Saturday, January 13, 2018

Ewa Aulin


Lonely Hearts (2006)


Two homicide detectives track  a murderous pair known as the "Lonely Hearts Killers" who lured their victims through the personals.

True crime story gets a slight neo-noir treatment in this well-made, but not quite exciting movie, though Salma Hayek surprises in a very unusual role; a far cry from The Honeymoon Killers, which is based on the same story.

Maltin**: "Uninspired treatment of acutely unpleasant material..."

Tanya Dziahileva


New Stuff: Ex Eye



Who's That Girl?


Photographer: Stephania Dapolla

Phoebe Tonkin


Streetview Captures


Kaya Scodelario


A day in the life, Jan 10


A day in the life, Jan 10, evening sunlight

Sofia Mechetner


ph: Paolo Roversi

New York


The Statue of Liberty under construction in Paris, 1885

Audrey Marnay


ph: Satoshi Saikusa

First Lines: Michael Innes - From London Far


Meredith, had he ever discussed the affair afterwards, would have cited it as a singular instance of the operation of mere chance.

Cindy Mello



A day in the life, Jan 9


A day in the life, Jan 9, blurred

Manami Kinoshita


ph: Harley Weir

New Stuff: Yellow Magic Orchestra



Siouxsie Sioux


Stand by Me (1986)


After the death of a friend, a writer recounts a boyhood journey to find the body of a missing boy.

Pleasantly nostalgic boys' coming of age story finely recreates 50s rural atmosphere; the boys' performances are sensationally realistic and credible.

Halliwell*: "Less macabre than its source may suggest, the film is mostly concerned with the friendships and tensions within the group; nostalgia for50s childhood is nicely conveyed."

Maltin***: "Affectionate Americana...Irresistible and wholly believable performances from all four youthful leads. Only complaint: the high volume of four-letter words, decidedly not characteristic of the 1950s."

Marlene Dietrich


New Stuff: The New Yorker


(art: Jorge Colombo)

Arisha Kriukova


The Polar Express (2004)


On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

Likeable, but quite harmless Christmas entertainment for children; the animation technique is acquired taste, though.

Maltin**1/2: "...retains a feeling of wonder..."Performance Capture" difital animation renders all the characters unreal - the kids look like they're wearing dentures - but aside from enabling Tom Hanks to play five roles it doesn't seem to have been worth all the bother. Still an entertaining-enough adventure for children."

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Liberty Ross


ph: Max Vadukul

Streetview Captures


Anna May Wong


A day in the life, Jan 8


A day in the life, Jan 8, objet trouvé

Evan Rachel Wood


New York


Rocket on display, 1957, Grand Central Station, New York City. Photo by Walter Sanders

Barbara Palvin


First Lines: Boris Vian - I Shall Spit on Your Graves


Nobody knew me at Buckton.

Janiece Dilone


ph: Geoff Barrenger

A day in the life, Jan 7


A day in the life, Jan 7, standing outside looking inside

Grace Hartzel


New Stuff: Wire



Alanna Arrington


ph: Bjorn Iooss

The Girl on the Train (2016)



A divorcee becomes entangled in a missing persons investigation that promises to send shockwaves throughout her life.

Well-made psychological thriller has a complex plot, but manages to convey it slowly adding its puzzle parts to the picture.

Marina Laswick


New Stuff: Charlotte Gainsbourg



Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Megan Irminger


The Company You Keep (2012)



A former Weather Underground activist goes on the run from a journalist who has discovered his identity.

Subdued and pleasantly melancholic political thriller with a good ensemble works more with atmosphere than suspense.

Maltin**1/2: "Impressive cast can't breathe fire into this story despite its promising ingredients."

Ginta Lapiņa


New Stuff: Au Revoir Simone