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)
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.
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."
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)
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..."
Maltin***: "Successful filmization of Daphne du Maurier mystery..."
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
First Lines: Frank Cottrell Boyce - The Unforgotten Coat
I hadn't seen this photograph since the day it was taken, until now.
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.
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.
