Saturday, March 9, 2019
First Reformed (2017)
A minister of a small congregation in upstate New York grapples with mounting despair brought on by tragedy, worldly concerns and a tormented past.
Intense psychological drama effortlessy weighs in heavy topics and creates suspense by slowly escalating these issues; Hawke surprises with a stellar performance; puzzling ending might disappoint some viewers.
The Killing (1956)
Crooks plan and execute a daring race-track robbery.
Tough noir-style heist drama, meticulously directed with an unusual time structure and a first-rate cast.
On rewatching: perfect noir thriller, every view you find new details.
Halliwell**: "Incisive, entertaining, downbeat caper movie clearly influenced by The Asphalt Jungle and Rififi."
Maltin***1/2: "The film that really put Kubrick on the map - a case study of a racetrack heist, with a colorful cast of characters...Major flaw: the Dragnet-style narration."
Friday, March 8, 2019
First Lines: Janet Evanovich - One For the Money
There are some men who enter a woman's life and screw it up forever.
Predator (1987)
A team of commandos on a mission in a Central American jungle find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.
Straightforward action thriller seamlessly turns a violent military jungle commando into a cat-and-mouse game with an alien hunter.
Halliwell (no star): "Lethargic action thriller with unpleasant moments."
Maltin***: "Solid, suspenseful action film takes time getting started, but emerges a grabber."
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
Ron Stallworth, an African American police officer from Colorado Springs, CO, successfully manages to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan branch with the help of a Jewish surrogate who eventually becomes its leader. Based on actual events.
This well-made satire is quite entertaining, although not so much as caricature, since the abusrd premise, based on true events, is in itself already quite amusing; nonethless, it does have some considerable political bite.
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