The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion - 2001 - USA

The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion - 2001 - 6/10

 
Old school insurance investigator trades barbs with new employee who is tasked to reorganize.
In most versions, no matter how stellar, the dinosaur is pushed out for modernity.
This is a comedy, though, and the acid & oil couple are hypnotized into believing they are married.
And then, exploiting their inside-knowledge, they are persuaded into crime.
Old-fashioned comedy has good cast and terrific repartee.
This evokes the 1930’s and 40’s, except the pace drags too much.
Film has its moments, and plenty of them, so this will be good for Allen curious.

Changing Times - 2004 - France

Changing Times - 2004 - 6/10
AKA - Les Temps qui changent

 
Antoine, construction overseer, arrives in Tangier to get a major project back on track.
This is only an excuse, however, to track down an old flame.
The woman in question is in a long term, if stale, marriage
Meanwhile, her son is visiting with his unhappy girlfriend.
The son intends to spend time with his boyfriend.
French fare filled with emotional complications amidst beautiful Moroccan locations.
Deneuve and Depardieu effortless in drama of expectations and obsession.

Sad Hill Unearthed - 2017 - Spain

Sad Hill Unearthed - 2017 - 6/10
AKA - Desenterrando Sad Hill

 
The allure of place touches us all.  From photos to film.
Reason why countless pose on Abbey Road, or outside the flat from Love Actually.
In this curious documentary, enthusiasts unearth and restore the mass cemetery from the finale of The Good, The Bad And The Ugly.
Franco had originally sent troops to build sets and act as film extras.
The now-old men share stories, as do Ennio Morricone and Clint Eastwood.
Mostly, however, it is the local men who create a 50th anniversary group and arduously remove eight inches of top soil, exposing the site.
Before creating grave markers.  5000 of them.
The power of dreams … and obsession.
A must for fans of Leone’s original, one of the greatest films ever.
Subs = https://subscene.com/subtitles/sad-hill-unearthed/english/2983831

Barbarian - 2022 - USA

Barbarian - 2022 - 6/10

Tess arrives at her rental house in Detroit.
Turns out, the agency mistakenly rented the home to another.
Who offers to share, for the night.
After all, rain is pouring, the hour is late, Tess doesn’t know the city.

 
Smart move – don’t drink the tea he offers, check his ID.
Bad move – the basement door yawns open.
Look, anytime a basement door opens, that means you flee.  Now!
Midway, the film slams into cliché corner, which is solved with an abrupt transition.
Just go with it.  This is better than dragging the pace, which 90% of filmmakers would do.

Cheerful Weather For The Wedding - 2012 - UK

Cheerful Weather For The Wedding - 2012 - 6/10

Unexpected guest arrives at the bride’s family house the day of her wedding.
Her old flame.  Invited by the bride.
Love story of the girl who waited, and the boyfriend who waited possibly too long.
Story is laced with regret, longing, errors recognized, and unconfessed feelings.
Large family with identifiable types:  those who adore nuptials, those who would rather drink.
Set in 1932 over what seems like less than a year.

 

The “lovers’” history is told in flashbacks and is shown in golden hour.
Plot never unrolls as expected.  One is also left with a question or two.

Not necessarily a chick flick, but enjoyment may depend on one’s tolerance for:
1) It’s my prerogative to change my mind
2) I don’t make a decision until the last minute -- sometimes after.
I live with both types and have been trained to shift gears in an instant.

Ronin - 1998 - UK

Ronin - 1998 - 7/10

 
The team assembles.
Heist caper, government black op, scorpion betrayal.
Freelance mercenaries are hired to retrieve a suitcase.
Hardly matters what is in the suitcase, only that many want it.
And will kill for it.
Well directed action thriller, powerhouse cast, blistering action sequences.
Sadly, for me, this was the last De Niro starring role I really liked.

Turkish Delight - 1973 - Netherlands

Turkish Delight - 1973 - 6/10

 
Struggling young sculptor begins torrid affair with uninhibited girl.
Her family either disapproves or shrugs.
As ever, can a struggling artist provide?
Youthful hope, marriage, troubles.
Freewheeling story captures the early 70’s before it got all commercialized.
The story consists of numerous flashbacks, so pay attention and stay alert.
Early role for leading man Rutgar Hauer.
Bittersweet love story, extremely erotic and earthy.

I Am Afraid - 1977 - Italy

I Am Afraid - 1977 - 7/10
AKA - Io Ho Paura

 
The city is reeling from a string of judicial assassinations, and the murder of police.
Inspector Graziano is assigned to bodyguard an old school, honorable judge.
Both are cautious, but keen eyed.  Especially after a local murder points to smuggling, then leads to worse.
Italian thriller starts as something akin to a “buddy film” before heading into darker Poliziotteschi territory.
In so many of these stories, everything and everyone is contaminated.
The pervasiveness of dread, of paranoia, builds throughout for Graziano.

OVNI(s) - 2021 - France

OVNI(s) - 2021 - 6/10

 
An optimist gazes at the stars and thinks, “We are not alone.  If aliens arrive, they will surely help us.”
The skeptic thinks,  “Encounters between advanced civilizations and primitive ones always spell disaster for the less developed.”
The cynic thinks, “Why come to a backwater planet, where every single creature murders the other?”  
Rocket scientist Mathure’s vessel explodes soon after liftoff and he is shunted down to GEPAN.
A tiny government agency investigating UFO reports.
Mathure, who desperately wants back into rockets, is caught between two powerful factions.
One wants him to close the pointless agency, one wants him to prove UFO’s exist.
Set in the late 70’s (the look is spot-on), this light comedy is filled with goofy characters, and very odd moments.
For the Fox Mulders out there, believers, this is for you.

Under Fire - 1983 - USA

Under Fire - 1983 - 6/10

 
Journalists in Nicaragua, during the 70’s revolution as the Somoza dictatorship is about to topple.
There are several war journalist films out there, and this is one of the better ones.
Great juxtaposition of remote observing of explosive violence coupled with up-close mayhem.
A brutal regime, rebels, mercenaries, CIA interference, and press deadlines.
In addition, a casual romance which seems more of a distraction.
Casting is pretty much perfect, and several scenes are unforgettable.
Timeless, as the subject may be, the pertinent timeline has dated.
The Nicaraguan revolution is 40 years distant, and the new boss = same as the old boss.

Dirty Pretty Things - 2002 - UK

Dirty Pretty Things - 2002 - 7/10

 
Welcome to England!
Oh, you have no papers?  Meaning, you are here illegally?
No worries, we can find you work, only your pay will be less, understand?
Okwe, a certified Nigerian doctor, works as a hotel desk clerk.
Senay, Turkish, a cleaning woman at the same hotel.
The hotel’s sordid side business, organ harvesting, can ease difficulties for both.
Biting moral quandary provides backbone to part message-film, part nail-biting thriller.