Vultural

100 Streets - 2016 - 6/10

Ensemble cast of three couples play out a few days of their lives.
Two pairs navigate difficulties in their marriages.
The third is an unlikely relationship between an aging actor and a younger man with poetic gifts.
Light interweaving of stories, but this is not, say, Love Actually.
Because most struggle throughout, the film can be a sour pill.
I disliked some of the plot contrivances near the end, felt like the writers ran out of gas.
Hour and a half of varying drama.

Murder In Mount Saint-Michel - 2022 - 6/10
AKA - Meurtres au Mont Saint-Michel

The man is troubled. Aside from a half dozen cats, he walks the late night alleys alone.
Until he reaches the church. Enters, and has another session with the exorcist.
Next morning, the sufferer is found dead, leading to the arrival of the gendarmes.

French murder mystery with a good sense of place – though the fog seems perpetual in this.
The mystery takes second place in this, however, as the two cops have the hots for each other.
And we, lucky / hapless viewers get to see their lust play out.
She is married, he is divorced (one wonders why). Both appear to have been cast for looks, not presence.
The female officer, the senior partner, captain, looks underage for the role.
Weak time waster. You won’t care about the deaths, motives, revelations.

World War One - 1964 - 7/10

One hundred years ago, the United States entered the “war to end all wars.”
This documentary highlights the American reaction to, and subsequent involvement in World War I.
Robert Ryan narrates and this has a wealth of newsreels and images, many seldom seen before.
Episodes also highlight the less traveled: the occupation of Belgium, the Lusitania, the Jutland naval campaign, Germany’s meddling in Mexico to distract America, home front disorder, and an early word - slackers.
Also detailed look at the aftermath. Reparations against Germany, along with Allied interference with the new nation, Soviet Union, aiding the “Whites” and sowing the seeds of distrust that grow to this day.

There are several outstanding documentaries on World War I.
The finest in The Great War (1964), 26 episodes with interviews of still surviving veterans.
This documentary, World War One, covers slightly different ground and should appeal to Yanks.
A third, The First World War (2003), is excellent at covering the “world” aspects of the conflict, displaying battles outside of Europe.

Coin Locker Girl - 2015 - 6/10
AKA - Cha-i-na-ta-un // 차이나타운

So named because she was abandoned as an infant in locker #10, Incheon subway.
Rescued and cared for by homeless squatters until taken to a crime boss.
Ma Wuhee, later known as Mom, specialist in short term loans.
Meaning, high expense loan shark. The deeper the debt, the better.
Since her profitable sideline is organ harvesting.
Ma Wuhee is a real force, a dark, heartless presence throughout.
Sadly, the story is of the foundling, Il Young, who becomes one of her enforcers.
That character is unbelievable. Anyone who has viewed enough K-dramas or other S Korean fare would view her bullying and scowling leaving her shot full of lead.
An inept romance is attempted. For who? The teen demographic?
Derivative and predictable. Watch this for Kim Hye-Soo’s portrayal of the female crime boss.

The Victorians: Their Story In Pictures - 2009 - 7/10

Four part documentary series on the Victorians as seen through the cinema of the day - paintings.
Pictures that not only reflected times and conditions of the era, but how the people wanted to view themselves.
Entertaining, informative, never dusty. Plenty of details for genre fans yet accessible for casual trippers, as well.
Host Jeremy Paxman seems curious, skeptical, almost wistful at times.
Fairly chronological, going from early moralistic scenes to the Empire at its height to the melancholy themes of the Pre Raphaelites, the Aesthetic Movement, and beyond.

This series aired a few years ago, yet is readily available.
As always with Victorians, so much of their world echoes our own.

Blow The Man Down - 2019 - 7/10

Townfolk began to grow uneasy with the sportin’ house by the sea.
Where young girls of horizontal position earn their pay.
Oh, back in the day, the bad days, the hard days, it paid its way.
Only now, the bodies sundered the shackles of the peace of the key.
After their mother’s funeral, sisters Priscilla and Mary Beth get entangled in murder.
Both are out of their depth, especially after dark intelligence moves their way.
Brooding winter Noir boasts keen eyed sense of place in a Maine fishing village.
Hardened temperaments throughout; this is not J. B. Fletcher’s New England.

I Can’t Sleep - 1994 - 6/10
AKA - J’ai Pas Sommeil

Story tracks a young Lithuanian girl just arriving in Paris to visit great aunt.
Also, it transpires, to meet a playwright or producer who apparently offered her work (?).
Camera trails her around, as well as another immigrant working the transgender entertainment sphere.
Without spoiling the plot, there is sporadic police activity and surveillance throughout.
In the background, there is the third thread of a shadowy “granny killer.”
Absorbing study of the Parisian underbelly.
Not an especially “fun” film, yet it held my interest.
Betty Blue fans, Béatrice Dalle has supporting role.

Their Finest - 2017 - 6/10

Britain during the Blitz. Political powers request a morale boosting film.
“Find a good story, maybe add an angle the Yanks will be drawn to.”
A Dunkirk news item is investigated, writers start fleshing out the story, studio honchos try to compromise with various Ministries.
Actors, fans, obstacles, and throughout, a rain of bombs.
Nostalgia territory, with nods towards Day For Night, as well as Foreign Correspondent.

Death Laid An Egg - 1968 - 7/10
AKA - La Morte ha Fatto l’uovo // Plucked

Marco is hiding a secret. If we work together, we can find out what it is.
So muses wife Anna to her cousin Gabrielle.
And Marco does have a nasty secret, shown early on as he commits a murder.
One is yanked off trail immediately, though, as the settings unroll.
Anna (a sultry Gina Lollobrigida) owns a chicken plant, which she has modernized and fired all the men.
Marco (Jean-Louis Trintignant, really?) works for the chicken consortium, trying to encourage people to eat more poultry.
There are endless shots of chickens, chicken reactions, chicken protestations. And eggs.
Some give this a Giallo tag, but this is a bizarre arthouse mystery / thriller.
I enjoyed this immensely, but will warn that others might find this way too weird.

Maigret’s Dead Man - 2016 - 6/10

Man, what a pleasant surprise.
Paris, circa 1930’s. Rowan Atkinson returns as the dour Inspector Maigret.
A serial killer terrorizes the French countryside.
Maigret loans most of his crew to assist, yet withholds two assistants and himself for an unrelated underworld killing.
This show is more assured than Maigret Sets A Trap as actors grow into roles.
In many ways, this is a darker story with a more intricate plot.
If you liked the first installment, you should like this.

Maigret Sets A Trap - 2016 - 6/10

A serial killer stalks brunettes on the streets of Montmartre.
The chief inspector, an analytical cold fish, has a plan.
An English production, filmed in Hungary, this is handsome.
There is limited character development, however. No idea at all who any of the victims are.
For a murder mystery, there is no tension, no suspense, no clue chasing.
Interesting to see Rowen Atkinson as Maigret. He underplays nicely, though I wish he had more fire.

Phillips, Thomas - The Light Is Alone

At first glance, the short sentences and chopped style of Phillips appears easy. It is not, this is deceptively dense.
Clipped, pared to the essence, this is the antidote to purple overdose.
From young authors with a fondness for adjectives to establish scribes with a weakness for product placement, both camps could study a story or two.
“Alyssa” resides in the apartment or boarding house. One that used to be quiet. Satisfactory. Until the new arrival, young male, full of himself, his importance, heedless of requests to be more neighborly. Such is merely the launching, as the story soon shifts to the conflict between zealot and heathen. Of force and fortitude.
“Keep Holy The Sabbath” lingers on new girl Alice. New student, school, new continent for that matter. Where social norms, on the surface, appear similar. Once she is comfortable, however, and she sees under the superficial, fundamental beliefs and assumptions are rocked.
These two are the strongest tales, and perhaps act as bookends. In between are a trilogy of short works. Too short for my liking, as none gather enough momentum to get anywhere. They remind this reader of prose poems, which I am not a fan of, equating them with academic exercises.
Jonas (Zagava) has five titles by Phillips, and you can see why he champions this author.
Note: The Light Is Alone was previously published in an extremely limited edition, long out of print, now reselling for lofty prices.

50M2 - 2021 - 7/10
AKA - (Fifty Square Meters)

Shadow has a falling out with his boss, a businessman / gangster.
While Shadow was his #1 enforcer, no one is indispensable.
After surviving a botched hit job, Shadow hides himself in small shop in a run down quarter.
Where residents soon assume he is the son of the recently deceased tailor.
He has unique abilities to deal with neighborhood blight and small time chiselers.
The larger adversary is the property developer, bullying, badgering, misleading.
Writing is sharp throughout, in this surprisingly funny dark tinged series.
How dark? The final episode goes full Noir, filmed at night, simmering tensions released.
Unfortunately, this is a Netflix show, with a Netflix non-ending.
While I would be inclined to view S02, I would have to wait to read comments to see if inspiration remained.

Goltzius And Pelican Company - 2012 - 6/10

Serious arthouse territory here.
Peter Greenaway film. Those uninitiated to Mr Greenaway, beware.
In look and visual overload, this is much closer to Prospero’s Book rather than Cook, Thief, Wife, Lover.
17th century dramatist, scribe, bookbinder Goltzius approaches the Margrave of Alsace with the aim of illustrated book publication.
The first book will from the Old Testament, focusing on the salacious, the wicked, the steamy parables.
The Margrave asks to see the stories acted out first by Goltzius’ troupe, which they do - sans clothes.
As with other Greenaway films, there is copious nudity, full frontal, male and female.
Saturated colors, overlapping images, dense dialogue, multiple storylines, not to mention Biblical references and reenacting parables as pornography may be a challenging watch for some.

Skinhead - 2016 - 6/10

Oi! Oi! Oi!
Well before the Oi culture, Neo-Nazis, and yob association, London skinheads were kicking boots with Jamaican mates, swaying to reggae and ska, shouting at football matches.
At the matches, however, Northern firms spied and appropriated the cuts, boots, jackets, but not the tolerance.
Informative documentary shows the 60’s beginnings of shaved heads, the near disappearance, the Punk associations, then catching the eye of the National Front.
For those who think they know Skinhead culture, they probably don’t.
Thanks to Mr Crisp for suggesting this.

Operation Valkyrie: Stauffenberg’s Plot To Kill Hitler - 2008 - 6/10

Documentary on botched 1944 assassination attempt on Hitler.
Sections on Stauffenberg”s childhood, personal life, military career are fine.
Background on the conspirators, failed attempts, and the historical perspective during the latter years of the war are clear and well presented.
Some reenactments, but not too much. Likewise for the CGI, primitive, limited, yet not excessive.
“Talking heads,” by and large, are poorly miked throughout.
At 76 minutes, this feels a bit long, and the first third is too slow.

The Rewrite - 2014 - 6/10

Being a tad generous here, scoring a 6 for stale goods.
Hugh Grant plays washed up Hollywood screenwriter who accepts teaching position in upstate New York.
He is supposed to select his class by reading over 100 thirty page screenplays.
Instead he checks social profiles and chooses a room full of hotties and two male geeks.
No competition then, for him in his role of Lord Of The Thighs.
A series of glaring social faux pas alienates fellow instructors and students. (All that rang false and forced.)
Though technically in the rom com genre, this is lightweight in romance and comedy.

Three Swings On A Pendulum - 1967 - 6/10

Listed as a documentary, this is a peculiar artifact from Swinging London.
Three outsiders, an Aussie, a Frenchman, an African, row up the Thames into the capital.
They explore several shops (this screams for color), chat with the locals.
The reserved English open up and are surprisingly forthright.
Older folks enjoy the 60’s moment, London as Zeitgeist.
Younger, more thoughtful interviewees, regard the time as passing.
Mass adoption of hairstyles, fashions, merely another method of conformity.
Again, this is a curio, and not an in-depth overview of the heady era.

Seisaku’s Wife - 1965 - 7/10
AKA - Seisaku no Tsuma // 清作の妻

Back from military training, Seisaku is the village’s righteous man, the role model.
As such, admired, respected, and disliked and equal measures.
Of all girls available, he chooses the lovely Okane, whom villagers shun as a harlot.
Theirs is a hothouse relationship, possessive and obsessive.
While the Russo-Japanese War washes ever closer, villagers hope Seisaku enjoys a glorious death.
Measured study of petty village behavior and the madness of love.

Stella Runs For Office - 2002 - 6/10
AKA - Stella í Frambðdi

Odd, to say the least, political comedy from Iceland.
The leading party watch and giggle as rivals repeatedly sabotage themselves.
Until campaign advisor Stella emerges as a darkhorse contender.
Weirdly funny film with out of place music interludes:
A woman plucking a chicken while listening to “Sway,” two blue collar guys dancing to “Big Spender,” the drunken inspector seizing the microphone in a revue.
Many laugh out loud moments. Other times, I knew I was missing jokes and references.
Definitely not Scandinavian Noir.
Quirky - foreign - way off the path.

Magic In The Moonlight - 2014 - 6/10

Woody Allen film set in 1928 Europe.
Colin Firth plays magician asked to debunk a female mentalist / hoaxer.
Mentalist is quite pretty and an uneasy romance beckons.
Picture Houdini wooing a Zeigfield Follies girl.
Gorgeous sets, costumes, vintage music.
The 1928 date was a loaded time utterly ignored (Wall Street Crash was 1929 - Hitler became chancellor in 1933).
Likewise the realization that this entire world of gardens and country houses is a breath away from extinction.
Plot remains feather light throughout.
Not to spoil anything, but the narrative faltered in the third act. Badly.
Before that misstep I had been enjoying the movie.
At its core, keep in mind, this is a magic show.
Magic insiders, Allen delivers a successful pledge, a very poor turn, and no prestige.

Hodge, Brian - Without Purpose, Without Pity

Published in 2012, this has its prophetic moments.
Las Vegas is expiring from an (un)natural catastrophe.
The water supply, as well as the gambling tourist trade, has dried up.
As the city reverts to arid desert, it is encircled by tornado / hurricane / devil winds, denying entrance and exodus. Residents are trapped.
Residents, including boxers, pugilists, and their coaches, who train and combat for ever dwindling purses. Crowds, as ever, roar for blood.
Especially for the fighter who has begun transfiguring into something more, and something less.
In this short novel for the old Delirium Press, Hodge unrolls multiple stories and themes. A few too many, if you ask me, as he is never able to array his threads into a coherent team.
I found this intriguing, especially the boxing angles, for a long time. The conclusion, should you call it that, is the hastily shrugged “good enough” surrender.

The Sleepers - 2019 - 8/10
AKA - Bez Vědomí

Top notch espionage thriller set in Prague, 1989, as the revolution is imminent.
Maria wants to visit her sister in Czechoslovakia, husband Victor is less keen.
After all, they fled as dissidents years ago. What could happen? asks Maria.
A traffic accident could happen, with Maria waking up with no husband.
From there, she contacts the British embassy, Czech security, none with answers.
Clouding her search further are agents of the KGB and StB (Secret Police).
Narrative twists and turns, most characters are determinedly miserable.
Realpolitik predominates.

The Woman Executioner - 1968 - 6/10
AKA - La Femme Bourreau

Tempted to score this higher, for the strangeness factor.
Surreal Expressionistic film of man who copycats a serial killer.
Confused, abused man begins affair with his therapist / parole officer.
He also identifies with a recently executed female serial killer and starts wearing with wigs and heels.
Film is loaded with jump cuts and the narrative often leaps.
The result is borderline incoherence, yet it has a great score and the “look” is particularly striking.
For you cult buffs, Jean Rollin was in the acting credits.

October Gale - 2014 - 6/10

Recently widowed doctor goes to her remote family cottage out on an island.
Grieves, tidies up, reminisces.
Twenty minutes into the film, she sees an intruder crawling across the floor, gunshot wound to his shoulder.
Who shot him? Why? How did he get to the remote island? In the middle of a storm, no less.
Thriller, only in the loosest sense as the plot plods along with limited tension.
Smart looking photography, minimal dialogue, low-key characters with underdeveloped motivations.
Story never goes anywhere, and watching seems more killing time.