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I Bury the Living (1958)
Interesting Elements on Display Here
I Bury the Living has some positive elements going for it: As others have mentioned, Boones performance is solid, well paced and effective. The look, sound, and feel of the film are also well crafted and a strong character in themselves. The premise of the story is a good one that initially really drew me in. On the down side that same story and the action seem to unfold rather slowly. It also disappoints with its conclusion which is a big letdown to everything that occurred earlier in the film, the ending offered is not really plausible and feels very random. That's really too bad because the unimaginative ending really drags the final product from what could have been really good down to little better than average.
The Werewolf (1956)
Interesting, Sad, Unique Werewolf
The Werewolf varies from the usual wolf-man in that it has a unique origin story. The film succeeds in that it has a solid cast giving solid performances, the basic story is good, it is shot on location which gives it a nice look and feel. Even though the origin story is unique there are a few cliches from these types of films that are of course present: one of the first is that we have a small town in which someone new arrives (the stranger) who appears to be different from everyone else and naturally everyone wants to kill him, not try and figure things out, just get rid of him. Secondly there are the local losers/thugs/bullies who feel they have the right to take the law into their own hands, which of course ends badly and in disaster for the stranger. As such the werewolf does become a highly sympathised character as he can't control or help what is happening to him. It ends sadly the way any experienced viewer would expect. The Werewolf certainly does nothing to restore faith in mankind. Check it out if your curious.
The Crawling Hand (1963)
Overly Complicated Crawler
So The Crawling Hand initially struck me as what could be a very lame film, but the title captured my imagination so strongly that I just couldn't resist giving it a viewing. I'm kind of glad that I did because it certainly is one of a kind. The absurdity that this one hand can propel itself forward, up walls, over car seats, and overpower grown adults who have two working arms anchored to shoulders for strength and leverage is beyond me. The the fact that the initial NASA/Space staff continue on throughout the film begins to only serve as a distraction from the real action. Relief is very welcomed when the Skipper (lan Hale) finally enters, what a breath of fresh air he brings! For me the bright spot actually comes towards the end of the film when we see the scrappy junkyard cats chewing on and eating the hand. Yes, that hand can take down full grown persons but is apparently unable to defend itself against a couple of junkyard cats. Watch The Crawling Hand only if you dare.
Lady of Burlesque (1943)
Stanwyck Saves The Day, er Film, Again
Lady of burlesque/The G-String Murders was a title that caught my eye, suspiciously. Then I saw that Stanwyck was in it and it was then that I decided it was worth checking out. Stanwyck really is the bright spot in the other of otherwise unremarkable performances, although Michael O'Shea does his best. The story , well there really isn't much of a story and the one that's here is very weak. The script is equally weak and and kind of bland, considering the theme of the story I was expecting a bit more. The version I saw had been colorized with parts being quite good and others parts seemingly completely overlooked, very uneven. As for Stanwyck, this is a rather unusual role for her and she does her best and is passable singing and dancing, but despite her many talents, singing and dancing are not her strengths. Still, she does overall deliver and is the bright spot in this otherwise disappointing fim.
Viva la muerte (1971)
Striking Imagery, Questionably Presented
I came into my recent viewing of Viva la Muerte with very little knowledge of the film or it's director. Fortunately, I am familiar with various aspects of the Spanish Civil War, which definitely aided in y engagement wit this material. It does contain many unique, interesting, striking, arresting and sometimes shocking images. Some worthy of remembering, and others not so much so. As for their ability to advance, hinder, or negate the actual story is debatable, depending on your point of view. For me it was hit and miss and rather uneven in this regard. When the images worked they worked quite well but when they did not aid in the telling or progress of the story they seemed at times gratuitous, other times obvious, or even unnecessary. Collectively they felt kind of disjointed. The mother was disappointing in that her character was not very well developed and the performance felt stilted. I can see why others have responded so favorably to Viva la Muerte, but for me it just didn't coalesce in an effective or satisfying way.
The Creeper (1948)
The Lone Paw
The Creeper in the film is a black cat, actually it's a pet cat in one of the labs named Creeper that actually has little to do with the story. The female lead here has an extreme and I would say irrational fear of cats. She is perpetually on edge and usually has a bug-eyed expression on her face. She seems harmless enough but can also come across as a bit annoying at times. The doctor in the next door lab takes an interest in her and tries to console her throughout the film. The cinematography is fine and the film looks good and the seed of a story is a solid one but unfortunately it's not very well developed. The 'cat/feline' killer that kills and is intended to generate fear in the viewer is really only a hand?! That's about the sum of it, which of course is a big disappointment. For this genre of film The Creeper isn't all bad but still it is disappointing, but for those very curious it might be worth checking out just for fun.
The Screaming Skull (1958)
Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs
The Screaming Skull seemed like a good idea when I read the synopsis and saw the movie art, both of which were interesting. Unfortunately the film itself did not live up to the art, once again. The female lead has hysterical fits but to me many of them seemed rather random. Yes, she is newly released from a sanatorium but her fits of screaming are a bit much. As for the story it seems her husband could be trying to drive her crazy to facilitate her downfall and inherit her money but then one night it seems he loses patience with that idea and tries to end it quickly? Not too sure but the story just doesn't really progress and the production is unable to create any real momentum. There are some fun, interesting and I guess kind of creepy visual and sound touches going for it, but that's about it. Not altogether a bad film, but not all that it could have been either.
South Pacific (1958)
Great Music Cannot Save South Pacific
I was looking forward to finally seeing R&H's filmed version of South Pacific. I've seen it performed on stage and enjoyed it but unfortunately I cannot in good conscience say the same for this film. There are many problems preventing this film from succeeding and the largest amongst them is the direction - it's very slow and lacking in dynamics. Logan is simply unable to create any momentum and as such it feels very lethargic. I was expecting beautiful cinematography with it being filmed in the pacific but the color overlays used to represent the emotional arc of the story and characters does not work and adversely affects the imagery rather negatively, as opposed to the hoped for intensity that was expected. The vocal dubbing for the most part does not work. I like Brazzi but his dubbing is exceptionally poor, mostly because the singing voice does not in any way mather his real voice. I could tell where the emotional punches and crescendos were supposed to be based in the story but they simply did not materialize. It seems quite a few folks really enjoyed this film and I'm happy for them, unfortunately, I am not one of them.
The Mad Magician (1954)
That Crazy, Mad, Vengeful, oh so Fun Magician
As soon as I saw Vincent Price I was instantly drawn to check out The Mad Magician. The setting is prime landscape for a classic Price horror flick with lots of magical effects in store. In reality The Mad Magician was pretty good but it did not utilize all of the magical/magician antics and effects I was hoping for. It is a common storyline that Price's character has been professionally as well as romantically wronged, and by the same person. Of course, he must seek revenge as only he can do. Well, the revenge part doesn't go as smoothly as planned and more individuals need to go down as a result. The story does also have some holes in it throughout, but despite these several shortcomings The Mad Magician is still fun and a must for any Vincent Price fans as well as general fans of this genre in general.
Jam (2023)
Thriller Kind of Short on Thrills
Sleep come with some pretty good credentials and i was looking forward to checking it out. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations as i found it lacking in story development and unable to create the desired levels of tension one could reasonably expect from a film of this type. The performances were fine but there were quite a few gaps in the story with too little character development taking place. Also, there were too many examples of the characters playing either very passively or unwittingly to the point of losing credibility. The end of the film was not able to create anywhere near the drama I could tell everyone was going for and it felt a it forced. Sleep isn't all but still a bit disappointing.
Carnival of Souls (1962)
Problematic Yet Interesting
I'd heard of Carnival of Souls before and when the opportunity to see it came along I decided to give it a go. So there are many reasons as to why this film probably shouldn't work, and in many ways it doesn't, and yet throughout I was curious and stayed with it. For starters many of the performance are odd, specifically the landlady and the films female lead. Part of me thinks that their awkwardness is actually part of what helps to make this film work in that it was able to create a very unique, and kind of unsettling vibe that carries on from start to finish. The thing that I found kind of frustrating is that there's no real character growth and development to our lead actress. She remains as clueless and resistant to help and logic throughout and it does become a bit frustrating. Still, despite some reservations Carnival of Souls is worth checking out.
Key Witness (1947)
Pleasant and Yet Ridiculous
So this lead character is a nice enough guy, pleasant, hard worker, faithful and loving husband, and creative. While at the same time he is also a scared, ineffectual dolt of a guy. The bad decisions that he repeatedly makes throughout this film is only surpassed by the absurdity of unlikely events that follow those poor decisions. It really takes a suspension of logic and believability to stay committed and fully onboard as the story progresses. That's too bad though because like I said it does have any easy, pleasant quality to it, and most of the performances are solid enough to hold the viewer's interest. It's just the unlikeliness of the chain of events to this story that honestly can make it frustrating at times.
Rawhide (1951)
Unconventional and Worthy Western
Rawhide is a catchy title, which explains why there are multiple films and a television series using it. This version however is a unique take on the western starring Susan Hayward, Tyrone Power, and Jack Elam. Elam isn't listed as one of the stars but his performance warrants this call-out. There isn't really a lot of classic western action on display here but that's fine as the tight script, brisk pacing, and overall solid performances come together to make for a fun and interesting film. Hayward and Power are fine but relative to Elam's strong performance Marlowe comes across as weak and ineffective as the gang leader. Perhaps that was intentional, I'm not sure, but Elam's performance really is the vinegar in this dish. Overall, Rawhide is a solid western and one worth checking out.
The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962)
So Much Wrong But Still Worth Checking Out
The Brain That Wouldn't Die wasn't released until 1962 but was actually made in 1959, which makes so much more sense because to me it does have a strong 1950's vibe, feel, and look to it. Ok, that was the easy part but now how else to describe this film project I hardly know where to begin as it is so bizarre. There are many things that are odd and not exactly well done, but at the same time it is a fairly interesting and engaging experience for the most part. I guess the visuals of the head are this most distinct visual but there are other visuals that also stick with the viewer, like the strip clubs scenes are also strong in their uniqueness. The coloring was so uneven at times that it occasionally gave the impression of a B&W film that had been colorized, while other times the coloring was fine. Despite the many problems with The Brain That Wouldn't Die, at 82 minutes it is definitely a film worth checking, but do so with an open mind.
The Marriage-Go-Round (1961)
Please Stop The Marriage-Go-Round and Let Me Off
When I saw both James Mason and Susan Hayward I was excited to check out this Marriage-Go-Round. Julie Newmar does a swell job and I will agree is quite fetching to look at here. While I do really enjoy Mason and Hayward I'm wondering if perhaps they might have been miscast? Not sure what if anything could have actually brought just a smidgen of comedy into this so called sex comedy of a film. The story is very tame, even for 1961 actually. On top of that it never really progresses or gains any momentum whatsoever. I guess on one hand it might be considered slightly interesting as a time capsule of this particular time period, but that alone is not enough. It actually feels quite redundant throughout. Despite a solid cast and great sets and costumes I had a hard time getting through to the end of The Marriage-Go-Round.
The Secret of the Whistler (1946)
Enjoyable Despite Cowardly Ending
This is my first of the Whistler films and I for the most part was pleasantly surprised. All of the performances were solid and on-point, the direction was brisk and nicely paced throughout, the sets and costumes worked as well. The story was for the most part very interesting and engaging . . . Until the very end. I'm not sure why they took the otherwise great story into such a soft and unsatisfying ending when the much better one had to be very apparent. I wonder if it had something to do with the moral codes that might have been in place at the time of this film where they thought that all of the bad guys have to get caught and pay the price so justice and good would prevail? Anyway, despite a disappointing ending The Secret of the Whistler is still worth checking out.
Nightmare (1964)
Lots of Hysterics Served Up
Nightmare has the looks, appearance, and the quality acting of a classic British mystery/who done it. The story is on one hand good, but the level of quite frankly disbelief it asks is a bit of a stretch. All of the performances are very good and each character has their own distinct personality. The sets and direction are well done and the pacing is well kept throughout. The female leads here both spend a lot of their screen time in hysterics, for real, perhaps to an overall slight detriment of the film. Then there's the story which requires certain characters to act out in unknown yet very specific ways, and in quite a short run time, that is stretches credibility. Despite these two rather serious shortcomings, there is still enough good hear to give this Nightmare a chance.
It's a Great Feeling (1949)
For Once Crawford Doesn't Over Do It
I can see how his comical spoof of behind the scenes old Hollywood would have been a lot funnier and fun back in the days of its original release. I can still appreciate what they were going for here but it does feel rather dated, but not always in the good way. Doris Day of course gives her all here and she does have good comic timing as do both of her male co-stars. A few celebrities stop by for some fun cameos with Joan Crawford taking the top prize for her small but potent appearance. It's not a terribly long film but it felt that way and could have definitely benefited from some editing down. Still, with the solid cast and some fun cameos it's worth a watch for those genuinely interested.
Death Cruise (1974)
Death Cruise>Love Boat
Not exactly sure what compelled me to want to check out Death Cruise, but despite some reservations I did indeed go there, and am actually glad that I did. So the premise of this movie has already been stated and three couples and a new ships doctor are involved. Two of the couples stories are kind of interesting - Bosley and Holmes story is the best of the three with Long and Bergen coming in second and Alberts and Jackson a distant third, but Jackson herself makes up the gap. Constantine turns in a nice performance as the doctor/amateur sleuth. It really shouldn't work as well as it did but I was engaged throughout and found in moderately entertaining. Not great but I think worth checking out.
Mr. District Attorney (1947)
Solid Cast Delivers this One
I won't rehash the entire storyline here as that's already been done. I will say that Mr. District Attorney is a better and more enjoyable film that I initially expected. It's filled with a solid and well rounded cast all of which bring the goods. With Chapman strong and only surpassed by Adolphe Menjou, who I think really pulls everything together nicely. The script is pretty good as well and it does a credible job of keeping the true motives of Chapman's character intentionally hazy as long as is needed. The end isn't really a surprise but still everything leading up to it, including steady and brisk direction, all contribute to a positive viewing experience.
Conte cruel (1930)
Beautiful and Captivitating
The was playing recently at L'Alliance NYC and I randomly decided to check it out and am so very happy that I did. When I purchased my ticket at the box-office the staff member handed me an index card sized piece of paper with a few lines of text on it. She proceeded to tell me that it was basically a silent film with just a handful of brief subtitles that were in French. Well after she said it was a 'silent film' my mind went to the many silent films that I'd seen before, those with Chaplin, Keaton, Gish etc. Well, Conte Cruel/Cruel Tale is nothing like any of those film and is a unique, mesmerizing, almost haunting experience. The cinematography along with the lighting was stunning. So many frames and shots looks to me like works of art. Unlike the silent films I was used to that had a piano accompaniment, this was presented with a recorded soundtrack accompaniment by Leon Rousseau which perfectly enhanced the beauty, bleakness, darkness, and horrors of the film. Gaston Modot's Conte Cruel/Cruel Tale is a very special film and one worth checking out.
L'aigle à deux têtes (1948)
Aviary Kingdom with Headstrong Subjects
Of Cocteau's film work I've only ever seen Beauty and the Beast and was looking forward to checking out other films of his. I don't recall hearing anything about this particular work of his but i found it to be fairly interesting. Romanticism rules the day here with the story and themes reminding the viewer of something Shakespearian in tone and structure. The cast creates characters who are strong willed and not afraid to express themselves. The sets, art direction, and costumes are all well done and they create a world the viewer might like to spend time in. The film requires the viewers full attention and despite its occasionally challenging story I found The Eagle with Two Heads to be thoroughly unique and worth checking out.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Fun Swashbuckling, Seafaring Adventure
I had my share of reservations going into my viewing of Pirates of the Caribbean. The always unpredictable Johnny Depp was one concern along with my love of this specific genre of film, I had naturally high standards/expectations. I am happy to say that I was very pleasantly surprised by how much fun, intrigue, and what a real sense of adventure they were able to imbibe into this film. As for the performances everyone does a fine job and contributes their parts fully. The cinematography, sets, location, and effects are all well done. And then there is the story itself, which is solid and well developed throughout. Pirates of the Caribbean is great fun and something worth checking out.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
There's a Good 120 Minute Film in Here
The Wolf of Wall Street is interesting and has quite a few good things going for it. For one the direction is well done and briskly paced throughout. Almost all of the performances are good, in particular DiCaprio does a fine job in creating his character. For me though it started to feel very redundant at a certain point. Yes, we are introduced to the DiCaprio character as he evolves from a small guy and through ambition and hard works learns how to swindle average folks out of lots of money and we observe how he subsequently lives the 'high-life' that young men always seem to do when they suddenly come in to extreme wealth - they behave rather badly, and yet are proud of it and all their male peers oddly look up to and admire them for these actions. This is established not that far into the movie and it is repeated for the next 80 minutes as we see him continue to swindle even more money from the unsuspecting and develop ever more clever/tasteless ways to spend that said money, but not really that interestingly. Of course, his fall does eventually come but we didn't really need three hours to tell his story as it's written. Without the script being expanded in some fresh ways this story could have been better told in two hours. For me this is not a bad film but neither is it a great film.
The Lion King (1994)
Lofty Goals Not Quite Reached
The Lion King has been highly and praised by many and while I do find several good and quality elements within, I am unfortunately not one who finds himself under it's 'magical' spell. I wish I were because I love and have loved many Disney animated films throughout the years and for me this is not all that high up on that list. The voice actors do a wonderful job, the score and several of the songs are very strong and have stood the test of time quite well. The story itself has great, Shakespearian aspirations and that does work but only to a degree. For me those themes are spread very thin throughout and they do not evolve and gain in strength as the film itself proceeds. In the end I wasn't all that moved in the ways the film had intended. It was overall a fine film but not one that made much of a difference.