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Commuted (2023)
The power of commitment and redemption
A fantastic piece of film making that chronicles Danielle Metz's journey from the bad choices of her youth through an unfair and unjust justice system to finding her own strength and spirit which led her to parts of life that make our society better - helping others, overcoming adversity, being a good mother, and giving all of us an example of how to live our lives with honesty, selflessness, and purpose.
Hopefully this film will call the viewer to take their own actions to change our justice system to help keep families intact to avoid generation after generation falling into the same patterns.
Metropolis (1927)
A prediction of the future that looks prescient
A must see classic for anyone who loves films (and particularly design and sci-fi), Metropolis is a sprawling tale of man vs. The machine that echoes challenges in today's world. The film feels very modern particularly given its age and the fact that it is in black and white.
The scale of the movie and the practical effects still produce a powerful impact on the viewer. It's astonishing to think about what it took to make this movie and the vision that it took to not only design it but then to execute the look.
The story is rich with complexity and social commentary. And the actors carry the emotion of the story without sound.
This is a foundational part of movie history. You will recognize themes, imagery, and ideas that have been in dozens of modern films. And you will be greatly entertained by the remarkable visuals and emotional music. Don't miss this film.
Heartbreakers (1984)
Exploring male friendship in the 80s
Heartbreakers has been a white whale for me for some time. I saw it several times in the 80s but since then have searched streaming sites and even tried to watch a Spanish dubbed version on MGM. But the new released Blu-Ray finally makes it available with solid picture quality and a clear stereo soundtrack.
The film revolves around the relationship of Blue, a struggling artist, and Eli who is unhappily successful. As the movie unfolds, layers in their relationship including romantic jealousy, a supportive power dynamic, and mutual career jealousy are revealed. The dialog is authentic and honest.
What I value in the film are its exploration of the depth Blue and Eli's friendship and a presentation of both sides of the conflict between art and commerce. In many instances, the characters express writer-director Bobby Roth's conflicted feelings about art and grasping for "success". It's a complicated subject that's handled with nuance and no judgement.
Peter Coyote is excellent as the up and down Blue who revels in life but is also frustrated by his relative lack of success. Carol Wayne, best known for her many appearances on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show as the Matinee Lady in the Art Fern's Tea Time Movie sketches, adds depth to the ensemble as the centerpiece of Blue's art work. Carole Laure is believable as the object of Blue and Eli's affections.
The film is a time capsule of 80s styles and culture. Many of the things you love or hate about that decade are present. The soundtrack of R&B and blues is rudely interrupted by Pat Benatar's "Love Is A Battlefield" which sounds like an early mix to the point that it's almost unrecognizable as her.
Heartbreakers is a rare film that explores male friendships, artistic vision and success, and what is ultimately important to each of us in life.
Private Property (1960)
A fine film that deserves more attention
So glad I ran into this underappreciated gem on Kanopy. Personal Property is a well-produced psychological thriller set in the Hollywood Hills that might make you afraid to be home alone after watching it. Excellent performances by Cory Allen as the egocentric stud and Warren Oates as his weak, sexually repressed friend. Kate Manx is radiant as the sex-starved, rich housewife who wants desperately to experience life like Duke (Cory Allen) does.
The restoration of this film is sensational. The black and white images have a tremendous amount of detail and contrasting shades all captured in 4k. Director Leslie Stevens keeps the suspense moving along and presents some unique camera angles that add to the film's mood.
Quite a wonderful time capsule of life and values in the late 1950s USA. It is a refreshingly edgy film in a time when many filmmakers were not taking risks.
Dressed to Kill (1980)
Ridiculous and it hasn't aged well
With all the camera time devoted to a nude Angie Dickenson, I wondered if I had inadvertently turned on "Emmanuel Takes A Shower" instead of "Dressed To Kill". While seeing details of early 80s culture was fun, the gratuitous sex and nudity were boring and unnecessary. Add in the racist stereotypes and you have movie that really takes you back in time in a bad way.
Thankfully, Dennis Franz arrives as a prototype Andy Sipowicz to inject life in the movie. With the interminably long "action" shots and long camera pans, the movie is listless. The extra ten minute dream sequence is completely unnecessary and is a trick on the viewer. The unbelievable escape and ending in the mental hospital are nothing short of amateurish.
I have no idea what people see in this movie and certainly don't understand why any movie studio would have given DePalma money to make more films. But I'm glad they did if for no other reason than "The Untouchables".
The Conversation (1974)
70s technology
Lots of 70s cultural details and a lot of sound editing details to keep my nerdy brain entertained but overall I don't understand the accolades for this film. I didn't find the story particularly enthralling and I had no doubt that Caul would make the morally correct decision.
Hackman is excellent as always but Harrison Ford steals the moment with his spot-on portrayal of the conniving assistant. Great to see some excellent actors like John Cazale, Frederick Forrest, and Teri Garr rounding out the cast.
And the ending left me scratching my head. I've read that Coppola says "he doesn't know" where the bug is or if there is even a bug. But I say that's a cheap way out of not making a statement.
The Artist (2011)
A silent film about the silent film era?
Fantastic! Great storytelling, superlative acting, and wonderful production design make this a brilliant film about films and people.
Jean Dujardin comfortably carries the movie as the egotistic silent film star whose career and life crumble beyond his wildest fears. But it's Bérénice Bejo who lights up the screen with her smile, her expressive face, and her acting. She steals practically every scene she is in.
In a supporting role, James Cromwell is as great as he usually is. He plays the anti-hero's loyal driver with sincerity and dignity. The film is deep with excellent performances by John Goodman, Joel Murray, Ed Lautner, and Penelope Ann Miller who bring an array of secondary characters to life.
If you love moviemaking or good storytelling, you'll love this movie.
Dark Passage (1947)
Disappointing melodrama
I found the plot convoluted and the action plodding. What little suspense there is is buried in the obvious romance story.
Bogart and Bacall are their standard movie selves - for better but repetitive - while Moorhead's performance felt over the top to me.
The eye-level camera angle was more distracting than helpful. While it's an interesting way to establish a character's relationship to the other characters, esthetically it didn't work.
And Jack Warner was right - why have Bogart in a film when you don't see his face for half the film?
I'm always wary of a film when the IMDB score is considerably higher than the Metacritic score but it usually not an issue for older films. This time I should have listened to the critics.
The Daytrippers (1996)
FOR COMPLETISTS ONLY
I'm a big fan of Greg Mottola's work but his debut here is weak, unstructured, and not funny. Here he is finding his footing with Anna Meara overreacting, a plot that move too slowly, and punch lines that fail to connect.
On the positive side, Stanley Tucci, Liev Schreiber, and Campbell Scott turn in solid performances. Mottola's direction does frame Hope Davis beautifully throughout but none of this is enough to make this a very interesting film.
The best news is that Mottola's work has improved greatly over the years and I hope that "Confess, Fletch" is good.
Repulsion (1965)
B-O-R-I-N-G
I realize I'm in the minority here but I don't understand all the hype for this film. I was incredibly bored as there was no story and no back story to explain Carol's descent into madness (just because she hears her sister enjoying sex?) To me, this was a bunch of anecdotes and moments strung together without rhyme or reason.
Deneuve is incredibly beautiful (even in black an white) and Polanski smartly focused the film on her. The beautiful cinematography makes her hair shine of gold even in the absence of color film.
First Reformed (2017)
Depressing but worth the watch
Schrader's warning about global warming is overwhelmed in atmosphere and sadness in this moving film.
The film is focused on environmentalism, religion, and the meaning of love. Schrader does hit the audience over the head with his message about our destruction of the planet and while it's important, it is overdone. The hypocrisy of organized religion is laid out in the open as the audience sees the connection between corporate wants and the church.
Hawke commands the screen throughout -- good thing since he is in almost every scene - with a sensitive, brooding performance. Seyfried is fine as the victim/"love" interest but doesn't add a lot to the role. Cedric is solid as the rich church leader.
Beyond Schrader's screenplay, his direction is interesting. The opening shot come up from below to reveal the church which is the focal point of the movie is excellent. He creates a somber, serious mood through lighting and sound without making the film too dark.
Watch for clues (camera motion, lighting) that reveal what's real and what's not. Toller does die by suicide in the end with the dream/reward of Mary as his wife/love/mother of his new child.
I appreciated this film much more on my second viewing which was in a theater instead of TV. I think the direction and soundscape benefited from the theater setting.
Solyaris (1972)
Thought-provoking entertainment
Great cinematography, direction, and production design/art direction make this an entertaining film. While clearly influenced by Kubrick's 2001, Tarkovsky has created his own epic about the meaning of life. Led by a great performance from lead, Donatas Banionis, the actors take the audience through an exploration of their minds.
Tarkovsky wants the audience to ponder big themes like the nature of consciousness, mercy, and the power of love. Framed by the great feel and color of the film, he creates a great mystery for the audience to unravel.
My only wish is that the film was edited a bit tighter. Some of the glamour shots seem to go on forever and while they are helpful in setting the tone, they don't push the plot forward and start to get boring. Given the length of the film, a small reduction in length probably wouldn't hurt much.
I'm very glad I watched this as it is an unforgettable movie that made me think and was entertaining at the same time. This film is much more memorable and impactful than most of the films released now. Do yourself a favor and watch this instead of some mainstream dreck.
Brighton Rock (1948)
Excellent British noir
Richard Attenborough is compelling as wild Pinkie who scares everyone in his path. Great cinematography and lush period costumes help make this a good film to watch.
Model Shop (1969)
Not great but a fantastic 60s L.A. travelogue
Not a great watch as there are no characters to root for and the ending is stark.
But wow...L. A. is the star here with a LOT of footage captured driving around the city in the 60s. So much to see and marvel at -- many things have changed but some have remained.
The film does a decent job of capture the innui and disillusionment of Vietnam-era America. Things were changing fast and that's reflected in the characters action.
I'd suggest this more for film buffs (French New Wave), 60s fans, and L. A. fans than to casual movie watchers.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Solid thriller
Easy to see why this film is so loved. Great direction and cinematography, good acting, great tension via a complex plot.
But it didn't quite make me suspend belief that someone could be that brainwashed/mind-controlled.
Rushmore (1998)
Got me where it counts
About 1/2 or 3/4 of the way through Rushmore, I thought this will either be a good movie or end up being one of my favorites but it will depend on what happens next. Then "Ooh La La" came on and I knew I was home.
Somehow this movie hit me in the feels and I'm still not entirely sure why.
Strangers on a Train (1951)
Some moments of brilliant direction
The opening shots of their feet, shows, and the tennis rackets are brilliant. Hitchcock shows us the world from a whole new perspective.
And the high-speed conclusion including the destruction of the carousel is brilliant and scary.
There is an touch of the absurd as some plot points aren't completely believable but the film is a remarkable piece of work and remains entertaining.
Human Desire (1954)
A lot to like but I hated the ending
Compelling imagery and metaphors from Lang, some good performances by Ford and Crawford make this an enjoyable - albeit dark - watch right up to the end.
I thought the ending was terrible. VIcky gets killed and Warren gets away with being too weak and heads back to a very young girl with a crush on him. Yuck.
Linoleum (2022)
"It's not that simple" unless you have a great writer/director
Saw this tonight at the first night of the Columbus Film Festival and Columbus local writer/director Colin West has created a stunning film.
Flowing through a beautiful film with a warm tone, West creates a world where dreams are followed, family is important, and the best in human nature ultimately wins out. Marvelous performances from Gaffigan. Katelyn Nacon, and Michael Ian Black (with a short notable performance by Tony Shalhoub) pay off with a heart warming ending that reminds me why I love movies.
There's a lot to digest here as the movie moves though sci-fi and fantasy while depicting typical days in our daily lives. But stick with this film though it's somewhat slow second act for the ending which put a big smile on my face as I walked out of the theater.
One, Two, Three (1961)
Mad Men meets subversive screwball political comedy
Brilliant.
So smart and well-acted. Over the top comedy that keeps you laughing. So many incredible details in the comedy, politics, the music choices, social commentary, and view of 1960s America.
If you love movies, you have to see this.
State of Play (2009)
Not bad but someone cliched
Too bad real life isn't like this movie where dedicated journalists dig deep to uncover corruption at the highest level. Well-acted by an excellent cast but a lot of cliches - older fading writer, young spunky cute blogger, tough but compromised boss.
I did like the.nuances of Cal and Michael's relationship. I thought that part was well-written and not typical Hollywood fodder. And it does a good job of hiding the eventual outcome.
Leave Her to Heaven (1945)
Beautifully shot but slow
Beautiful colorful film. But the plot drags on. The testimony in the trial is completely unrealistic. Love confessions :)
I understand the love for the film simply for the way it looks and the era it portrays.
Cowboy (2008)
Really funny
It is short but it has decent acting and some funny bits. Look for it on Youtube under the title "The Lesbian Cowboy".
Not exactly a big budget production but that's not really the point. The writing stands out and it looks good enough.
Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)
Just rewatched this and it's better than I remember
Really well-written with some still serious dialog about intimacy and relationships. The four leads are excellent and Soderbergh manages them deftly.
Nice to see an original, grown-up movie with interesting characters who aren't superheroes or torn from the pages of a comic book. We need lots more of these.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
I love LA and I wanted to love this movie
But I didn't.
The plot and the tone shifted numerous times over the course of the movie and at times I couldn't figure out what PTA was going for. I thought Haim made an excellent debut and in some scenes captures the whole screen. Hoffman was interesting but not as strong as Haim.
I had enough of the "running" symbolism by the end but I did enjoy the ending.