* Death Race 2000: (1975 - Action, sci-fi, sport, fantasy) A cult classic action film. Part horror, part satire, this movie was directed by Paul Bartel (Rock 'n' Roll high school, Eating Raoul) and starred David Carradine, Simone Griffeth, Sylvester Stallone, Mary Woronov and others. The movie tells the story of a dystopian America of the far future (The year 2000!), where trans-continental road races are no-holds barred. Running down pedestrians gets you points in this sadistic race and American culture has devolved to a base society which glorifies and admires violence. Five competitors in the cross-country race are targets for each other and the gang of rebels seeking to overthrow this morally corrupt society. - The Bipartisan Party controls all aspects of society through a unified church and state. Even the president of this fascist America is fair game in this overblown, campy, farce of a race. The acting was bad, the writing poor, and the camera work shoddy. If it hadn't been for the original story (Based on the short story "The Racer" by Ib Melchior), this movie would have gotten much lower marks. 3 of 5. (Paul W. S. Anderson (Soldier, Alien vs. Predator) is directing a remake entitled Death Race, starring Jason Statham, which began production in late August 2007. The film should reach theaters in August of '08. I plan on watching it. Previews make it look better than the original.)
* Eat Drink Man Woman: (1994 - Comedy, romance, drama / Taiwan - Yin shi nan nu) Written (in part) and directed by Ang Lee (Sense and Sensibility, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain, 'Lust, Caution'). This movie is a character based drama which revolves around a typical Chinese family. The father is a widower and a retired master chef. He's done his best to raise three girls without their mother. As the movie opens, they all live in his home. A traditional suburban ranch on the outskirts of a large urban center. The movie switches between the different characters, as we experience their lives vicariously through the voyeuristic eye of the camera. The acting, editing and camera work was exceptional, the story believable but a bit flat. The movie occasionally focuses all the characters in one place - The traditional Sunday dinner, overflowing with an amazing meal prepared by the father of this clan. Romance swirls about the characters in this subtle, poignant and well crafted movie. I give it a 3 out of 5.
* The Lion in Winter: (1968 - Drama, history / U.K.) Here is a film adaptation of a 1966 play. Despite the fact that this is a fictional tale of King Henry II (Plantagenet), ruler of the Angevin Empire (which consisted of medieval France, England and Ireland), it is historically accurate in it's background and consequences. The movie is set in Henry's chateau and primary residence in Chinon, Anjou, France. As an Empire this large is difficult to maintain, Henry is constantly scheming to protect, defend and expand the influence of his Kingdom. The story takes place on and around Christmas of 1183. The aging King (now in his 50s!) summons his wife (from the tower where she is imprisoned), his sons, and his enemy; King Philip of France. Once all are assembled, deception and treachery take center stage as the successor to Henry's thrown is decided. The political intrigue is thick, and the plot is twisted. A lively yuletide is had by all. Starring Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins (his first film role), John Castle, Nigel Terry, Timothy Dalton, Jane Merrow and others, the acting was outstanding. The sets, locations and costumes excellent. The music was also superb. This movie won three oscars, and they were all well deserved. The only problem I had with this movie was the pacing. Despite its 135 minute duration, the pacing was breakneck - the dialog delivered non-stop, packing in twice as much speech as one would expect for a movie this long. 4 out of 5. (Remade in 2003 with Patrick Stewart and Glenn Close. I've added the remake to my queue.)
* Anatomy: (2003 - Horror, thriller / German - Anatomie) This time around I caught this movie on Comcast on demand. Starring Franka Potente, this German movie does a good job of copying the crappy American cookie cutter movie formula. With some unbelievable character plots, a ridiculously transparent secret society, and very little suspense, the killer in this movie exudes no passion, and we're left yawning for the duration. The only bright spot was the production. The sound, lighting, costumes, and sets were excellent. I get the feeling that the script was written for a much longer movie, but they tried to make the movie an hour shorter than it needed to be. The movie starts out rather good, but it slides downhill about 1/2 way through. The acting by Franka Potente and Benno Fürmann was pretty good. For that I'm raising the bar from my previous rating - This time around, it gets a 3 out of 5.
* Arabesque: (1966 - Adventure, romance, drama, thriller) A Comcast on demand feature, this one can't be found on DVD (yet). Directed by Stanley Donen (Singin' in the Rain, The Pajama Game, Funny Face, Damn Yankees, Blame it on Rio) and staring Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren. This movie serves as a model for the Mod madness of Austin Powers. Here's a spoof on the James Bond genre - Or is it? A preposterous plot whereby Gregory Peck plays a playboy academic. A specialist in ancient languages, he's quickly involved in international espionage and a seemingly double crossing kept woman, when he agrees to help the home office thwart a plan to murder the prime minister. Thankfully, the plot doesn't sit still for very long. If it did, we'd start to lose interest rather quickly. Filled with witty dialog and slightly stale humor. Peck and Loren look good, but there's no heat in this screen pairing. It's a forgettable foreign agent flop. The best thing about this movie is the camera work - it's very inventive, but wasted on this campy, romantic, spy thriller. 2 out of 5.
* The Star Chamber: (1983 - Action, crime, drama, thriller) Comcast has a few gems. Here's one. Starring Michael Douglas, Hal Holbrook, Yaphet Kotto and others. Here's a political, courtroom thriller, turned action packed drama. Michael Douglas is disgusted by the injustice of his justice system. As a superior court judge, he's forced to set criminals free on technicality after technicality. When his idealism has dried up, he's approached by another judge (Played by Hal Holbrook). Holbrook and a group of nine other judges have set up their own 'Justice System' to judge those who escape the standard system. Douglas joins them at first, then changes his mind when this court proves just as infallible as the other. Great social commentary, writing, acting and directing. Very reminiscent of 'The Firm'. This one gets a 4 out of 5. (This movie is currently in production for a remake - Due out in 2009).
* Heroes - Season 1 (disc 7): (Drama, sci-fi, mystery, thriller) I don't usually watch television. One of the reasons is my schedule. I work shift work, twelve hours at a time, nights, and weekends. If I found a series I liked, I'd have a hell of a time watching all the episodes. I don't own a TiVo, and Comcast only has CBS on demand (They've got NBC as well, but you have to pay extra to watch those). Aside from my schedule, I find most network programming to be poor. Poor quality, poor line up, poor selection, etc. I prefer the movies. With NetFlix, I can watch what I want, on my schedule. If I don't like it, I've only myself to blame. Anyway, I've been hearing quite a lot of buzz about this particular series; from friends at work, and reviews online. Given the subject matter, I figured I'd give it a try. Wow! I'm impressed. What's the series about? A group of people, from all over the world, are slowly discovering the fact that they have super powers. Abilities which cannot be accounted for in the general populace. A high school cheer leader with incredibly augmented healing abilities. An artist who sees, and illustrates the future. A politician with the ability to fly. A Japanese cubicle worker with the power to bend space and time. A mysterious mom on the run, has an extremely violent alternate personality; and many others with super powers. As these characters struggle in self discovery, we're introduced to a terrifying universal plot. One of the heroes paints images of the future. One of the pictures illustrates a massive explosion, set in downtown New York. Will these heroes come together in an effort to avert this forthcoming disaster? This disc contained the season finale - How to stop an exploding Man, and a pile of extra/special features. An excellent finish to a complex, rich and rewarding series. This is some awesome television. I'll keep watching. 5 out of 5 (for the series so far)
* Samurai Trilogy 3 - Duel at Ganryu Island: (1956 - Action, adventure, drama, history, biography / Japan - Miyamoto Musashi kanketsuhen: kettô Ganryûjima) Classic Samurai cinema. Here is a movie by Hiroshi Inagaki. Starring Toshiro Mifune and Koji Tsurata, this is the third movie (conclusion) of an epic trilogy. The films are based on a novel (Musashi) by Eiji Yoshikawa - A fictionalized account of the life of Miyamoto Musashi, author of The Book of Five Rings and perhaps the most renowned Japanese swordsman who ever lived. I'm not sure why I'm watching the third movie first, but I must say that the cinematography (despite some deterioration due to age) was outstanding, and the film had an authentic feel to it. The costumes, sets and props were all top-notch. In this movie, a seasoned and humble warrior (played by Mifune) is forced to finally face off against his nemesis - A young and brash samurai (played by Tsurata). Despite his self imposed retirement, this reluctant ronin must heed the call to honor and fight the final fight of his career. Plenty of choreographed fight scenes, romantic involvement between jilted lovers, and fateful battles between the primary characters mark this epic culmination as a classic in the Samurai genre. 4 of 5.
* Switchback: (1997 - Action, mystery, thriller) Written and directed by Jeb Stuart (in his directorial debut), this movie featured Dennis Quaid, Danny Glover, Jared Leto, Ted Levine, R. Lee Ermey, William Fichtner, and others. This movie is filmed in the Rocky Mountains. In and around the area west of Boulder, Colorado. Fantastic location shots - Winter in the Rockies. The movie is a serial killer murder mystery. There isn't much in the way of mystery (for the viewer), but there's plenty of thrills. Danny Glover plays a local man, a former railroad worker. Jared Leto plays a young man, a hitchhiker. Dennis Quaid plays the obsessed FBI agent, a man who won't give up. R. Lee Ermy plays the local cop, a man seeking justice above political aspirations. When Glover picks up Leto, the deception begins. As one man plays the other, the audience quickly deduces who the real killer is, but it's not the audience that's being deceived, it's the protagonists. As the killer lays a increasingly complex trail of duplicity, the stakes begin to rise as the body count increases. The pacing is excellent, the characters rich and fully developed. The casting was not what you would expect, but the acting by Glover, Leto and Ermey was great. The acting by Quaid, not quite so. There's also a bit of action aboard a train. As it twists and winds it's way through the wintry wilderness, killer and FBI agent fight for their lives aboard this last chance express. Excellent writing and direction. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. 4 out of 5.
* Judgment at Nuremberg: (1961 - Drama, history) A black & white movie made in 1961, but it feels as current as the middle east is violent. In the wake of violence, justice and liberty are threatened with subjugation at the hands of 'protecting' a nation from it's 'enemies'. At what point does the protection become the threat? Directed by Stanley Kramer (The Defiant Ones, On the Beach, Inherit the Wind, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner), this movie contains great acting by Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Marlene Dietrich, Maximilian Schell, Judy Garland, Montgomery Clift, Ed Binns, Werner Klemperer, Torben Meyer, Martin Brandt and a very young William Shatner. The writing and direction (by Stanley Kramer) are magnificent, the music is great. The best part of this movie is the story - highly relevant, very important. How easy is it to become what you despise, when you're surrounded by 'enemies'? Set in occupied Germany of 1948, the embers of war have all but cooled, and the cold war is beginning to heat up. The high profile trials have ended, but the full measure of justice still hasn't been metered out. Here is the trial of four German judges. Former judges in a corrupt system, now judged for their role in that corruption of humanity. Will the expediency of real world politics once again corrupt the process of justice? Excellent courtroom drama filled with historical fact. Nominated for 11, and winning two oscars, the only flaw was pacing. This movie At times this movie moved as quickly as our judicial system. 5 out of 5.
* The Tracey Fragments: (2007 - Drama) This movie was written (based on her own novel) by Maureen Medved and directed by Bruce McDonald. I was originally attracted to the movie by Ellen Page, playing the lead role. Unfortunately, I don't think she was well cast in this movie. While her looks allow her to play the part of a 15 year old girl, I couldn't help but think that her mannerisms were far more adult than those of an actual 15 year old (she's 20 in this movie). Her acting was very good, but the dialog was over-played. The movie is the story of a 15 year old girl caught up in a twisted world of normal consequences and atypical occurrences. The visual style of the movie is stunning. Video editing is used to great effect in this movie, and I appreciated the highly artistic use of multi-frame video composition. The story - Tracey Berkowitz is searching for her missing brother. He thinks he's a dog, and she was supposed to be watching him. Now he's missing, and she's searching the streets, back alleys, and windswept fields around Ontario, Canada in her quest to rediscover some sanity, security and happiness in her dysfunctional life. An independent movie, peopled with quirky characters, and a twisted environment. This movie was interesting to watch, and I enjoyed the video work. Oh yeah the soundtrack was awesome. Unfortunately, it tried really hard to be 'original', but it didn't really say much. 3 of 5.
* Joe Strummer - The Future is Unwritten: (2007 - Documentary, biography / Ireland, U.K.) Featuring a boat load of interviews with big name actors (Johnny Depp, John Cusack), musicians (Bono, Red Hot Chili Peppers), and archive footage, this movie chronicled the career of Joe Strummer, late lead singer of the Clash (he died in 2002 - victim of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect). Using interview excerpts, the documentary uses Joe Strummer's own words to narrate much of the movie. The movie covered Strummer from his childhood, through the Clash, and ends with his days with the Mescaleros. The Clash and Joe Strummer's message was carried on the radio airwaves of the late 70's and early 80's. It helped fuel angst, foment dissent and form opinions in those politically charged days. Chock full of research, facts and details, it's a very revealing look at one particular rock legend. While the public consumes the candy coated versions of Joe Strummer, this documentary reveals him to be just like you and me. Conflicted, confused, at times contradictory and searching for purpose in his life. Excellent documentary. Of course the soundtrack was awesome, the only thing I didn't care for was interviews with actors. Musicians, sure - but actors? Why, just because the director or producers had some contacts?.. Interviews with ordinary people would have been better. 4 out of 5.
* Flying Leathernecks: (1951 - Drama, war, action) Another Comcast on Demand selection. Starring John Wayne and Robert Ryan. Two really old guys are cast in the role of fighter pilots during WWII campaign against the Japanese. John Wayne plays the bad commander, and Robert Ryan plays the good commander. Together they take on a crew of American fly-boys eager to protect the 'Mud Marines' from overwhelming odds on the ground. The movie tried to portray the roots of 'close ground support' in the Pacific theater, but it got too caught up in a 'good commander'- 'bad commander' cliche', and the movie suffered for it. While there were some historical aspects to the movie, and they used actual war footage at times, the overall feel of the movie was character drama with a bit of humor thrown in to dull Wayne's stoic persona. Standard fare for the typical war movie consumer. Full of flag waving cliches, cheesy dialog, and lacking in conviction. 2 out of 5.
* Samurai Trilogy 2: Duel at Ichijoji Temple: (1955 - Action, adventure, drama, history, biography / Japan - Zoku Miyamoto Musashi: Ichijôji no kettô) Classic Samurai cinema. Here is a movie by Hiroshi Inagaki. Starring Toshiro Mifune and Koji Tsurata, this is the second movie of an epic trilogy. The films are based on a novel (Musashi) by Eiji Yoshikawa - A fictionalized account of the life of Miyamoto Musashi, author of The Book of Five Rings and perhaps the most renowned Japanese swordsman who ever lived. I'm not sure why I'm watching the movies out of sequence, but I must say that the cinematography (despite some deterioration due to age) was outstanding, and the film had an authentic feel to it. Set in 17th century Japan, the costumes, sets and props were all top-notch. The cinematography in this particular episode was much better than that of the final episode. This movie begins with a duel outside a temple. The hero of the series (played by Mifune) engages in a duel against an opponent wielding a Kusarigama. A very difficult proposition for a swordsman, Musashi manages to defeat the overconfident opponent by employing a novel technique - Simultaneously wielding Katana and Wakizashi to defeat the master of sickle and chain. After the battle he challenges the leader of a large fighting school. Following his challenge is a series of ambushes set up by followers of the school. Complicating Musashi's quest to perfect his swordsmanship is the love of two women. The movie ends with a fantastic battle where Musashi fights an army of opponents (approximately 80) in a rice paddy. The only low point to this movie is the poor subtitling. There's a lot more dialog than the subtitle could account for. Thankfully, a flashing sword and sidelong glance don't require much translation. Plenty of choreographed fight scenes, a romantic love triangle, and fateful battles between sword wielding characters mark this trilogy as a classic in the Samurai genre. 4 of 5.
* Paris, Texas: (1984 - Drama / Germany (West Germany) / France) Directed by Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire, Faraway So Close!), this drama stars Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, Dean Stockwell, Hunter Carson, and others. Harry Dean Stanton shines in this slow paced drama about a damaged soul. After a four year absence, the main character is discovered wandering out of the desert. His brother (played by Dean Stockwell) flies out to Texas and starts the process of bringing him back from the edge. Amnesic and emotionally scarred, his life story is slowly revealed as he reconnects with his brother, his son (played by Hunter Carson), and ultimately his estranged wife (played by Nastassja Kinski). Powerful drama with excellent writing, direction and acting. 4 out of 5.
* Anchorman - The Legend of Ron Burgundy: (2004 - Comedy) I own this one. Will Ferrell at his funniest. What a laugh fest. Written by Adam McKay & Will Ferrell, Directed by Adam McKay. I thought it was just going to be another one of those extended 'Saturday Night Live' skits. You know, some yucks, and a 'little' story. Well, it was much more. A LOT of laughs, and a little story. Seriously though, the story was thin at best. I could care less about 'Ron Burgundy', he was just a good reason to poke fun at the 70's, ourselves and goofy anchormen. 'Great Odin's beard' this was a funny movie. Everyone in the movie was funny. The news team fight scene was awesome. The soundtrack was great. The lines were brilliant. This movie gets a 5 out of 5.
* 18 Fingers of Death!: (2006 - Action, comedy) A Comcast on Demand mistake/A direct to DVD disaster. I was obviously looking for something else... I had no idea what I would be watching. I thought this was a documentary about a little known martial arts actor. I saw the cover somewhere, and it lodged in my subconscious. The cover is very reminiscent of 'Kung Fu Hustle'. Actually, this movie is a low budget ($200,000!) marital arts mock-umentary. If anyone dares to include it with movies such as 'Spinal Tap' they should be punished by forced viewing of this poop! Written and directed by James Lew, featuring an immense cast, this movie is shot as a documentary about the historical film career of 'Buford Lee' and his efforts to make his block-buster breakout movie '18 Fingers of Death'. As it turns out, James Lew has starred in many films, often as a stunt double or stand in. He's worked on set and on screen. His work (spanning more than twenty years) in those 'B' grade martial arts films is appreciated, and at times commendable. As for this movie; this was his first - and all mankind prays - his last, effort at writing and directing. If you are looking for the worst movie ever, then this movie succeeds in all categories. The writing, acting, jokes, editing, camera work and production were all bad - Very bad. This movie has managed to upset 'Gummo' as my pick for worst movie ever. While Gummo was exceedingly vile, it had some level of artistic aptitude. This movie on the other hand lacks anything that could be construed of as 'mediocre'. Pushing the word 'bad' to it's limits, this movie defies the definition by creating an entirely new category of 'bad'. I could go get the thesaurus right now, I could list off thirteen or more adjectives. That would be better than watching five minutes of this movie. After ten minutes or so, I found myself losing interest. After 20 minutes, I started flipping through a book on my coffee table. After 40 minutes I was in such agony, such pain, that I had no choice. I had to press 'Fast Forward'. That's right, I didn't press 'Stop'. I forced myself to actually watch the rest of the film. With subtitles on, I managed to cruise all the way through this film. I wanted to know what bad truly was. I did it as a service to those who value my opinion as a critic. To blunt the comments of those who might criticize my integrity by saying; "You didn't actually watch the entire thing!". Well - To all those who haven't experienced the ultimate in bad movies, let me assure you - I did it as a service to all of you. Don't bother watching this film. Take it from me, it's not worth your effort. It's not the kind of bad that warrants a 'so bad it made me laugh' comment, this is the kind of bad that elicits groans of displeasure, disgust, or a ruptured bowel. The kind of bad where they not only do a 'Chinese Jews' joke, but they have the gall to stick with it, trying to explain that they mean 'Chinese Juice'. James Lew should be forced to eat 'Cat Poop' with chopsticks for having made this movie. 1 out of 5 (the lowest rating permitted in my ratings schema).
* The Year My Parents Went on Vacation: (2006 - Drama / Brazil - Ano em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias, O) Written, directed, starring people that I had never heard of before. They definitely deserve credit (Writer, Claudio Galperin (five people credited in IMDB); Director, Cao Hamburger; Child actors, Michel Joelsas and Daniela Piepszyk; Adult actor, Germano Haiut). The story is set in São Paulo, Brazil during the late 60's/early 70's. A period of military dictatorship, where political dissidents were subject to 'disappearances' and interrogations. With the impending World Cup as a back-drop, Mauro's parents promise that they'll be back in time for the World Cup. They leave on their 'vacation' (in hiding from the government), and Mauro is left in the care of his grandfather. The only problem, Mótel is dead. Abandoned on the doorstep of a high rise apartment building, Mauro is taken in by Shlomo, an elderly Jewish man and the entire community. Mauro and Shlomo don't get along very well (at first), but Mauro makes friends with Hanna and other kids in the neighborhood. It's a great story about acceptance, freedom, perseverance, national aspirations, and love. Marked by some excellent writing, direction, camera work, lighting, acting and editing, this movie is a joy to watch. 4 of 5.
* The Bank Job: (2008 - Crime, thriller / U.K.) This movie is based upon true events. Directed by Roger Donaldson (No Way Out, Thirteen Days). Starring Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Peter De Jersey and others. Set in London of 1971, the movie is great crime thriller. The story - A politically active criminal (Michael X, played by Peter De Jersey) is released from police custody because he's holding black mail material over the British government. The British intelligence agencies are tasked with getting that material. They 'recruit' one Maritne Love (played by Saffron Burrows) to entice her criminal friends (led by Jason Statham as Terry Leather) to rob the bank where the blackmail materials are held. It's a bit contrived, but well thought out. Unfortunately, the film is too short to lend credence to such a complicated set-up. While we're spoon fed an expository plot, the action moves along far too quickly for my liking. The acting is o.k. and the writing is great. 3 out of 5.
* Aliens: (1986 - Action, horror, sci-fi, thriller) This sequel is a wild ride of a movie. Directed by James Cameron (The Terminator (1 & 2), Titanic, True Lies, The Abyss) and starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn, Bill Paxton and others. I own and watched the Special Edition version (with 17+ minutes of restored footage). Here is a sequel that equals the original yet manages to do something very difficult for a sequel - something new. By switching genres - from horror to thriller, James Cameron and the other writers manage to bring us a thoroughly enjoyable sequel. The story picks up after Ripley has survived the ordeal of the first movie - If you haven't seen that movie, stop now, go watch it. It's fantastic. Moving on - So she's found drifting through space in her escape pod. After she's revived from cryostasis (57 years after her encounter with the Alien), she's persecuted by the company and stripped of her pilots license. Soon afterwards a company man shows up at her door. They've lost contact with the colonists on planet LV-426. They need her help to 'destroy' the things that she encountered. With a platoon of Colonial Marines in tow, the crew sets out on a thrilling 'bug hunt' amongst the maze-like corridors of this devastated colony. It's a journey straight into hell, with the survival of a species hinging on the outcome. Fantastic action, sound effects, perfect pacing, and spectacular effects. James Cameron does an outstanding job directing this movie, mixing in just enough humor at exactly the right times to keep this from being a sarcastically dark horror movie. The acting was excellent and I was glued to the set waiting on the outcome of this terrific action flick. 5 out of 5.
* The Magdalene Sisters: (2002 - Drama / U.K. Ireland) This one was recommended by NetFlix. An incredibly powerful film, a gut wrenching experience in catharsis, a horrifying true story. Written and directed by Peter Mullan, this movie stars a cast of relative unknown actors (to American audiences) - Geraldine McEwan, Anne-Marie Duff, Nora-Jane Noone, Dorothy Duffy, Eileen Walsh, Mary Murray, Britta Smith, Frances Healy, Eithne McGuinness, Phyllis MacMahon and others. The performances were outstanding, but the story, the writing and directing were the star of this movie. The story is set in Ireland in the late 19th century, at a Magdalene Laundry - Four young Irish women who are rejected by their families are sent off to a Magdalene Asylum. There they join several other women in servitude and their 'keepers'. The home is a place where these women are made to pay for their sins - What sins you might be asking? These 'fallen' women are victims of abuse, rape, and impure thoughts. Their crimes are the result of a nation where church and state are not kept separate. When the church says you've committed a sin in the eyes of god, then you've been judged and found guilty - Divine due process is a rather swift procedure. The movie is a tragic and though provoking revelation. Pulling back the veil of shame from this dirty little piece of Catholic history. The women were sent to these 'asylums' in order to atone for their sins. There they endured agonizing punishment, long, brutal forced physical labor, crushing psychological torture and unending demeaning treatment. The movie depicts the life of the girls and sisters in these asylums. Yes, it's a true story - In the sense that these places existed. These asylums were homes for 'fallen' women. Operated under the auspices of several different orders of the Roman Catholic Church, they functioned (in most instances) as laundries where these 'fallen' women were employed as forced labor to atone for their sins. In Ireland the asylums were known as Magdalene Laundries. According to WikiPedia, some 30,000 women were admitted during the 150 year history of these institutions. The last Magdalene Asylum in Ireland closed on Sep 25, '96. After watching this film, ask yourself. How could this happen? Is our society free of this sort of torture? Could this kind of thing happen in today's society? 1996! - 5 out of 5.
* War Games: (1983 - Drama, thriller) Despite the fact that this movie is 25 years old, there are still lots of things to like about it. John Badham wasn't the first choice for director, Mathew Broderick and Ally Sheedy weren't the first choices for leads, but it all worked out splendidly in the end. The story was written by Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes. They went on to write Sneakers (1992), another outstanding tech oriented thriller. The premise is still frightening to this day. A high school student manages to access a Defense Department back door using his home computer. He was looking for the computers of a game company, trying to find the latest video games before they're released. What he finds is W.O.P.R. a Defense Department war-games computer. He inadvertently launches a simulation that goes awry. Tied into a live missile defense network, the simulation triggers an automated response that takes the U.S. and Soviet militaries to the brink of Nuclear war! Way ahead of it's time. At the time the movie was made, home computers were rare, the internet was relatively new, there was no word for a 'Hacker', and modems topped out at 1200Bps! The acting and direction were good, the sets and props were awesome. That set of NORAD inside Cheyenne Mountain was fantastic. Here's a movie that combines cold-war paranoia with the adolescent ethic of exploration. The two primary characters are young, they're adventurous and they're bold. Ally Sheedy was desirable and free-spiried. Mathew Broderick played the dorky but loveable slacker. Perfect for their roles, they had great chemistry in many of their scenes. An outstanding movie. Not too heavy, not too sappy, technically oriented - yet not science fiction. This movie earned three Oscars in 1984. Best cinematography, Best sound and best writing. Currently showing in theaters as part of 25th Anniversary release, a sequel is being worked for a 2009 release. Long live War Games. 5 out of 5.
* The Leopard: (1963 - Drama, history, war / Italy, France - Gattopardo, Il) I watched the original Italian version. A 187 minute epic about the history of Sicily. Directed by Luchino Visconti. Starring Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale and many others. This film was an incredibly long, boring, and richly woven epic about the soul of Italy. A drama set in the late 1800s (late 1860s - late 1880s), Sicilian Prince Don Fabrizio Salina (played by Burt Lancaster) is doing his best to hold onto the quickly fading glory of Italy's aristocracy. As war rages about him, he does his best to hold his family together, to prolong the old regime, the time-tested conventions of a landed gentry, nobility and honor to the crown. This epic brings us through a period of Sicily's history when revolution and political turmoil were bringing about a seachange. The power of the aristocracy is fading, the feudal arrangements of nobility and peasantry are crumbling, thoughts of democracy and socialism are beginning to stir in the hearts of the Italian people. Unification, unity and social justice are dreams of many men, not just philosophers. While the Prince's family struggles within these surging changes, he does his best to remain a bulwark against change, an anchor to the past, a steadfast foundation for duty, honor and tradition. Fantastic camera work, dialog (I listened to the Italian, and read the subtitles), acting (especially that of Burt Lancaster), sets, costumes and location shots struggle to overcome the languid pacing and overwrought sentiment. The characters are rich, well acted and archetypal examples which represent the mix of Italian society in conflict during this time period. Hard to digest in a single sitting, I had to break it up into two viewings. Viva la Leopard! 4 out of 5.
* Murderball: (2005 - Documentary) Comcast on Demand? A story about rugby playing quadriplegics. Quad rugby was known as 'Murderball' before it was legitimized, commercialized and introduced to main stream america. Here are men with voracious appetites for success. Struck down and confined to wheel chairs, they are unwilling to accept their fate. They struggle, they dominate, they aspire to athletic excellence and victory. An amazing sport where the athletes drive war chariots - Metal clad, specially designed wheel chairs. Acting as an extension of their bodies, these men use the chairs as battering rams to prevent their opponents from scoring points in a highly competitive arena. The movie captures the will, dominating spirit and strive to succeed of these men. The documentary examines the participants (no actors in this movie) at home, in the arena, in their most personal moments. Following the teams - USA and Canada - The film focuses on two primary individuals. One a former U.S. team member; now coaching the Canadian national team. The other an up-and-coming competitor at the peak of his career with team U.S.A. The teams move slowly towards an olympic showdown (Paralympics) as the movie nears it's end. This movie was inspirational, triumphant and revealing. Superb direction, editing and sound work. Intense, intimate and dramatic. Here we are convinced that the human will is a powerful thing. 5 out of 5.
* Missing: (1982 - Crime, drama, mystery, thriller) Another Comcast on Demand selection - The good movies are there, but you've got start on their web site, scrolling through the list on the TV just doesn't work that well. By the time I plop down in front of the TV, I'm ready to watch a movie, and can't force myself to read all the descriptions. I usually end up watching the first thing that catches my eye - See 18 Fingers of Death - Unfortunately, it usually ends up being crap! Lately, I've been taking my time to go online and carefully craft a list from the potential offerings. Here's a political thriller based on a true story. A story about South American revolution, political idealism, U.S. Involvement in international affairs, and the unstoppable love of family. Directed by Costa-Gavras, starring Jack Lemmon, Sissy Spacek, Melanie Mayron, John Shea and others. The story - An American author/journalist is living with his wife in Chile during the 70s. The movie takes place just after a coup. The new government is rounding up the opposition. There are death squads roaming the countryside, in the cities, people are shot in broad daylight. It's time to leave! Being an American is no guarantee to safety. The odds of 'shoot first' 'interrogate later' aren't on the side of a young author and his wife. While they try to escape, the curfews and violence conspire against them. Separated in their efforts to finalize their departure, the man is 'disappeared', but his wife manages to elude the roving bands of belligerent military patrols. She contacts the man's Father. A conservative, influential American businessman. He arrives in country, and immediately begins the search for his son. An excellent movie, a lesson in the political realities of a nation that meddles in the affairs of others. The movie doesn't seek to clobber you over the head with heavy handed leftist propaganda, and it does a good job of showing the human side of this all to common reality in today's climate of political injustice. Nominated for four oscars, it won for Best Writing. 4 out of 5.
* Shaft: (2000 - Action, crime, drama, thriller) Directed by John Singleton, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Bale, Busta Rhymes, Dan Hedaya ... Jack Roselli, Toni Collette, Richard Roundtree and others. This isn't a remake in the classic sense, but it is a stylish reprise of the character and setting from the earlier movies and the television series of the same name. Samuel L. Jackson gave a fantastic performance as Shaft; the cooler than cool NY police detective. When Shaft arrests a racist murder suspect (played by Christian Bale) things get complicated. The suspects father is a politically influential business man, and the kid gets off with no bail! He immediately flees to Switzerland, making a mockery of the police and justice system. Two years later he tries to sneak back in, but Shaft is waiting for him! Will his money and influence buy him a second chance? Or will he take things a step further and murder the only witness? The acting in this action flick was excellent. Jackson, Bale, and Jeffrey Wright (as Peoples Hernandez) all turned out top notch performances. While the script was a bit predictable, the direction, pacing and acting were all great. 4 out of 5.
* The Closet: (2001 - Comedy, drama / France - Placard, Le) Written and directed by Francis Veber (The Valet, The Dinner Game), the closet is a great overlooked comedy. Starring Daniel Auteuil, Gérard Depardieu, Michèle Laroque, Michel Aumont and others. Reminiscent of 'Office Space'. This was a terrific spoof/comedic parody on political correctness, prejudice, bigotry and office life. An office worker (Daniel Auteuil as François Pignon) at a condom factory is about to lose his job because he's dull. His neighbor is an industrial psychologist who helps him re-invent himself. In order to save his job he must 'come out' of the closet. In today's political climate they would never fire a gay man, it would be a public relations disaster. Despite the fact that he's not gay, Pignon goes along with the plan. They doctor up some photos and send them to the president of the company. With the wheels in motion, all Pignon has to do is play along. The premise is preposterous but believable. The results are hilarious! Great characters, excellent casting, and an absolutely smashing story. Self-deprecating, light hearted, good natured, sexy, funny and fresh. This movie gets a 5 out of 5.
* Kill Me Again: (1989 - Thriller, crime, drama) A Comcast on Demand selection. Written in part, and directed by John Dahl (The Great Raid, Rounders, Joy Ride). This debut for Dahl featured Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley and Michael Madsen in a love triangle, film noir, detective thriller (FYI: Whalley was Kilmer's wife during the filming of this movie. The couple divorced in 1996). The writing was a bit cliched, but the pacing and action were very well done. The story - Two partners in crime pair up to rip off some mob money, but greed gets the best of them and they soon part ways. Separated by way of rock to head, the girl goes on the lamb and the psycho boy friend starts tracking the skirt with the suitcase. When Fay Forrester (played by Joanne Whalley) steps into Jack Andrews office, she's looking to shake the psycho off her tail. Jack (played by Val Kilmer) smells set-up from the start, but he's in dire straits. He needs the money badly, and he doesn't know how dangerous this dame's dilemma is. The two concoct a plot to make her disappear, and Kilmer 'Kills' his latest client for the fast cash. What follows is a series of standard double-crosses and plot twists punctuated by some pretty good location shots, decent direction and some good chemistry between Kilmer and Whalley. As the three principles track each other across the streets and canyons of Nevada, we're pulled along for a wild ride in this steamy film noir thriller. 3 of 5.
* The Blob: (1958 - Horror, sci-fi) A Comcast on Demand selection. You may want to watch this movie once. Just to see Steve McQueen in a b-role. The acting was bad, the direction was bad, the writing was terrible, the special effects were o.k. The worst part about this movie (from a technical point of view) - The film quality and lighting. While the events of the movie take place at night, all the scenes are poorly lit, and the film has faded over the years. The transfer wasn't a restored version and it was really hard to see what was going on. This is definitely a b-movie sci-fi flick. So bad it's funny. What horrible dialog - [The cast hears a dog barking] Jane Martin: I bet there is a house somewhere. 'Mooch' Miller: [laughs] It doesn't sound like a house, it sounds like a dog. The plot? Warning - This is a spoiler. A meteor crashes. Some farmer goes to investigate. He finds the meteor in a perfectly arranged crater; pokes the meteor which opens like some sort of alien spore (Hmm, smells like the pods from Alien!). Inside is some sort of gooey blob. The farmer gets a little too cozy with the goo, and! We're off. A blob that consumes human flesh, and grows after absorbing it's victims. The blob slithers, leaps, and moves about like some mobile mudslide; it even fits under doors! The town's kids try to warn people, but no one will believe them because they're 'kids'. Like I said, the only reason to watch this movie is for a good laugh. I was especially amused by the 'barking dog' dialog. Yeah - dialog. I'm convinced it was a person yapping on queue. The casting was curious as well. This movie featured Steve McQueen at age 28 as a teenager. The close ups were awesome. Even at 28, McQueen had loads of wrinkles on his face and around his eyes. In an ironic twist of fate, the blob's weakness is cold. The town folk manage to corner, freeze and capture the thing. They crate it up and the Air Force drops into the arctic with this final bit of dialog: [last lines] Lieutenant Dave: At least we've got it stopped. Steve Andrews: Yeah, as long as the Arctic stays cold. I managed to moan and chuckle my way through this b-movie sci-fi flop, but that's about the extent of it - mildly entertaining, somewhat nostalgic, mostly campy. They made a remake in '88, and there's talk of another coming up. Ugggh, why bother? 3 of 5.
* * * * Twin Peaks - Season 2 (disc 2): (1990-91 - Crime, drama, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, sci-fi, thriller) A television series, which ran from 1990 - 1991. This show (created principally by David Lynch (one of my favorites (Dune, Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet) and David Frost (Known primarily for witting television shows)), is a landmark effort in the sea of television series. Despite it's abbreviated seasons (only 29 shows), it marked a new era in network television shows. Here was adult drama, hollywood quality production, brought to the small screen. I'm watching the second season now. Filled with dramatic mystery, moody, quirky characters, and some fantastic locations. This twisted series not only told a tale of rich, deep engrossing mystery, it introduced us to an alternate world of mind bending possibilities. Television could be rewarding, rich and engrossing. Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Joan Chen, Richard Beymer, Sherilyn Fenn, Lara Flynn Boyle, Michael Ontkean and many others. Disc 2 contains four episodes of exciting, unusual entertainment. Season 2 - Disc 2. In these four episodes is the resolution of the principle mystery. We now know what happened to Laura Palmer. 4 out of 5.
* The Dark Knight: (2008 - Action, crime, drama, mystery, thriller) Kim and I went to see this movie on her birthday. Hyped to monumental proportions, I was convinced that this would be the greatest movie ever! Don't let the title fool you, It's a Batman movie. Written by Christopher & Jonathan Nolan and directed by Christopher Nolan (Memento, Following, The Prestige, Batman Begins). Featuring an all star cast; Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, Anthony Michael Hall, William Fichtner, Michael Caine and others, it was this big name cast that detracted from the story. The story - Without spoiling the movie (too much). Batman and Lt. James Gordon have pushed Gotham's criminal element (the Mob) to the limit. With a shining star as district attorney, they're going for the jugular of Gotham's crime problem. With nowhere left to turn, the mob decides to let the Joker have free reign. His inhuman, chaotic, crime spree, soon has the citizens in a panic. As the Joker starts to twist the cities brightest crusaders into mockeries of justice, what must our heroes do to save the innocent citizens of Gotham? How far will they go, what price will they pay for justice and order? A rather linear story with a few twists and turns. The acting; especially that of Heath Ledger as the Joker and Gary Oldman as Lt. James Gordon, was outstanding. The music was great. The direction flawless. I have no idea what they were doing with Christian Bale's voice (as Batman), but it was terrible. At times he sounded like a gravel truck with a lisp. Christian Bale played an excellent Bruce Wayne, but his Batman performance wasn't that good. I didn't blink at the replacement of Katie Holmes (Batman's former love interest) for Maggie Gyllenhall. While Nicholson's portrayal of the Joker (In the original Batman) was memorable, and more in keeping with the comic version of the Joker; Ledgers performance was much better acting. I thought the dialog was a bit too much - Too much dialog. The movie (in my opinion) was far too chatty. Even Batman spoke way too much. I preferred the less talk, more action version of Batman. I like stories that don't need narration or excessive dialog. This movie was exactly what I thought it was going to be. A hollywood summer blockbuster, featuring some big name actors and a big production budget. The visual effects and special effects were great, but the story contained way too much exposition for my liking, and the pacing was way too fast for the editing and themes portrayed. There were some good underlying themes in this movie - The points on terrorism, individual freedom, and invasion of privacy were all but erased when they slammed the pedal to the metal with explosions and excessive dialog. I really liked the movie, but it's far from classic. More like a summer block-buster action flick. Reading through the gushing reviews on NetFlix, I get the feeling that the only movies these people watch are hollywood blockbusters. I'll bet they gave the latest Rambo a 5 out of 5 as well. I give this one a 3 out of 5.
* Circle Jerks - Live at the house of blues: (2004 - Music) O.k. This wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I thought it was a documentary. It wasn't. It was a concert video. Twenty years after they released their first album, the Circle Jerks - A Southern California skate punk trio (sometimes four), tear up the stage in this reunion concert at the House of Blues. I loved the music - when it was fresh and new. Here Keith Morris sounds like an aging punker, simply screaming partial lyrics to some amazing guitar work. Morris can no longer keep up with the break-neck tempo of the instrumentals, and this trip down 'sentimental' street was sullied by a sad reminder that I, like the punk rock heroes of my youth, are simply getting too old to 'rage against the machine'. The 'movie' was shot from multiple camera angles, but the editing and production was lacking. They didn't make good use of the multiple angle footage, and for despite the fact that I liked the music, this concert video just wasn't all that good. I would have been better off listening to my old collection of Punk Rock anthems. 2 out of 5.
* Satantango: (1994 - Drama / Hungary, Germany, Switzerland - Sátántangó) Here is a black and white film by Hungarian directory Béla Tarr (Werkmeister Harmonies). This is disc-1 of a 4 disc series. Fantastic film composition, excellent camera work, and unexpectedly good acting. The story - A small 1980's village in the Hungarian countryside. As winter approaches, the town is isolated from the rest of mankind. It's inhabitants are tortured souls who long for escape from this dreary miasma of humanity. Some plot the theft of money, some covet the neighbors wife, one plots his return, while others trudge through the fallow fields of life's barren pasture. This movie was excruciatingly slow and boring, but it was also amazingly well shot. 3 out of 5.
* Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: (2004 - Drama, romance) Written (in part) and directed by Michel Gondry (The Science of Sleep, Be Kind Rewind). Starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Elijah Wood and others. This one is a winner (won an oscar for best screen play in 2005 - Kate Winslet was nominated for best actor. Another 36 wins & 50 nominations). It takes place in the recent past, present, future? It's hard to tell exactly. The film carefully avoids any specific characterization in regards to period. The story - When your relationship goes bad, you can have the memory selectively erased. As if you'd never met/known the person - really? Two lovers (Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet) have the procedure performed after a particularly acrimonious break-up. During and after the procedure, they wish that they hadn't undergone the procedure. With several twists and turns, this quirky and original romance is a fantastic drama with sci-fi flourishes. The acting and direction were superb, the pacing fantastic, the camera work and set work amazing and the music brilliant. 5 out of 5.
* The Outlaw Josey Wales: (1976 - Action, drama, western) Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Here is a great western where Eastwood is cast against a matching selection of actors. This movie represents some of Eastwood's best work. His acting and direction are far above par in this movie. The locations, costumes and sets were all awesome. The story - Josey Wales (played by Eastwood) joins up with the Rebel cause after union 'Red Legs' murder his family and burn his farmstead to the ground. He continues fighting with other confederate guerilla fighters after Lee's surrender. Eventually the leader brings them in for 'amnesty'. Josey refuses to surrender, witnesses a massacre and flees west after exacting a measure of revenge. On the run from federal authorities, Josey meets like-minded sympathetic and reward motivated individuals. Despite his murderous present, deep down he can't suppress the desire to settle down and make something of his life. Unfortunately, his past hasn't forgotten his deeds and his enemies eventually catch up with him in the present. Excellent movie with a great soundtrack. The portrayal of Native Americans in this film was commendable. Not your typical stereotypes. Thoughtful, humorous, flawed, human. A tale of revenge, retribution, romance, reconstruction and redemption. 5 out of 5.
* The Endless Summer: (1966 - Documentary, sport, adventure) Written and directed by Bruce Brown (who's done several sport related documentaries), here is the ultimate surfing film. Without a plot or big name actors, Bruce Brown manages to convey the laid back attitude of this thrill called surfing. Excellent camera work, locations shots and effects. The movie follows two golden gods of California. Mike Hynson and Robert August are the perfectly behaved surfers taking a trip around the world. Trying to catch that perfect wave, they follow summer around the globe - visiting Dakar, Senegal; Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria; Cape Town and Durban, South Africa; Brisbane and other points of Australia; New Zealand; Tahiti; Hawaii and ultimately California. Mixed in with a narrative about surfing technique and history is a geographical treat as Mike and Robert interact with the local peoples of the exotic places they visit. It's an amazing adventure as they bring surfing and white faces to places that have never seen either. 1966 was a very different time, and thankfully Mike and Robert were civil and courteous to all the people they met on their adventure. Beautifully filmed, laid back narration, fantastic vibes provided by some great surf music and a world spanning adventure of good vibes, good waves, and good tunes. 4 of 5.
* Closely Watched Trains: (1966 - Drama, comedy, war / Czechoslovakia - Ostre sledované vlaky) Czech new wave film, influenced by Italian post-war movies. Black and white film directed by Jirí Menzel, starring a group of unknown (to most Americans) actors. The movie takes place as the German war machine is slowly being crushed by the efforts of America and the Soviet Union (Mid to late 40's). As the Nazi's slowly retreat to the Fatherland, our story takes place in occupied Czechoslovakia where a young man has taken his place at the local train station. Clad in his new uniform, young Milos the dispatcher's apprentice is proud to follow in the footsteps of his father the retired train conductor and other illustrious ancestors. As his mother encourages him to not let the trains crash, Milos is entering a new period of development in his life. Ignoring the sociopolitical upheaval erupting all around him, Milos is set on his own journey of self-discovery and sexual awakening. As he endures amorous encounters and set backs, his station becomes the focus of a humorous drama, Germany in decline, and the springtime of youth's eternal hope. Extremely well shot, superbly paced, poignant, satirical and humorous. Wonderful acting and excellent direction. 5 out of 5.
* The Postman: (1997 - Drama, adventure, action, sci-fi) Directed by and starring Kevin Kostner. Also features Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams and others. Here is a bigger than real-life dramatic tale of post-apocalyptic America (the year is 2013). In the wilderness of a decimated nation, colonies of survivors eke out a living under the shadow of terror cast by General Bethlehem (Will Patton) and his Holnist army. Into this dim landscape stumbles a drifter - A man who stumbles upon an abandoned mail truck and becomes 'The Postman'. What starts out as a scam to gain a free meal and a nights lodging, the legend soon begins to grow. This drifter has taken on the visage of hope - draped in the symbols of a nation restored, the people are looking for a hero, and this drifter is reluctantly cast into that role. A story of hope, potential, revolution, love and perseverance. I don't care what the other critics say, I think they've misjudged this movie. Here is a strong message of hope, an emotional tale that touches on a raw nerve of American pride. Of a glory that once was, that could be again, a shining dream of a new hope. The characters are excellent, the acting pretty good, and the locations spectacular. The music is a bit over-wrought, but it fits the sentimentality of the movie rather well. This movie is very similar in photography, acting and editing, to WaterWorld. Which I liked - by the way. The only problem with this movie was the ending. Despite the movies length, the ending came on too suddenly. 4 out of 5.
* Scotland, PA: (2001 - Comedy, crime, drama) Written (based on Shakespeare's play - MacBeth) and directed Billy Morrissette. This movie features a fantastic cast. James LeGros as Joe 'Mac' McBeth, Maura Tierney as Pat McBeth, Christopher Walken as Lieutenant McDuff, Kevin Corrigan as Anthony 'Banko' Banconi, James Rebhorn as Norm Duncan the Owner Duncan's Cafe, Tom Guiry as Malcolm Duncan, and others. This movie is actually based on Shakespeare's play - MacBeth. Set in a Fast Food restaurant. This movie is a dark comedy. A parody on PA in the 70's, and a swell retelling of MacBeth. The king is the owner of the restaurant, and the rest of the cast are typical suburban dwellers with ambitions which would take them out of their fast-food lives. The subjects murder their burger boss, and take over his fast-food empire, but that's when the plot begins to hit some snags. When a vegetarian detective smells something rotten, an investigation is launched, and it won't be long before the skeleton in their closet is discovered. Anytime I get to see Christopher Walken on the set I'm happy. When he actually talks it only gets better. A fantastic fast food twist to the Bard's tale of tragedy and deceit. 5 out of 5.