A day in the life, Sep 22, 2020, a drawing on a wall
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Jigoku (1960)
A group of sinners involved in interconnected tales of murder, revenge, deceit and adultery all meet at the Gates of Hell.
Astonishing horror morality tale loaded with lots of unusual deaths tells its story with imaginative poetic visuals, a superb and adequately dark soundtrack and meandering plots twists; the end sequence in Hell is both surreal and silly, albeit fascinating, both the theological implications are quite illogical.
Friday, February 25, 2022
The Hustler (1961)
An up-and-coming pool player plays a long-time champion in a single high-stakes match.
Down
in the dumps drama is realistically set and brilliantly photographed in
sleazy pool halls, cheap hotels and worn-down bats and diners, where
its downward spiraling tale seems all too inevitable; top performances
all around, but Paul Newman is absolutely perfect in the title role.
Haliwell****: "Downbeat melodrama with brilliantly handled and atmospheric pool table scenes; the love interest is redundant."
Maltin***: "Newman is outstanding...Dingy pool-hall atmosphere vividly realized in this incisive film."
Thursday, February 24, 2022
20 Million Miles to Earth (1957)
The first U.S. spaceship to Venus crash-lands off the coast of Sicily on its return trip. A dangerous, lizard-like creature comes with it and quickly grows gigantic.
Classic creature feature is purely kids'
stuff, but is enhanced by Ray Harryhausen's always enjoyable stop-motion
effects and a climax in which Rome's tourist spots are gleefully
destroyed.
Halliwell (no star: "Cheeseparing monster fiction which doesn't wake up till the last five minutes, and looks pretty silly even then."
Maltin***: "Intelligent script, fast pace, and exceptional special effects by Ray Harryhausen make this one of the best monster-on-the-loose movies ever."
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Monday, February 21, 2022
Wonder Wheel (2017)
On Coney Island in the 1950s, a lifeguard tells the story of a middle-aged carousel operator, his beleaguered wife, and the visitor who turns their lives upside-down.
Despite some beautiful period cinematography by Vittorio Storraro and an especially vivid performance by Kate Winslet this melodrama is quite stage-bound and somehow misses the tone for its story, appears to be a satire rather than a tragedy.
Sunday, February 20, 2022
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