Vultural

Le Capital - 2012 - 6/10

Slick financial thriller of high rolling executives.
When the head man of a massive French bank takes ill, he appoints a temporary boss.
His experience is limited and circling sharks eye him as chum.
Worse, a wealthy American hedge fund buys controlling interest in the bank, then sets up traps.
Unlike similar movies - say Big Short, there is no spoon feeding to viewers.
Maneuvering occurs across continents and conference rooms.
Temp Boss proves a cynical calculator, though there is a love angle, stupid beyond belief.
Root for villains because there are no “good guys.”

Gun Woman - 2014 - 5/10
AKA - Nyotaiju Gan Ūman // 女体銃 ガン・ウーマン

Exploitation trash, aimed at the US market, per Los Angeles and desert settings, and a pair of talkative American hired guns.
The redeeming element about exploitation - even trash is often enjoyable and this does have potential.
Basic revenge plot, the baddie is a homicidal whack-job, and the anti-hero (known as “The Mastermind”) is cold, clinical, utterly goal focused.
Most of this is explained and described in lengthy exposition between the hired guns.
One asks questions, the other warbles away. Like a bad infomercial.
The pace is pretty darn slow (ahem, padded), and the limited body count shows signs of budget restrictions.
Gun woman herself might have ten lines of dialogue, though the movie is about her (no, it’s about Mr Mastermind).
Her zero thespian skills are compensated during the final twenty minutes or so, when she performs all her fighting, killing, stabbing, shooting, general bloodlust, stark naked. No foggy lens, strategic plants, digital manipulation.
All Asami, all the way.
For many exploitation hounds, that will boost overall scores.

I Heard It Too - 2014 - 5/10

Mom sings daughter Bethany to sleep.
Before slumber and dreams, comes the rustle, then a voice.
Horror short of home invasion will not be to all tastes.
Might depend on how you enjoy watching a terrified 3 year old.
I didn’t.

If Walls Could Talk: The History Of The Home - 2011 - 6/10

Four part documentary by Lucy Worsley focusing on four rooms in the home.
Living room - Bedroom - Bathroom - Kitchen
Evolution from Medieval time to modern age.
Informative, entertaining, full of catch-phrase origins:
“By hook or by crook” - “Walls have ears” - “Burning the candle at both ends” -

The Killer Is Loose - 1956 - 6/10

Curbside, the getaway sedan purrs like a tiger. The wheelman, eyes and ears on full alert, watches the building. Next to him, the gunman, patient as blight, calmly holds his weapon. At either end of the bank, two confederates nod. And the heist unfolds.
Easy money, folks. No gunfire, no injuries. Yeah, Jack, crime pays.
Except there were a couple of loose comments, which the police, ever perceptive, pick up on. There had been an inside man.

All the makings of a police procedural fly apart after a trigger-happy raid.
An innocent is slain, and the one left grieving vows revenge … and waits.
Decent B-Noir, undercut by domestic melodramatics.
Joseph Cotton and Rhonda Fleming notwithstanding, the reason to watch is Wendell Corey, his character maddened by grief, driven and resourceful in vengeance.
And – Los Angeles, filmed during rainy season, night and day.

The Young Girls Of Rochefort - 1966 - 5/10
AKA - Les Demoiselles de Rochefort

What a disappointing howler.
This was followup to The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg.
Seaside village prepares for the end of summer fete, as the French version of carnival arrives.
Looking for love are Catherine Deneuve and her real life sister Françoise Dorléac (who died tragically young that year).
Also on hand, dancing away, are George Chakiris and Gene Kelly.
Dancing is an understatement, the film is almost nonstop choreography.
Numerous songs by Michel Legrand, none truly memorable.
The movie gets exhausting after awhile. The impression is that everyone tried too hard.

The Lady On A Train - 1945 - 6/10

Silly murder mystery, not without merits, though not, as indicated in IMDB, a Noir in the classic sense.
Deana Durbin’s character sees, or thinks she sees, a murder being committed from her seat on the train.
The police don’t believe her, nor does her favorite mystery writer whom she pesters.
She discovers the identity of the “victim.” A rich gentleman, his death ruled a suicide.
Heirs include Noir heavy Dan Duryea and smiling Ralph Bellamy.
Several other quirky characters fill the plot, as well as false trails, more murders, quick dialogue.
For fans, Ms Durbin sings a couple standards.
Hard boiled seekers, this light hearted fluff ain’t it.

Sarrantonio, Al - Toybox

Collection of what are, ostensibly, children’s horror stories.
Spooky pumpkins, Halloween, the creepy house on the edge of town.
The new kid who doesn’t fit in, the old homeowner of ill odor.
The stories are – in a word – quaint.
Undoubtedly, they reflect Sarrantonio’s childhood in the 1960’s.
While young readers age eight or nine might read these with no ill effects, they would probably regard them as hopelessly corny.
The final half dozen are uglier, a few casually horrific, in keeping with the horror boom of the 1990’s.
Note: Edgar Poe was misspelled Allen. C’mon. Worse, Necco Wafers has two C’s.

Hector And The Search For Happiness - 2014 - 6/10

Simon Pegg as successful psychiatrist who suffers a crisis. Bored, self-doubt, plain old ennui.
Abandons his girlfriend (Rosamund Pike!) to pursue a globe-trotting quest to discover what makes happiness.
Exotic locales, scrapes and escapes, plastic villains, convenient guardian angels.
Feel like I’m shooting BB’s at the balloons of a nine year olds birthday party.
The story was diverting, though hackneyed and lighter than sponge cake.
Essentially a feel good travelogue with dollops of greetings card wisdom.
Breezy … yeah, yeah … saw it, checked off my list, won’t rewatch in this life.

The Thanksgiving Play - 2021 - 6/10

The creator - the director - the historian - the actor.
Not so much theatre as a video conference, brainstorming concepts for a play for nine year olds.
While a few observers might regard the above image and think self-indulgent egoism, the results are funny.
After a soggy opening, this moves swiftly.
The bottom individuals are the funniest or have the best lines.
There are barbs about the holiday, though this is not Woke self-righteousness.
Reeves’ deadpan delivery is sidesplitting at times. An underappreciated comedian.

Murdered By My Fiancé - 2016 - 5/10

Slight doc about murder of author Helen Bailey and her dog!
Boyfriend reports to police four days after she disappears.
Despite Bailey being a best selling author, barely any video of her.
Detectives, analysts, neighbors, and the fiance.
Unexplained - why Fido was killed. Unexplained - relationship.
Why is it “murdered by *my *fiance"? As if the dead author produced this.
Find something else to waste an hour.
Otherwise, example of how not to kill someone.

The Town - 2010 - 6/10

Overlooked, street smart caper film from Ben Affleck, with ass kicking finale.
Crime passes from one generation in Charlestown.
Favorite target seems to be banks, which in this film are all helpless as comatose grannies.
Security? Trained guards? Hidden surveillance cameras?
Sorry, no, which is rather hard to accept in otherwise realistic script.
Affleck gets involved with sorta almost witness, while the gang presses for one final haul.
The big one. The stereotyped “last score,” after which all will lay low and exit crime.
Yes . . . how many times?
Ingenious heist, clinically executed. Gunfire galore.
Nice location filming, which might be a double-edged sword for some.
Unwary viewers better have subtitles if unaccustomed to nasally New England dialect.

The Things We Say, The Things We Do - 2020 - 7/10
AKA - Les Choses qu’on Dit, Les Choses qu’on Fait

Maxime arrives from Paris to spend time with his cousin.
His cousin is away on business, but his girlfriend, Daphne, takes over.
Maxime is nursing a bruised heart. In a way, so is Daphne.
As they share stories, histories, they are slowly drawn to each other.
French romantic drama of lost love, mistaken love, wronged love, unrequited love.
Talky (of course), yet the multiple stories weave and tangle much like a puzzling mystery.
Enthralling throughout, though Hallmark addicts will be disappointed.

The Monster - 2016 - 5/10

Part arthouse, part mother - daughter road trip (ha ha).
Dysfunctional, alcoholic, abusive mother drives neglected young daughter to her ex.
They are supposed to depart at 8:00 AM, except hungover Ma doesn’t get rollin’ until 4:00.
Soon as they hit the spooky backroad, rain pelts down in sheets.
The car strikes a wolf and the subsequent crash leaves the vehicle inoperative.
Before they can say - “Hey, where’d that wolf go?” - the girls realize trouble is mounting.
Acting by the female leads is terrific. I hated Mom, pitied the small girl.
The pace may be too measured to hold interest for many, though.
There is also that allegory about who the real monsters are, which some might equate with spoon feeding.

Quibble: I grew up on backroads. None ever had streetlamps, let alone three of them.
Plus, after you crash your car, switch off the headlamps and wipers!
I should not have to explain this to stranded drivers unless they want to be future meals.

The Swarm - 2020 - 5/10
AKA - La Nuée

Recently widowed mother of two raises locusts. First for health food, then farm feed.
Profits are negligible.
If only she could get the locusts to grow bigger, quicker.
Hey, what if I start feeding them blood?
Wow, they like it!
Film takes a painfully long time to get going only to sputter.
Focus on character deterioration, rather than mayhem.
Watch X-Files S03E12 “War Of The Coprophages” instead.

Summer - 1986 - 6/10
AKA - Le Rayon Vert

French patience tester, extremely well acted, but might strain your endurance.
Recently dumped female (ahem, three years earlier) whines about what to do during summer vacation.
She stays with family and complains. Visits friends, moans incessantly.
Asks for advice, only to disregard.
One of the best / worst moments occurs during an outdoor meal when our protagonist, a recent vegetarian, launches into a tirade about meat and animals.
Doesn’t stop her from drinking, however. And complaining about vintages.
I always say people get what they deserve.
Sadly, how did her friends and family deserve this?

Katherine Ryan In Trouble - 2016 - 6/10

Standup comedian on relationships, being Canadian in UK, men, family.
Hit and miss, with more hits, but this is chuckle material.
Timed correctly at one hour. Nothing stale, just her aloof humor which never engaged me.

Bullitt - 1968 - 8/10

Definitive McQueen anti-hero, exuding cool elegance.
Officer Frank Bullitt assigned to babysit mob snitch, finds himself set up as patsy for incompetence.
Brilliant procedural as detective and partner pick up the seemingly dead trail and unravel a brilliant plan.
Film punctuated by three chase sequences, one a legend in movie history.
Wonderful Lalo Schifrin score, gorgeous San Francisco scenery.
Street scenes, cafe interiors, the steep hills.
Then there are the muscle cars at full throttle, terrific stunt driving, no - NO - computer fakery.

Anytime I read about a remake, I cringe, knowing disposable music would blare throughout, drowning out the roar of V8s.

2017 Oscar Nominated Shorts: Live Action - 2017 - 7/10

Five of ‘em. Two crowd pleasers, two “serious” works of outsiders in Europe, and one pass.
“Sing” is about a competitive grade school choir. This will resonate with those who have been in band or choir, especially if you were in the 3rds or in the back rows.
“Silent Nights” follows a refugee in Denmark. Sent me a mixed message on how to score money from guilty rich.
”Timecode” watches bored security guards dance before surveillance cameras.
“Ennemis Intérieurs” (Enemies Within) is another story of outsiders. This time an Algerian, living in France for over 30 years, finally seeks citizenship. Why wait so long? And who are your associates? Claustrophobic, Orwellian.
“La Femme et le TGV” features Jane Birkin as an aging woman exchanging letters with the engineer of the high speed TGV express. She seems locked in the bygone, analogue age, with her manual typewriter, rotary dial phone, china tea set.

The Strange Case Of Yukio Mishima - 1985 - 7/10

Casual overview of the highly controversial author, made fifteen years after his seppuku.
Interviewees include his biographer and translator, as well as close associates.
For the uninformed, yet curious, this is an OK introduction.
I suspect this was difficult to make, since Japan has always been conflicted about Mishima.
Proud, yet embarrassed.
Might work better in conjunction with Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters (1985).
Sadly, there is still no penetrating documentary on this writer.

A Cena Col Vampiro - 1989 (Dinner With A Vampire) - Dr. Sapirstein

Filesize = 2 GB, Video = 1920 X 1080p AVC, Audio = 127 kbps 2-Channel Stereo AAC, subs yes.,

Expert restoration of a silly vampire spoof from the 1980’s.
Four actors are invited to a lavish castle for dinner, only to discover their host is a 4000 year old Mesopotamian vampire!
Viewers who anticipate screaming, running, inferior acting, might enjoy despite deficiencies.
For one thing, the image work is jaw-dropping.

Other prints I had previously seen were grainy, washed out, damaged.
The clarity is sharp here, the colors sumptuous.

The castle is the real highlight in this, though the Count’s challenge makes a good puzzle.
This was made for television, so don’t expect gratuitous … anything.

English subs = https://subscene.com/subtitles/brivido-giallo-first-season/english/2700109

Doom: The Possessed Re-Cut - CBB

I never played the game. Disliked the movie (bought from the $2.00 junk pile)
Per the editor’s intentions: Is this darker?
Yes, the film was darker. Jokes excised, the mood stayed grim throughout.
Scarier? Maybe. There was greater tension, though I never cared for a single character so I was never fearful or concerned for them.
More sinister? No, I never thought that. Sinister would imply an evil agenda, and the narrative skirted this, rather than pushing it closer to the fore.

Audio editing was top shelf. No glitches, nothing weird. Listened through headphones.

Video equally fine. Seamless, nothing jarring, no artifacts or sloppy work.

The bonus extras I could have done without.
The shooter POV is direct homage to the popular game. I am betting there are a percentage of guys who loved that bit, and sighed during the bonus, “My favoritest part.”
And the lame flirt scene between Duke & Samantha? Should never have been included. That was the last thing I saw, and it left a sour taste.

The quality of the edit was great, and CBB’s work is holding up, ten years out.

Note: Boon’s edits are still on Info, though most links appear to be UseNet.

The Big Lebowski - 1998 - 8/10

After being disappointed by Inherent Vice, I dug this perennial from the shelves.
Mister Lebowski, AKA “The Dude” returns home from shopping the friendly Ralph’s aisles.
He is assaulted, face plunged into the toilet, while one of the vandals pisses on his carpet.
Later, at the bowling alley, The Dude laments to friends, and, egged on, begins to investigate the mystery.
Hilarious, shaggy dog tale. Cult classic for stoners, bowlers, mystery fans, damn near everyone save souls who hate Southern California, which this film reeks of.
Most people I know either have personal acquaintance with a classic slacker such as The Dude, or they have been him at one point or another.
Bridges unforgettable as The Dude, yet everyone involved is in top form.

Nihilists, come forth!

The Love Witch - 2016 - 6/10

Warning - Existential oblivion seekers, not this one.

Wish I could say I viewed this by accident or this was airing in rehab.
No. Reviews mentioned bygone Technicolor productions, and I foolishly hoped for Douglas Sirk excesses.
Admittedly, I do have a taste for over-the-top folly. This is not “so bad it’s good,” but it veers close.

Artist witch moves to Eureka, into posh Victorian manor, to get over issues with her ex.
Like glamour girls everywhere, our attractive witch has trouble pulling guys, so she casts sex magick for bait n mate.
After sessions of heightened debauchery, spent males collapse and die.
Oh, well. There’s more guys with organic wands where those came from.
And she gets busy.

Lush and saturated colors throughout.
Females, wearing gowns and hats, congregate in a fantasy fern bar, nibble cakes and tea, while a harpist plucks.
Our witch sports a hairdo Bobbie Gentry would envy, as well as retro blue eyeshadow which I have not seen since the 70’s. (Car buffs - a 60’s Mustang and a big ass 70’s Impala stand out amidst boxy modern rides.)
Fair amount of frontal nudity, male and female, mostly during wicca ceremonies. Chanting, not panting.
More graphic are her sketches and paintings.
Romping and rutting is freaky psychedelic time, drowned with overloaded grind music.
Acting is stilted and wooden across the board. Characters read lines, never react.
My theory: There was only one camera, so the director shot actors one at a time, then spliced.
At two hours, this movie is also too long.
I enjoyed, but, I have fondness for cheesy flicks.

Havana Widows - 1933 - 6/10

Misleading title aside, chorus girls Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell realize their funds are low and time dwindling.
What to do?
Head to Cuba! Play the badger game on a rich codger and sue for damages.
“There’s a man in our bedroom!” “Didn’t I tell you our luck would change?”
One-liners and zingers are the best part of this mild, risqué-free comedy.
“I’ll try anything once. That’s my undoing.”
Cast of Warners 30’s stock players try hard, but script lacks spice.
Blondell bounces a fair amount in this … if you notice that sort of thing.