Look Both Ways - 2005 - Australia

Look Both Ways - 2005 - 6/10

 
Meryl, an anxiety ridden illustrator witnesses a disastrous train accident.
There, she meets Nick, photographer, who has learned he has cancer.
Both are damaged, no – say, limited individuals, who are trying to navigate their problems.
Quirky Australian comedy mixes offbeat romance, spontaneous animation inserts (of ways to horribly die), and a refreshing, hopeful tone.
Always refreshing to see characters with a clear view of themselves, with few delusions.

The Masks Of Death - 1984 - UK

The Masks Of Death - 1984 - 6/10

 
Sherlock Holmes comes out of retirement to solve a series of baffling wharf deaths.
Until the Home Secretary asks him to suspend the inquiries and investigate a locked-room death.
Time is 1913, the cusp of the Great War, and the death is of a prominent German figure.
The mystery is a bit of a muddle, the sets are lean yet serviceable.
An excellent supporting cast bolsters Peter Cushing in one of his final films, and his last starring role.

The Ignorant Fairies - 2001 - Italy

The Ignorant Fairies - 2001 - 7/10
AKA - Le Fate Ignoranti

 
After the abrupt death of her husband, Antonia discovers he had a secret life.
A secret family, of which she had been unaware.
They are aware of Antonia, however.  The wife, who kept him apart from them.
Story is one of different worlds bumping into each other.
Of outcasts and outsiders, and Antonia accepting and being accepted.
Borders on touchy feelie, and one late “moment” is ridiculous.

Hands Across The Table - 1935 - USA

Hands Across The Table - 1935 - 6/10

 
Regi is a manicurist in a swank hotel.
One of her repeat clients is a wealthy pilot, who unknowingly has entered the friend zone.
Instead, her mendacious self latches onto the rich playboy, Ted.
Turns out Ted lost his fortune in the 1929 Stock Market Crash, however.
Ever since, he has behaved like a goofy, feckless fool to hide his poverty.
Audiences of the day sighed over Ted and Regi (Fred MacMurray and Carole Lombard).
From my modern vantage, I can foresee they may be doomed.
The real couple is Regi and the wheelchair bound pilot (Ralph Bellamy).
The hotel is a heady Art Deco construct; one wonders if that was Depression era aspirations.
The current print is well restored.

Page Miss Glory - 1936 - USA

Page Miss Glory - 1936 - 6/10

 
Celebrity Miss Glory visits small town Hicksville, a one-cow burg.
Waiting and waiting and waiting, bellhop Abner snoozes and dreams of being in the gleaming metropolis.
Glorious Art-Deco design, packed with sight gags.
Fantastic Merrie Melodies cartoon from Tex Avery makes perfect prelude or after-dinner mint to 1935 film.

Page Miss Glory - 1935 - USA

Page Miss Glory - 1935 - 6/10

 
Small town girl Loretta arrives in Gotham, finds work as a maid at the upscale Park Regis.
There, she cleans rooms for two hustlers who fabricate a beauty to win a high paying contest.
They tell curious reporters the beauty is reclusive, while interest and attempts reach a fever.
Turns out, with the right makeup, glamorous gown, maid Loretta might just trick the nosy.
Romance is weak, Dick Powell still cast as a youthful dunce.
Marion Davies and screwball Patsy Kelly make a great comedy pair.
Outdone by Mary Astor and Pat O’Brien swapping barbs and one-liners at a furious pace.
Only in the 1930’s films do you get this staccato dialogue.

Mordach: Death In The Mountains - 2023 - Germany

Mordach: Death In The Mountains - 2023 - 7/10
AKA - Mordach: Tod in den Bergen

The corpse is found in the Bavarian stream.
Initial suspect, the Turkish man, waiting to board the train.
Thing is, he is with the Federal crime unit.
Yet, his DNA is found on and in the female victim.  And is gun is missing.
He is tasked with assisting the local investigation, despite being the prime suspect.

 
Fear not, suspects soon emerge, along with motives, lies, casual betrayals.
German thriller, broken into two parts, has strong plotting, no romance, mix of character types.
Outdoor Bavarian mountain scenery is used often and wisely.

Puzzle Of A Downfall Child - 1970 - USA

Puzzle Of A Downfall Child - 1970 - 6/10

 
Her old photographer ferries to the island to visit a retired, reclusive fashion model.
She talks of her first love, the older man who took advantage of her when she was 15.
The initial assignments in New York, affairs with men, anxieties, loneliness.
Throughout, Lou is an unreliable narrator, jumbling chronology, glossing events, suppressing.
Her narration is a labyrinth of mis-remembrances and fantastical deceptions.
Faye Dunaway gives a tour de force performance in this overlooked and challenging film.

Crossed Swords - 1954 - Italy

Crossed Swords - 1954 - 6/10
AKA - Il Maestro di Don Giovanni

 
One of Errol Flynn’s final swashbucklers is fun, if you are in the right spirit for it.
A usurper desires the throne of a small Italian principality.
Meanwhile, a new decree states all males over twenty must marry, which the freewheeling Renzo avoids.
This is a playful movie, spoofing Flynn’s dashing heyday.
As for Flynn, he looks good, face fuller, yet tanned and healthy.
His scenes with luscious Gina Lollobrigida are full of amused chemistry.
Silly plots, flamboyant costumes, but rousing action.  Flynn’s swordfight finale is a highlight.
Gozillaflix DVD has murky dubbed audio, although the video is sharp and colorful!

The Upturned Glass - 1947 - UK

The Upturned Glass - 1947 - 6/10

 
Visiting speaker Michael lectures the criminology class on murderers.
Without declaring he is the example, he narrates the murder.
He and Emma had been in loveless marriages when the romance began.
Her sudden death came as a shock, however, and Michael eyed the petty, envious sister-in-law.
An underseen thriller, splashed with Noir.
There is an absurd mistake with a body which I cannot understand.
Narrative meanders in the final act, but it pulls together.

Secret - 2009 - S Korea

Secret - 2009 - 6/10
AKA - Sikeurit  // 시크릿

 
A bullying thug is murdered, and his brother is a ruthless mob boss.
As the gang leader searches for the killer, so do the police.
One in particular, a corrupt cop, suspects the killer is his own wife.
The couple have marital problems, and the tears and angst drag the whole show down.
The “plot” is of our cop trying to destroy or mislay evidence.
Then there’s a mysterious blackmailer.
If you stick with this, there are a remarkable series of twists in the final act.

The Restaurant - 2003 - USA

The Restaurant - 2003 - 6/10

 
Early, so-called reality show hews closer to that overused “reality” moniker.
Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito (celebrity meaning, he wrote a book) launches a Manhattan restaurant.
Series shows the serving staff and the cooks working the flames.
Also the problems: bad reviews, money issues, personal conflicts.
Plus, the obvious fact that Rocco flat out does NOT want to work.
He would rather wander the tables and flirt with attractive females.
Rocco does not even run the pass.
Unlike scripted reality shows, here you are a fly on the ceiling, observing a trainwreck caused by the owner.