Madigan

60s Drama
3.5 stars

A little dated, but an interesting "parallel" movie about cops and bosses from the 1960s solving crimes. You can see the roots of grittier cop movies here. Don Siegel rises to the occasion yet again. A treat for Richard Widmark and Henry Fonda fans, not to mention Abraham Polonsky wrote the screenplay.

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.

Strait-Jacket

60s Drama
Woman in Danger
4.5 stars

This is best described as a "B" picture, but Joan Crawford gives an amazing performance, at once psychotic and sad. I found myself getting quite taken in by her character. It's a totally campy movie, with George "Police Squad" Kennedy as some sort of threatening farmhand, but this movie deserves a special place in any film lover's heart.

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.

Die! Die! My Darling!

60s Drama
Older Woman in Danger
3 stars

Another from the crazy old woman series, this one's got an English twist, produced by the Hammer Studios. Not exactly graphic, not exactly gruesome, but no doubt hammy and over the top. This time, the older woman is not in danger, she's causing it. Alternate title is "Fanatic" and that fits this film.

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.

What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice?

60s Drama
3 stars
Older Woman In Danger

I can say this film was almost so bad it was great, and I suppose in a strange way it is great. A lonely, batty woman knocks off her housekeepers, as numbered by the trees in her garden. A kooky, hammy mess of entertainment, churned up in the wake of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.

Pretty Poison

60s Drama
3.5 stars

Interesting film starring Anthony Perkins and Tuesday Weld. This has many noir elements despite the vibrant colors and lush musical score. The plot contains a wonderful surprise in character motivation. Very 60s. I wanted to like this movie so much and thought it was...good.

Sympathy for the Devil

60s Drama
4.5 stars

I don't know if I've ever seen a film quite like this. I really liked this movie. A bit clunky, but the camera movements were outstanding. Scenes of the Rolling Stones working out the title song cut between various scenes of revolutionaries, artists and intellectuals. Great filmmaking. Requires a lot of concentration to watch, but should be more well-known.

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.

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

British
60s Drama
4.5 stars

Great British realism new wave film about wayward lad in youth home who also runs fast, and is thus a target for being exploited. About a lot more, though, so you gotta pay attention. Lead actor oozes charisma.

Coogan's Bluff

60s Drama
3 stars

I expected more out of the Don Siegel Clint Eastwood partnership in their film before Dirty Harry. This film is nowhere near the level of that one. A bit cheesy, a bit slow, although Lee J Cobb, always a great ingredient, gets a small supporting role.

I Am Cuba

Cuban-Russian
60s Drama
5 stars

Awesome, awesome cinematography. 4 short stories celebrating Cuban independence and revolutionary spirit (with some American bashing to boot), but the amazing cinematography really carries the day. Totally impressive and inspirational. Some of the shots are so unbelievable, I was getting fidgety on the sofa. Deep stuff.