Friday, October 30, 2020

Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice (1989)


 
The work of a notable civil rights crusader in the late 19th and early 20th century. 

This is a good, but rather standard TV documentary that traces the life of a fascinating, brave and important civil rights pioneer; highlight: Toni Morrison reading from Wells' memoirs.


 

Jacquelyn Jablonski


 

ph: Willy Vanderperre

New Stuff: Angel Olsen


 

Carmella Rose


 

La tendre ennemie (1936)


 

Two ghosts return to Earth to stop a young woman from marrying a man she doesn't love.

Good-hearted and humorous ghost tale with a morale; entertaining for what it is, but not too remarkable.

Halliwell*: "Decorative whimsy which is not among its director's best, but mildly amusing none the less." 
 
 

Tanya Dziahileva



New Stuff: The New Yorker


 

(art: R. Kikuo Johnson)

Who's That Girl?


 

Art: Chema Gil Ramirez


 
Find more at:

Cheryl Cole


 

ph: Alexi Lubomirski

Thursday, October 29, 2020

My Cousin Rachel (1952)


 

 
A young man plots revenge against the woman he believes murdered his cousin, but his plans are shaken when he comes face to face with the enigmatic beauty.

Superior adaptation of a Daphne Du Maurier,novel has, similar to Rebecca, a mystery about an enigmatic  woman and good Gothic settings and atmosphere as well as a competent cast, although the the ending is somewhat confusing.
 
Halliwell*: "Well-wrought but dramatically unsatisfactory Victorian melodrama from a bestseller; plenty of suspicion but no solution makes Rachel a dull girl."

Maltin***: "Successful filmization of Daphne du Maurier mystery..." 
 

 

Catherine McNeil


 

ph: Nicole Bentley

Today's Cat


Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Malchik russkiy (2019)

 


 
The story of a simple village boy who goes to the front of the First World war with a naive youthful dream of fame and medals.

A masterfully directed (short) feature is photographed as if it was a movie from the time it plays and presents an intense, heart-breaking war drama; the framing device of showing a modern orchestra rehearsing a musical piece may have some artistic merit, but is quite confusing as well. 


 

Diana Dondoe


 

ph: Satoshi Saikusa

Today's Cat


Sunday, October 25, 2020

Lulu Tenney


New Stuff: The New Yorker


 

art: Kadir Nelson

Lara Stone


ph: David Bailey

The Maidens of Fetish Street (1966)


 

A series of kinky vignettes centered around a lonely, wandering soul, purportedly set in a 1928 Los Angeles that seems curiously infused with 1960s S&M iconography.

Wildly sleazy semi-documentary uses an artsy pretense to string together a series of scenes of supposed sexual depravity, well photographed and at times absurdly tense, but just as well downright silly.

Monica Bellucci



New Stuff: Delayed Gratification