Saturday, July 4, 2020
Midsommar (2019)
A couple travels to Sweden to visit a rural hometown's fabled mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult.
While made in top quality with an involving performance by Florence Pugh and some unsettling scenes, the plot is quite muddled and offers a disappointing ending.
Friday, July 3, 2020
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
First Lines: Catherynne M. Valente - Palimpsest
On the corner of 16th Street and Hieratica a factory sings and sighs.
The Movies I Watched in June
After Life 2019 7
American Epic 2015 7
Ant Head 2018 6
Creep 2014 6
Da 5 Bloods 2020 7
The Double 2011 6
Fire (PoZar) 2020 7
The Front 2010 5
Hotel Artemis 2018 6
El Hoyo 2019 7
I Am Wrath 2016 5
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich 2020 6
Little Women 2019 7
The Man in Black 1949 6
Nothing Sacred 1937 6
Priest 2011 6
Sam Whiskey 1969 6
Shadows on the Stairs 1941 5
A Star is Born 2018 6
Terrifier 2016 6
American Epic 2015 7
Ant Head 2018 6
Creep 2014 6
Da 5 Bloods 2020 7
The Double 2011 6
Fire (PoZar) 2020 7
The Front 2010 5
Hotel Artemis 2018 6
El Hoyo 2019 7
I Am Wrath 2016 5
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich 2020 6
Little Women 2019 7
The Man in Black 1949 6
Nothing Sacred 1937 6
Priest 2011 6
Sam Whiskey 1969 6
Shadows on the Stairs 1941 5
A Star is Born 2018 6
Terrifier 2016 6
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Monday, June 29, 2020
Rocketman (2019)
A musical fantasy about the story of Elton John's breakthrough years.
Well-made musical biography includes both the ups and downs of Elton John's career; the musical bits are good and the performances, especially Taron Egerton's, extraordinary.
House on Haunted Hill (1959)
A millionaire offers $10,000 to five people who agree to be locked in a large, spooky, rented house overnight with him and his wife.
Classic William Castle hokum with all the tricks and treats doesn't really want to be taken seriously; fun for what it is.
Halliwell (no star): "Gimmick ghost story with some (unexplained) gruesome moments; the most outlandish of its producer's trick films..."
Maltin***: "Campy fun."
Sunday, June 28, 2020
Bunco Squad (1950)
A detective goes after a ring of phony "mediums" who are trying to swindle a rich widow out of her fortune.
Lively, entertaining crime drama is simple, but straightforward and suspenseful.
Maltin**1/2: "Fast-paced B movie isn't bad."