I really didn’t know anything about this movie even though I remember the box art from the video rental shelves. The members of a small fishing town start murdering passers by in weird ritualistic manners. The town sheriff investigates and weirdness ensues (including Grandpa Joe from Willy Wonka as a mortician who loves his job a bit too much). The film feels like a made for T.V. movie or a Twilight Zone episode. Because of this awkward tone, it’s not very scary, but it is quite fun.
I have largely ignored superhero movies since the first Avengers movie. I never really dislike the ones I’ve seen, but the action sequences are always so bad and low-stakes for the heroes. Captain Marvel is no exception. Fun character building for the first half, then boredom until the credits roll as you watch video game style CGI move around the screen. Still, I think I may attempt to work my way through all these dumb movies.
Bond travels to Istanbul to meet with a rogue Russian agent who claims to be in love with him. The first quarter of the book is devoted to the Russians coming up with the plan to kill Bond with a huge build up to the main villain. He kills during the full moon like an animalistic madman! None of that really pays off and the climax is rather quiet compared to the hype. Nevertheless it’s a Bond novel and I knew what I was getting.
I’ll admit it, I really don’t like the Talking Heads. Their 3 or 4 radio hits are okay, but for the most part I find them boring. This film, however, transcends the music to become a thing on to itself. It’s a joy to watch. Every song is a new visual and sonic delight. I didn’t come out of it a Talking Heads fan, but I do appreciate them slightly more.
Bogart is screen writer with a short fuse who is wrongly accused of murder. His alibi is his new neighbor, with whom he quickly develops a love affair. I wanted more focus on the noir-y murder stuff, but it mostly is about on his temper and how that eventually destroys his relationship. Most notably this film includes a recipe for a drink called A Horse’s Neck: ginger ale and a twist of lemon.
I went into this knowing what to expect on the music side of things. It’s a further exploration of the more modernist and abstract side of Sparks that was established in The Seduction of Igmar Bergman. Not exactly the style I would want in a musical from the band that gave us such showtunes-esque hits as “Talent Is an Asset” and “Hospitality on Parade.” But, take their weird sonic style and combine it with equally inspired visuals and you get something very special.
It’s the story of an unlikely love affair between a hard-edged comedian and a beautiful opera singer. Unfortunately, the film stumbles at establishing this romance in any meaningful way. They just are in love and we’re supposed to accept that. See they included a cringey singing love scene. That has to mean love, right? This poor set up is my biggest complaint about the film. Once we get to the birth of Annette things start to gel together into a wild combination of fantasy and style that all leads to an emotional and well-earned ending.
What a wonderfully goofy and fun movie. This is the first German Krimi film I have ever watched and I was quite surprised by its swingin’ style and colorful art direction. It’s ostensibly a murder mystery with elements of horror but mostly played for laughs. There’s nothing scary about a police investigator who practices ballet in his office or a man whose green skin is played off as, “oh, he’s Creole.” On top of everything, the movie is backed by a superb soundtrack by The Peter Thomas Orchestra. Highly recommended.
A Russian horror movie about a island convent that houses some sort of demon that is released when a stone amulet is pieced together. Everything is tinted with an orange candlelight glow and I think that’s about the extent of the “horror” here. It’s mostly overly long shots of wrinkly actors’ faces and nuns walking around with burning crosses. Everything feels cheap and all there is no sense of place. Just close shots of cave-like rooms.
Daniel Day-Lewis acts up a storm while talking in a weird deep voice. He main nemesis comes across as a summer stock theater actor in comparison. Preachers, oil barons and things happen.
