Criterion: Badlands (*****) The view inside the soulless
Nearly as haunting as the real thing.
Netflix’ Mank (****) – The wins of the father
If they had found a way to at least make the case for the opposition seem plausible, there might be less of a Smokey and the Bandit feel to it all.
Criterion: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (***) is unrelenting horror
As it stands, there is no one that can take it’s cult status away. This will forever be a history making cinematic effort, even if it is almost as annoying as it is scary.
Criterion Ganja & Hess (**) has history on its side
Fair or not, the film that results is worth one time through, and more if you can bear it. I had to stop on my second trip.
Historical Nugget: The Return of the Living Dead (***) – Be a man, Frank
If you find a way to get into the groove of this film and wend your way through the cheese, it will reward you with some very nice moments.
Another Look: American Gangster Unrated (****) feels right
If that sounds like too much to cover in a movie, it’s not. The three hours fly by and justice is served.
Criterion: Further downstream of The Virgin Spring to The Last House on the Left
…it’s remarkable how far a medieval ballad can reach through time, even if what comes out on the other side holds little resemblance to the significance of the tale.
Another Look: Casino (**1/2) is a stale imitation
It’s one of the fruits of the labor of a great career that he’s been able to keep remaking the same film over and over. This doesn’t make the stale fruit taste any better.
Adrift (***) is steady as she goes
Overall, the film is a good story. It is inspiring to see people succeed through the gifts God gave them, even when they forgo the giving of thanks.
Another Look: Can we all admit Saving Private Ryan (***1/2) is good sentimental B.S.?
The soldiers deserve the knowledge that we cannot or will not forget their sacrifice. Then we can work to earn the freedom they gave to us, like Captain Miller wanted Private Ryan to do.
Criterion: Samurai III: Duel At Ganryu Island (****) settles down
The last installment of the trilogy narrowly avoids greatness by concentrating on the love story. It’s not that any of the storylines are done poorly. On the contrary, they’re about as evocative as was possible at the time.
Criterion: Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple – is giant
Musashi’s presence is undeniable as the burgeoning samurai. His is one of the giant characters in episodic history, every bit worth the value of the legend he represents.
Criterion: I Live In Fear (*****) has reason on all sides
Kurosawa, Shimura and Mifune by this point are in full swing. There is nothing in the world that matches their ability to relay a story.
BlacKkKlansman (****1/2) greatness mixed with prejudice
Spike Lee makes a great film, then he takes a dump in the credits with easily refuted claims through selected editing. Why?
Criterion: Drunken Angel (****) is a stunning look at postwar Japan
Drunken Angel is a flawed, but brilliant first film by one of the world’s greatest directors. Knowing he is this good when he started out makes me hopeful for a future I already know.
1917 (****1/2) is never really gone
This film is exceptionally filmed and performed. It’s a necessary reminder that war is for keeps and not at all glamorous, even if the effort is a beautiful effort to save 1600 lives.
