Beyond The Sea - 2004 - UK

Beyond The Sea - 2004 - 6/10

 
Curious biopic of Bobby Darin was labor-of-love for Kevin Spacey.
He is the strength, and the liability.
Singing, dancing, fully committed, and yet, his version is NOT Bobby Darin.
Chronology is rags to riches to yesterday’s man to resurrection.
Fantasy sequences, which many disliked, truly underpin the “musical” aspect.
Enjoyment may hinge on your thoughts on Spacey.
Most of us have screened biopics with actors who did not remotely resemble their famous character. 

Pride & Prejudice - 2005 - UK

Pride & Prejudice - 2005 - 5/10

 
Updated retelling of Austen, everything heightened for the Emo era.
Bennet family have five daughters of varying marriage eligibility.
Beauty is Jane, brilliance is Elizabeth.
Into the rural community sweeps young Bingley and his aloof friend, Darcy.
Sparks and complications, and, per title, pride and prejudice.
Lavish costumes, dazzling cinematography, good score notwithstanding …
if you are expecting cultural reserve, this is not the version.
Nuanced characters?  Not here.  Faithful to Austen?  Barely.
I could blame the director, or the one playing Eliza, but the liability is the time constraint.

The Black Cat - 1934 - USA

The Black Cat - 1934 - 7/10

 
Following a bus accident, a young American couple and Hungarian psychiatrist are stranded in remote Austria.
Not to worry, nearby is the home of a famous architect, and friend of the psychiatrist.
Actually, the men are old and bitter adversaries.  In war and in love.
The young couple become sideshow pawns, as the long curdling revenge plays out.
Exceptional set design and atmosphere fully support this dark tale.
The leads, Bela and Boris, probably their finest pairing together.
This just ducked under the Production Code, and likely would not have been released afterward.

The Machinist - 2004 - Spain

The Machinist - 2004 - 7/10  

 
Trevor suffers insomnia, a year long bout of it.
Profound weight loss is apparent, and his attention to work seems slipping.
The hallucinations are powerful distractions.
Not without reason, as he is pursued, he is haunted.
No one else sees these “ghosts” nor does anyone believe him.
Christian Bale frightening in this slow boil thriller
Not remotely feel-good or energizing, a draining experience.