Vultural

9000 Needles - 2011 - 6/10

My acupuncturist asked me to track this down for her.
I did, then decided to give it a watch.
Documentary about Devin Dearth, businessman and bodybuilder, all but a vegetable after a stroke.
US insurance company stopped medical payments at 100 days of therapy.
He had revived by that point, but his entire right side was paralyzed.
He journeyed to Tianjin, China and began extensive physical therapy, herbal applications, and acupuncture.
The treatment lasted several months, cost $20,000, and used over 9000 needles.
Inspiring story, needed a tighter edit.
Comment – For most westerners, acupuncture is a last resort, often too late to provide beneficial results.

The Case Of The Scorpion’s Tail - 1971 - 6/10
AKA - La Coda Dello Scorpione

Good Giallo that plays with conventions and expectations.
Older husband dies in airline disaster, and his young, promiscuous wife inherits a cool million.
She soon draws plenty of attention: police, Interpol, insurance investigator.
And a masked killer who wields a nasty knife.
Multiple locations dance across a jagged, deliberately misleading plot.
Audio commentary with the scriptwriter. In it, he tells how he favored thrillers based on money or revenge, which had to obey reasonable lines. He was not a fan of Argento’s maniacs, where anyone could be guilty in the final reel.

Eternal Beauty - 2019 - 5/10

The family tries to deal with Jane’s mental illness.
Jane tries to deal with Jane’s mental illness.
Overwrought film tries way too hard, and in effect becomes a jumble.
Does Jane really have a car? A phone? On which there are voices?
Does she take her pills? Does she have a boyfriend? A suitor?
By the end, will anyone care?
To be blunt, this is poorly written, incoherent and self-indulgent.

TiMER - 2009 - 6/10

Indie flick.
A wrist implant allows wearers to know exactly when they will meet their life partner. Their “soul mate.”
Great, if the wait is six months or so. What if it is 30 years?
Do you date around with Mr. Right Now, waiting for Mr. Right to finally appear?
TiMER’s heroine’s band reads 00 - 00 - 00:00. Her true love is either dead or never bothered with the implant.
She meets someone who is fun, who refuses to get the implant. Can she fall in love the old-fashioned way?
With arguments, misunderstandings, and no guarantee of love.
Bittersweet.

When You’re Strange - 2009 - 7/10

Documentary of The Doors, focusing, as usual, on frontman Jim Morrison.
This used footage that was new to me, and I’ve viewed plenty of Doors flicks.
Narrated by Johnny Depp.
Fun slide from Los Angeles to Paris to immortality.

Marvick, Louis - The Friendly Examiner

“Death behind us, death ahead of us. Ruins above ground, and tombs underneath.” (from V2)

Enlightenment vies with religious dogma and superstition in an isolated village beset with mysterious and horrifying deaths.
M. Sperling is sent to Heilbrunn to investigate, ascertain the truth, and dispel any cobwebs of irrational fear.
The initial volume (and these are all slim) sets us into the Age Of Reason, circa 1760, with M. Sperling, agent for the Society of the Men of Letters (think the Republic of Letters), setting forth to verify reports from another member.
This playful tale serves to introduce Hippolyte Sperling, as he must deal with an ill-garbed, ill smelling hag who shares his coach, and then face a deadlier presence waiting at the far shore.

The second volume probes the disappearance of a key member of the Society. Denis Diderot.
Ostensibly toiling on his ”Encyclopedia” the philosopher is drawn into the cult of tombs.
More members of the Society are introduced and several narratives unfold as M. Sperling delves into the subterranean underbelly of society.
This was my favorite volume, and the one I found problematic. It ends with a cliffhanger, and what turns out to be a false trail. I found this puzzling, if not irksome. The road not traveled and whatnot. I long for a mild edit.

The third and perhaps final volume unveils a savior / scoundrel. Franz Mesmer. This episode, featuring Mesmer either as emissary of new science or honey tongued deceiver, contains a fair amount of action. Indeed, high adventure bookends this tale!
These are works of illumination – and darkness. Of understanding – and ignorance.
Of those who attempt to improve our daily situation – of those who would diminish our potential, enslave us to their will.
Fortunately, The Friendly Examiner is set centuries earlier. Current society has progressed beyond such warfare and our freedoms are secure.

The Shadow Of The Cat - 1961 - 6/10

Gothic Hammer! Feline fans, yeah, baby!
The elderly (wealthy) female is murdered. Culprits, the greedy husband and two conniving servants.
The lone witness? Tabitha. The cat who saw it, and who decides wickedness ought to be punished.

Rather slim plot, but well executed. Nice cast, eerie score, and beautiful camerawork.
Of particular note is Tabitha’s perspective, which is low to the ground and flattened.

Athena: Goddess Of War - 2010 - 5/10
AKA - 아테나: 전쟁의 여신

Disappointing spinoff of the ground breaking IRIS.
South Korean security branch, NTS, squares off against international energy terrorist cabal.
Poorly acted, wrong headed direction, and a script with more holes than a rat infested wheel of Swiss cheese.
The main lead is too young, and early on grins and mugs as if auditioning for teen boy band.
A team captain is inept and foolish, as is a North Korean ex-elite agent.
Don’t get me started on the bane of K-dramas. The tears. Weeping, crying, sobbing like six year olds.
Yet these blubbering basket cases safeguard the nation.
There are exceptions, the chief being the rogue baddie who excels.

The director obviously knows action sequences, which are showcases. With actors, he seems clueless.
As much as I blame the series director for foolish comic relief and histrionics, however, the main culprit is the ridiculous script.
Long, gorgeous episodes in Italy - for no purpose.
Two episodes in Japan, guarding a pop star - for no purpose.
Double agents exposed, and then the duped side shrugs and says, “Well, they’re sorry, so back to work.”
Initially, the main villains are USA agencies, which is a wonderful twist, only that thread is abandoned.
Stupid.
Mmmmm . . . wasted 20 of my life hours on this goo.

Thieves - 1977 - 5/10

Not as awful as other reviews make out, but this is not for the casual.
In fact, this is for dedicated fans of theatre boards.
Based on a then-trendy Broadway play, this catches a married couple during a few sketchy days.
She (Marlo Thomas) longs for them to be like they were in their 20’s.
He (Charles Grodin) reminds her, frequently, they are in their mid 30’s.
The story opens up to showcase New York exteriors, but the dialogue is, as expected, verbose.
Interesting as a time capsule, though Kojak is, in many ways, a wiser choice to view seedy NYC.
The native New Yorker, active theatre type, next to me, would score this higher.

Dorian Gray - 2009 - 7/10

Stylish retelling of the Oscar Wilde classic.
Young man who never ages no matter how many sins he commits.
Dark, sexy, perfumed with decadence.
Stunning set design, a high point being Dorian’s house which has a palpable presence.
Insightful audio commentary, as well.
Stars Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, and the Witanhurst House in Highgate.
Yes, the house is very much a character.
Decadent rather than Horror, cynicism over splatter.

Killer-K - 2011 - 7/10
AKA - Little Girl K // 소 녀 K

Echoes of grindhouse. High voltage Korean actioner.
Young girl is in the wrong place, wrong time with friends. All are slain.
Except her. She’s given the “join us or die” offer.
Next, she is trained as a corporate assassin.
Story plays out over three episodes, each more violent than the last.
This aired late night in Korea, and had nudity and rivers of blood.
Episode three has the highest bullets - body count, but to my thinking, the highlight was episode two.
“K” had discovered who had killed her friends and exacted revenge.
No firearms for that one. Her favored weapons, long knives.
Blood drenched action with machetes, knives, swords.
At three episodes, this is an easy entry into K-dramas. The violent ones.
This is always the series I suggest when friends / coworkers ask for sampling Korean dramas.

Fan-trailer
www.youtube.com/embed/EhjHRbnqfds

Retreat From Kiska - 1965 - 6/10
AKA - Taiheiyô Kiseki No Sakusen: Kisuka

Kiska, small isle in the Aleutian chain is the furthest outpost of Imperial Japan.
American forces encircle the small garrison of 5000 men.
Japanese fleet command decide to try and rescue their men!
This is more of a tactical film than an action one, as the far smaller Japanese group rely on inclimate weather and uncharted waters to out maneuver their adversary.
Bare bones retelling, although what struck me was how often subordinates openly second-guessed their superior or kept urging him to do this or do that.
Other military films (US, British, Russian, German), the XO may voice disagreements behind doors, but on open deck the commanding officer is never challenged.

IRIS - 2009 - 7/10
AKA - Airiseu // 아이리스

Convoluted K-drama actioner.
20 interlocking episodes with a cliffhanger or surprise ending each one.
Begins as espionage, gradually the existence of I R I S is revealed.
Conspiracies and plots spread like weeds.
Backstory and relationships are established in the first couple of episodes. By #04, the pedal goes down.

Gunfights galore. Lavish production values, filming sprawled across several global locations.
Unbearable romance elements. (the bane of K-dramas)

I thought this ended at Ep 17, but no, there were still plot twists and fresh narrative.
Wildly popular in Asia, spawned two sequels (mixed reviews there).

Jasper Mall - 2020 - 6/10

Walk through snapshot of a shopping mall in decline, down to one anchor store.
Overheard are employees, regular shoppers, storefront owners.
Again and again, “business ain’t what it was.”
No causes are given, however. This is not a doc on malls or changing shopping habits.
This shows one mall, hanging on, losing ground.
I watched, disinterestedly. Being a guy, malls never tempted or charmed me.
A young couple is shown. For those puzzled, their relationship mirrors the mall.

Shiri - 1999 - 7/10
AKA - Swiri // 쉬리

Shiri was one of those films that put Korea on the map for Asian action fans.
Also a viewed as a passing of the action genre torch following the Hong Kong takeover in 1997.
Narrative revolves around a breakaway N Korean unit trying to disrupt peace gestures.
Espionage cat and mouse punctuated with high voltage gunfire sequences.
In the midst of all that a love story tries to blossom.
Red meat for Asian fanboys. Loosely remade into IRIS.

Jo - 1971 - 7/10

French farce, starts moderately, then builds situations and cascades mishaps.
Successful comic playwright wants to branch into mystery dramas.
He acts out deadly scenarios, only to accidentally … well, who knew the gun was loaded?
Then, there’s the body. Oh, those pesky corpses.
Worse, an estate agent keeps bringing potential buyers for his home.
His wife has planned a party. Police inspectors are sniffing around.
The jokes pile on. Much seems to echo the best of Tati.

Limits Of Control - 2009 - 5/10

What the hell was that?
Oh, a Jim Jarmusch film. No wonder it was incomprehensible.
Hitman Isaach De Bankole journeys across southern Spain,
and receives instructions from quirky messengers along the way.
Target is shrouded, as are the reasons. Narrative glides between literal and allegory.
Tilda Swinton, John Hurt, Bill Murray and Paz de la Huerta play bit parts.
The scenery was great, moving from Madrid to Sevilla into the Andalusian countryside.
Pace never picks up, and viewers are given few clues, though that is part of the charm of a Jarmusch film, or reasons for annoyance towards his oeuvre.

After.Life - 2009 - 6/10

Christina Ricci breaks up with her boyfriend (as he’s trying to propose, no less!).
Storms off in the driving rain. The road is treacherous but the cellphone beckons.
Next sequence, she’s on the slab arguing with Liam Neeson.
“I’m not dead. I can’t be.”
“That’s what you all say.”
Neeson is a mortician with a gift. He can communicate with the dead in the three day window as they transition from this world to the next.
Dour, unsettling film. Especially when you begin to wonder if Ricci’s character is not really dead.
Definitely not an action flick, and the characters are not always sympathetic.

The Disappearance Of Alice Creed - 2009 - 6/10

I picked this up, blithely assuming it would be a fun ride thriller.
Plus, Gemma Arterton moves easy on the eyes.
This is, however, an unrelenting, grim, kidnapping yarn.
Methodical preparation, the quick snatch, then plans slowly fester, as back histories and private agendas surface.
Music was dire gloom throughout.
Didn’t care for this, but well executed.

Complete Unknown - 2016 - 5/10

His birthday party permits a brief relaxing of the tension in Tom’s marital dilemma.
Until he spies the guest in the shadows, and recognizes an old flame, missing over a decade.
Narrative is that of what have you been doing, rather than why.
A misstep to be sure, but others are more grievous.
Her past involves identities, which are sketched in an opening montage.
Acceptable in a bygone era (The Great Imposter (1960) or Catch Me If You Can (2002)), but not in a digital world, and not in a modern job requiring credentials.
Rachel Weisz’s character, a chimera of unresolved mysteries, is beyond far fetched.

Good Hair - 2009 - 6/10

Who knew a documentary about “fixing” bad hair could be so fun?
$1000 hair extensions, hair relaxers containing sodium hydroxide (lye), and a outta control stylist competition.
Plus, answers to questions like -
“How do you have sex with a woman wearing a weave?”
Answer - Girl on top. Touch hair and die!
Hosted by comedian Chris Rock.

Savage Wolf Pack - 1974 - 6/10
AKA - Yaju O Kese

A young girl is chased, then repeatedly raped near US air base in Japan.
She commits suicide. Her brother, a big game hunter in Alaska, returns with vengeance on his mind.
First, though, were the rapists US soldiers or a rogue motorcycle gang?

Steady boil film, punctuated with minor violence here and there.
Each side probes the boundaries of the other. Caught in the middle is a runaway rich girl.
Knockoff of other films, but has its own refreshing character.
And yes, all the guns come out during the finale.

Mildly surprised no mention of Marillion.
If you like Genesis (Gabriel era), you should like Marillion (Fish era).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTdOMV-yTRg

I’m Thinking Of Ending Things - 2020 - 6/10

Potentially great film “enhanced” by screenwriter / director.
Girlfriend (Lucy-Lucia-Louise) goes with new boyfriend Jake to meet his parents.
Lucy and Jake have been together six, seven weeks, so this is a big step.
Problem is, she suffers misgivings. About the weather, about the trip, about the relationship.
Jake is a nice enough guy, but …
The journey takes forever, as does their car talk. Once at his home, time slips begin to occur, along with déjà vu and other fracturing.
Note: Because of recent reading (unrelated), I was alert to p-o-v which is paramount in this movie.
Fascinating film will engross the dedicated audience (ie: fans of this director).
For most, this may be deadly slow. Scenes play out far too long. Sometimes this technique works to sustain tension, there is little of that here.
The ending is a bungle. While I had suspicions about what transpired, I had to check reviews to confirm them.
The director made this so opaque that it was incomprehensible, unless one had read Reid’s book.

Confession, Theory, Actress - 1971 - 6/10
AKA - Kokuhakuteki Joyûron

Something between experimental cinema and avant-garde theatre.
Three women recall key events that drew them into acting, along with traumas.
The three are “high maintenance” souls, prone to dramatics.
Swoons, breathless declarations, half hearted suicide attempts.
Camera work includes odd angles, and framing characters off in corners or near the bottom of immense skies.
Though the film can be a trudge at times, the overall experience is of eavesdropping.
How much you enjoy may depend on how high your voyeur DNA.