I am a very old man; how old I do not know.
Saturday, September 9, 2017
Southland Tales (2006)
During a three day heat wave just before a huge 4th of July celebration, an action star stricken with amnesia meets up with a porn star who is developing her own reality TV project, and a policeman who holds the key to a vast conspiracy.
Obviously intended as a flashy satire, the intentions in this expensive mess pretty much backfire due to a silly, incomprehensible script with multiple subplots and twists; even the characters show no coherence and the star cast seems wasted on the way.
Maltin*1/2: "Impressive cast is wasted in an overlong, overwrought wallow...Even more convoluted and disjointed than it sounds."
Friday, September 8, 2017
Island of Lost Souls (1932)
An obsessed scientist conducts profane experiments in evolution, eventually establishing himself as the self-styled demigod to a race of mutated, half-human abominations.
Despite its age this short and fast-paced horror thriller still has impact with its frightening, tormented mutants and Laughton's adequately over-the-top performance as the sadistic mad scientist Dr. Moreau.
Halliwell*: "Unchilling but interesting thriller with a rolling-eyed star performance."
Maltin***1/2:
"Strong adaptation of H.G. Well's novel...Laughton hams it up a bit,
but despite more explicit horror films of late, this retains its
frightening aura, particularly in the grisly finale."
Michael
Weldon/Psychotronic: "It was banned in England for years. H.G.
Wells...condemned it as being vulgar.It's probably the best horror film
ever made. No other film has as many different and scary faces as this
one. The atmosphere (mostly created on sets) is remarkable. With his
little goatee, a clean white suit, and an ever present whip, Charles
Laughton is perfect as Dr. Moreau."
Thursday, September 7, 2017
First Lines: Zane Grey - Riders of the Purple Sage
A sharp clip-crop of iron-shod hoofs deadened and died away, and clouds of yellow dust drifted from under the cottonwoods out over the sage.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Paterson (2016)
Paterson is a hardworking bus driver in Paterson, N.J., who follows the same routine every day and writes poems about his observations.
Quiet and reserved, this masterpiece depicts the everyday poetry of a simple life in tone and pictures just as perfect as its protagonist; Adam Driver delivers an admirable performance.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Gojira (1954)
American nuclear weapons testing results in the creation of a seemingly unstoppable, dinosaur-like beast.
The
original Godzilla movie is probably the best of the series, as it is
well-produced and delivers the thrills while implying more political and
existential issues than its successors.
Halliwell (no star): "Tepid forerunner of scores of Japanese monster movies peopled by men in rubber suits."
Monday, September 4, 2017
First Lines: Arthur Conan Doyle - The Lost World
Mr. Hungerton, her father, really was the most tactless person upon earth, -- a fluffy, feathery, untidy cockatoo of a man, -- perfectly good-natured, but absolutely centered upon his own silly self.
Guyver (1991)
A young man discovers a mechanical device that merges with his own body, turning him into a cyborg superhero.
Deliberately
silly - and gory - spoof with some quite fantastic monster outfits;
entertainment value limited to fans of the genre.
Maltin*1/2: "Clumsy clumps of humor only make the contrived plot seem even more foolish."
The Monuments Men (2014)
An unlikely World War II platoon is tasked to rescue art masterpieces from Nazi thieves and return them to their owners.
An otherwise highly interesting episode of WWII is (intentionally) treated like a Dirty Dozen-style war adventure complete with a good-humoured cast, light action and some sombre moments; mildy entertaining, though, it is.
Maltin**: "A great true-life story...gets surface treatment and the identities of its heroes is fictionalized, making it difficult to fully invest in their characters. Deliberately old-fashioned, the movie has its moments, and the charisma of its formidable cast carries it a long way."
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