gathers momentum until it bores full throttle into screwball,
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3359854

Sinners - 2025 - 7/10

Brothers Smoke and Stack return from Chicago with loads of ill-gotten money.
They buy an old mill, intending to transform it into a juke joint.
Cousin Sammie, a budding bluesmith, is enlisted to help with musical entertainment.
Sammie’s playing is a siren call, however, for wild revelry, and for evil.
Setting, time and place are wonderfully done. 1930’s Mississippi, flatlands of cotton, scorching heat.
The joint is a success. Rowdy, seething, sweaty, until it attracts another element.
A hard turn enters. Bloodletting along with a shared hive sensibility.

Cave Of The Living Dead - 1964 - 5/10
AKA - Der Fluch der Grünen Augen

After death number six, Interpol sends agent Dorin to a small village.
While all the slain women show neck punctures, the local doctor marks heart failure.
Villagers disdain strangers, yet live in fear of the grotto area, as well as the castle.
And – the titled professor who has taken it over.

Superstition be damned, Dorin soon finds a cross more effective than a pistol.
Not to mention the local gypsy fortune teller, more attuned than the doctor.

Routine storyline from Yugoslavia, with assorted character types, easy to differentiate.
The photography, sharp black and white, deep shadows, cutting and angles, is first rate.
Locations from cave corridors to castle interiors are sheer Gothic, and look authentic.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3359933

Great Expectations - 2013 - 7/10

Young boy Pip, barely more than an urchin, aids an escaped convict.
The man does not forget, even after the wiles of Miss Havisham torture the lad.
Pip has aspirations, expectations, far above his social level.
Heady condensation of Dickens’ novel, and stylized to boot.
Saturated in Gothic, most this unrolls like a walking nightmare.
Characters from the deep past resemble cadavers, while cobwebs are everywhere.
Although we read this in grade school, this is not a children’s story.
Adult Pip, reliving his youth, the stuff of nightmares.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3359934

When Worlds Collide - 1951 - 6/10

Rogue star is heading Earth’s way. Destruction imminent.
Yet, the star has an orbiting planet, perhaps humanity can hop there.
Governments of the world ignore the looming disaster.
Luckily, ka-zillionaire types subsidize rocket building … just like today!
Who gets to go? Who decides? And how will the teeming hordes react?
Old school SciFi (based on a 1930’s Pulp novel) has moments here and there.
Drama and melodrama retard the pace and thrust, however.

Affliction - 1997 - 7/10

Wade, small town sheriff, senses a fatal hunting accident might not be so accidental.
Investigating, however cautiously, is nigh impossible in such a hamlet.
Add that Wade’s mother has been found dead (freezing) in her own home.
Next room, Dad sits drunk. At least he won’t beat her any longer.
Although there are the two boys, Wade and his brother, both abused since childhood.
Less a mystery than a harrowing character study or tortured lives.
Difficult and painful cinema.
I once listened to a Q&A with director Paul Schrader: Casting Coburn was a coup, as they needed someone who would seem physically imposing to Nolte.

Reilly, Ace Of Spies - 1983 - 7/10

Before Ian Fleming envisioned 007, there was the actual, British agent extraordinaire.
Sam Neill shot to fame as the womanizing, double-dealing, articulate agent.
Most of the timeline runs from 1904–1924. Arms deals, wars, espionage, sabotage.
Adversaries include Basil Zaharoff (the Merchant of Death), Felix Dzerzhinsky and Stalin,
Excellent production values, especially for television of this period.
At 12 episodes, this also breathes a bit.
Based on a real individual, exploits dodgy, yet stands with the finest spy films.

The World’s Greatest Sinner - 1962 - 6/10

Insurance salesman Clarence, bored and disillusioned, gets himself fired.
High on the vast potential of life, Clarence decides to write a book - and - enter politics.
The book is more a pamphlet on ultimate self-improvement.
From ordinary folk to super-humans to being gods.
Swelling followers are soon chanting, “We are gods, we are gods” while destroying things.
Clarence, by the way, has renamed himself to simply – God.
And, being a god, proceeds to violate taboos, especially sexual.
Bizarre film best viewed as inspired Outsider Art.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3359935

Once Upon A Time In The Midlands - 2002 - 6/10

On live telly, Dek proposes to Shirley, who says no.
To the immense relief of her ex, Jimmy, holed up in Glasgow.
Who decides, following a robbery of a truck full of clowns (don’t ask), he will win Shirley back.
Never underestimate the emotional power of the old flame.
Peculiar British Rom-Com straddles crime, comedy, romance and kitchen drama.
Indeed, it is wishy-washy about Shirley’s heart, and the merits of the bachelors.
Too many minor, purposeless characters in what feels like a half-finished movie.
Not a bad flick, just pales next to a hundred other Rom-Coms.

Murder By Numbers - 2002 - 6/10

Hard turn for Sandra Bullock, as troubled police officer, headstrong and unlikeable.
Rich boys murder for kicks, and plant evidence on a patsy.
The female detective weighs evidence against intuition.
Good police procedural, yet better as a character study.
Bullock had done dark parts before, but she really nails this one.
Likely opened doors for acclaimed dramatic roles.

Jurassic World Rebirth is yet another entry in a long and thoroughly exhausted series of movies. The plot point of evil person plays god and gets killed by a dinosaur, is beyond over used by this point. Don’t come for an intellectual plot or complex themes, do come for dinosaurs killing corrupt people and great musical scores.

Our Man Flint - 1966 - 6/10

Likely overdue, following the 1960’s spy craze of Bond, UNCLE, Harry Palmer, etc …
Derek Flint, agent for Z.O.W.I.E., must take down runaway scientists, demanding world peace.
Gadget, a tricked out cigarette lighter.
Parody of spy genre all the way, would have likely been a goofy dud (like the Helm films) had it not been for the magnetism of James Coburn.
He exudes cool and panache throughout, even during the most absurd moments.
Great viewing when I was a kid, still funny.

Coma - 1978 - 6/10

Patients beware of Operating Room 8, unless you have a death wish.
Pity the whole staff isn’t in on this, since all it takes is one do-gooder to spoil the scam.
We’re talking body parts, organ harvesting, and none of that grave robbing skullduggery.
Very good thriller, especially for those with upcoming surgery.
Major or minor surgery. Plus, who are those folks behind the masks?
Geneviève Bujold drives this as the out of her depth medico, digging for answers.

Abigail Leslie Is Back In Town - 1974 - 5/10

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Abigail is back in backwater fishing village, Baypoint.
If she had a wanton reputation before, now she’s raunchy with a mission.
Boink and dive all her friends, frenemies, boyfriends, girlfriends, whoever and whenever.
Softcore exploitation (look hard and specifics are soft) has an awful lot of walking and talking.
Sad to say, this is Dullsville.
Attractive cast includes Sonny Landham, who would regret these choices when he ran for governor.

Premonition - 2004 - 6/10
AKA - Yogan // 予言

Select individuals, like our male protagonist, catch the odd newspaper clipping.
Or it flat lands on their desk or windowpane.
Foretelling upcoming death. Solo or multiple. Of course, he is skeptical.
First casualty, his own young daughter.
Slow boil, J-Horror, similar in tone and style with other of this era, eg: Ringu, Pulse.
Guilt and grief permeate the first two-thirds.
Then, timeslips and alternate possibilities shift at an increasingly giddy pace.
Glad I hung with this, although the slow build might put some off.

The Mad Adventures Of Rabbi Jacob - 1973 - 6/10
AKA - Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob

Pivert witnesses the attempted murder of a revolutionary.
Assassins are in pursuit, followed by uncomprehending police.
His wife is badgering him, too. Their daughter’s wedding is tomorrow.
Mind you, Pivert, who is bigoted against all save Catholic French, will impersonate a rabbi.
The first ten minutes load the narrative, and well as the pace, which is frantic.
French comedy roars into farce without blinking.
Silly by every definition, almost nonstop with gags and jokes.

Flamingo Road - 1949 - 7/10

Another turn for the carnival, dash outta town before the sheriff seizes assets.
Except Lane (Elaine), cooch dancer, decides to stay in Bolton after the deputy takes a shine to her.
Thing is, she doesn’t count on the sheriff, who owns the town.
Hell, the entire state seems in his pocket, via bribery, blackmail, political machinery.
Then, this becomes a bruising battle of iron wills,

Noir drama is ostensibly a Joan Crawford vehicle, though she seems too old.
Tell that to Sidney Greenstreet, who shines as the unscrupulous, manipulative Sheriff Semple.
For innocents who assume only top officials are corrupt.

The film Superman (2025) is a great addition to the mythos. A must see for superhero fans. Another great James Gunn picture.

Silver Dollar Road - 2023 - 6/10

Hit and miss documentary of a family trying to retain land from a property developer.
The Reels family has owned prime North Carolina waterfront property since the Civil War.
(US General Sherman reference early, with NO clarification.)
A distaff relative in New Jersey claims he owns the land and sells it.
(Is this relative shown or interviewed? No. Is there a title search?)
Eventually the developer tosses Melvin and Licurtis Reels in jail for refusing to sign away their land.
{Is the developer interviewed? Or even their exterior address shown? No.)
Much is made of the fierce strength of Grandma. What we watch is her turning up Gospel music when things get tough. It is the younger females who step up, while the two men sit in jail, year after year.
All in all, this is sloppy work, from a director who has done much better.
Disappointing. Read the Pro-Publica article instead = https://features.propublica.org/black-land-loss/heirs-property-rights-why-black-families-lose-land-south/

Westworld - 1973 - 710

Saddle up, pardner. Or more likely … draw.
High tech amusement park, Delos, with realistic androids.
Depending on which section one chooses, diversions include centurions, knights, gunslingers.
Along with comely wenches, gargantuan amounts of food, and beverages.
Visitors indulge all manner of appetites, including bloodlust.
Wouldn’t you know it? Technical malfunctions, followed by real bloodlust.
A rare SciFi / Western, reverent, funny, exciting, thoughtful.
There would be a sequel, which tried, but this was magic in a bottle – or brothel.

The Preview Murder Mystery - 1936 - 6/10

Leading man Neil receives numerous warnings that he will not live to see his latest film.
Police suspect publicity stunt, until – yes – adios Neil. RIP.
Followed by more warnings, more deaths. All on the studio lot.
What to do? Seal off the entire studio and hope the murderer makes a mistake.
B-film mystery packs plenty into its sixty minutes.
No motive for the police (not dimwits) to draw in on.
Buffs will enjoy guessing which Paramount sets were used for scenes.
Impressive camera work from the inventive Struss.
Movie within the movie “Song Of The Toreador” looks dreadful, although operetta musicals were popular.

Se7en - 1995 - 7/10

Exceptional Neo-Noir sticks with two detectives tracking a serial killer.
A methodical, painstaking murderer who has planned, apparently, for years.
Seven refers to the seven deadly sins, and each killing is a stylized tableau.
The experienced Somerset has seen too much depravity in the city and is ready to retire.
The impetuous Mills is a small town transfer, cocksure and aggressive.
Drenched city landscape contrasts with the serenity of the library, comfort of Mills’s apartment,
Grim exploration, nonetheless, of the darker jungle abiding amidst our ordered world.

Son Of Kong - 1932 - 5/10

Denham returns to Skull Island and finds Kong’s young offspring.
The youngster is smaller and far, far friendlier.
The set design is still there, yet seems diminished.
I kept thinking of Tarzan films.
This is safe for children, whereas the original was one scary film.
Storywise, this is poorly written, perhaps rushed by the studio.
The finale is memorably infuriating. Watch if you must.