Saturday, March 11, 2017
First Lines: Robert Falcon Scott - Scott's Last Expedition: The Journals
The first three weeks of November have gone with such a rush that I have neglected my diary and can only patch it up from memory.
Christine (1983)
A nerdish boy buys a strange car with an evil mind of its own and his nature starts to change to reflect it.
Although very well produced, this Stephen King adaptation is ultimately disappointing, doesn't quite deliver the expected thrills and is overlong.
Halliwell (no star): "Thin and gruesomely extended horror flick which never begins to be convincing. For teenagers only."
Maltin**: "...never hits bull's-eye, despite a promising start that captures teenage life quite nicely."
Friday, March 10, 2017
Madeo (2009)
A mother desperately searches for the killer who framed her son for a girl's horrific murder.
Quite to similar to the director's Salinui chueok this movie is another mesmerizing study of Korean smalltown community in all it's complexities, personified by the morally ambiguous desperate mother, perfcetly performed by Hye-ja Kim.
Maltin***1/2: "Gripping tale...More than a mere whodunit, this multilayered story also evokes life in a tight-knit community with all its alliances, prejudices, and corruption.Kim gives a riveting performance as the desperate mother."
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Salinui chueok (2003)
In 1986, in the province of Gyunggi, in South Korea, a second young and beautiful woman is found dead, raped and tied and gagged with her underwear, so two brutal and stupid local detectives without any technique, investigate the murder using brutality and torturing the suspects, without any practical result.
On the surface a crime mystery about the investigations in search of a serial killer, the movie, beautifully photographed and offering some great performances, delves deep into the intricacies of the Korean smalltown community which are prove to be just as disturbing as the investigated crime.
Turn the Key Softly (1953)
After three women are released from prison, we follow them for their first day of freedom.
Nicely made little British B picture may be a bit sentimental, but holds one's interest, and the photography and the depiction of 50s London are excellent.
Halliwell (no star): "Soppy formula multi-drama with contrived and uninteresting plots and characters."
Maltin**: "...contrived dramatics."
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
First Lines: Edward Whymper - Scrambles Amongst the Alps
On the 23rd of July, 1860, I started for my first tour in the Alps.
