Category: CPE
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Cocktail (**) For a movie, it is a good soundtrack
See it if you want to see the kind of film Cruise made before he completely took control of his career. It’s not worth sitting through otherwise, just to hum along.
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Nightwatch (**1/2) – Looks better than it is
The only other film I have seen of Bernedal’s is The Possession, which is a wholesale improvement. He is able to concentrate on atmosphere and leave the script to someone else. One can see the connections between here and there. I would prefer to be there.
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Criterion: Shallow Grave (***) isn't deep enough
“From an historical perspective, perhaps one can understand this being a Criterion release. I know some of this is dependent on what they can get the rights to overall. As a film, this one is kind of forgettable, if technically proficient. It’s a good first attempt. ”
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Criterion: Metropolis(****) C-3PO and socialism
Even through it’s complicated history of interpretations, Metropolis is very much the definition of essential cinema.
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Aces I Can Keep: My favorite Kenny Rogers Songs
There once was a time…you know the rest. Kenny Rogers couldn’t be avoided at one point. Everyone I knew had at least two of his albums: The Gambler and 20 Greatest Hits were the ones I saw most often. He was a huge part of the country music crossover in the ’70s through the mid…
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Where'd You Go, Bernadette?(***) doesn't go that far
They lost me at “How does one afford a trip to Antarctica?”
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Criterion: The Getaway (**1/2) slow and uneasy
Ultimately, I think this film only serves as a time capsule for what qualified for popular action in 1972. If I had a parallel for today, one could place something in the Fast and Furious franchise for its equivalent. Not sure we’ll ever see any of the FF movies on Criterion. This one shouldn’t be…
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Criterion: The Out-of-Towners (***1/2) wears out its welcome
The combination of Hiller, Lemmon, Miller and Jones no doubt is what makes this a Criterion selection. I can’t argue with this. As a film, it may not be a classic, but it is worth exploring.
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Criterion: Chaplin's The Circus (****1/2) is a high wire act
Chaplin is definitely going to be on my list for future watches. I had avoided him to now because through local television, I grew up on Harold Lloyd. I figured if you’ve seen one, you’d seen them all. I really do need to see them all.
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Criterion: The Seventh Seal (****) Death went up to Denmark
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by
There are people out in the world, no matter how much is shut down. They fight a battle just like the one being fought here. Like Block, some of them just need a reason to carry on.
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 