A day in the life, Mar 26, standing outside looking inside
Saturday, October 31, 2020
Friday, October 30, 2020
Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice (1989)
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.
La tendre ennemie (1936)
Two ghosts return to Earth to stop a young woman from marrying a man she doesn't love.
Halliwell*: "Decorative whimsy which is not among its director's best, but mildly amusing none the less."
Thursday, October 29, 2020
My Cousin Rachel (1952)
Maltin***: "Successful filmization of Daphne du Maurier mystery..."
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Malchik russkiy (2019)
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.
Monday, October 26, 2020
20,000 Days on Earth (2014)
Writer and musician Nick Cave marks his 20,000th day on the planet Earth.
Not really a documentary but rather autobiographical essay, the film does shed light on the musician's mind and music, at times humorous as well as self-critical.
Sunday, October 25, 2020
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.