Saturday, August 22, 2015
Woodstock (1970)
The film chronicle of the legendary 1969 music festival as director's cut.
Needless to say it's a remarkable document to an even more remarkable event, I sort of grew up with the soundtrack. However, whether this director's cut edition is superior to the initial theatrical version is beyond me. Some music was added, but other performances were deleted...
On renewed viewing. it's still amazing how this documentary accurately captures the feel and the sound of this event.
Halliwell***: "A definitive moment of the 60s, with the mood and music brilliantly captured on film..."
Maltin****: "...brilliantly captures unique communal experience of outdoor rock festival, along with great performances which highlighted unusual weekend bash."
Friday, August 21, 2015
Paranoia (2013)
An entry-level employee at a powerful corporation finds himself occupying a corner office, but at a dangerous price: he must spy on his boss's old mentor to secure for him a multi-billion dollar advantage.
A vacant pretty boy hardly can compete against the senior stars in this hollow and anaemic thriller; the makers certainly didn't consult a dictionary when choosing the title.
Maltin**: "Industrial espionage thriller...the chases, twists, and "accidents" are merely about the next big thing in phones. So what?"
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
The Young One (1960)
A jazz musician seeks refuge from a lynch mob on a remote island, where he meets a hostile game warden and the young object of his attentions.
A simple tale with a small cast of characters is cleverly turned into a highly ambiguous allegory about racism, bigotry and innocence.
Maltin*1/2: "Turgid, much-too-obvious melodrama is a disappointment from Buñuel."
Lockout (2012)
A man wrongly convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage against the U.S. is offered his freedom if he can rescue the president's daughter from an outer space prison taken over by violent inmates.
Sloppily made sci-fi action drama that hardly thrills; Guy Pearce as an endlessly wisecracking Bruce Willis wannabe is particularly unnerving.
Maltin**1/2: "Pearce's Bogart-like banter lifts this futuristic action tale...He definitely saves this over-the-top testosterone yarn by deftly creating an easygoing style of delivery for his clever, smart-aleck rogue."
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Monday, August 17, 2015
Sunday, August 16, 2015
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
A senator, who became famous for killing a notorious outlaw, returns for the funeral of an old friend and tells the truth about his deed.
Much-loved classic Western with a dream cast that leisurely spins a tale self-reflecting the genre and its political implications.
Halliwell***: "Clumsy, obvious Western with the director over-indulging himself but providing some good scenes in comedy vein."
Maltin****: "Panned and patronized upon original release, but now regarded as an American classic; one of the great Westerns."
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