Vultural

OVNI(s) - 2021 - 6/10

An optimist gazes at the stars and thinks, “We are not alone. If aliens arrive, they will surely help us.”
The skeptic thinks, “Encounters between advanced civilizations and primitive ones always spell disaster for the less developed.”
The cynic thinks, “Why come to a backwater planet, where every single creature murders the other?”
Rocket scientist Mathure’s vessel explodes soon after liftoff and he is shunted down to GEPAN.
A tiny government agency investigating UFO reports.
Mathure, who desperately wants back into rockets, is caught between two powerful factions.
One wants him to close the pointless agency, one wants him to prove UFO’s exist.
Set in the late 70’s (the look is spot-on), this light comedy is filled with goofy characters, and very odd moments.
For the Fox Mulders out there, believers, this is for you.

Under Fire - 1983 - 6/10

Journalists in Nicaragua, during the 70’s revolution as the Somoza dictatorship is about to topple.
There are several war journalist films out there, and this is one of the better ones.
Great juxtaposition of remote observing of explosive violence coupled with up-close mayhem.
A brutal regime, rebels, mercenaries, CIA interference, and press deadlines.
In addition, a casual romance which seems more of a distraction.
Casting is pretty much perfect, and several scenes are unforgettable.
Timeless, as the subject may be, the pertinent timeline has dated.
The Nicaraguan revolution is 40 years distant, and the new boss = same as the old boss.

Dirty Pretty Things - 2002 - 7/10

Welcome to England!
Oh, you have no papers? Meaning, you are here illegally?
No worries, we can find you work, only your pay will be less, understand?
Okwe, a certified Nigerian doctor, works as a hotel desk clerk.
Senay, Turkish, a cleaning woman at the same hotel.
The hotel’s sordid side business, organ harvesting, can ease difficulties for both.
Biting moral quandary provides backbone to part message-film, part nail-biting thriller.

Keene, Brian - The Girl On The Glider

This reads as part diary, part writer’s journal.
Keene lives hard by an accident prone road. Fatalities are frequent.
After one deadly mangle, a victim appears to linger.
What follows are Keene’s thoughts and fears on the unusual activity.
Keene is honest enough, confessing he earns his living as a prolific, if mid-tier, author.
This novella comes across as a spec assignment.

The Translators - 2019 - 7/10
AKA - Les traducteurs

The great author, well, the best-selling author, has a new book pending.
Expectations from the fanbase is immense. For the publishing house, this book is make or break.
Nine translators are hired, then whisked to a secured, underground location (old castle, monastery).
Soon enough, a ransom note appears along with a slew of smuggled chapters.
Despite the security, there is a leak.
Taut thriller will appeal to mystery fans and book types.
There are, perhaps, too many characters. Plus, the amount of money at stake indicates the writer is, who, Stephen King, Mary Berry? Money now flows to disposable, repetitive TV shows.
Ignore these quibbles, however, as the twists and turns are diabolical, as is the plotting.

Gould, Glenn (editor Tim Page) - The Glenn Gould Reader

Culled from an untold amount of essays, interviews, liner notes, this collection ranges from insightful, to controversial, to funny.
Many of the musical explorations in the first section were beyond me. Pages of staves and notes support explanations, but those are best for sight-readers.
Gould’s essays on Schoenberg are passionate and persuasive, even though I still have limited appreciation and understanding of this composer.
His position towards Beethoven is far more dismissive, which I gather is genuine and not merely provocative posturing.
Recollections of Stokowski and Rubinstein make for highly entertaining reading.
Other essays are completely off the track. Praising the combo of Petula Clark and Tony Hatch while pooh-poohing the flash-in-the-pan group, The Beatles. Thing is, for me, Pet evokes Swinging London better than any other artist.
The stray interviews with himself prove laugh out loud funny.
Gould also crafted radio plays of which I was unaware. Owing to his articles on “The Idea Of North” and “The Latecomers” I now intend to track these down and give a listen.
Altogether an engaging book and certainly not just for Gould fans or Classical enthusiasts. Gould’s predictions of recording and editing techniques are downright uncanny in their accuracy.

A Soldier’s Story - 1984 - 7/10

During WWII, a black sergeant is murdered in racist Louisiana.
Sent to investigate, a JAG officer. A black JAG officer.
General consensus agrees the murder was committed by the Ku Klux Klan, still a force then.
The JAG captain (excellent Henry Rollins), wants truth, not an easy answer.
In the finest investigative tradition, the captain ruffles everyone’s feathers.
While based on a play, this does not feel stagebound.
Drama predominates over mystery.
Acting uniformly fine (early role for Denzel Washington).

Death Wish - 1974 - 6/10

Probably one on those films that “started things”.
After his family home suffers an invasion, family raped and murdered, Paul turns vigilante.
We watch Paul (Charles Bronson in a career-making role) morph from pacifist to avenger.
Risks increase, though consequences seem slight.
Emotionally manipulative film steps into propaganda at times.
Self-righteous murder seems not only appropriate, but justified.
US fascination with guns assured this was a massive hit with mainstream audiences.

Widows’ Peak - 1994 - 6/10

On first glance, a “chick flick”, a parlor drama, but delve deeper and you’ll find a mystery, laced with comedy.
The flashy, “youngish” widow arrives in the village, and ingratiates herself with the upper crust biddies.
Those who inhabit Widows’ Peak.
A poorer widow, however, takes an instant, almost irrational dislike.
Then we enter maneuverings and village politics, where flash and poverty draw knives.
Funnier than one might expect, with more twists than an acrobat in the final act.
Mia Farrow’s last good leading role.

Childer - 2016 - 7/10

She lives in the isolated cottage with her young son.
Extraordinarily hygienic, overly protective, pushing all visitors away.
Are visitors dangerous, or is she mad?

And as Halloween draws ever nearer, so too do a small group of children.
Strong Horror short, dipping into rustic terror.
The unexplained, well served.

In The Realm Of The Senses - 1976 - 7/10
AKA - Ai no Korīda // 愛のコリーダ

Claustrophobic film of obsession and increasing stakes as thrills diminish.
Retelling the story of Sada Abe, ex-hooker, now servant in small hotel.
The proprietor initiates an affair with her, at once sleazy and torrid.
He discards his wife to increase his time with Sada.
Arthouse film, supposedly meant for the mainstream, yet far too explicit.
Graphic sex will alarm prudes, too much plot and artistic photography will bore pornsters.
The score is memorable, and used to great effect.
Camerawork is filled haunting rain soaked scenes, amidst the rising banner of war outside the hotel.

Stir Crazy - 1980 - 6/10

Two classic bunglers, after being fired – again, decide California is the place to be.
Sure is. In no time flat, they are framed for a bank heist and sent to the slammer for 100+ years.
Inside, they make friends with other convicts (what a great place to make friends).
Then somehow get involved in the annual rodeo competition.
Plot moves quickly, distracting one from how absurd the narrative is.
And believe me, this is one silly movie.
For all that, Pryor and Wilder make an irresistible team, and top comedy makes up two/thirds of the film.

House Of Flying Daggers - 2004 - 7/10
AKA - Shi mian mai fu // 十面埋伏

Government agent Jin helps the beautiful Mei escape prison.
High probability she is a rebel spy, so he does this to infiltrate the Flying Dagger clan.
Except. They have seen this ploy too many times and are rightfully wary.
Visually astounding, this is a demonstration disc. Eye-popping colors.
Action sequences are also amazing, and lushly photographed.
It is long, often confusing, and has a cool emotional tone.
Coming a couple years after the crowd pleasing (and to me, overrated) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, this was the fitting, breathtaking homage to countless Shaw Brothers classics.

Popeye - 1980 - 6/10

Popeye the sailor arrives at a tiny port, takes a shine to Olive Oyl, promised by her parents to Bluto.
Plot is as paper thin as the two dimensional sets, and the songs are forgettable.
Yes, songs, this is a musical. A poor one.
OK, I like the sets. I like the whole “look” of this.
Robin Williams is an inspired Popeye, mumbling incessantly, usually unintelligibly.
Shelley Duvall as Olive is priceless.
Amusing misfire for most, though a disaster for director Altman, who would be in cinema purgatory for a decade.

A Picture Of Autumn - 2013 - 7/10

A rescued 1951 gem by Mint Theater.
The elder gentry, once wealthy, following WWII, living in reduced circumstances in the crumbling manor.
One son, doing rather well, pushed them to sell off, and move … somewhere else. Unexplained.
The other son, shiftless after the war, seems to fail every venture, only contacts the family for a touch.
Sadly funny, watching the seniors who are forgetful, absent-minded, dotty, increasingly unable to fend.
There are perils in remaining, there are perils in departing.
This will resonate with older viewers, seriously considering leaving the family home.
Or with their adult children, who may want to solve the problem, but recognize the solution may be a disaster.
One wonders if Alan Bennett was aware of this play when he wrote People (2012).

I don’t get it.
Visit a nursing home.

I was heading towards the checkout lane at Piggly Wiggly today.
Man in front of me dropped his keys so he bent down to retrieve them.
First thing that appeared was the crack, before his drawers dropped revealing a bodacious big butt.
I did not admire the view.
How about you, J_Scarp73? Do you like viewing big male bottoms?

Waxworks - 1924 - 6/10
AKA - Das Wachsfigurenkabinett

WANTED – Writer to provide descriptions for Wax Museum exhibits.
The scribe applies, and the curator points to the Grand Calif, Ivan The Terrible, and Spring Heel Jack.
From there, the fever of inspiration builds imaginative stories.
The Calif (Emil Jannings) is the longest and dullest. A forced comedy, relying on farce and painful situations.
Better is Ivan The Terrible (Conrad Veidt), with his paranoia, cruelty, despotism.
Spring Heel Jack (Werner Krauss) breaks the barrier, entering the writer’s world.
Ivan boasts the best sets, Jack dizzying camerawork.
All three stories are creaky, the first one especially so.

Five Minutes To Live - 1961 - 5/10

Fred and Johnny team up to rob the bank.
Inside man and outside man.
While Fred shakes down the bank manager, Johnny holds the exec’s wife hostage.
Grade D cheapie boasts the reliable Vic Tayback along with Johnny Cash.
Cash gives a sneering, gonzo performance as the kidnapper, but truth to tell, he can’t act worth a flip.
The entire ensemble look like they were working for cookies and carrots.
Direction is akin to, “OK, good enough. Next!”
Did I mention how slow it was? Probably because this is a snoozer.

Ghahwagi, Karim - Civilian

Three children are kidnapped. All trauma victims of shocking violence. Their kidnapper? The children’s counselor, now comatose following a failed suicide.
Speculative yarn plays out as a cross between thriller and horror, with a dose of SciFi babble. One could imagine Hollywood sniffing at this. Or this being pitched to a studio.
A degree of soft core torture porn for gorehounds, a race against time for thrill seekers, and dialogues about pervasive surveillance for the intelligentsia.
Main protagonist Jennifer Marshall deep dives into psyches for answers. Observant government handlers study her methods, learn the ropes, to better serve society later.
Her character, background, and concerns are well drawn, a highlight of the novel.
Helen Murbler, the comatose adversary, is less delineated, which is a shortcoming.
The book could have benefited from an English proofreader. Common mistakes such as loose for lose would have corrected. I might have punctuated a few sentences differently myself, though that is no complaint.
Overall, a strong, thought-provoking novel.

The Man Who Put His Will On Film - 1970 - 6/10
AKA - Tôkyô sensô sengo hiwa // 東京戦争戦後秘話 映画で遺書を残して死んだ男の物語

Motoki has his camera stolen. He pursues, the thief commits suicide, police confiscate the camera and beat him.
Except, when he regains consciousness, the film group tells him he was covering a violent student demonstration, and the police seized the camera as evidence, and beat him.
So what version is true?
A series of hunts or searches include hunting for the footage, searching for identity, or of meaning.
The group are all Marxist students, bent on serving the proletariat, shocking the bourgeois.
An experimental film, I was frequently unsure what was going on.

The Over The Hill Gang - 1969 - 5/10

The town is lawless, the mayor corrupt, sheriff incompetent.
Pa, visiting his daughter and son-in-law, sizes things up and decides to oust the outlaws.
Mind you, Pa is an ex-Texas Ranger, and he enlists more of his grizzled buddies to help.
This looks like a TV movie, with decent production values.
Main reason to watch this Mild Western is the irresistible cast.
Pat O’Brien, Walter Brennan, Andy Devine, Jack Elam, Chill Wills, Edgar Buchanan, Gypsy Rose Lee.
Hardly a classic, though harmless fun and a treat to see a posse of character actors.
Brazos!

Atomic Rulers - 1965 - 4/10

Ghastly. Shockingly bad. Terrible, in fact, although this exudes an innocent charm.
Starman is dispatched from Planet Emerald to protect Earth from nuclear weapon bullies from Metropol.
Starman, the definition of a 98 lb weakling, has super strength and wallops baddies without a sweat.
Sets appear to be wobbly cardboard, costumes pajamas (what today’s superheroes wear).
This was originally a 50’s children’s serial, which American distributors recut into four movies.
Three films followed. Equal standing all. Ridiculous.
I must confess to seeing this originally in the late 60’s. Then again at stoned movie houses in the 70’s.
Silly as this one is, it is superior to any Prince Of Space outing.

Written On The Wind - 1956 - 7/10

Friends Mitch and Kyle both fall for Lucy. Mitch, poor yet honest, Kyle a rich alcoholic.
Who will she pick? Ha! $$$ beats L-0-V-E, suckers.
But wait! Kyle also has a scheming, sex kitten sister, of easy disposition, who desperately wants Mitch.
Wonderful, trashy melodrama, packed with guilt, toxicity, schemes.
Sumptuous production values, florid cinematography.
For anyone curious about director Douglas Sirk, this is the film to watch.
100% soaper, but heavenly to take in.

Crimes And Misdemeanors - 1989 - 7/10

Eye specialist Judah has a successful practice, community esteem, strong marriage, and a mistress.
A mistress who is a headcase, demanding he get a divorce and marry her.
Who is unafraid to reveal all to his wife, thereby wrecking his life.
Concurrent with this is the story of a small documentary maker, Cliff.
Actually, he is a failure, and forced to work for a rival, a highly successful one.
Both step down the path of transgression. One major, one petty.
I know a lot of Allen fans view this as one of his finest.
For me, this is the precursor to Match Point, which is my favorite Allen.