To Live and Die in L.A.

80s Drama
4 Stars

Solid, solid work here. Surprisingly, the Wang Chung soundtrack, which was such a huge selling point when the movie was originally released, both does and does not hold up. Sometimes it sounds like cheese, and sometimes it seems to be proudly holding up the era. Petersen is a little tough to take sometimes with his bowlegged attempt at hip, but Dafoe does not disappoint. This is gritty L.A. filmmaking. Wonderfully shot.

In The Valley of Elah

00s Drama
4 Stars

This movie was so close to being flat out splendid. Tommy Lee Jones is at his stiff best, trying to find out what happened to his missing son. The Iraq War serves as a backdrop to color the entire film with confusion, testosterone, and futility. The acting, especially by Charlize Theron is top-notch. My only complaint is the last 20%, when I felt the politics of the filmmaker became too heavy handed and I began to wonder who made this film. By the way, I hated the film Crash.

Ganja & Hess

70s African-American Vampire
4 Stars

Totally whacked out, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Some solid acting, music , cinematography, with a story that requires a few viewings to even get a sense of what is going on. Filmed in upstate New York, with some incredible scenes shot in a now defunct-church. Hugely creative and intellectual, seems to be an influence on Ferrara's Addiction.

Daisy Kenyon

40s Drama
Noirish
4 stars

This is the type of movie of which doctoral students are made. A so-called "Woman's Picture" of the immediate post-war era, with a dominant performance by Joan Crawford, and strong support from Dana Andrews and a creepy Henry Fonda. The love triangle, the noirish elements, and the depth and complexity of the characters lend this movie to analysis from all sides. Huzzah, Otto, huzzah!

Branded to Kill

60s Drama
Japanese
4 stars

This film exudes style in bunches, it's so creative. I had to start this one twice, because the first time I was starting to have a major downer. The gangster death contests are set amid heavy sexual sequences. Deviant behavior abounds. Expressionist in the same vein as Murder, My Sweet or The Professionals. Palpable desperation. This one deserves a viewing.

Death Proof

00s Drama
4 stars

I've already been in one heated discussion about this Tarantino film (with Drew from I Am Spoonbender), but I liked it. Way more than I liked either volume of the insufferable Kill Bill, and also more than Jackie Brown. Tarantino seemed to have a good time making this film and it is reflected on the screen. Sure, there's the overt homage to Vanishing Point, but what the heck is wrong with that? Nada. I didn't mind the on-and-on dialog, as I felt it made the violence that much more impactful. Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike rocks, but can't touch Snake Pliskin. Those stunts at the end, while totally gratuitous, were adrenaline inducing, to say the least.

Side Street

Noir
4 stars

Anthony Mann noir about a guy who commits thievery only to regret it!

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

00s Comedy
4 stars

Wildly entertaining with great music about a transvestite singer. Music is great. Hilarious, similar in many aspects to Velvet Goldmine.

Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte

60s Drama
Older Woman In Danger
4 stars

The so-called "psycho biddy" (older woman in danger) subgenre continues here with Bette Davis as the main character and she's in fine acting form, along with Agnes Moorehead. Another decent Robert Aldrich film, the cinematography is great, and the spastic violence surprises and shocks. Long, melodramatic, but Gothic and good.

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

60s Drama
Older Woman in Danger
4 stars

I know how highly regarded this film is, and I have love for Aldrich, but how much mean stuff from Davis to Crawford can I take? The payoff confession at the end also fell way flat, although I loved seeing King Tut Buono from the old Batman tv show in here. Wonderfully acted, downright scary.

Medium Cool

60s Drama
4 stars

Very interesting blend of documentary style and story. Captured an interesting zeitgeist, the craziness surrounding the 1968 national Democratic convention in Chicago. The director has taken some great doc footage and crafted a narrative fiction film around it. Creative storytelling. Stars a young Robert Forster for all you Tarantino junkies.

Murder, My Sweet

Noir
4 stars

Very stylish noir thriller. Some excellent, inventive camera work. Good Marlowe story. Another noir that can easily be held up to represent the genre. Despite the scary character Moose Malloy, this film is fun the entire way through.

Hoover Street Revival

Documentary
4 stars

Almost-great doc about how a preacher in impoverished LA has changed lives. Old school yet marginally experimental. Me likey.

Green Street Hooligans

00s Drama
4 stars

I liked this movie about a US college kid going to England and finding friendship with a hooligan. Good soccer fandom film. I've always wanted to go over to the UK and follow a soccer club around for 6 months or so. This movie is a little underrated.

Bullet Boy

British
00s Drama
4 stars

Called the "Boyz in the Hood" of England, it's the story of some youths trying to stay on this side of the law. Sad stuff. Massive Attack soundtrack. Damn good movie.

High Sierra

Noir
4 stars

Good early noir showing the transition from the gangster picture to noir. Bogart is outstanding and the story is consistently interesting from start to end. A very intense 1940 movie from Raoul Walsh.

Night and Fog

Doc
Film Poem
50s
4 stars

Like Hiroshima Mon Amor, a beautifully shot, poetic statement about an awful chapter, this time about the Holocaust. A short film made in the wake and thus containing the urgency of unimaginable horror. This film should be required viewing to film and history students.

Kansas City Confidential

Noir
4 stars

Bank robbery where they framed the wrong man who looks to get revenge. Good story. With Neville Brand. Why didn't Neville Brand become a bigger star? That guy is so charismatic, he's practically incendiary.

The Squid and The Whale

00s Drama
4 stars

Entertaining story about 2 kids on the fast track to therapy because of mom & dad. No, it did not seem as if I was watching home movies. Or so I've told my shrink. Ahem.

The Tin Drum

80s Drama (borderline 70s/80s)
4 stars

This is actually a stunning film when one considers the scope, although without question it is disturbing. The child who refuses to get bigger is an amazing storytelling device, although the sheer creepiness around it was tough to take. Recommended.