While the City Sleeps (1956) - **1/2. Odd film (for Fritz Lang) dealing with relationships in the newspaper biz against a serial killer backdrop. Real-life alcoholic Dana Andrews' character spends most of film drunk. Ida Lupino has never been trashier. Might've worked better as a snappier-paced comedy.
Avatar (2010) - ***. Since I only saw this for the incredible special effects, I wasn't expecting much of a story. Film satisfies on both accounts.
Little Cigars (1973) - ***. Gun moll Angel Tompkins (who's smokin' hot) hides out with a traveling midget troupe. (Penelope Pitstop & the Anthill Mob, anyone?) Good-natured time killer gives show-biz vets like Billy Curtis, Jerry Maren, & Felix (Cousin Itt!) Sillas leading roles. Earl ("I'll paint any car for $19.95!") Sheib's shop has product placement.
Steamboat 'Round the Bend (1935) - **1/2. Will Rogers matches wits with Irvin S. Cobb (popular humorist barely remembered today) on the mighty Mississippi. Stepin Fetchit speaks unintellgible, embarrassing gibberish. Abrubt ending due to Rogers' death before completion.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Monday, December 21, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
More film reviews just for you!!
Invisible Stripes (1939) - ** 1/2. Pretty standard Warner Bros. crime melodrama with George Raft in one of his 'good guy' roles, young, awkward William Holden, fourth-billed Bogart, and Marc Lawrence, Lee Patrick, Leo Gorcey. Nice bank heist scene.
Piccadilly (1929) - ****. Luminous Anna May Wong plays the ultimate femme fatale (shades of Louise Brooks) in this British silent. German director Dupont's stylish flourishes and star Gilda Grey's clunky dancing give the film a campy air when Wong isn't on the screen. A beautifully tinted film with Charles Laughton as a drunk .
Grateful Dawg (2001) - ** 1/2. The musical kinship between David Grisman and Jerry Garcia is explored by family & friends. Most of the film is live performances and while I can appreciate the technical prowess of the band, watching it grew kinda tiresome. A musicologistic side of Garcia most people never saw.
The Dark Knight (2007) - ***. The accolades for Heath Ledger's demonic rendering of the Joker are well-deserved in this overlong version of Frank Miller's revamping of the Batman character. As superhero movies go, probably one of the best yet.
Piccadilly (1929) - ****. Luminous Anna May Wong plays the ultimate femme fatale (shades of Louise Brooks) in this British silent. German director Dupont's stylish flourishes and star Gilda Grey's clunky dancing give the film a campy air when Wong isn't on the screen. A beautifully tinted film with Charles Laughton as a drunk .
Grateful Dawg (2001) - ** 1/2. The musical kinship between David Grisman and Jerry Garcia is explored by family & friends. Most of the film is live performances and while I can appreciate the technical prowess of the band, watching it grew kinda tiresome. A musicologistic side of Garcia most people never saw.
The Dark Knight (2007) - ***. The accolades for Heath Ledger's demonic rendering of the Joker are well-deserved in this overlong version of Frank Miller's revamping of the Batman character. As superhero movies go, probably one of the best yet.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
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