Vultural

Walk A Tightrope - 1964 - 6/10

Middling crime mystery sees female stalked by man with a gun in his pocket.
Does she go to the nearest copper? No, she heads into a pub.
Not to reveal too much, there is a murder soon thereafter, and the killer demands payment.
Straight off, we know who did it, just not why.
Dan Duryea, in the twilight of a long career, before a string of TV appearances, is the best element in this.
Once he gets going, he bristles with energy. Everyone else is muted. As is the film itself.

L’Argent - 1983 - 6/10
AKA - Money

Sorry, I ain’t buying this.
Ostensibly, we follow counterfeit money as it passes various hands.
From the gullible to the devious to the sly to the trusting.
Moralizing film studying human reactions.
For skeptical souls, behavior is predictable, especially if your opinions of humanity are low.
Narrative settles on one character and his path, which sinks preposterous.

Manson - 2009 - 5/10

Lightweight documentary about Manson family as told by Linda Kasabian.
She has been in hiding since the 60’s.
Perhaps interesting if you know zero about the group.
Ed Sander’s “Family” remains definitive on the early Manson era.
Prosecutor Bugliosi’s “Helter Skelter” is the one to read for the trial.

Barnes, Colin - Dead Five’s Pass

When a new cave, hitherto undiscovered, opens up, cavers scramble to see who can explore first.
No one wonders, how did his opening suddenly appear?
Nor does anyone consider whether it is uninhabited.
Brisk novella has strong pulpy roots, and borrows heavily from HPL.
Two characters are granted superficial development. All others are dinner specials … meals.

Get Luke Lowe - 2020 - 5/10

Bit of a vengeance tale, cloaked in fashionable woke.
After being trolled and bullied, Sadie commits suicide online.
Her friends kidnap the troll – Luke – then attempt to force him to “confess.”
When he proves recalcitrant, they escalate with more violent techniques.
Heavy handed, preachy at times, spotty acting.
Creators try too hard with message film, end up being somewhat hypocritical.

The Body Collector - 2016 - 6/10
AKA - De Zaak Menten

Based on true story of ex-Nazi collaborator living privileged retirement.
By chance, a Netherlands journalist follows the whisper and begins exploring the past.
Bloodsoaked theft of art, primarily paintings.
Confronting the rich with powerful connections and ample funds, however, there’s the rub.
Absorbing throughout, and the film does not flinch from SS activities in the Jewish village in Poland.
Strives for an emotional impact, but an air of detachment undercuts this.

You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet - 2012 - 5/10
AKA - Vous n’avez Encore Rien Vu

Only myself to blame for this pretentious two hour artsy film.
Deceased director summons ex-actors to view a modern production of one of his works, based on Orpheus And Eurydice. While they watch, they reimagine their own versions.
Sometimes, you are watching three versions of the same scene.
The look is theatrical, stagebound, indoors.
Very fine acting from France’s creme de la creme of actors, yet I was increasingly bored.

A Killer’s Key - 1967 - 6/10
AKA - Aru Koroshiya no Kagi // ある ころしや の かぎ

A yakuza moneyman, in police custody, is about to reveal evidence that will convict mobsters and politicians.
The bosses hire a hitman, who also happens to be a dance teacher.
Correct, a dance teacher. Whom they intend to snuff after the job.
Raizô Ichikawa memorable as the cool, almost detached assassin.
Film is more the mechanics of death, rather than explosive violence.
Packed with details (geishas, rock clubs, fights) the movies rushes along.
Dry sense of humor may elude some. Retribution for welshers, if only.

Fair Isle: Living On The Edge - 2016 - 6/10

Breeders needed! Tiny island in northern Britain is looking for newcomers.
Current population is 57, not counting the sheep.
Power goes off at nights. Owing to storms, sometimes the island is cut off for weeks.
Just to keep the island going, inhabitants must do 3 - 4 - 5 jobs.
Isolation? Plenty. Awe inspiring nature? This is the place.
Mind you, during summer scenes many still wore jackets. Winter? Lordy.
Two part series of inhabitants fighting valiantly to maintain their community.

The Sheik And I - 2012 - 7/10

Infuriating documentary (¿fictional?) of small (very small) American indie filmmaker invited to make film for biennial celebration for the Kingdom of Sharjah. Where? Tiny kingdom is one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates.
Without writing a script, the film maker decides to do the one thing he was told not to do, mock the ruler of the country, the Sheik.
Several of his scenes involve having extras don burqas and wave guns. (“Isn’t this the typical stereotype of Arabs?” one asked the director.)
He tries to recruit locals to impersonate the Sheik, and is warned of repercussions. He shrugs.
Is reminded, he goes back to America when finished. Meanwhile, his hired locals must stay and face consequences.
The director also tries to coerce women to dance in burqas, which is expressly forbidden.
Director, Caveh Zahedi, of Iranian descent, is every inch the entitled American, I-can-do-anything-I-want artiste.
Zero respect for the country, their social orders.
Film was quickly banned for blasphemy and director Zahedi threatened with a fatwa.
Cringe inducing film drove me up the wall, and everyone in the room screamed at the screen at various moments.
Yet I believe such was exactly the reaction he aimed for, so I’m giving it high marks for punching those buttons.

The Beatles, Hippies And Hells Angels - 2017 - 7/10

Scoring this a 7 for Beatles fans. Casual onlookers, give a 6.
Labour of love overview of Apple Corps. Wide eyed, trusting souls, launch a “new business model.”
Behind the scenes histories as told by the office girls, a few hangers on, and the accountant.
Especially, the accountant. The Beatles, at the height of their success had tax liabilities to choke royalty.
“Set up your own company." They did, and this doc shows where a flood of the money went.
Packed with photos, many I had never seen before, as well as fresh voices.
Funny, engaging, bittersweet. From gear to groovy to bummer. Must for moptop fans.

Generation Wealth - 2018 - 5/10

Indirect followup to 2012‘s Queen Of Versailles charts the recent obsession with greed.
No longer keeping up with the neighbors, the mob attempts to keep pace with the affluent.
The first half is incisive, with penetrating analysis, historical overview, and smug interviews.
Our age of decadence. Perhaps, even, the end of a cycle.
Midway, however, wanders off topic, muddles into naval gazing, and totally loses the thread.
Pornography is explored, professional women commodifying their beauty.
Finally, our filmmaker wonders if she is a good mother.
From interviews with her own ever-smiling mother, we realize both women chose careers over parenting.
She had three + documentaries here, but by cramming so much in, the result is a mess.

Nobody Else But You - 2011 - 6/10
AKA - Poupoupidou

Crime novelist, suffering writer’s block, reads about apparent suicide of Marilyn Monroe lookalike.
Off he drives, to one of the coldest, snowiest regions of France.
Where he chats with locals, reads the dead girl’s diaries, and begins to smell a cover-up.
Good little mystery about very minor, local actress (she was the model for a cheese line) who treads out of her depth.
Sharp touches of comedy and irony.

The Limehouse Golem - 2017 - 6/10

1880 London. A serial killer is loose and authorities at a loss.
Historical note: Jack the Ripper was 1888.
A marginalized detective is given the case, purpose being if he fails, he will be the scapegoat.
The inspector’s attention turns to an unrelated domestic murder, instead.
Suspects include Dan Leno, George Gissing, Karl Marx.
Methodical pace allows various imagined scenarios to unroll in gaslit Victoria England.
Aside from the illuminated British Library, this is set in dirty alleys and the hazy confines of the music hall.
Soiled look will appeal to fans of Ripper Street, Mr Holmes, Sergeant Cribb …
Bill Nighy fine in role originally meant for Alan Rickman.
Steer clear of spoiler reviews. Devilish corkscrew ending.

Something Real And Good - 2013 - 4/10

Two sadsacks meet cute in an airport terminal. Their destination, Chicago, is snowed in and they are diverted to Denver.
The blizzard prone, mile high city had rain soaked streets and flowing fountains. Mmmm … SoCal …
Very much an indie flick, that felt like a small, two act (two actor) play.
Leads are mismatched, and pout and mug throughout.
There were no reviews whatsoever for this one when I saw, so I took a chance.
Avoid unless you are an investor or relative.

The Ghosts Of Kasane Swamp - 1957 - 6/10
AKA - The Depths // Kaidan Kasane-ga-Fuchi // 怪談累が渕

Late at night, thick snow falling, the blind moneylender decides to collect.
The client? An impoverished, though arrogantly proud, samurai.
Who cannot, or will not, pay! Who uses the sword to terminate discussion.

Years later, the orphaned children are grown and getting into love triangles.
Yet the ghosts, and stains on respective families, infect their lives.
Dark film, crammed with weak souls, manipulators and betrayals.

Alexander Nevsky - 1938 - 8/10
AKA - Aleksandr Nevski

An invading army of Teutonic knights cut their way through 13th century Russia.
Prince Alexander Nevsky rallies the populace to halt the murderous foes.
Propaganda film with glorious battle sequences.
Evocative Prokofiev score aids immensely.
To you history buffs, this was meant as a warning to later Teutonic knights, the Third Reich.

Several years ago, the university in my hamlet decided to screen this.
With the university symphony! And a massed chorus of three church choirs.
Dazzling!

Maya - 1949 - 6/10

After the ship docks, crewmen hurry into the red light district in search of company.
The most acclaimed prostitute goes by many names, but most call her Maya.
Ennui fills her. Whereas the other girls force bright smiles and laughs, she is resigned.
One seaman falls for her, and falls hard. He starts imagining an “us,” though she dissuades him.
The lighting and set design are remarkable, an offshoot of Expressionism.
Narrative itself is drama, replete with meaning-heavy dialogue.
Could’ve and might’ve been a play. Felt stagey despite attempts to open it up.

Catch Us If You Can - 1965 - 5/10
AKA - Having A Wild Weekend

I first saw this … hell … 50 years ago. Brit Invasion film, dimly remembered.
I recalled this being a funny comedy featuring the DC5, who during this period, were real rivals to the Beatles.
Instead, this is lightweight satire.
The band play stuntmen for a Beef For Go! commercial.
The movie is 90% dour faced Dave Clark and Barbara Ferris. Other band members casual tokens.
No real plot. Nonsense scenes, chases, dull dialogue.
A Hard Days Night, this ain’t, though it clearly wants to be.
I fought sleep watching this.
Early John Boorman directorial effort.

Full Contact - 1992 - 7/10
AKA - Xia dao Gao Fei // 俠盜高飛

One of the dark jewels of Hong Kong cinema, in an time when the community was on creative fire.
Gou Fei and Sam Sei (Chow Yun-Fat and Anthony Wong) get embroiled in a bank heist.
Leading the heist is Judge (Simon Yam as flamboyantly gay) and his sidekicks Psycho and Virgin.
When things sour, when thieves fall out, boy do they ever.
This is a gritty actioner, lacking the slo-mo stylistics of John Woo.
Nevertheless, the fight sequences in this are extraordinary.
Some of the bullet scenes will have Matrix fans going, “Wait a minute.”
Full Contact is irresistible. A must watch.

Subway - 1985 - 6/10

Christopher Lambert goes blonde! Isabelle Adjani longs for love! Jean Reno hits the drums!
Petty thieves, musicians, police and bodybuilders slum and slam in the Paris subway.
Early Luc Besson film is flashy, empty headed, filled with attractive, soulless characters.
Henchmen chase an impulsive opportunist who hides himself in the underground of the underground.
Metro police are more concerned about a roller skating purse snatcher.
Love tries to flourish – as does a pop concert!
Mindless fun, and a preview of bigger things to come.

California Solo - 2012 - 6/10

Character study of washed out Scots musician, now working for California farm.
His green card is 20 years old, and he has forgotten about a very old marijuana possession charge.
Until he gets pulled over for DWI (driving while intoxicated).
Low key story shows his attempts to avoid deportation, and interactions with friends and estranged family.
Robert Carlyle plays the burnout guitarist. He looks too old for the role, as written.
His bygone band, the Cranks, hailed from the Madchester Scene, which was time specific to 1988-1993 or thereabouts. Carlyle would have been 30, though his character says he and his brother were “just kids” in Manchester then.
Otherwise, nice film, quiet.

Various (Editor: Ghetu, Dan) - A Vigil Of Black Stars

I had trouble with this initially.
A wide assortment of essays, stories, poetry - a lot of poetry, and artwork - a tremendous amount of illustrations.

Then I decided to regard this not as an anthology, but something more singular. An art installation. And that really clicked for me.
The book is an artistic endeavor, a mood piece, not to be rushed or ploughed through.
This, being an homage to the black metal band, Paysage d’Hiver, begs for musical accompaniment, but I found most of their output too demanding,
I could not concentrate on reading and made a loop of the “quieter” sections from “Schnee” and “Im Traum,” which best complemented the book for me.
I do not wish to delve into too many stories and spoil the discovery for others. Nevertheless, comment must be made of “My Father-Tower,” an imaginative and astonishing tale by Roope Sillanpää. A dutiful son takes his dying (maturing) father deep into the woodland where he can fulfill the family destiny. The whole piece is inventive, drawing deep from myth.

Plodding along, I plan to view S04E07 tonight.
I had forgotten about it, but the proto-molecule is being mentioned again.
Every time that term is mentioned, I wish the writers had concocted another name.
One: I think of “protomatter” from the Trek universe.
Two: More than that, I recall the not dissimilar “protoculture”.
More a distraction really, causing me to wonder where Rick Hunter is.
https://robotech.fandom.com/wiki/Protoculture

Sisters Of Death - 1976 - 5/10

During initiation rites into the “Sisters,” events go horribly wrong and one of the acolytes is killed!
A few years later, the now disbanded “sisters” are invited to a reunion, way, way out in forlorn desert.
Too late, they realize they are targets in a murderous killing lair!
Third rate telling of “Ten Little Indians” has its moments (attractive females and a twist finale).
Otherwise, it is slow, over talky, the murders are dull, the rehashed plot is stale.
But wait! How about those attractive females?
Though a cheap 70’s flick, this is not exploitation. Unbuttoning of clothing is as far as those things go.
Teasecake, rather than cheesecake.
If compelled, watch the first 25 minutes, skip to the last 25 minutes.