Death Of England - Delroy - 2020 - UK

Death Of England - Delroy - 2020 - 7/10

 
Side sequel to Death Of England, where here, Michael’s silent mate, Delroy, vents.
The pride of being British, of having a successful, if disreputable, steady career, and of his relationship.
What matters is not his reliability, his honesty, but his skin color.
In the colorblind world, race still matters.
So Delroy vents, a furious torrent of words, laced with biting humor
Hold tight and keep up.
Owing to Covid lockdown, this show closed after one performance.  Fortunately, it was filmed.

Rainbow Song - 2006 - Japan

Rainbow Song - 2006 - 7/10
AKA - Niji no Megami // 虹の女神

 
You don’t want to cross that line, understand?
You’re best friends, compadres, and if you attempt romance, you’ll destroy what you have.
Kishida was actually stalking another girl when his path crosses Aio’s.
Kishida is a bit aimless, head in the clouds, disorganized.
Aio is Type-A.  Motivated, focused, goal driven, a budding filmmaker.
You root for the couple, yet early on understand how doomed they are.
Haunting film of missed opportunities, has an equally memorable film within a film.
For those who “let someone get away”.

Cocaine Bear - 2023 - USA

Cocaine Bear - 2023 - 6/10

 
Drug smugglers pitch gymbags outta the plane over Chattahoochee National Park.
Small time enforcers come hunting, as well as a suspicious Fed agent.
No one realizes a black bear was the first responder, and now a raging addict.
Expect mayhem.
Uproarious film is packed with an assortment of baddies and insufferable passers by.
In other words, bear alert!  Wocka Wocka!
Well written, loads of jokes and situations.
Chances are Hollywood swill offers a bucketful of copy cat schlock.
Boycott those and watch this again.

The Night Affair - 1958 - France

The Night Affair - 1958 - 7/10
AKA - Le désordre et la nuit

The owner of a boisterous nightclub is troubled by partners, suppliers and women.
Most of his money stems from peddling drugs and flesh.
So, when a murder occurs, there is no shortage of suspects with motives.

 
Clues point to a young hostess, Lucky, pass-around companion and drug addict.
Moody film, set primarily during nights.  Hot jazz clubs, private parties, drunken fights.
Jean Gabin excellent as weary inspector who resists the easy path.
Solid French Noir.

Oh, Doctor! - 1925 - USA

Oh, Doctor! - 1925 - 5/10

Born sickly, then as an infant, Rufus is not expected to live long.
He defies the odds and persists to young manhood.
Despite being a worrywart and pronounced hypochondriac.
Enter the private – and quite pretty – nurse.

 
He decides to live, maybe a little.  Perhaps take a few risks.
Dated slapstick stars an exaggerated Reginald Denny.
Early Mary Astor role, she is a dish.

Pale Rider - 1985 - USA

Pale Rider - 1985 - 6/10

 
In a “later” Wild West, a small group of prospectors are intimidated, threatened by the larger firm.
Yes, think of them as the property developers of their day.
The larger group’s treatment of the environment is equally reprehensible.
Enter the righteous stranger, possibly straight from High Plains Drifter.
The look feels spot-on.  I’m referencing Silent era films, how they portrayed the West of two decades before.
The messages are heavy handed, weighing the film with self-importance.
Pacing is sluggish throughout and tropes borrow from other, better, Eastwood vehicles.

Small Time Crooks - 2000 - USA

Small Time Crooks - 2000 - 6/10

 
Inept criminal and his crack team of discombobulated stiffs plan the bank heist.
First, buy the adjoining, empty pizza joint.  As cover, the wife bakes cookies.
Mid-career Allen is loaded with gags and situations.
Allen and his crew of bumblers shoulder most of the laughs.
Not to be overlooked, though, is the sparkling chemistry between Tracey Ullman and the Woodster.
Along with the romantic Hugh Grant, here smoothly against type.

Mimic - 1997 - USA

Mimic - 1997 - 6/10

 
A new insect is lab-created to target cockroaches.
Only thing, it escapes into the wild (the subways) and starts growing.
Say, human size,  And with an appetite for the other white meat.
Silly monster outing is glorified B-film with A-list budget and casting.
Fans of Del Toro’s obsession with bugs, gross dissections, and suggestive darkness may enjoy.
This film was where Mira Sorvino went from Oscar winning rising star to perpetual “not quite”.

Putin And The Presidents - 2023 - USA

Putin And The Presidents - 2023 - 6/10

 
Five US Presidents so far, and counting.
Putin comes across as a calculating gambler.
Aside from Biden, the Presidents range from hopeful to gullible to appeasing.
Putin, while not necessarily sympathetic, is understandable.
He sees encircling democracies as a threat to his position, his regime.
Refashioning the Soviet Union is a long game, and he judges the West as short term players.
Democracy itself strikes me as a codeword for Capitalism.
That form seems to work best in societies that have an ascending middle class.

Howard’s End - 1992 - UK

Howard’s End - 1992 - 7/10

 
Lavish Merchant-Ivory production of impoverished gentry clashing with wealthy family.
Class comes into play as the impoverished are intelligent and more sympathetic to poorer connections.
Money is its own world, portrayed by a coldly dispassionate Anthony Hopkins.
Slow throughout, with gorgeous photography.
There are a lot of characters, and interweaving triangles.  One almost needs a playbook.
Subsequent viewings will reveal more subtleties.
Powerhouse cast.
Most worthwhile if you are in the mood for a leisurely journey though manners and distinction.

Stay Hungry - 1976 - USA

Stay Hungry - 1976 - 6/10

 
Peculiar, Southern Gothic film of crooks and bodybuilders.
The bad guys, once again, are property developers.
Gobbling up the block save for one holdout, the bodybuilding gym.
The moneymen slide in one of their own (Jeff Bridges) but he gets his head turned (Sally Field).
That’s the outline.  The whole film is odd vignettes and Southern proverbs.
An improvised rawness runs throughout.
Will appeal more to Southerners, and Schwarzenegger fans.

Present Laughter - 2017 - USA

Present Laughter - 2017 - 7/10

 
Garry Essendine, aging Romantic lead, aging Lothario, aging … well, that‘s it.  Aging.
Actually, he is well beyond the mid-life crisis age, closer to post-delusion.
Of course, female admirers do keep flocking to his nest and spending the night.
Lively Noel Coward romp of situations and sparkling dialogue.
Kevin Kline excels as the narcissistic, always “onstage” actor who cannot switch off.
Friends, colleagues, lovesick, assistants – all mere staff.
Dry ice humor from opening to closing curtain.