Monthly Archives: February 2024

Many Orson Welles‘ films can be labeled “noirish” without a lot of debate among cinephiles. But only a couple might rightly be regarded as “film noir,” sordid crime tales exposing the dark underbelly of pre-war to post-war America. The two … Continue reading →

There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t give at least a moment or two’s thoughts to one of the landmark projects in the history of TV and film, the “7 Up” series. That’s the power of film … Continue reading →

Wonder how infamously xenophobic Japan took to the idea of a tale of a public toilets cleaner directed by a German became Japan’s official Best International Feature entry and now Oscar nominee? I dare say there was some grumbling. Neon … Continue reading →

One of the great stand- ups of his era, Richard Lewis, a professional neurotic who amusingly took credit for the comic use of the phrase “from Hell” during his many years of appearances on Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has … Continue reading →

This June release has mystery, the threat of sudden gruesome death and a trip to the woods.  Very M. Night Shyamalan.

Every time one interviewed Oscar winner Kevin Costner about Westerns, he’d speak of the life changing experience seeing the epic “How the West was Won” was as a boy. Now that he’s reestablished his Western primacy thanks to a wildly … Continue reading →

Why keep coming back to a series of popular but dreadful “horny teen melodramas” from Spain, which have ranged from “vapid but titillating” to “Are you just here for the nudity?“ That rhetorical question can be aimed at the audience … Continue reading →

“From Italy with Amore” is like pasta your local Olive Garden left standing in water overnight. It’s shapeless, tasteless, inedible goo, and about as Italian as Chico Marx. The “Italy” here is a “we make our own pasta for our … Continue reading →

The French director of “Johnny Mad Dog”  puts Penn, Sheridan, Katherine Waterston, Mike Tyson and Michael Pitt through their paces for this March 29 release. Looks like a solid genre drama.

This looks like a step away from the blockbusters she’s typically associated with on the big screen (“Greatest Showman,” “Spider-Man,” “Dune”). Let’s see how a pixie-pretty leading lady holds the picture together in a dramedy about tennis and love matches … Continue reading →