How To Survive The End Of The World - 2013 - USA

How To Survive The End Of The World - 2013 - 6/10
AKA - Evacuate Earth

 
Multi-episode documentary mixes science with speculation.
What if …  the planet were struck with a global pandemic (this aired 2013).
Or flood waters covered the earth, or the orbit shifted, moving us away from the sun.
Or weather turns wilder, deadlier.
Experts describe scenarios and possible solutions.
The add-on episode, encounter with a neutron star, lives up to the alternate “Evacuate Earth” title.
It was also wise enough to pinpoint those who, during rescue, would push themselves to the front of the line.
The wealthy, who may lack necessary skill-sets.  And politicians, who excel at provoking conflict.
Curiously, what is not delineated is irreversible, runaway global warming.  Oh, the irony.

No Man’s Land - 2016 - UK

No Man’s Land - 2016 - 7/10

 
Theatre junkies!  Harold Pinter, eh?  You are hardcore.
The celebrated man plays host to a lesser acquaintance, the minor poet.
Through the evening, both men drink, and drink.
Two other men arrive, thuggish attendants to the celebrated man.
Act one is easy enough to follow.  Act two seems to swirl into sodden incoherence.
Drinks in hand, they talk, and talk.  Braggadocio, flawed memories, confusion.
Quite funny at times, other times I felt like I was hearing rambling drunks before they nodded off.

Is Amanda Knox Guilty? - 2014 - UK

Is Amanda Knox Guilty? - 2014 - 5/10

 
And do we care  anymore?  Not so much.
Documentary started fine, then began to stumble often.
It meandered around, much like the Italian prosecutors, and lacked focus.
Blood - blood is the trail.  Evidence - pinpoint the evidence.
As with the OJ Simpson trial, the murdered victim was an afterthought.
The suspects - the circus whooped and hollered around the suspects.
One is left with the sour taste that Miss Knox knows “something,” did “something,” may even be culpable.
The documentary, however, is shallow and never penetrates.

The Housemaid - 1960 - S Korea

The Housemaid - 1960 - 7/10
AKA - Hanyeo // 하녀

 
The piano teacher moonlights at the factory, giving singing lessons.
His wife is overworked at home, so he hires a maid to assist.
The girl is barely above beggar status, but she sexually ensnares the teacher.
Dark film of possession.  Rain sodden, Noir photography, Expressionistic angles.
Our “hero” is a doomed weakling, causing untold havoc in his family.
Eun-shim Lee is mesmerizing as the sly, unstable maid.  (Apparently audiences so hated her character so much, her career was finished).
For viewers wondering why so many females eyed the teacher, consider the “man shortage” after the Korean War.

Murder By Death - 1976 - USA

Murder By Death - 1976 - 6/10

 
Five famous amateur detectives are summoned to stately Twain manor.
There, they are informed a murder shall occur at midnight, and they will not be able to solve it.
Thereby tarnishing their reputations, and leaving their host as the greatest mastermind of them all!
Written by Neil Simon, opening credits by Charles Addams, featuring a gala of stars:  David Niven, Peter Sellers, Maggie Smith, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Elsa Lanchester …
Spoofed are Sam Spade, Nick & Nora Charles, Charlie Chan, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot.
Heavy on gags (many wildly politically incorrect), they can be enjoyed by all, though genre buffs will relish.

Manhattan Night - 2016 - USA

Manhattan Night - 2016 - 4/10

 
Investigative journalist meets mysterious blonde at party of new newspaper owner.
Journalist and wife (a doctor) live in secret hideaway home in middle of Gotham.
Nevertheless, a blonde is still a blonde and the journalist has zero instinct for trouble.
Soon enough he is snared in murder, blackmail, beatings, shootings.
Not a cop in sight.
Cliché piles upon cliché.
Thriller relies on stereotypes, leaps into absurdity.
Hard to tell what is worse, stupefying clichés or situations and twists that turn preposterous.
Fine cast of actors are trapped in a script less organized than a sonata of hamster farts.

Louis Prima: The Wildest! - 1999 - USA

Louis Prima: The Wildest! - 1999 - 7/10

 
Spotty documentary scores on energy level alone.
This one really charts the music.  The career in New Orleans, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas.
From his early beginnings, the combos, the band leader, retrenchment back into the combo.
And in Vegas, with Keely Smith, Sam Butera and the Witnesses, he strikes gold!
Prima built Vegas.  No brag, fact.  His performances, which ran from midnight until 6:00 AM, were pure energy.
Other entertainers, from singers to Hollywood stars, attended, observed, learned.
This is no deep documentary, though.
Surviving band-mates interviewed, along with his manager.
Only two of his five wives interviewed.  Only children from his final marriage interviewed.
The personal stuff … it ain’t there.  Curious, go to Wikipedia.
What this is, is 90’ of unstoppable, breathless entertainment.

Napoleon Ist An Allem Schuld - 1938 - Germany

Napoleon Ist An Allem Schuld - 1938 - 6/10

A history buff, Napoleon Bonaparte fanatic, envisions himself as emperor reincarnate.
Consequently, he is invited to  be one of the speakers at a Bonaparte convention in Paris.
Where he gets entangled with a chorus girl.
And compounds matters by telling camera snapping reporters she is his daughter.

 
For a Reichsfilme, this is rapid fire comedy, packed with innuendo, bordering on farce.
There are also several major musical numbers, one featuring showgirls in Napoleon headgear.
Always amusing, though not laugh out loud funny, since I was keeping up with subs.

De Surprise - 2015 - Netherlands

De Surprise - 2015 - 7/10

 
After a series of botched suicide attempts, Jacob decides to do it right.
He hires professionals to erase him from this existence permanently.
Elysium - Professional guide to your final destination.
“Of course we can accommodate you, sir.  Would you have a favorite location, activity, or perhaps option E?”
“Oh, yes!  Option E, just surprise me.”
Sad moody film turns into droll comedy once our protagonist discovers he cannot change his mind.
Dutch movie shifts from poignant to laugh out loud funny to violently lethal.

The Rescue - 2021 - USA

The Rescue - 2021 - 7/10

 
Documentary of the schoolboys (soccer squad) and their coach, trapped in a cave as monsoon laden waters rise.
First in were the Thai Navy SEALS, accustomed to underwater missions, but not cave diving.
Next, a tiny group of aging, British hobbyists, who regard cave diving as fun and relaxing.
Gripping documentary is chronological, shows the MAJOR effort involved, the global media circus, the politics and “face” obstructions, and does not shy away from the implied threats to the divers.
Superbly photographed.

When younger, I caved for over a decade.  The water was usually ice cold.  Water levels were often knee high, a few times, waist high.  Whenever it reached out necks, we turned around.  If the next step was a dropoff or hole, that would prove a catastrophe.  We often suspected there were chambers and spectacles in the depths, but proper gear was beyond us.  This doc shares the lure and tranquility of caving, so long as you are not claustrophobic.

Terror On The Rappahannock - 2020 - USA

Terror On The Rappahannock - 2020 - 6/10

 
Horror short blends racial injustice with the sins of the father.
Add a malevolent force active on Halloween night.
A little heavy handed, but the editing stands out, negotiating several storylines.
No real surprises or twists.  Worth a watch, though.
Borderline subs = https://subscene.com/subtitles/terror-on-the-rappahannock/english/2786074

The Brest Fortress - 2010 - Russia

The Brest Fortress - 2010 - 7/10
AKA - Fortress Of War // Брестская Kрепость

 
No-holds barred WWII guts n glory film, told from the besieged Soviet point of view.
In 1941, the Soviets were unprepared, poorly trained, complacent, and, if you recall your history, supplying raw materials to their German “ally” up to the last hour.
The Brest fortress is an obsolete relic, ill equipped for the Wehrmacht, at its zenith in '41.
Film scores in not being jingoistic or packed with propaganda.  Poor planning results in failure.
Even heroism is no match for Stukas, Panzers and machine gun fire.
Film is problematic, however, in that it provides scant background details.
Nothing is shown of the German planning for Operation Barbarossa, or the overall offensive around Minsk.
Of course, the entire film is from the Soviet defenders’ perspective, and they would be likewise ignorant of German High Command strategy.
There are also an awful lot of characters in this and roles and ranks are often confusing.
Don’t let that deter you, if curious.  Hunt down the documentary series Soviet Storm if truly interested.

Meet The Feebles - 1989 - New Zealand

Meet The Feebles - 1989 - 7/10

 
Trials and tribulations of the weekly variety skit show.
The star diva, growing fatter by the day.  Her lover / club owner, who cheats on her and deals drugs on the side.  The porn films being filmed in the basement.  The star comedian who has caught a deadly disease.
This barely covers a fraction of the shenanigans of this black comedy satire.
Fans of the Muppets, this a parallel world on crank.
Shocking, hilarious, subversive.  NOT FOR PRUDES, please!
Swearing, sex, drug abuse, violence, unforgettable musical numbers.

Note:  When Fellowship Of The Ring came out on DVD, I bought stacks of Feebles and placed them at checkout, with signage, “Also by Peter Jackson!”   We sold through quickly and repeatedly.  Not one ever came back, but I’m sure folks expecting the Shire were surprised.

The Rocketeer - 1991 - USA

The Rocketeer - 1991 - 6/10

 
Part of the pulp derived films that flourished in the 1990’s  (Dick Tracy to The Shadow to The Phantom).  All fun and empty headed.
Cliff finds a jetpack prototype  that can send him airborne.
It could also be used by combat troops, which draws interest of spies and sellouts.
This suffers from insufficient action, subdued colors, along with an awfully wholesome tone.
The Rocketeer came after Raiders Lost Ark, and faltered at that bar.
Later pulp adaptations were more tongue in cheek, not so here.
Well cast, this should appeal to fans of Jennifer Connelly.

Man Up - 2015 - UK

Man Up - 2015 - 7/10

 
Well done British romantic comedy scores all around.
Jaded relationship failures “meet cute” then have the great first night date.
Go figure.
They down multiple shots, strike at a bowling alley (are there even lanes in London?), quarrel, bond, deceive, lie.
And yes, deception lurks at the core of this comedy.
Points for using fairly unglamorous leads, kicking them into cringe situations.
Points for positive portrayals of Millennials, not cast as self-absorbed, delusional twats.
Feel good material, with melancholy undercurrent.
Possibly rated this higher than it deserves because the other suggested title was guy kryptonite, Sex In The City 2.

A Man’s Story - 2009 - S Korea

A Man’s Story - 2009 - 7/10
AKA - The Slingshot // Namja-I-Yaki //  남자이야기

K-drama squarely in the revenge genre.
Unlike Western vengeance that revels in payback and blood satisfaction, this studies the consequences of revenge.
The corrosion of the soul, and unhappiness that wounds friends and strangers.
Cha Do Woo, trying to acquire a competitor, destroys dozens of smaller companies.  Collateral damage.
Kim Shin’s brother loses all.  Business, money, respect, finally his life.

 
Kim vows to destroy the man responsible.
If that means going to prison, if that means joining with gangsters, if that means stealing ... so be it.
The rich playboy, Cha Do Woo, is a marvelous villain.  

 
A poised, polished sociopath, who regards 95% of humanity as dirt.
He has an easy time in early episodes, yet as stakes mount, ethics plummet.
Obstacles must crushed in pursuit of his grandiose scheme.
Both opponents analyze and exploit the weakness of each other.
Very much a chess match played across boardrooms and stock exchange.
Limited weeping - hooray.  Clever plotting throughout, the end stitches a few threads, leaves a few unresolved.
Yong-ha Park (Kim Shin) was on a meteoric ascent with this, his final work before his suicide.

Angry, Raucous, And Shamelessly Gorgeous - 2021 - USA

Angry, Raucous, And Shamelessly Gorgeous - 2021 - 6/10

 
Anne, living abroad for three decades, is lured back to the States to receive an achievement award.
She misinterprets, however, and believes she will also be acting in her historic play.
Where a younger actress has already been cast.
Sharp tongued comedy of the plight and shading of aging female actors.
Airing during the height of Covid Pandemic, this is s”Zoom” show lies between theatre and television.
Throughout, there are obvious, visible, video edits.  So much for “live” theatre.
Since the producers tweaked there, why not repair the audio issues?
Phylicia Rashad’s voice is poorly caught most of the play, as is Alicia Stith’s.

Dossier 51 - 1978 - France

Dossier 51 - 1978 - 6/10

 
Dominique is promoted to a high level diplomatic position.
Immediately, security agencies, spy operatives, set about to discover any weakness.
Once found, they will exploit to control the individual.
This has a documentary feel, with witnesses and subjects interviewed throughout.
The diplomat’s mother, ex-schoolmates, an old flame, neighbors, babysitter.
Despite touches of humor, this is an arid, cynical progression.
Throughout, neither the diplomat nor his equally surveilled wife are aware.

Kill Your Friends - 2015 - UK

Kill Your Friends - 2015 - 6/10

You ever wonder why pop music is so damned dreadful?
How inarticulate halfwits, scabbing lyrics a three-year-old would be ashamed of, soar up the charts?
Mostly, the herd is responsible.
You know, us, the feeble brained audience, especially when we are young and have discretionary income and limited tastes.
Oh, and there is also the A & R guy, force-feeding us crappy artists he thinks we might like.

 
Ferocious satire set in during the heyday of BritPop or Cool Britannia.
Our Artists & Repertoire rep is cynical to the core, ambitious, terrified of getting fired, and treacherous.  
He’s hunting for the next new group, next hit.  Longevity?  Sod off!
Time specific to the mid 90's (in five years, filesharing will start to destroy the vast majority of record labels).
Sharp edged, wicked comedy revs out of the gate, falters midway, then strikes for the jugular.

Swallow - 2019 - USA

Swallow - 2019 - 7/10

 
New bride Hunter is a mess of insecurities.
Of humble origins, she has married into wealth and status.
She doesn’t seems capable of doing much, nor is she given opportunity.
Besides esteem problems, she is overly eager to please.
When pregnancy arrives, a pica compulsion mounts.
(As someone with a mild pica  myself, I know how insidious this can be.)
The pace is deliberate, in keeping with unearthing Hunter’s deeper issue.
Psychological story flirts with female oppression, and the family stain.

Burt’s Buzz - 2013 - Canada

Burt’s Buzz - 2013 - 6/10

 
Documentary about elderly Burt Shavitz, cofounder of Burt’s Bees product line.
Featherweight across the board, simply because this man talks little  and while his story is mildly interesting, it is hardly compelling.
Suffice to say, in the 80’s, Maine resident Burt and fellow hippie female friend started selling beeswax candles, lip balm.
His backwoods, bearded image was used as logo and namesake.
Company enjoyed incredible success, Burt was bored, sold out for a trifle.
Don’t know whether to praise filmmakers for trying to make him appear entertaining, or to blame them for displaying this taciturn, slow thinking old man.
Shavitz died in 2015, by the way.