Saturday, March 28, 2020
The Extra Man (2010)
A man who escorts wealthy widows in New York's Upper East Side takes a young aspiring playwright under his wing.
Likable , slightly humorous tale centered on some genuinely eccentric NY characters; the excellent make it all believable.
Maltin***: "A valentine to the oddballs who make N.Y.C. unique, focusing on two men who live out of their time. Kline and Dano are simply perfect as a retrograde roue'..."
Friday, March 27, 2020
The Report (2019)
Idealistic Senate staffer Daniel J. Jones, tasked by his boss to lead an investigation into the CIA's post 9/11 Detention and Interrogation Program, uncovers shocking secrets.
Well-told and sober account of the investigation into one the darkest chapters of American history is gripping and suspenseful; the excellent cast helps.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
The Black Doll (1938)
A dishonest mine owner finds a Black Doll on his desk and knows that vengeance is about to overtake him for murdering his former partner.
Lukewarm low-budget crime mystery with a some horror elements doesn't quite convince due to a sloppy script with an uneven mix of creepiness and humor.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Dark Journey (1937)
During World War I, a German spy and a French spy meet and fall in love.
Above-average WWI espionage romance is mildly entertaining with good chemistry between the two lovers, but the plot is way too convoluted to hold one's attention.
Halliwell*: "Unconvincing but entertaining romantic adventure with good star performances."
Maltin***: "Engrossing love story...Young Vivien is radiant."
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
First Lines: Liu Cixin - The Three-Body Problem
The Red Union had been attacking the headquarters of the April Twenty-eighth Brigade for two days.
The Mountain Between Us (2017)
Stranded after a tragic plane crash, two strangers must forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow-covered mountain. When they realize help is not coming, they embark on a perilous journey across the wilderness.
Formulaic and predictable survival tale including a likewise corny romance has mainly some good beautiful landscape photography to go for it; no challenge for the two stars either.
Monday, March 23, 2020
Seven Sinners (1936)
A wise cracking American P.I. traveling abroad with his love interest and sidekick, stumbles on to a dead body. After it disappears again, he starts to unravel a devious crime ring.
Sub-Hitchcock is lively, witty and some suspense, likable and entertaining.
Halliwell*: "Fascinatingly dated comedy suspenser with excellent sub-Hitchcock sequences, the whole thing having a strong flavour of The 39 Steps."
Maltin**: "Ersatz 39 STEPS...Lowe, Cummings, and de Courville can't compare to Donat, Carroll, and Hitchcock, but at least there's one good full-size locomotive crash..."
The Salton Sea (2002)
After a tragic incident, a man drifts into a world populated by thugs and speed junkies.
A thriller that celebrates its own downward spiral is mostly watchable for its cast of amazingly grotesque characters.
Halliwell (no star): "Sleazy movie that enjoys its descent into the gutter, which here is full of grotesque characters and incidents, including a noseless dealer who recreates the Kennedy assassination with the aid of pigeons in model cars."
Maltin*1/2: "Dreadful film noir-ish thriller...Cluttered story about chance and revenge has more scummy characters than any audience should have to encounter in one movie."
