ph: Cody Lidtke
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Hesher (2010)
A young boy has lost his mother and is losing touch with his father and the world around him, but then he meets Hesher who manages to make his life even more chaotic.
Offbeat drama does compel with some outrageous (and unsettling) sequences, but doesn't quite convince in its entirety.
Maltin*1/2: "Often vile, self-conscious "dark fairy tale" has little to offer in the way of enlightenment and seems to revel in its main character's sheer outrageousness. If that's your idea of fun, have at it."
Zulu (2013)
Two South African policemen investigate the brutal murder of a young white woman, apparently provoked by the availability of a new illegal drug and somehow connected to the disappearance of black street children.
Despite professional production and a good star cast this movie is a cliché-ridden crime story (e.g. the messed-up drunken cop in a divorce), pumped up with some extreme violence and a political background story.
Friday, June 2, 2017
First Lines: David Howarth - We Die Alone
Even at the end of March, on the Arctic coast of northern Norway, there is no sign of spring.
Inside Man (2006)
A police detective, a bank robber, and a high-power broker enter high-stakes negotiations after the criminal's brilliant heist spirals into a hostage situation.
Intelligently assembled heist story with some new twists, spiced with some humor, but outstays its welcome and fails to excite much.
Maltin***: "Clever reinvention of a bank-heist story...Laced with uniquely New York-flavored moments of humor and character riffs, though it overplays its hand and goes on too long. Foster brings no color whatsoever to her role as a high-stakes power broker."
Thursday, June 1, 2017
The Movies I Watched in May
Afraid to Talk
1932 6
Beyond the Reach 2014 6
Bridge of Spies 2015 7
Captain Fantastic 2016 7
Deep Impact 1998 5
Devil's Knot 2013 6
Duel 1971 7
Elvis & Nixon 2016 6
Guardians of the Galaxy 2014 6
Hesher 2010 Feature 6
Inside Man 2006 Feature 6
Jaws 1975 7
Lincoln 2012 7
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done 2009 7
Non-Stop 2014 6
Passengers 2016 6
Rogue One 2016 6
Silent Running 1972 6
Something Evil 1972 6
Supremacy 2014 6
The Beguiled 1971 6
The Last House on the Left 2009 6
The Salvation 2014 7
Zulu 2013 6
Beyond the Reach 2014 6
Bridge of Spies 2015 7
Captain Fantastic 2016 7
Deep Impact 1998 5
Devil's Knot 2013 6
Duel 1971 7
Elvis & Nixon 2016 6
Guardians of the Galaxy 2014 6
Hesher 2010 Feature 6
Inside Man 2006 Feature 6
Jaws 1975 7
Lincoln 2012 7
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done 2009 7
Non-Stop 2014 6
Passengers 2016 6
Rogue One 2016 6
Silent Running 1972 6
Something Evil 1972 6
Supremacy 2014 6
The Beguiled 1971 6
The Last House on the Left 2009 6
The Salvation 2014 7
Zulu 2013 6
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
First Lines: Sara Wheeler - Terra Incognita
Each day was hotter than the last, and I soaked up the November sunshine like a lizard.
