Hotel Monterey - 1972 - USA

Hotel Monterey - 1972 - 6/10 

 
First feature by Chantal Akerman is a slow, unblinking look inside a decaying New York hotel.
Empty hallways, ghostly staircases, flaking basements, mindless elevators.
A few residents are seen, many enfeebled, others lifeless.
Once on the rooftop, Manhattan skyline can be seen, the city rousing to life.
Good pairing with Akerman’s News From Home (1976).
Better, however, might be Nightshift (1981) observing the ennui of the lobby.
Note: In the mid-70’s, I worked graveyard shift in a hotel; Hotel Monterey equates to my memories.

Mad Detective - 2007 - Hong Kong

Mad Detective - 2007 - 6/10 
AKA - San Taam // 神探

 
Bun is highly effective, if highly troubled.
Has the ability to get inside the criminal’s mind, in numerous cases, minds.
Meaning, villains with multiple personalities.
Thing is, he was pretty much flat out nuts.  Once off his meds, even worse.
Uncomfortable Johnnie To vehicle of crime, insanity, and the false narrative. 

Thunderball - 1965 - UK

Thunderball - 1965 - 7/10

 
SPECTRE hijacks a NATO aircraft, seizes two nuclear bombs, and demands ransom.
All 00 agents are activated, with Bond heading to Nassau to investigate the pilot’s sister.
Of course, SPECTRE agents are also there, a mix of useless henchmen and sharks.
Nevertheless, there are two iconic villains in Emilio Largo #2, as well as Fiona Volpe.

 
Awash in style, this is quintessential 007.  Connery’s panache sets a gold standard.
While the impatient may whine during lengthy search sequences, this holds up well.

Checkmate - 2024 - USA

Checkmate - 2024 - 5/10

James works through his grief with a counselor.
Mom had died and the guilt is overpowering.
Brother Nick arrives periodically, and demands a repeat chess match.
Which he wins consistently, all the time berating and belittling James.
For those plagued by pessimism and self hate, this offers a dark corner of pain.

I Cover The Waterfront - 1933 - USA

I Cover The Waterfront - 1933 - 6/10

San Diego reporter Miller has been trying to get the goods on Eli Kirk for years.
Kirk is a lowly fisherman, who has a sideline in smuggling Chinese into the country.
Kirk has an attractive daughter Julie, loyal, optimistic, patch of sunshine in the squalor.

 
Miller, not disclosing who he is, woos her and wins her affection, and trust.
Bleak Pre-Code has problem in that Miller is a classic heel, on par with the reporter in Nothing Sacred.
Smuggler Kirk more sympathetic, protective of his daughter and fishing crew.
Concluding scene defies normal behavior.

Full Metal Jacket - 1987 - USA

Full Metal Jacket - 1987 - 7/10

 
Maggots, excuse me, young men, drafted into Uncle Sam’s Marine Corps.
Enduring the brutally savage gunnery sergeant, Hartman, before being shipped to Vietnam.
Just before the Tet Offensive.
Kubrick’s film is terrifying and polarizing.  The Hartman / Pyle conflict searing.
Perhaps a little lopsided, as boot camp lingers long after the deployment.
Easier Vietnam odyssey than Apocalypse Now, which is richer.

Embassy Of The Free Mind - 2024 - Italy

Embassy Of The Free Mind - 2024 - 6/10

 
Museum of books rare, banned and burned.  Filled with progressive ideas, dangerous ideas.
Manuscripts and books from the 15th century and later.
Mysticism, alchemy, astrology, Kabbalah, Cabbalah, Theosophy, Rosicrucianism, the Illuminati.
Not to overlook the River of Life, tying elements together.

 
The speakers, patrons and curators, are earnest idealists.
Who believe, truly, if we only pursue and connect what bygone “scientists” left unfinished, we might remake the world.
“Why are we here?” “What is the meaning of it all?”
In many ways, I felt sad for them; for me, ours is not the right world for them.
When power is held by tyrants, knaves and the deranged, books are burned and intelligence murdered.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3371357

Summer - 1968 - France

Summer - 1968 - 6/10
AKA - L'été

 
Experimental film, following Graziella as she isolates herself in the countryside.
Earlier, she had been part of Paris riots of the previous month.
She reflects without explanation.  One senses she may have been traumatized.
More of a mood piece, with little narrative.
Knowledge of May 1968 would be helpful for outsiders.

Heroes Shed No Tears - 1986 - Hong Kong

Heroes Shed No Tears - 1986 - 5/10
AKA - Ying Huhng Mouh Leuih // 英雄無淚

 
The Thai government hires military mercenaries for a dangerous operation.
Kidnap a drug lord, hiding in Vietnam near Laos.
This is during the Vietnam War, mind you.
The mercenaries soon face opposition (and bullets) from all sides.
Early John Woo film suffers from studio meddling and an incoherent script.
Meaningless action aside, oh, what could have been.

Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster - 2004 - USA

Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster - 2004 - 7/10

 
Penetrating documentary of a band in crisis.
Fighting file-sharing, they have alienated fans.
Bassist Newsted quits because he wants to do his own thing.
The remaining trio hire a motivational guy, trying to get them to “open up”.
Uncomfortable and engrossing at the same time.
Whereas other bands might have collapsed, Metallica’s dedication and work ethic was unbreakable.

Gallipoli - 1981 - Australia

Gallipoli - 1981 - 7/10

 
The Great War, Turkey and ally of Germany, proves highly resistant to the allies.
Including the Australian contingent.
Accomplished young runners, Archy and Frank, eager to serve, enlist for the war to end all wars.
Hijinks and exploring, ease the tension for awhile.
Until the unit winds up at the slaughterhouse of the Turkish beaches.
Powerful film should have made Mark Lee a name, that went to costar Mel Gibson.

Portrait Of A Young Girl At The End Of The 60’s In Brussels - 1994 - Belgium

Portrait Of A Young Girl At The End Of The 60’s In Brussels - 1994 - 6/10
AKA - Portrait d'une Jeune Fille de la fin des années 60 à Bruxelles

 
Michele impulsively drops out of high school, telling best friend Danielle.
Roaming the streets, she meets Paul, visiting Brussels from Paris.
They talk, wander about, share stories, but don’t quite bond.
Even though he is doing his military service, both are too young for anything serious.
As far as the 1960’s, forget it.
Music and hairstyles are passable, but the cars, posters, stores, CDs, pedestrians are 1990’s.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3371356

Axe - 1974 - USA

Axe - 1974 - 5/10
AKA - Lisa, Lisa

After a bloody whack job, three criminals hide out in rural North Carolina.
The house seems deserted, yet within are a strange teenage girl and her paralyzed grandfather.
Our criminals aren’t the most observant, as the house is fairly empty, and there is blood.
The girl, Lisa, well, she’s a female, isn’t she?
And men have needs, even criminals. Like I said, none are exactly observant.
Lisa drifts around, eyes glazed like a somnambulist, drawn to the household axe.

The Siege At Firebase Gloria - 1988 - Australia

The Siege At Firebase Gloria - 1988 - 6/10

 
Marine long range unit comes across a Vietnam village massacred by the Viet Cong.
They realize something big is afoot and report to HQ … and are ignored.
Just before the Tet Offensive.
The squad finds an existing firebase, barely defended, low morale.
Outnumbered 5-to-1, the combat assaults are bloody messes.
More thoughtful than many films, as both commanders wonder about leaders behind the lines.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3371358

Enola Holmes 3 - 2026 - UK

Enola Holmes 3 - 2026 - 6/10

 
The younger sister in Malta, supposedly getting married, instead suffering cold feet.
Dr. Watson arrives, saying friend Sherlock has been kidnapped, giving Enola an excuse.
Good backdrops, lots of mindless action, a generic puzzle plot.
Not especially canon (by a longshot), yet Holmes for a new gender, new era.
Diverting enough way to kill a few hours.

Koma - 2004 - Hong Kong

Koma - 2004 - 5/10
AKA - Jiu Ming // 救命

 
Ching drunkenly grabs the bridal bouquet at a lavish wedding.
While above, Ling watches with resentment, jealousy, envy, greed?  We don’t know.
Scattered thriller of threats, paranoia, violence.
Police are indifferent as they are preoccupied with a body parts harvester.
The two ladies are frenemies.  One poor with a dying mother, the other rich with a failing kidney.
Misses Cat III as it tries too hard with too many disconnected plots.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3371181

Saltychikha - 2017 - Russia

Saltychikha - 2017 - 6/10
AKA - The Bloody Duchess // Krovavaya Barinya // Кровавая барыня

From an early age, Darya had been placed (institutionalized) in a convent.
Her mother had been homicidally mad, and the father feared the trait was inherited.
Nevertheless, business competitor want an alliance, a marriage of wealth.
Whereupon Darya is wedded to the troll, not the handsome stud.
Following the first murder, she begins to spiral.

 
True, there are forces moving against her.  Assassination attempts and kidnapping.
She flees to the countryside, then vents her fury and insanity on her serfs.
The woodland witch ingratiates herself; she has grievances against the villagers, as well.

 
Handsome Russian production suffers melodrama at points.
Based on the real Darya Nikolayevna Saltykova who tortured and killed almost 200 servants.

The Marlow Murder Club - 2024 - UK

The Marlow Murder Club - 2024 - 6/10

 
Another variation of female cozy.
Retiree Judith solves murder mysteries in the troubled riverside burg of Marlow.
Suzie and Becks act as Watson to the all-wise Judith.  Police = background props.
60 something Judith swims naked in the Thames, and solutions come.
Writers, please!  The Thames – sewage and feces.  Think!
After a few episodes, police realize how peerless the trio are and enlist them as advisors.
“There is no spoon.”

Thank You For The Ride, Aileen - 2024 - USA

Thank You For The Ride, Aileen - 2024 - 6/10

 
Aileen is a Chicago teacher, on strike, doing ride sharing to survive.
Late at night, it’s a matter of trust.
Neither driver nor rider know the other.
Small talk freights undercurrents.
How lucky are you?
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3371180

Must Read After My Death - 2017 - USA

Must Read After My Death - 2017 - 7/10

 
Allis left behind 300 pages of journals, 50 hours of audio tapes, and 201 home movies.
Detailing a fraying marriage, dysfunctional family, resentments, rages, psychiatry.
Not just for Allis, or roving-eye husband Charley, but the children, too.
Made miserable by their parents, growing up in the turbulent 1960’s.
Doc both engrossing and painful, allowing viewers to place fault.
Bugbear: cars seldom matched years (eg: during the 60’s, videos showed 1940’s creampuff cars).  
Sadly, I could equate some of their children with families I knew.

From one of my essays = “There are times individuals shouldn't be allowed relationships at all.  Pets, friends, children, lovers, spouses.  With the best intentions we maim them all.”

 

The Testament Of Caleb Meeke - 1969 - Ireland

The Testament Of Caleb Meeke - 1969 - 6/10

 
A generous uncle leaves Caleb his mansion (crumbling ruins) and adjoining hills (with buried, restless things).
After exploring a bit, Caleb finds books, including “Account Of The Old Ones” and “Necronomicon”.
Reading draws him deeper into the strange grimoires.
Then the diary from 1756, full of warning about fiends from the bogs and pools and depths of the woods.
Gothic horror from Roy Spence is one of his best efforts.  Well thought and realized.
Like to see the Irish Film Institute give this a full restoration.

Robotrix - 1991 - Hong Kong

Robotrix - 1991 - 6/10
AKA - Nu Ji Xie Ren // 女機械人

 
Scientist Sakamoto, deranged, shifts his consciousness into an android.
From there, he goes on to kidnap, then a spree of rapes and murders.
Who’s gonna stop him?  Female police officers, transferred into female cyborgs.
Fembots, anyone?
Think Robocop with loads of nudity, sex, slathered with sleaze.
Trashy Category III flick, an inspiration for teenage males; robotics builders who will recreate Amy Yip and Chikako Aoyama girlfriends.

Man On The Prowl - 1957 - USA

Man On The Prowl - 1957 - 6/10

 
Doug’s mom wasn’t the best.  Maybe the best drunk.
Worse, she was lazy.  Maybe why she sent him to a mental institution as a child.
Couldn’t be bothered.  Wasn’t her fault Doug turned out the way he did.
Understand, he liked the ladies well enough.
Until they said “No”.  Or, “I’m not that kind of girl.”
Refusing him, reminding him of Mom.  Reason enough to kill.
Then – look for another.  There were plenty of girls.
Cheapie B-Noir of a serial killer.
Actors are all pretty good, but this is James Best’s film, as the smiling, agreeable headcase.

Dear England - 2026 - UK

Dear England - 2026 - 7/10

 
Inspiring adaptation of the West End play into a four-part miniseries.
The tenure of Gareth Southgate as he rebuilds a broken English squad into contenders.
Team building moments, similar to boot camp, without the abusive Drill Instructor.
Also a sport psychologist to help navigate mental and emotional pressures.
Key players profiled, along with important matches.  World Cups and Euro Cups.
Will be enjoyed more by fans or supporters of the game.

House Of Wax - 1953 - USA

House Of Wax - 1953 - 6/10

 
OK remake of Mystery Of The Wax Museum (1933), noteworthy for the 3D effects.
The museum partners have a falling out.  The sculptor is an artist, the manager wants profits.
Before he is murdered by a mysterious assailant.
You can easily guess whodunit and where the plot is going.
Vincent Price, too often a charismatic ham, can make you forget Lionel Atwill.