Saturday, June 26, 2021
The Nightingale (2018)
Set in 1825 a young Irish convict woman, chases a British officer through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness, bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence he committed against her family. On the way she enlists the services of an Aboriginal tracker who is also marked by trauma from his own violence-filled past.
Intense period revenge drama doesn't spare the audience the horror of its rape and murder scenes, but rather grips us with unrelenting realism, its direct take on female suppression and racism and its dark, brooding atmosphere, enhanced by excellent cinematography of the Australian wilderness and strong performances throughout.
News of the World (2020)
A Civil War veteran agrees to deliver a girl, taken by the Kiowa people years ago, to her aunt and uncle, against her will.
Very-well made Neo Western adds modern issues (racism, child abuse) to its narrative, which is heart-felt, but also a bit sentimental, plus some great landscape and realistic cinematography; Helena Zengel is absolutely convincing, and Tom Hanks does his thing - as the Good Samaritan.
Friday, June 25, 2021
Phantom from Space (1953)
When an asteroid crashes, the search begins to track down the mysterious aliens.
Risible
low-budget sci-fi drama is lacking in all departments; if you overlook
all its deficiencies, it's still not suspenseful or anyway entertaining,
either.
Maltin*1/2: "OK idea hampered by low budget - and lack of talent."
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
First Lines: Anthony Trollope - The Way We Live Now
Let the reader be introduced to Lady Carbury, upon whose character and doings much will depend of whatever interest these pages may have, as she sits at her writing-table in her own room in her own house in Welbeck Street.
The Sea of Trees (2015)
A suicidal American befriends a Japanese man lost in a forest near Mt. Fuji and the two search for a way out.
Despite all credentials (director and cast) this intended moral tale is highly sentimental and simply doesn't convince with its construed plot twists and turns; good nature photography, though.
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Monday, June 21, 2021
Killers From Space (1954)
An atomic scientist claims he was abducted by aliens after being injured in a plane crash.
Quite
awful low-budget sci-fi alien invasion hokum is enjoyable for those who
like bad effects and costumes, stock actors and a boring, predictable
plot.
Maltin BOMB: "Poor in all departments - and too dull to be funny."
Sunday, June 20, 2021
491 (1964)
A group of youth criminals who are chosen to participate in a social experiment, where they are assigned to live together in an apartment while being supervised by two forgiving social workers.
Deliberately provocative, often banned and censured, this social satire indeed presents some shocking moments; its message of mocking a liberal pedagogy is dubious, if not downright reactionary.
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