Charade - 1963 - USA

Charade - 1963 - 7/10

 
Reggie (female) plans to divorce her husband, until he is found murdered.
Their Parisian apartment ransacked, money gone.
She tries to investigate, in spite of a ferocious adversary (George Kennedy), a facilitating CIA op (Walter Matthew), and a shady friend / nemesis (Cary Grant).
Near flawless mix of suspense and romance, intrigue and comedy.
A perfect Hitchcock movie, except it’s not.
Audrey Hepburn and Grant are wonderful together, terrific Mancini score.
Real throwback to Hollywood’s Golden Age, and an ideal date flick.

Who Are The Cockney’s Now? - 1968 - UK

Who Are The Cockney’s Now? - 1968 - 6/10

 
Part of the “One Pair Of Eyes” series, this installment hosted by Georgia Brown.
Brown grew up in Whitechapel during the Blitz, when the area was very much a Jewish enclave.
By the late ‘60’s, however, most of the Jewish community had departed, their storefronts closed.
New immigrants were Pakistani, facing the same discrimination as those previous.
Here, Brown wanders off theme, as she repeatedly urges Jewish leaders to open their doors to newcomers.
Could be the spirit of the ‘60’s, could be Brown herself no longer lived there.

Revenant - 2023 - S Korea

Revenant - 2023 - 6/10
AKA - Akgwi // 악귀

 
“Beware of the handshake, that hides a snake.
“For smiling faces, smiling faces tell lies, and I got proof.”
Our heroine is possessed by a ghost, beneficial at times, murderous at others.
Trying to aid her, and exorcise the spirit, is a folklore professor.
Meandering K-drama goes full bore into supernatural, shamanism, fetishes, and violent deaths.
The narrative drags in the middle and is repetitive.
Plus, the mother is extremely tiresome; an anxious, fearful, foolish, nonstop whiner.
A fun watch, nevertheless, for its theme of what some will do for good fortune.
Finale is fairly enthralling, as twist piles up twist, clever opponents outguessing each other.

Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams - 1990 - Japan

Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams - 1990 - 7/10
AKA - Yume  // 夢

 
Eight short films by Kurosawa.  Gorgeous to look at, some are better than others.
A young boy disobeys his mother and is banished until repentance.
“The Blizzard” is a riff on the legend of the Snow Ghost.
The futility of war appears in “The Tunnel”, another ghost tale.
For Van Gogh fans, “Crows” is a delightful tale, as an observer wanders into a series of paintings.
My favorite, and the only episode I revisit often is the “Village Of The Watermills.
Serene meditation on simplicity and harmony, shunning modern busyness.

The Big Day - 1949 - France

The Big Day - 1949 - 6/10  
AKA - Jour de Fête

 
Well-liked, but bungling postman works tirelessly in rural France.
Still, bicycle delivery is so slow.  Especially compared with the efficiency of the US Postal system.
An arriving fair promises distractions for everyone.
Near wordless comedy borders on farce throughout.
Jacques Tati as the mailman is close to a buffoon and the punch to many jokes.
One element I picked up on during a rewatch was the quiet contrast between the leisurely countryside and the encroachment of the hectic, nervous metropolitan era.
Enjoyable, if silly, to be followed by the Hulot films.

A Gaza Weekend - 2022 - Palestine

A Gaza Weekend - 2022 - 6/10

 
Unknown disease A.R.S. erupts in Israel and borders shut down.
A British resident and his Israeli girlfriend determine to make for the nearest “safe” place.
In this instance, Gaza.
A pair of small-time hustlers offer to help with the illegal entry, for a fee.
Funny comedy from Palestine skewers everyone.  Israelis, Hamas, vendors, shortages.
Poignant watching at this time, in light of how the people are again caught in bloody conflict.
English subtitles = https://subscene.com/subtitles/a-gaza-weekend/english/3298336

The Last Wave - 1977 - Australia

The Last Wave - 1977 - 7/10

 
Australian attorney is assigned to defend five Aborigine men of a tribal killing.
The murder resembles a ritual, but the men stay locked in silence.
Another character in the film is the rain, all but relentless in this.
The lawyer, who actually specializes in corporate law, is out of his depth yet earnest.
So much so, he starts digging into the culture – which seems groundbreaking for 1977.
Then the dreams start.
Slow, moody film, carries a brooding undercurrent throughout.
There is an unnerving quality about this; a persistence of fogged memory.

Quest For Fire - 1981 - Canada

Quest For Fire - 1981 - 7/10

 
They have lost their village.  Worse, during the exodus, the fire has gone out.
Thus three men (cavemen) are sent to find fire, whether it grows from a shrub or comes in a rock.
Truly, they have no understanding of fire, save that survival depends on it.
Almost wordless film plays out across barren landscapes.
A chance encounter with a more advanced tribe offers gifts and experiences.
This is one that ought to be viewed on as large a screen as possible.

Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley On The Mystery Queen - 2022 - UK

Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley On The Mystery Queen - 2022 - 7/10

 
Fine attempt to pinpoint Christie, who seems an elusive figure behind the facade.
Three part documentary is about the individual, not necessarily her output.
Privileged childhood, before Father squandered all the money.
Great War service, early writing (the Mary Westmacott novels are the most revealing).
Marple, Poirot, the still unexplained disappearance.
Numerous old photographs enhance the proceedings, and Ms Worsley offers some of her own theories.
All in all, essential for Christie buffs, although best taken with a grain of salt.

The Beast Must Die - 1952 - Argentina

The Beast Must Die - 1952 - 7/10  
AKA - La Bestia Debe Morir

 
Beast being the repulsive Jorge Rattery, who dies in the opening sequence.
Roundly hated by all, he beats his wife, smacks her son around, repeatedly tries to rape his sister-in-law, cheats his business partner, as well as sleeps with the partner’s wife, AND tells the wife she is looking old.
Then there is Felix, visiting crime novelist, whose diary reveals he intended to murder Jorge!
Yes, an overload of suspects.
Argentinean Noir suffers from opening histrionics, melodramatic acting, but settles following the death.
Mind you, most of the females remain fiery and explosive.
Nonetheless, this is Felix’s story all the way.
A bitter, sad, soil-boil of revenge.
Pristine restoration by Film Noir Foundation.  Remade as Que la Bete Meure (1969).

An English Haunting - 2020 - UK

An English Haunting - 2020 - 5/10

Grandpa Aubrey rattles on his deathbed, the nurse ran off, so his daughter and grandson arrive.
Daughter Margot cannot stand the man, so she drains the wine cellar.
Grandson Blake is a bookish type, aware that there is “something going on here”.
Behold the research montage in the library / billiards room.

 
Despite early misgivings (clear warning, one name is writer-director-producer), this held up as decent spooky thriller.
Until the last act when it went haywire.  Mind you, I was laughing out loud at how ludicrous this became.
Even M R James or Lovecraft characters possessed more spine than Blake.

The Curse Of Her Flesh - 1968 - USA

The Curse Of Her Flesh - 1968 - 4/10

 
One might have assumed Jennings was dead after the orgy of killing that was The Touch Of Her Flesh (1967).
Not so.  He even manages the ole sweat house club.
Which means the same buxom dancers, cheesecake figures, fake eyelashes packed with mascara.
Jennings asks them out, creeps them out, snuffs them out.
Unusual accessories for a romantic evening?  Large gourd and a speargun, anyone?
He has a plan, however, as he waits for his wife’s seducer, Steve.
Something along the lines of a plot helps this, and final act provides action and extra weirdness.