Vultural

Berlin 1933: Diary Of A Metropolis - 2023 - 7/10
AKA - Berlin 1933:Tagebuch einer Großstadt

Compiled from diary extracts, letters, newspaper reports, film, newsreel footage.
Month by month chronology from residents living in and observing events during 1933.
Early on, street battles continue between the Nazi SA and the Communist Red Front.
By the end of December, democracy was finished.
What staggers is how swiftly the National Socialists, once in power, moved.
Enemies were persecuted, imprisoned, murdered. Opposition intimidated and crushed.
Radio and film were soon brought to heel, public opinion controlled.
After 1933, events only picked up momentum.

Next Goal Wins - 2014 - 7/10

Bottom ranked football club from American Samoa has yet to score a goal, let alone win a match.
While in FIFA, the players are not professionals, they have day jobs, some are students.
Other clubs are better equipped and boast world class talent.
Seeking help, FIFA sends them a Dutch coach prior to the next qualifiers.
He is demanding, is an outsider, does not altogether understand the culture
Nevertheless, they begin to improve.
Big hearted documentary of teammates striving for a little respect.
Beware the Hollywood adaptation, reducing originals to stereotypes and caricatures.
English subtitles = https://subscene.com/subtitles/next-goal-wins-2014/english/3286581

Sick Of Myself - 2022 - 7/10
AKA - Syk Pike

Self-preening in the age of narcissism.
Some bleat that “look at me” is unique to our current era. Au contraire.
Narcissists are older than Gyges. Signe and boyfriend Thomas continue an endless line.
Thomas is an up-and-coming hot artist, whose “sculptures” are from stolen items.
Signe is an attention wannabee. She embellishes, deceives, fabricates.
Not enough to sustain interest, however, as she discovers.
Until she physically disfigures herself, then lying that hers is a rare disease.
My anger at these social failures soon gave way to laugh out laughter.
Very black comedy about one of the countless societal diseases afflicting our species.

Howard, Robert E - A Little Bronze Book Of Weird Tales

Now, this is an imaginative collection. Interspersed with colorful poems, there are six stories. All originally published in Weird Tales.
A Soloman Kane and a Kull, troubled by visions. A cursed home and a cursed book. Two midnight terrors.
A diverse sampling of Two-Gun Bob, bypassing the usual yarns.
Editor P. Gardner Goldsmith also provides a thoughtful introduction, rather than regurgitating Howard’s biography.

Architecture 101 - 2012 - 7/10
AKA - Geonchukhakgaeron // 건축학개론

She waits in his office, his old flame, who he pretends not to remember.
Yet, how could he forget? She was his first love, perhaps his only love.
Until she broke his heart.
Now she wants him to renovate her father’s home.

Bittersweet romance of the couple who drifted apart 15 years earlier.
Cross-cutting with them during their freshmen year in the university.
Hopeful, naïve, an aspiring pianist, an architecture student.

Encouraged by the professor to explore their neighborhood, examine it.
They share the bus, share dreams, only their envisioned futures differ.
Story will resonate with those who had “everything” with their first love, until they didn’t.

My Dearly Beloved Detective - 1986 - 6/10
AKA - Moy Nezhno Lyubimyy Detektiv

“No, I’m sorry, he is a fictional character. However, since we tired of endless people coming here with their troubles, we formed our own detective agency. And … my name is also Holmes.”
Delightful, if daffy, comedy of the famed Baker Street sleuths, Shirley Holmes and Jane Watson.
Main mystery is when Scotland Yard asks them to find their missing Inspector Lester.
This features a number of songs, one or two dance numbers.
Something for the more cultured amongst us.
English subtitles = https://subscene.com/subtitles/my-dearly-beloved-detective/english/3279578

Unseen Forces - 1920 - 5/10

Young Miriam is cursed with a gift. She can see around corners.
Meaning, second sight, psychic ability, witchy power.
Early on, she meets young Clyde, and the attraction is immediate and powerful.

Years later, they reconnect. Clyde suffers a social climbing wife, Miriam has unpleasant renown.
Some bless her for her ability, others denounce her as a fraud.
Story by Robert W. Chambers (which I why I chased this down).
Ultimately, this is a maudlin soap opera. In other hands, how much better this could have been.
A recently found copy is on the National Film Preservation Foundation’s website.
(no sound - I queued up Scriabin piano sonatas those worked fine)

The Crimson Canary - 1945 - 5/10

“And I’m telling you to lay off. You’re bad for him, you’re bad for the band, and you ain’t so hot a singer,”
Anita causes havoc within the jazz combo.
Not to worry, she soon winds up dead. And whom do we suspect?
Well, the group has five members.
The plot in this is as haphazard as the music. Almost all nonstop jazz, a minute of this, two minutes of that.
Coleman Hawkins does one number, Josh White two.
Cast are supporting team standouts, as well as amateurs.

The Lesson - 2023 - 7/10

Grad student and aspiring writer Liam accepts the job of tutor, prepping young Bertie for Oxford admissions.
Truth be told, Liam wants to brush up against the famous father, J. M. Sinclair, literary lion.
In any event, prepare for the joust, for there are seething undercurrents.
The death of an elder son is a poisoned chalice in the household.

Liam, the fledgling writer, is a keen observer of the dynamics. Better, he keeps his mouth shut.
This is a slow burner, coalescing into a nasty thriller.
Richard Grant, the supposedly retired major author, should keep you glued to proceedings.
In a few ways, this makes a stylish cousin to 2022’s The Menu.

Waiting For You - 2017 - 6/10

Near his death, his father spills a few secrets son, Paul.
“Brown … shoulda been mine … sacks of pearls … still in the house.”
At the funeral, Paul tries talking with his father’s fellow war veterans, now old men.
None are inclined to rake up the past.
Instead, following the slimmest of hints, Paul heads off for France.

Where a thicket of reserved characters, locked rooms, and admonitions to mind his own business, interlace.
Quiet mystery (perhaps too quiet for its own good) of the soul far from home, unsure of what he should be hunting for, unaware of how deep into the morass he is heading.

Weiss, Andrea - Paris Was A Woman: Portraits From The Left Bank

Outstanding introduction to an overlooked chapter of the Lost Generation.
Except these women were not lost. They arrived in Paris to find themselves, to be themselves.
Sadly, for me, I had only been aware of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, along with Renée Vivien (who is barely mentioned in this).
Most of the chapters are of the artists, writers, painters, poets, muses, publishers, females who found greater liberty in France than what was offered in the American heartland.
The one who most captivated me was Djuna Barnes, and I launched searches to retrieve a few titles.
Relationships ranged from lifelong (Stein / Toklas) to tortured infidelities to acrimonious rivalries.
I enjoyed this immensely, and yet this is an era that has always fascinated, the unsettled period between the wars.
Weiss also scripted the 1996 documentary of the same name.
Anyone who fell in love with Midnight In Paris (2011) should find this an excellent companion.

Terra Formars - 2016 - 5/10

On Earth, over-populated like crazy, bigwigs decide the best plan is to colonize Mars.
First, we terraform the red planet with moss and cockroaches (!).
500 years pass (we ain’t extinct, still eating in Mister Bladerunner Noodle Shops), and Mars is suitable.
Best get rid of them roaches first. Send in the Marines? Nope, terrorists, yakuza, street trash.
Who soon find out – shoot, those cockroaches are huge!

Jumbo sized, built like bodybuilder contestants, and moving incredibly fast.
Despite a stellar cast, this bug hunt is unbelievably stupid.
Takashi Miike fans, if you feel you must …

Resurrection - 2015 - 6/10
AKA - Resurrección

Newly ordained priest Aparicio decides he is more needed in Buenos Aires, plagued by Yellow Fever.
Enroute, he decides to detour to his family estate, discovering it all but derelict and abandoned.

His brother remains, dying on his deathbed. His sister-in-law and niece hide in the chapel, terrified.
One servant, taciturn Quispe, tries to warn / assist Aparcio, tend to the family.
Viewers quickly realize the house is beyond healing, beyond redemption.
A slow burn tale of faith, judgment, evil, and the weakness of men.
Perhaps better for those who appreciate the insidiousness of Lucifer, the whisperer of lies.
Few believe in evil nowadays, despite what they witness daily.

Spy/Master - 2023 - 6/10

Romanian Dictator Ceausescu’s right-hand, Victor Godeanu, needs to defect.
Long a KGB sleeper agent, Romanian security is beginning to out him.
Bad timing. Washington, transfixed by the 1978 Camp David talks refuses to commit itself.
Instead, Godeanu is left with a devious and inexperienced CIA handler.
A Romanian series, this steers a wary course.
The US is distracted, Soviet Union formidable, Romanian Intelligence relentless.
Decent espionage thriller, based loosely on Ion Mihai Pacepa, parts are better than the whole.

A Man On His Knees - 1979 - 6/10
AKA - Un Uomo in Ginocchio

Word on the street is that a hitman has been hired to whack Nino.
Why? He is just a simple street vendor. Small stall where he sells drinks, snacks and papers.
Bad luck. Nino is in the wrong place, wrong time, and everyone assumes he is involved.
The police, battling gangs, assassins, shakedown artists.
No matter how hard he tries, luck lets him down, over and over.
Set in Palermo, and I imagine (having been there, and having been robbed there) things are still the same.
This is a drama, not Euro Crime, not Thriller.

In The Night - 1929 - 6/10
AKA - Dans la Nuit

Life in the pit is hard, brutal. Yet, as soon as the whistle howls, he hurries.
Gets cleaned up, dashes to his wedding, and the wild revelry afterward.
He and his bride are ecstatic. Love is bliss.

Until the accident, where he is injured. Actually, disfigured. Horribly disfigured.
And true love proves to be a transient thing.
For the attractive wife soon catches the eye of another.

Shocking tale of love, treachery, accidents, Fate.
Much of the film is excess. The wedding and party is exhausting.
The conclusion? I tossed my foam brick at the screen.

A Very English Scandal - 2018 - 7/10

Early 1960’s, Lib-Dem party leader, Jeremy Thorpe initiates an affair Norman Scott.
As with almost all romantic relationships, it comes to a sloppy end.
Jeremy, however reckless, is highly ambitious, and Norman, well, he is emotionally unstable.
He needs his National Employment card for work and health benefits.
Homosexual laws and stigma informs this brief series, but do not be put off.
This is extraordinary funny! Especially by E02, where Mr Thorpe tries to murder the pesky Norman.
Casting is top notch, the script razor sharp.
Based closely on real events and persons (stick for those credits); truth better than fiction.

Copper, Basil - Whispers In The Night

Unable to buy Mr. Coppers two Arkham House collections, “And Afterward The Dark” and “From Evil’s Pillow”?
Rest easy. This very fine assortment is still available from Fedogan & Bremer, reasonably priced, and available direct, since F&B are still extant.

“Wish You Were Here” opens in Hoddesden Old Hall, bequeathed by an eccentric aunt to her nephew, Wilson. The manor had been neglected and needs work. Fortunately, like so many, Wilson is a successful writer and awash with cash. Along with the money, Wilson has a fiancée, Deirdre, and a best mate, Barry. Together, they form a curious triangle.
Then there are the postcards. Curious things, Edwardian, perhaps? Smudged, barely legible, arriving with increasing frequency. An uneasy Yule tale, best when the fire burns low.

Following a row with Angela, Claverhouse feared their engagement was finished.
To clear his mind, he spontaneously decided to catch a carriage to Croxted. Mechanical difficulties, dreadful weather, finds him compelled to lodge at the Red Lion Inn – where – he spies the most beguiling female.
“In A Darkling Wood” is another novella, this set in lonely country, troubled country.

Oh, the rising artist and his model, perhaps his muse. In this case, two models (muses), whom Ainsley juggles to keep each unaware of the other. Jealously can be so unpredictable.
Ainsley worriedly finds himself “Riding The Chariot” of industry, deception and desire.

“Out There” makes for a change. SciFi, set in the far future where mankind braces in technological fortresses, besieged by forces unknown.

Selected and introduced by Stephen Jones, enhanced with appropriate illustrations by Stephen Fabian.

BlackBerry - 2023 - 7/10

Rise and fall of the communication device, ubiquitous in the early 2000’s.
The original company is a small software developer, exploited and going nowhere fast.
Until they hire a corporate shark who kicks, shoves and propels them into giddy heights.
For those with adequate memories, BlackBerry leapfrogged the pagers.
The film plays out like a docudrama, covering a lot of territory fairly comprehensively.
Marked as a “comedy” I laughed maybe once or twice, although I enjoyed very much.
Some of the accuracy is sketchy (I doubt the SEC had jurisdiction in Canada).
Note: I detested seeing that “Sent from my BlackBerry” in emails back when, much as I detest seeing “Sent from my iPhone” today.

The Effect - 2024 - 7/10

Connie and Tristan enter clinical trials for a new drug to combat depression.
She is a psychology major and wants to experience side-effects, he’s for the pay.
As subjects, a couple, they are paired: boy - girl.
A major side effect is heightened dopamine levels, and interest between the unlikely duo mounts.
The play is a study of attraction and medical ethics.
Also an examination of love. Is attraction, even spiked by chemicals, enough?
Held my interest, although the dilemmas may resonate more with younger audiences in uncertain relationships.
English subtitles = https://subscene.com/subtitles/national-theatre-at-home-the-effect/english/3268702

Golden Eyes - 1968 - 6/10
AKA - Hyappatsu hyakuchû: Ôgon no me

After the opening chase, a helicopter with skyhook chasing fleeing chauffeur, the “plot” gears up.
At the center is a gold smuggling cartel.
Justice includes the Japanese police, Interpol, a female race driver and an insurance investigator.
Double crosses are everywhere!
Spy fever was at a height, as were spoofs (Matt Helm, Derek Flint, Max Smart, Lemmy Caution, Shandigor).
This boasts weird assassination attempts, preposterous shootouts, a jazzy score, and silly humor.
If you are in the mood, if you enjoy these carefree parodies, this rollicks along.

The Skeptic - 2009 - 6/10

Late at night, the elderly aunt dies suddenly, and her ostracized nephew Bryan inherits the white elephant mansion.
Or so he assumes.
Since his marriage is in rough patch, he decides to move into the manor for a few weeks.
And starts to hear and see “things”.
Good psychological horror film, probably a decade too late (for audiences who need explanations).
Is the house itself haunted? Or is locked-tight, emotionless Bryan haunted?
One thing for sure, the home and new occupant act as triggers upon each other.
The spacious dwelling (a wonderful character) is immaculate throughout.

The Power Of The Whistler - 1945 - 6/10

As the man nears the city curb, a speeding car sideswipes him, knocking him down.
He dusts himself, heads for the nearest bar, soon wonders, “Hey? Who am I?”
Yes, amnesia strikes again!
Luckily, a fetching blonde, half his age, sees him as attractive and offers to help.
So, following bits and bobs in his pockets, they dig up his history.
Dark entry in the Whistler series, plays its hand too early, hinting at our hero’s tendencies.
Brooding Noir, well shot, although Dix as a romantic swain? C’mon.

Satan’s Slaves 2: Communion - 2022 - 5/10
AKA - Pengabdi Setan 2

Extremely dark film, loaded with jump scares. Check.
Children (teenagers) in danger throughout. Check.
A plot that has little to no bearing on the first film. Check.
In 1955, in an isolated area, graves yawn open and corpses shuffle into a shrine to bow before the icon.
That entire line is abandoned as the scene shifts to 1984, an impoverished apartment tower in oblivion.
A ferocious storm approaches, adults have vanished, and children roam dark passageways.
By and large, I enjoy Joko Anwar’s Indonesian horrors, but this is a let down.
Hardly a sequel, lacking the framework of a plot, clearly aimed at children and nyctophobiacs.

Murder In Provence - 2022 - 6/10

The Brits borrow a page from the seemingly endless flow of French mysteries.
Roger Allam and Nancy Carroll play the prosecutor and forensic whatever, investigating deaths around Aix.
The countryside is nicely displayed, the murders have clever trails, numerous suspects.
The investigating couple are already an “item”, so there are no silly romantic sparks.
Dry humor pervades, and this is fine for fans of cozy.
For all this, the brief series could just as easily have been set in the Cotswolds.