ph: Ellen von Unwerth
Saturday, July 18, 2015
First Lines: Ellis Peters - A Morbid Taste for Bones
On the fine, bright morning in early May when the whole sensational affair of the Gwytherin relics may properly be considered to have begun, Brother Cadfael had been up long before Prime, pricking out cabbage seedlings before the day was aired, and his thoughts were all on birth, growth and fertility, not at all on graves and reliquaries and violent deaths, whether of saints, sinners or ordinary descent, fallible men like himself.
Friday, July 17, 2015
The Big Sleep (1946)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by a rich family and before the complex case is over, he's seen murder, blackmail, and what might be love.
Classic detective thriller with a nearly incomprehensible plot, but highly ebtertaining due to prime direction, excellent star performances, a touch of Noir with a pinch of ironic humour, snappy dialogues and suspense.
Halliwell***: "Inextricably complicated, moody thriller from a novel whose author claimed that even he did not know 'who done it'. The film is nevertheless vastly enjoyable along the way for its slangy script, star performances and outbursts of violence, suspense and sheer fun."
Maltin****: "Classic mystery thriller...So convoluted even Chandler didn't know who committed one murder, but so incredibly entertaining that no has ever cared. Powerhouse direction; unforgettable dialogue..."
Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy (2011)
Based on the murder of Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy, and the subsequent trials of the suspects, Guede, Knox and Sollecito.
Professionaly made and well-played true crime drama about an upsetting case, informative, but not particularly original.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
First Lines: Anthony Berkeley - The Poisoned Chocolates Case
Roger Sheringham took a sip of the old brandy in front of him and leaned back in his chair at the head of the table.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
New Stuff: Monty Python's Flying Circus
I simply wanted to rewatch this classic again, it's been decades...
Showdown (1973)
Two men who have been friends since childhood find themselves on opposite ends of the law.
Standard Western with two aging stars and a wee touch of melancholy.
Halliwell (no star): "Routine star Western adequately done."
Maltin**1/2: "Agreeable but unexceptional Western yarn was Seaton's final film."
New Stuff: Ornette Coleman
I do have the Science Fiction album as record; in fact it's the first jazz album I ever bought. Still, I wanted it on cd as well, plus all the extras.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966)
A bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery.
Although extremely long (3 hours!) this final entry in the Dollar trilogy is arguably the best due to a fully coherent and interesting narrative, stylistic bravura, a splendid cast of three leads playing against each other and one of Morricone's most memorable scores.
Halliwell***: "Intermittently lively, very violent, and interminably drawn-out Western with a number of rather hilarious stylistic touches."
Maltin***1/2: "Third and best of Leone's "Dollar" trilogy...Long, funny, and flamboyant, with memorable Ennio Morricone score; the quintessential spaghetti Western."
Donnie Darko (2001)
A troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes, after narrowly escaping a bizarre accident.
Highly idiosyncratic and fascinating drama about adolescent otherness with a fantastic twist; at times quite reminiscent of David Lynch's work.
Halliwell***: "An engaging, darkly comic look at growing up in suburbia; lurid and deliberately confusing in its circular narrative, it is also bracingly original."
Maltin**: "Writer-director Kelly has ambitious and interesting ideas, but the film builds to an unsatisfying conclusion."
Sunday, July 12, 2015
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