Photographing Fairies - 1997 - UK

Photographing Fairies - 1997 - 6/10

 
Following the death of his fiancée, Charles enlists and enters the Great War.
Afterwards, he makes a living photographing death servicemen with their families.
All the while, however, he is a haunted soul.
He is drawn into the world of faeries, particularly capturing images of them.
To do this, he begins taking hallucinogens.
Moreover, he incurs the wrath of a fundamentalist reverend, concerned about faeries and paganism.
There is a lot in this film, and it is, in many ways, richer than Fairy Tale (1997).

Shakespeare In Love - 1998 - UK

Shakespeare In Love - 1998 - 7/10

 
Nicely told fairy tale of the famous playwright hitting writer’s block.
The cure?  A clandestine affair with a lady betrothed to powerful Lord Wessex.
Instead of a typical romance, this bounces freely across the theatre boards.
Struggling acting companies, arcane legal restrictions, figuring out what the punter want.
And will play for.
Paltrow and Fiennes have exciting chemistry; the whole cast is top notch.
For worries, dialogue is NOT Elizabethan English.
Terrific date movie.

A Woman Of No Importance - 2017 - UK

A Woman Of No Importance - 2017 - 7/10

 
Young Gerald is hired to be secretary for Lord Illingworth.
Unaware that the Lord is his actual father, who seduced then abandoned his mother years earlier.
At a soiree of the gentry, Gerald’s mother, Mrs. Arbuthnot arrives, as does an outspoken American heiress,
This rendition by Spring Theatre is of two halves, and feels like two different works.
The first section sparkles with witty, at times trenchant, dialogue, barbed and cynical.
The second, however, is a confrontation between Illingworh and Arbuthnot.
Wit is replaced by resentment, and bracing accusation of the double standard between men and women.
Very much an early pre-feminist or proto-feminist work.
Plus, a trio of unexpected, delightful songs!

Blue Thunder - 1983 - USA

Blue Thunder - 1983 - 6/10

 
LAPD pilot is assigned to train on a new, cutting edge helicopter.
Designed for riots or crowd control, this beast is military assault.
In due course, our pilot (a coasting Roy Scheider) suspects nefarious forces.
The film wanders all over thriller, voyeurism, mystery, even romance.
The plot feels like concepts cobbled together by the writer, oops writers, and the result is messy.
Action pieces are standout, however.  Malcolm McDowell terrific as villain.
Surveillance paranoia dated today as CC and drones are daily realities.

A Simple Favor - 2018 - USA

A Simple Favor - 2018 - 7/10

 
Single mom Stephanie is the go-getter volunteer for school activities.
Behind the smiles, she is lonely, and doesn’t have much of a life.
Until she meets fellow parent Emily, ballbreaking PR for a New York agency.
Obvious misfits, yet they strike an odd friendship,
So much so, when Emily disappears Stephanie becomes a sleuth.
Not only a decent mystery, this is a savage parody of vlogs, influencers, and Hallmark derivatives.
Deceptively written, skillfully potted, though with enough foul language to send paper hearts running.
Your squeeze suggests another mystery romance, queue this screamingly funny gem instead.

Crime Doctor - 1943 - USA

Crime Doctor - 1943 - 6/10

 
Kicked from a speeding car, the man is rescued, taken to hospital.
Revives.  Oh, no!  Amnesia.
So, like so many who have lost their memory, he goes to medical school and becomes a doctor.
Of course, amnesia or not, somebody pushed him from the car.
B-film crime thriller shuffles at a brisk pace, leaving numerous clues who the doctor had been previously.
No great shakes, but adequate entertainment.
First of the Crime Doctor series.
Ray Collins plays his initial doctor, later partner, and his character already resembles Lt. Tragg.

Kill Zone - 2005 - Hong Kong

Kill Zone - 2005 - 7/10
AKA - Saat po Long  // 殺破狼

 
Chief inspector Chung has tried to nail crime boss Wong Po for years.
Chung, now with a brain tumor, is set to retire and hand the reins to Kwan.
Yet, he still wants to toss Wong Po behind bars, even if that means breaking the law.
Straightforward Hong Kong actioner boasts three top stars.
Simon Yam as the inspector.  Sammo Hung, cast against type as the deadly Po.
And Donnie Yen, in absolute peak form!
The photography in this bleak, Neo Noir is outstanding.
Numerous fights in this, all dazzling showstoppers.

Pickup - 1951 - USA

Pickup - 1951 - 6/10

After his dog is killed, Jan heads to the town carnival for a new puppy.
There, he crosses paths with Betty, a low-life floozy who wants a good time.

 
She is also distressingly poor, and smells money on the lonely man.
Soon enough, she weds him, then schemes to make herself a rich widow.
Trashy Noir benefits from Beverly Michaels’ surly, contemptuous performance.
Offbeat film, more cult than Noir classic.

Reefer Madness - 1936 - USA

Reefer Madness - 1936 - 5/10

I had assumed every film buff in the world had seen this one.
Wrong.  I was informed, it’s black and white, from the 1930’s.  So passé.
Moralizing tale is so over-the-top preachy, it proves an irresistible delight.
Teenagers get caught up in the world of reefer, weed, jive, marijuana.
They engage in uninhibited sex, run stop lights, play the piano faster ... and faster!

 
Or suffer complete and utter mental deterioration.  Insanity!
Unintentionally funny, although the underground enjoyment was heightened owing to laws up to recent times.
Possibly because this is public domain, and was cheap to begin with, I have never seen a quality print.

Night Shift - 2018 - Australia

Night Shift - 2018 - 6/10

 
Bianca is reinstated for active duty, just before partner Tony is about to transfer.
First, however, Tony has a debt.
“Cops with a history” short, soon splatters into a mixed martial arts brawl.
Subs = https://subscene.com/subtitles/night-shift-2018/english/3168199

Fantastic Voyage - 1966 - USA

Fantastic Voyage - 1966 - 7/10

 
An important scientist in a coma needs a miracle!
How about we miniaturize a small submarine, crew, and surgeons?
How small?  The size of a blood platelet.  The future, today!
Once injected into the bloodstream, viewers are given the grand tour of the inner body.
Very impressive back in the day, and still great entertainment so long as you don’t nitpick 1960’s science.
I vividly recall seeing this with my family on big screen.  My younger brother had previously read the comic adaptation, and when one character appeared, he blurted out,  “That’s a bad one.  Who gets killed in the end.”  We all yelled.

Wings In The Dark - 1935 - USA

Wings In The Dark - 1935 - 6/10

 
Daredevil pilot works on inventing “auto-pilot” in his spare time.
Countless rejections from fellow pilots, airplane companies, investors.
Following an accident, his is blinded … for a while, or forever.
A female barnstormer, smitten, performs stunt work to raise funds.
Brief premise in pretty offbeat tale.
More drama than adventure or romance.
Main draw is a young Cary Grant paired with Myrna Loy.