A Page Of Madness - 1926 - Japan

A Page Of Madness - 1926 - 6/10
AKA - Kurutta Ichipeiji  //  狂った一頁

 
Manic, delusional, catatonic.
Various states of residents in a mental institution.
Viewed through the eyes of the custodian / janitor.
His wife is a patient, in a near-vegetative state.
Their daughter visits, yet her terror usually overcomes her.
One can only deduce the proceedings, as there are no inter-titles.
A difficult watch at times.
Highlights include a frenzied dancer who believes she is onstage, and a facility riot she causes.

Bra Boys - 2006 - Australia

Bra Boys - 2006 - 6/10

 
Written, directed and produced by Sunny Abberton, one of three brothers profiled in this documentary.
Filmed around Maroubra Beach, part of Sydney, but not the desirable neighborhood.
Story pleads the case that the Boys aren’t gang members, but a community tribe.
Gorgeous surf sequences interspersed with courtroom appearances and street violence.
Predates the Biarritz Surf Gang (2017) which likewise profiled waves and mayhem.
Worthwhile for those into surf porn, but don’t be fooled by the smile.

You Only Live Twice - 1968 - UK

You Only Live Twice - 1968 - 6/10
AKA - 007は二度死ぬ

 
Fleming’s novel is one of self-pity, vengeance, amnesia, resurrection.
The film is high style Japanese action, with 007 as a pinball in the Shinjuja arcade.
USA and CCCP space capsules disappear in orbit.  Each nation blames the other.  War seem likely.
The actual culprit?  SPECTRE, lurking, according to MI5, somewhere in Japan.
More action and gadgetry in this, less style and panache.
Japanese locations are exotic, and the cast has plenty of headliners for those into Japanese cinema.
Bond does get rescued a lot, or relies much on Q‘s gizmos.
Earlier films are superior, although this remains a guilty pleasure.

A Special Cop In Action - 1976 - Italy

A Special Cop In Action - 1976 - 6/10
AKA - Italia a Mano Armata  (Italy At Gunpoint)

 
All in a very busy week.  Commissioner Betti has his hands full.
Hijackers grab a school bus of children, hide, demand ransom.
Meanwhile, a violent gang is targeting big banks.
And, arms smugglers are ever bolder, more flagrant.
Betti thinks the mastermind behind it all is Albertelli (John Saxon), an untouchable crime boss.
The result is three disjointed tales, stitched together with car chases, rooftop chases, fistfights.
Oh, and bullets.  Blazing firepower in this high voltage Euro-Crime actioner / thriller.

The Sin Of Nora Moran - 1933 - USA

The Sin Of Nora Moran - 1933 - 6/10

 
Pre-Code melodrama has the taboos in spades.
Adultery, rape, murder, coverups, death sentence.
At the heart of this is a young girl who spends her inheritance on a dance academy.
In New York, Broadway spurns her.  Money dry, she joins the circus.
The story is told from several points of view, and Nora herself mixes memory with fantasy.
Sordid tale, yet the editing is extremely quick for its time and is absolutely fabulous!
Wipes, cuts, pans, dissolves, plenty of montages.
Restored print by UCLA is immaculate.

Pulse - 2001 - Japan

Pulse - 2001 - 6/10
AKA - Kairo // 回路

 
Perhaps it was an errant program, perhaps it was inevitable.
Via the internet, the dead have begun to access our sphere.
And for every new arrival, a living soul perishes, disappears into a stain.
A few groups and individuals become aware of this phenomenon.
Dwindling survivors.
Moody J-horror is long on tension and isolation.
Unspoken is how the internet increasingly disassociates humanity.

Ashes To Ashes - 2008 - UK

Ashes To Ashes - 2008 - 7/10

 
Compelling sidespin to Life On Mars.
Oddly enough, modern day DI Alex Drake had been reading reports by Sam Tyler.
Then she was shot and found herself in 1981, and meeting DCI Gene Hunt and crew.
In S01, Drake is poorly written as a chronic whiner, with a mommy fixation, and dressing inappropriately,
By the second season, her character is harder and more professional.
Just as well, as episodes grow progressively darker each outing.

 
S03 was always planned as the conclusion.
A new character arrives, ostensibly from “Internal Affairs”, to unearth corruption.
At times, the narrative borders on metaphysical.  The ghost of Sam Tyler revives as a major quest.
The ending?  One of the best, and very thoughtful.
If you enjoyed Life On Mars, and can tolerate a somewhat campy S01, this show holds rewards.

Station Zero - 2024 - USA

Station Zero - 2024 - 6/10

 
At best, a scene, an incident, from a longer Horror flick.
Following mouth-to-mouth sessions in the firehouse, an intruder knocks.
Oh, no!  A zombie.  And our brawny firefighter is down.
Leaving the steamy scream queen isolated.
Proof of concept short for a potential feature.

Domino - 2005 - USA

Domino - 2005 - 6/10

 
Real change of pace for Keira Knightley, playing a bounty hunter.
Domino was the real daughter of actor Laurence Harvey.
At the core of this over-elaborate film, is an armored car heist.
Then the patsies, a bounty hunter crew now in the eye of the F.B.I.
Knightley, who I scoff at frequently, is good as the beauty who embraces the underbelly.
A sloppy film, unfortunately, and I fault the directing and editing.
Wild cast only increases the disappointment.

Notting Hill - 1999 - UK

Notting Hill - 1999 - 7/10

 
Fate, or happenstance?
White-hot Hollywood actress meets Notting Hill bookshop owner.
Attraction is not immediate, yet circumstances reconnect them, and place barriers.
Excellent Rom-Com benefits from fine acting – and – genuine chemistry.
Not to overlook an outstanding supporting ensemble!
I tend to rewatch this every five years or so, usually on our anniversary.
Holds up remarkably well.