Vultural

The Chronicles Of Riddick - 2004 - 6/10

Riddick arrives on a planet, recently invaded, about to be destroyed.
Yeah, Fate will play her jokes.
The invaders are an old foe and Riddick is soon embroiled in chicanery and strife.
Viewers expecting Pitch Black must reorient.
The first installment was a hunter / survival outing with a fairly simple plot.
This has more world building, the sets are fabulous, and even has Judi Dench!
Mindless entertainment, guilty pleasure, take your pick.

Black Christmas - 1974 (Bob Clark slasher, before Porky’s, before A Christmas Story)
A Christmas Horror Story - 2015 (A little Shatner for your cheer)
While You Were Sleeping - 1995 (Sandra Bullock film, becoming forgotten now)
Anna And The Apocalypse - 2017 (Christmas, zombies, and songs!)
Christmas Carol - 2019 (with Guy Pearce, dark cynical version of Dickens)

The Tag Along - 2015 - 5/10
AKA - 紅衣小女孩

Individuals are being haunted, then carried away in Taiwan.
Forest demons, their woodlands being felled, hunt souls in the city.
Film launches with inventive opening credits.
The “disappeared” one realizes are those who are forgotten or neglected.
Elderly grandma, for example.
Another plus is the two part construction. First is in the city, second is deep in the woods.
The story is narrative driven, though a couple usages of found-footage are effective.
Biggest problem is the moralizing. Coupled with “guilt" the story grows preachy.

Sharkansas Women’s Prison Massacre - 2015 - 5/10

The above are your typical Arkansas female convicts wearing, I guess, their usual prison attire.
For whatever reason, they are on chain gang duty clearing stumps in the swamp.
During the water break, they all miss their mouths and water soaks their tops.
Oh, sorry, forgot about the narrative proper.
Frakkers (the new environmental villains) detonate a passage to a vast underground sea.
Prehistoric sharks quickly ascend and swish through creeks, streams, even scrub forest.
Because - gasp - they are land sharks!
Plenty of meals, no nudity, scant blood and gore, cursing such as “crap on a cracker.”
Better than Sharktopus, better than Sharknado sequels, but this ain’t Jaws.

Croupier - 1998 - 7/10

Dealer Jack travels from Johannesburg to London.
Hires on as croupier (dealer) at a casino, where he observes and comments.
All the while, writing about the place, the gamblers, his colleagues.
He also sniffs an ongoing con game, though Jack is not the meddling type.
Jaundiced film manages to be cynical, tawdry and intelligent.
Corrosive Neo-Noir will put many off, though if you view humanity as punters, this is for you.

Slashed Dreams - 1975 - 3/10
Originally title - Sunburst (neither title relates to the plot)

STARRING ROBERT ENGLUND!!
Sure, boss, whatever.
Another delight from my Chilling Classics box (50 awful films, $5.00).
College couple head for remote mountains to visit dropout friend. (Gearheads, they drive a VW Thing!)
Pace is slow, scenes dawdle. Nothing much happens for 50 minutes in very 70’s looking film.
Eventually, the couple skinny dip in a lake and get heckled by hillbilly duo, the girl is promised “good time” later.
Do they get outta Dodge? Heck no.
They bed down in a ramshackle cabin. Door won’t close, there is no lock.
Being liberal arts majors, the pair sleep naked.
Later - “Psst, did you hear something? I think someone’s insi — Aarrgghh!!"
Film has six - count ‘em - six musical interludes by nondescript female lounge singer. Slasher musical.
20’s vaudeville crooner Rudy Vallee plays a country storekeeper. He sings too. Hell.
Oh yeah, Englund? He shows in the final ten minutes. This was his second role - Freddy K is a decade away.

8 Women - 2002 - 5/10
AKA - 8 femmes

Ha ha ha. I rave about director François Ozon.
Killer cast includes Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Fanny Ardant …
Just before a Christmas party, the manor master is found stabbed to death.
Each female is a suspect, and each must offer their story / alibi – in song.
Screwball comedy, mystery whodunit, musical. All over the top.
I watched this, jaw dropped at the conception and execution.
For me, a total misfire, though it has its fans.

J’ouvert - 2021 - 6/10

Notting Hill Carnival, 2017! We’re London City!
Nadz is prepping for the competition, best street dance and display.
Friend and fellow dancer Jade grasps there is more to life than two minutes in the spotlight.
She becomes, if not an activist, more outspoken, and a canny observer.
Ostensibly a two lead play, with two in support.
The leads play not only Nadz and Jade, but street thugs, old timers, gentry.
Flow is nonstop and breathing room would have helped thoughtful moments.
Part of the “Lights Up” series.

Lake Of The Dead - 1958 - 7/10
AKA - De Dødes Tjern

Years earlier, the man who lived here murdered his sister, her fiancée then committed suicide.,
Now, every anniversary of that time, the man’s ghost takes possession of whoever is in the cabin.
And they commit suicide. Or so the story goes, says the local sheriff.
Telling the six arrivals who are spending a few days at the cabin, just as the anniversary approaches.
Legends and superstition, snort the city folk. Until … well … they had been warned.
Taut mystery shifts from supernatural to psychological to Gothic.
The camera roves back and forth, like a shell game, keeping viewers in the dark.

Subtitles = https://subscene.com/subtitles/de-ddes-tjern/english/2888198

The Crooked Web - 1955 - 5/10

Stan has a sweet setup. Owns his own diner in sunny LA.
Has enough cash flow to bet on the horses.
And he’s more or less engaged to honey faced Joanie.
Enter Joanie’s brother, Frank, enroute to Chicago then Germany.
Where $200,000 of gold awaits, once he gets $3000 for his buy in.
Stan, the horse gambler, snaps at the bait.
Doesn’t even notice when Joanie and Frank cuddle and smooch and grab each other.
One is born every minute, and Stan is a prize chump.

Subtitles = https://subscene.com/subtitles/the-crooked-web/english/2888217

Where To Invade Next - 2015 - 6/10

Another even handed documentary from the always fair minded Michael Moore.
This outing, the social critic travels abroad to “claim” the best attributes of other nations for his fellow Americans.
Italy - six weeks paid vacation. Five months paid maternity leave.
Finland - no homework and young grades only go to school three hours a day.
Slovenia - free college. Tunisia - equal rights for women.
France - healthy school nutrition. Moore, poster child for health, offers one of the children his Coca Cola.
There are other countries, with other systems. Moore marvels at each with a big, “Are you kidding me?”
Nary a differing voice is heard in his very idealistic walkabout.
No reference made of human nature. Greed, laziness, self serving, what are those?
Tempted to dock a point because Moore is such a one-sided schmuck.

Napoleon At St. Helena - 1929 - 6/10
AKA - Napoleon auf Sankt Helena

After Waterloo, the great general, the emperor, is heading for England.
Except Parliament decides he’s still too hot. And could still rally the Grande Armee.
So he, and his retinue, are dropped at St Helena, British controlled isle in the South Atlantic.
What ensues is a battle of wills: Napoleon, still possessed of his own greatness, and governor of the island, Hudson Lowe, a petty functionary, and martinet.
What follows is the gradual withering decline of the emperor’s health, and entourage.
Script by Abel Gance, this makes a nice footnote to his 1927 epic.

Festival Express - 2003 - 7/10

Documentary of the legendary 1970 Canadian concert tour.
On the train are Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, the Band, Delany & Bonnie, Buddy Guy.
Cameras notwithstanding, the performers relax, party, socialize while the train keeps rollin’.
While many lament there is insufficient concert footage, the film crew was only 5 persons.
Enjoy what’s there. And what is there is 60’s musicians at a peak.
Essential for fans of the artists, or for curious late arrivals wanting to catch that counter-culture vibe that, by this point, was already fading, fading, fading.

Bombay Velvet - 2015 - 5/10

Street urchin’s violent rise to become big-shot manager of wildly popular club in 60’s Bombay.
Riffs of Scarface and Casino float, though this is tame on violence and sex.
Story starts in 1949 following two young boys. Time shifts abruptly with few clues. Just catch up.
Big money employs thugs to pound the path for land development in go-go Bombay.
Many musical numbers, yet most are set in the nightclub world of sequins and stockings…
Strives for operatic, succumbs to melodrama.
Uninspired plot, poorly envisioned characters, a story that is glossy, empty, and of course, overlong.

Danny Boyle and Martin Scorsese thanked in opening credits.
Thelma Schoonmaker one of the film editors.
This shoulda been better.

The Limey - 1999 - 8/10

Dazzling tour de force from Soderbergh in one of his smaller, artier projects.
Career criminal (menacing Terence Stamp), out of prison, learns daughter died in Los Angeles.
As he investigates, obstacles and foes try to thwart him, confirming his suspicions.
Violence in this is casual, often throwaway, often funny. Blink - say at the pool - you may miss it.
At its essence, a revenge film, this is a masterclass in editing.
Layered flashbacks and a diced narrative might confuse ADD souls, though alert viewers will have few difficulties.
Acting across the board (Peter Fonda, Lesley Ann Warren, Barry Newman, Luis Guzmán) terrific.
Music score weaves 60’s pop with brooding piano.
Bickering audio commentary with Soderbergh and scriptwriter Lem Dobbs insightful re:creative compromises.

Kepler X-47 - 2014 - 6/10

Humanity, perhaps on the brink of disaster, accepts help from “visitors”.
It is possible, however, that the arrivals caused the calamity.
Viewers who recall “To Serve Man” might slot this as “To Observe Man”.
“The species (humanity) finds purpose in feeding, grooming, mating, and acquiring objects.”
Short SciFi of survival, freedom and restraint.

Reincarnation Of Golden Lotus - 1989 - 6/10
AKA - Pan Jin Lian zhi Qian shi Jin Sheng // 潘金蓮之前世今生

Beauty attracts admirers, those who would possess, those who would abuse.
So Lotus discovers during the Cultural Revolution.
Marrying rich, she moves to Hong Kong where she is troubled by visions.
Long ago, in Imperial China, she had been a beautiful courtesan, and mistreated by three men.
Not only is she a reincarnation, so are her previous attackers.
So, vengeance? Or try to lead a righteous life.
Gorgeous film flirts with Cat III. Plenty of steam, though little skin.
Haunting story of love, grudges, karma, and Fate.
Underrated Hong Kong gem, and a nice role for Joey Wong.

45 Years - 2015 - 8/10

Agonizing portrayal of marriage in crisis.
Days before a husband and wife celebrate their 45th anniversary, he receives an official note of a “found” body.
His old girlfriend, who had been hiking with him in the Swiss Alps, had fallen into a crevasse.
With global warming, the glacier had melted and her body was visible, some fifty years later.
“Why would they notify you?” the wife asked.
“I was listed as next of kin.”
“Why was that?”
“Well, see, we were sort of married.”
After that, the husband grows increasingly soaked in regret - for his youth, for another life, for the girl he wanted to spend his life with.
Charlotte Rampling devastating as wife who sees the old flame as a destroying angel.

Images - 1972 - 7/10

A children’s writer relocates to the countryside to recharge and escape some “disturbances”.
Difficulties persist, however, as she begins confusing her husband with two ex-lovers (one dead).
Hallucinations increase to the point where she encounters her own doppelganger.
We view from author Cathryn’s perspective, which means we are muddled.
A dreamlike quality suffuses, making it hard to tell if Cathryn is losing her sanity or is actually haunted.
Difficult Altman effort may reward repeated viewing. There was supposedly only a loose script and much improvisation (typical of this director).
I rewatch for the exceptional “look” and performances, although the plot continues to baffle me.

Jacqueline Sauvage: It Was Him Or Me - 2018 - 6/10
AKA - Jacqueline Sauvage: C’était lui ou moi

Straight off, we know Sauvage kills her husband. Three blasts from the shotgun will do that.
While she confesses, police notice her ugly facial bruises and cuts.
Investigations reveal 40+ years of physical and emotional abuse.
Against her, their children, neighbors. Of which the police did – nothing.
Nevertheless, does physical violence justify killing?
What follows are prison scenes laced with courtroom drama, and ugly flashbacks.
Viewers should be aware, the concept of “guilty until proved innocent” applies here.

Quills - 2000 - 7/10

Despite being imprisoned (for “insanity”) the Marquis de Sade continues to get his writings smuggled out.
And then published. Of course, the powers that be are not amused.
De Sade, vilified as a heretic and class traitor, is guilty of blasphemy and forced, violent sex.
If free Sade is a perpetrator, imprisoned Sade is a victim.
Of censorship and punishment, restrictions and surveillance.
Very theatrical production manages to be intellectually heady yet completely squalid.
Jess Franco fans, this is not the de Sade you are looking for.

Blame It On Rio - 1984 - 5/10

Two friends, fathers, head for Rio with their two teenage daughters in tow.
Steamy days, sultry nights, and soon one father and the other’s daughter pair off.
This borders on smutty exploitation, yet it is awfully funny.
Michael Caine and Joseph Bologna share good chemistry (and good one-liners).
Rio is a postcard, Michelle Johnson is absolutely ripe (though Demi Moore seems uncomfortable).
One does wonder why Stanley Donen, of all people, is directing this fluff.

Learning To Drive - 2015 - 6/10

After her husband walks out of their 20+ year marriage, the wife decides to take driving lessons.
This is set in New York City where one can live a lifetime without a car.
Plot avoids the usual marital conflicts and roots of divorce. View this as a no-fault breakup.
The story follows the wife’s increasing self reliance.
Getting out of the apartment, envisioning a trip to her daughter in Vermont.
The Punjabi cabbie teacher’s story is more sketchy, as are all male figures in this.
Ending struck me as improbable. Other elements (how does she afford NYC rent) implausible.
A quiet film, but much occurs. May resonate more with female viewers (it did here).

Henry V - 1989 - 8/10

Kenneth who? This introduced Mr. Branagh to the rest of the world, big time.
Henry V, continuing the Plantagenet claim, embarks to bring France under heel.
First, however, a slice of treachery, then a flash of Henry’s previous existence.
What follows, to paraphrase the Chorus, is a masterful use of smoke and mirrors.
The story, gritty and muddy, looks to have been shot within budget, but the execution is brilliant.
The camps appear large, the battles widescale.
Shakespeare, not exclusive for the arthouse officer, but for the base, common and popular.

The Last American Hero - 1973 - 6/10

Moonshine runner, Junior Jackson, wants to quit that crooked game and go legit.
He enters NASCAR, with buddies as his pit crew.
Only, it turns out NASCAR is just like dealing illegal hootch, a snake pit.
Sponsors, judges, big money backers, rivals who expect a pecking order to be obeyed.
Biography of an iconoclast, fueled with gasoline and exhaust, and plenty of car action for the drive-in crowd.
Valerie Perrine good as the less than innocent groupie, but Jeff Bridges owns this one.
Based on Junior Johnson.