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The Nightcomers (1971)
Disturbing jewel
The best film for me from director Michael Winner, though totally different from the actioners which he used us to. No Charles Bronson here, but a Marlon Brando in a character so unlikely, so weird, so unforeseeable that the audiences can only be astonished by this performance. Before LAST TANGO IN PARIS and MISSOURI BREAKS, you have another face of Marlon Brando's talent. This is a plot with children involved but certainly not a film destined to them. It can belong to the evil children genre movies list, but it is more complex than this. I repeat, the main reason to watch it is Marlon Brando, and if you liked Jack Clayton's THE INNOCENTS, this is the prequel.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Purely awesome
That's for me the best POW camp film ever made, the most complex and sophisticated, a so outstanding character study, so poignant, so gripping. And you already had many of them since the fifties, the most prestigious so far being BRIDGES OVER THE RIVER KWAI. This one is less spectacular, with a maybe lesser climax, but it still remains a milestone in the list of such schemes: POW films. You could not have put German instead of Japanese, because both Japanese and German cultures are quite different. So, this one is a film that you can't afford to miss. David Bowie gives here a performance even better than a professional actor. With HUNGER, produced the same year, david Bowie put his forever mark in the movie industry.
Dillinger (1973)
I still hesitate between this one and PUBLIC ENEMIES
I perfectly know that both films are really different, because made during two different decades. One was produced in 1973 and the second in 2008, so many things are not the same. Concerning this one, it still has something from the Roger Corman's spirit and soul - BLOODY MAMMA. But besides this, I still admit that I love both movies, both are excellent and the best films ever made about the famous gangster. Max Nosseck's version, in 1945, was good too, but again, this was another period, and another budget too. Here, Warren Oates is splendid, at his peak, just between THE WILD BUNCH and BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA; DILLINGER is a pure product of the seventies, speaking of the style, actors, atmosphere. If you added more slow moving gunfights, it could have been a Sam Peckinpah's film. One last thing, that I guess no one has even notced. There is an element in common with Michael Mann's HEAT - and not PUBLIC ENEMIES - that's the fact that the two main leads, the gangster and the cop after him - Warren Oates (Dillinger) and Ben Johnson (Melvin Purvis) - never met ; except in a restaurant but - as in HEAT - not in the same take, the same shot. Not together.
The Moonshine War (1970)
Curious movie actually
Curious film, yes, without any real hero nor real lead character, not good vs bad ones scheme, but I still find something of Richard Quine in this crime drama using some comedy elements, Tarantino before its time, or even Coen Brothers. You can think of SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT from time to time, but far less of course than in WHITE LIGHTNING, from director Joseph Sargent, and made three years later, another moonshine and bootleggers scheme feature . Richard Quine was a great comedies provider during the fifties and sixties, but he also gave us PUSHOVER - a terrific crime noir drama - though I prefer forgetting DRIVE A CROOKED ROAD. I really like this film, for its characters symphony, where you have some good unusual things, surprises. Each time I see it, I feel great pleasure, though it is not a great movie. Yes, I always have a strange feeling with this film, one of the last of this great Hollywood comedy maker.
Trail Street (1947)
Ray Enright's trademark
Director Ray Enright was a western maker who often used Randolph Scott, as Andre De Toth or Budd Boetticher also did. But the most obvious trademark of this western specialist for Warner and RKO Pictures, was the fact that he often used real life western characters in his films. Here, it is question of Bat Masterson. In other of his movies, you deal with Jesse James and the Younger Brothers - KANSAS RAIDERS and BAD MEN OF MISSOURI, Sundance Kid - RETURN OF THE BAD MEN, Wild Bill Hickok for WILD BILL HICKOCK RIDES...This director was a pretty good one in the western domain, though he did not make only westerns but also comedies and adventures features too.
The Naked Spur (1953)
Anthony Mann's trademark
What a tremendous western this one showing together. Jimmy Stewart, Bob Ryan and Janet Leigh. I nearly forgot Ralph Meeker.... First, enjoy the admirable settings, landscapes, plus the exceptional pace, rythm. It is one of the first amazing westerns that Anthony Mann gave us, also starring James Stewart for most of them. So great excitment. Janet Leigh did not make any western besides this one, at least as far as I know. The story offers nothing really new, but it is so well made, that it belongs to the best westerns ever made. Delmer Daves could have done it, but maybe not John Ford, no element of him here.
Nightmare (1964)
Not really horror but worth the watch
Splendid photography and diirection for this psychological thriller from the early sixties Hammer Films studios. Not my favourite from Freddie Francis, but still powerful, no matter my own taste or sensitivity. It may disturb some audiences and for this reason it is not recommended to children. Efficient atmosphere, thanks to the photography, a terrific black and white one, and a score that may evoke more nightmares than happiness. A riveting little chiller that could be easily confounded with a William Castle's film in the line of HOMICIDAL, MACABRE. I guess Alfred Hitchcock could have loved this plot, that could also have been made for the AH PRESENTS TV series.
Bâtiment 5 (2023)
Same crew but not the same characters
In this second film from the director of LES MISERABLES, made in 2019, we still have Alexis Manenti and Steve Tchientcheu, but not in the same roles. From a cop, Manenti becomes a mayor, and Tchientcheu from a local kingpin also a city hall big member...This one is not a social crime drama but only a social drama, just remove the crime element. It is just an indictment against actual facts, real tragedy. Not everyone will agree with what the message is in this film. The migrants government strategy is in the heart of this story. If you want to escape from your problems, if you want to dream, hope for the future, this film is not for you. But if you are courageous enough to open your eyes on the true and ugly face of the modern world, the modern society, this movie is the best opportunity for you. A very painful ending, poignant, disturbing. Unforgettable.
Captain Phillips (2013)
Absolutely terrific
I often counfound - without confounding ! - this awesome thriller action film with another one released the same year 2013 - HIJACKING - from a Danish director, and speakig of the same plot, but told from another angle. This one is genuinely a masterpiece confirming once more than Paul Greengrass is a real great director, not only a gifted action movies provider: for instance the JASON BOURNE franchise which he made, I guess, to give him more freedom for more ambitious subjects, such as this one and of course UNITED 93 and JULY 22, besides which Jason Bourne adventures seem lame. This one is an absolute must see, where Tom Hanks' character is nearly robbed by this outstanding villlain character, the pirate, a new comer in the business, who should have received an Academy Award for his unique peformance.
Lisbon (1956)
Replace Bogart by Ray Milland, Ingrid Bergman by Maureen O'Hara and Claude Rains by....Claude Rains and you obtain....
Of course this amazing Republic picture, very well made in every domain, is one more CASABLANCA rip-off before or after ISTAMBUL, TANGIERS, SINGAPORE. A mix-up between espionage, drama, intrigue, romance and a bit noir atmosphere - and why not exotic - too. This one is in color, amazing photography, plus in LBX frame. It is a very pleasant film from Republic Pictures, a movie which is on the same quality, scale as any Paramount or Universal movie, even Warner Bros. Ray Milland directed and it was not his first nor last feature. Maureen O'Hara is even more gorgeous than Ingrid Bergman. Anyway, for this kind of stuff, I never care about the plot, intrigue. I only focus on the atmosphere.
Nouvelles d'Henry James: Le tour d'écrou (1974)
Turn Of The Screw
First let me tell you that American director Dan Curtis made a TV movie also called TURN OF THE SCREW and of course adapted from the same Henry James' novel. And three years earlier Michael Winner gave us THE NIGHTCOMERS, presented as the prequel of TURN OF THE SCREW. And it's useless to speak of Jack Clayton's THE INNOCENTS. So, concerning this Raymond Rouleau's TV movie, the story is similar to the Jack Clayton's film but the atmosphere, in terms of production design, quite different. Suzanne Flon is purely outstanding, not that worst than Deborah Kerr. I hardly recognized Robert Hossein in Marlon Brando's role for the Michael Winner's film; I knew it was him only because of his name in the opening credits. Yes, a worth watching material.
Jamais je n'ai (2024)
Only word for it: Disturbing
I think of a horror film from Belgium or at least inspired by Gaspard Noe's cinema. It is really shocking, disturbing, and I hardly believe that such a short feature could be made. I can't imagine it in a long length frame. I thought to IRREVERSIBLE (2002) all long the viewing. Using the subjective camera, the tale of a young woman who his already kidnapped, tied in a car rear seat, then dragged into an old house where she will be...But no, I prefer stopping here, not to spoil this tremendous but very special short film, which could have been shown - but after all, maybe it was shown - at the Paris L'ETRANGE FESTIVAL, which is held every September.
Un coup de dés (2023)
Short but sooo long
Yes folks, I was so deceived by this junk for which my expectations were so great, because of the cast: Yvan Attal and Guillaume Canet. But from the beginning, I don't know why, I felt so bored. My instinct told me rightaway that I would lose my time. But the film was only seventy nine minutes, so I decided to go "beyond" the red line. I never made it. I never found any line, any element that could persuade me to continue. The off voice is also unnbearable and contributes to make this film absolutely unbearable. Directed by another director, I mean made differently, I am sure it would have been better. But you can try it.
Marked Woman (1937)
Powerful drama
I would put this film more as a drama than a crime film, even if it speaks of gangsters. It is a movie that you can not avoid, because there is Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart in the same film. The directing is flawless from Lloyd Bacon and also maybe helped by Michael Curtiz. It is not an action yarn, as Warner Brothers used us to, but still a terrific material, typical of the Warner Bros thirties stuff. It offers a prestigious place, opportunity, to present women as the equal of men, at least in the acting business. So, from this point of view, it won't appear too old fashioned, especially today.
Hong Kong (1952)
Expendable film
If you are fond of the Paramount adventures movies, and there are plenty of them, directed by the likes of Lewis Foster, Edward Ludwig, Jerry Hopper...this one is realy a waste. Ok, there is the atmosphere and the presence of the glamorous, gorgeous Rhonda Fleming, but the story is so lame and predictable. This is the worst of Lewis Foster for me, concerning his adventures yarns. His best was CROSSWINDS, but this one.... It deserves to be watched for a movie buff searching gems from the fifties. So, if you try it, please do it only for the atmosphere. It remains a good time waster. Paramount Pictures usually provided good stuff.
The Lost Tribe (1949)
At long last a not so bad JUNGLE JIM movie
Beware, I don't say it's a good JUNGLE JIM flick, but only a not so bad, compared to the other ones. This one is fast paced, action packed in the second part, it nearly - I insist on nearly - looks like a TARZAN from the RK0 Pictures era - TARZAN AND THE AMAZONS - for instance. It's a great fun, lousy of course, but more exciting than most of the other films of this series about the Tarzan wearing clothes TV show. The William Berke directing is still on automatic pilot mode, more than ever, but it's OK. Johnny Weissmuller does his job, gets his check to pay his booze and bills and everyone is satisfied. For once, Sam Katzman seemed to have put som dol in this movie. So rare....
Gunga Din (1939)
A movie where a supporting character steals the whole
A pure admirable adventure colonial feature that could have made by the British, because of the plot. But it is American and as powerful as was for instance THE LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER. Yes, Sam jaffe, though being a supporting character, steals the whole film for me, not because his character's name is on the title, but because really of this supporting character's place. I have discovered, met Sam Jaffe in this film, just before ASPHALT JUNGLE. For me, Sam Jaffe will forever be GUNGA DIN, the water bearer. Victor McLaglen is also equisite, more than Cary Grant who seems a bit midcast. Concerning this kind of war adventure from the thirties, I love this one, THE LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER and of course CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE. GUNGA DIN was remade, I guess, with THREE SERGEANTS, which I saw and forgot just after the watching. Guess why....
Malta Story (1953)
Pure British war film
The British film industry was very prolific and great provider of excellent features during the fifties and early sixties, long before THE LONGEST DAY, in which Ken Annakin was involved. Remember SINK THE BISMARK, CARVE HER NAME WITH PRIDE, DAM BUSTERS, ABOVE US THE WAVES, ICE COLD IN ALEX, BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATA, DUNKIRK.... I forget many more, sorry. Those films were at the same scale, level of quality as the Hollywood made movies, believe me. This one is the best example of what I just said. But I think it is a bit underrated, because it speaks of an aspect of WW2 far less known than El Alamein, Dunkirk, anywhere the British Army was involved in.
Terrain vague (1960)
Rebels without a cause
This movie is the French response to Nick Ray's REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, the ultimate, at this time, French film about junevile delinquency, stonger than LES LOUPS DANS LE BERGERIE. But after this one, especially after May 1968, there will be tons of them. Tons...This Marcel Carné's film is not so far from the message of the features this director offered us twenty five years earlier, starring Jean Gabin. The form and settings are quite different, so the dialogues, but the social element is still very present. I like this film, despite the fact that I discover it only now. It was not that shown before, most programs prefer showing QUAI DES BRUMES or LES VISITEURS DU SOIR....
Une Amie Dévouée (2024)
What a nice girl
The story of a liar, a mythomaniac, a female liar who pretended to be a victim of the Bataclan slaughter's relative. Her purpose is getting money from this situation. It is inspired from actual events. There has aleready been numerous films speaking of the Bataclan massacre victims, but not from this angle. This is very interesting, pulled by powerful performances. I would have perfectly imagined Karine Viard or Camille Cottin - LA CONASSE - in this role. This is a true tremendous document, very realistic and the lead woman character. With and without make up, she is not the same person at all. And it is also a tribute to the victims of this awful killing.
The Kaiser Aluminum Hour: A Real Fine Cutting Edge (1957)
Amazing rare gem from TV vaults and pulled by terrific acting.
It was so glad to have found this early George Roy Hill's material, long before he gave us BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, THE STING or THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER. He was from the same generation and batch as the likes of John Frankenheimer, Robert Mulligan, Sidney Pollack, Franklyn Schaffner, who also began this very same way. This is a story that could have never been used for the big screen audiences, but still a meticulous, accurate and sharp character study, taking place in a military camp. The face to face scenes between Jack Warden and Dick York - far before BEWITCHED - is the main reason not to miss this episode. By the way, I had never heard of this TV Show KAISER ALUMINIUM HOUR. Here, I was smashed by the powerful acting performances.
Les fossés de Vincennes (1972)
For die hard historians only
I am fond of history, and French history too, but this TV movie taught many things that I did not know at all. It is a bit boring though for those who are not that interested in the history of France. Many details and technalites, in this mainly indoor drama taking place between the French Revolution and the rise of a guy named Bonaparte. You discover that the French revolution was actually very complex and had nothing to envy to the Russian revolution one century later. Yes, it is definitely interesting, worth watching, but not destined to all audiences. It is shown as a docu fiction, no romance, no useless elements for pure hard boiled historians. No fat, only "lean" material.
How Awful About Allan (1970)
Between William Castle and Hitchcock
As I have always and forever say, Curtis Harrington was the Alfred Hitchcock and William Castle's - second part of career - son, heir. Nearly all his movies are inspired from those two major suspense and horror directors, we find traces of their trade mark every where. Here, Tony Perkins seems to be a rip-off of himself in PSYCHO. This is a very good little thriller suspense horror yarn, which I did not know at all. And it is a so great pleasure to discover it. It seems to have been made for TV and that doesn't diminish the interest that you can take from it. On the contrary, home and movie theaters are not necessarily the same and the expectations can also be different. Home destined stuff need less budget and that makes the difference in terms of inventiveness and quality. This one is the best example.
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
The most terrific POW camp film ever made
You also had KING RAT, from director Bryan Forbes, and other films from director Val Guest - CAMP ON BLOOD ISLAND or Oshima's MERRY XMAS MR LAWRENCE.... All pure golden gems too. But this one is far far above all of them and largely deserved to have won so many awards over the world. Alec Guiness also largely steals the show, in an incredible performance. I have no memory to have seen such a character before. A "changing" character, that's the main peculiarity of this outstanding movie, the best of David Lean's with also Dr JIVAGO. William Holden is also excellent here in a role very close - especially concerning the ending - to the one he had in another "bridge" film: BRIDGES AT TOKO RI.
A Bridge Too Far (1977)
Unfortunately the last of the series, before SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
This kind, frame, of war movies began in 1962 with THE LONGEST DAY and resumed with BATTLE OF THE BULGE, BATTLE OF ENGLAND, BRIDGE AT REMAGEN, TOTA TORA TORA and of course this very one: A BRIDGE TOO FAR. I mean huge, mammoth production war films, showing every side of the protagonists for a major battle. Not only the "good" allies point of view, but on the contrary both point of views: Allies and German - or Japanese concerning TORA...The second peculiarity of those kinds of war films was that the cast included many, many stars. This one is directed by Richard Attenborough who gives here a true surprising masterpiece, very well made, that may help people to learn many details concerning WW2. Speaking of WW2 films, you will have to wait till 1998, with a milestone in war films history, I mean of course SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. But the frame of the Steven Spielberg's film was quite different. It showed only the American point of view, and not German, and used a very intimate angle, unlike the gigantic production which I spoke about just above.