Malcolm1980's 2022 Review Thread

[malcolm1980]

1/11

Blue Blood (Nino Oxilia) *** - A woman gets divorced from her aristocratic husband. But incriminating photos staged by his mistress causes her to lose custody of their daughter and this leads to a series of unfortunate events. This is an early silent from from Italy and it's really interesting to see how deep, grown-up themes like this are already being tackled by early filmmakers of this era. It's a bit too melodramatic for my taste but Francesca Bertini, a prolific silent Italian actress is terrific in the lead. The third act and the ending in particular is actually really good. Overall, it's a solid drama. The film is available to view on YouTube for interested parties.

[malcolm1980]

1/13

The Sin of Nora Moran (Phil Goldstone) ***1/2 - A woman sits on death row for a crime she did not commit but refuses to tell the truth in order to protect the ones she loves. This is a Pre-code melodrama. I can almost call this a melodrama noir since it does have some elements of film noir in it (it has been called a proto-noir). I always try to look for hidden, obscure gems, deep cuts from the classic era. I would count this as one of them. It is surprisingly quite dark and absolutely heartbreaking in a way that actually stays with you for a while. It features a beautiful performance by Zita Johann. This one's available on YouTube and I highly recommend checking it out.

[malcolm1980]

1/14

Au pan coupe (Guy Gilles) **1/2 - A young woman falls in love with a very sensitive, very melancholy young man. After he, unbeknownst to her, unfortunately dies, she continues to search and reminisce about him. I stumbled upon this French filmmaker named Guy Gilles who seemed to have worked at the same time as the French New Wave but his name is never on the list of French New Wave filmmakers even though his style seems to be influenced by them. This is one of his films. It's a sad story told in a very experimental way with jump cuts and even switching back and forth from black and white and color. It's an interesting exercise with interesting ideas but this time, it never rises above being an interesting exercise and it almost borders on being a parody of an art film. But overall, it's an interesting watch but nothing more than that.

[malcolm1980]

1/15

City That Never Sleeps (John H. Auer) *** - A cop dissatisfied with his job and marriage wants to run away with his stripper mistress and has opportunity to do so involving an illegal mission by a crooked lawyer. This B-noir starring Gig Young is really down and dirty. Knowing about the mores and Code of the era, they really, really pushed the boundaries of this one which makes this an interesting watch. I've seen so many film noirs of this era and this manages to introduce a few more interesting elements and surprises which I've never seen in films of this era before. It becomes predictable in the end but still, it's a good enough watch and a pretty good entry in the genre.


The Matrix Resurrections (Lana Wachowski) *** - The fourth installment of the Matrix franchise has Neo stuck in the Matrix as a famous game designer who made a game called...The Matrix, pining for Trinity and is called upon to save the world again. Did we need another Matrix movie? The answer is no. (I personally didn't even think we needed the previous two sequels). The film itself even knows it. But as fourth installments of franchises go, this is not bad. The film goes into interesting places and introduces some interesting ideas. I liked the meta elements (if anything, I wished it was even MORE meta). It's at least better than the sequels which, admittedly isn't a high bar to clear. Jonathan Groff and Neil Patrick Harris are actually welcome additions to the cast and made the film for me. So overall, it's a solid entertaining sci-fi action picture.

[malcolm1980]

1/16

Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (Ryusuke Hamaguchi) ***1/2 - This is an anthology film consisting of three segments that are sort of kind of but not quite love stories. This is my first dip into the cinema of director Ryusuke Hamaguchi, who's been making waves this past year. This is one of his two films this year responsible of those waves. Like with any anthology film the quality of each of the segments varies. Thankfully, all three of the segments here are pretty great although I do think the first and the third are the best (the second one is still very good but not quite as great as those). But overall, it makes for a great intro into this unique filmmaker who, based on this film alone, is quite different from all his contemporaries. He definitely has something that I'm eager to explore. This is an overall excellent film.

Scandal Sheet (Phil Karlson) ***1/2 - A young and eager-to-please reporter is working to investigate a murder which, as it turns out, was committed by his editor-in-chief. As I was beginning to watch this film, I saw a credit that it was based on a novel written by Samuel Fuller. Even though he has zero involvement beyond that, I can feel his influence all throughout this film and it made the entire film better. Putting it over the top of course is Broderick Crawford as the fast-talking murderous editor-in-chief. He eats up the screen and you can't take your eyes off him (almost kind of like an evil Lou Grant). This is yet another underrated gem, I think that more people should see.

Ascension (Jessica Kingdon) ***1/2 - This is a documentary which takes a good look at what is being called the "Chinese dream" (as opposed to the "American dream") through the lives of the ordinary factory workers and employees in China's burgeoning economy. We often take the label "made in China" for granted. This film takes a good, hard look at what that means as we see the actual lives of the actual people. The film is eye-opening and doesn't pass judgement on its subject matter but allows viewers to reach to their own conclusions. The filmmaker does it through some visuals and montages that are reminiscent of the Qatsi trilogy or The Man With the Camera. This is an Oscar semi-finalist and is worth a look.

The Bandit (Alberto Lattuada) *** - A man returns to his hometown after being a POW, finding his mother dead, his sister a prostitute and his life in shambles. So he turns to a life of crime. This film from director Alberto Lattuada is an interesting blend of the elements of both film noir and Italian neorealism. Although all throughout the film, the blend is hit or miss but when it does hit, it hits really, really strong. The ending in particular is quite effective. The actors are all excellent including Anna Magnani who plays the femme fatale, pretty much the polar opposite of her character in Rome, Open City which goes to show how awesome she is. It's not quite a masterpiece but it's a solid crime drama.

[malcolm1980]

1/18

A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora's Box (Jeffrey Lau) *** - This is the first part of a two-part film about a reincarnated Monkey King and his quest to find the Longevity Monk after being banished from Heaven by a goddess. This is a Hong Kong martial-arts-fantasy-comedy. I have to say, I was not 100 percent sure what the hell was going on exactly half the time. I'm all like, "Who are these? Why is that lady turning into a spider? So what's the deal with the guy with the bull head?" This is a crazy picture. But it is very entertaining and somehow the blending of slapstick comedy while taking the fantasy elements seriously works. That said, this is just one half of the saga. I haven't seen the second so my rating might change. But as it is, it is a fun film and it stars Stephen Chow so you know you're in for something.

[malcolm1980]

1/20

A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: Cinderella (Jeffrey Lau) *** - The second part and conclusion of the two-part saga that continues the journey of Joker, the reincarnated Monkey King as he pursues his true love. Once again, this film is a combination of martial arts, fantasy and broad comedy. And once again, I have to admit that I got lost with all wacky and twisty fantastical turns this story takes that I had to consult Wikipedia so I can truly follow what exactly is going on. And again, despite that, it was still pretty entertaining. Overall, this two part film didn't blow me away but it's a fun, entertaining, well-mounted piece of work for fans of the genre. Oh and both parts are on Netflix.

[malcolm1980]

1/22

Ella Cinders (Alfred E. Green) *** - This is a modern-day comedic adaptation of Cinderella. It has the title character a young woman stuck serving her cruel stepmother and stepsisters wanting to escape her predicament but instead of going to the ball to meet a prince, she wants to try and be a movie star. This is a silent comedy film and it stars a woman. I do believe this is the first time I've seen that happen. Colleen Moore is wonderful as the lead titular character. She is genuinely funny and charming and you will break into a smile, at least when you see here. Overall, it's a good but not great.

TINY: The Life of Erin Blackwell (Martin Bell) ***1/2 - Last year, I saw the documentary, Streetwise, a film about kids who are out in the street and it is quite frankly, one of the best documentaries I have ever seen ever. This is the sequel of sort and it follows up on one of the kids of that film in her present day life. Is it as good as the first one? No. But then again, very few things are since it's such a groundbreaking documentary. This is merely a solid one but it's worth watching just the same. It layers on the themes explored in the first film and makes it even more resonant. Yes, check this one out but not before watching the first one.

House of Gucci (Ridley Scott) **1/2 - This is the true story behind the circumstances which led to the murder-for-hire Maurizio Gucci by his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani as well as the fall of the various members of the Gucci family. I found this film a bit disappointing because the trailer made it look like it was going to be kind of a campy, pulpy fun, maybe even darkly humorous crime picture. But director Ridley Scott mostly played it as a straight drama which, by and large, wasn't the right fit. There are elements here and there which could have been made more compelling by a director with a better handle for the material. The performances are, let's say, all over the place. Lady Gaga and Adam Driver are good while Al Pacino is probably my favorite performance from the lot. Jared Leto, yes, is laughably bad. I don't believe for one second he's playing an actual character. Yeah, even with Ridley Scott's hit-and-miss filmography, this is not one of his best.

Remorque (Stormy Waters) (Jean Gremillon) ***1/2 - A tugboat captain falls in love with a woman whom he rescued once even though she's married and he's got a sick wife. One of the things I find surprising about this film is that you never lose your sympathy for either of the adulterous couple even though you should. It helps to have an excellent script and a good cast led by Jean Gabin. The film also features some remarkable special effects for the time during the stormy weather sequences. The ending in particular is also beautifully haunting. This is probably my favorite film from director Jean Gremillon so far.

[malcolm1980]

1/23

A Hero (Ashgar Farhadi) ***1/2 - A man, on furlough from jail for unpaid debts, finds a bag of gold and returns it to the owner and becomes a viral hero on the Internet. But of course, things will not always go well for him. The worst thing I can say about this film is that it's not as great as his master work A Separation (granted, few things are) or even his previous Oscar winner, The Salesman. But it is still a thought-provoking look into the double-edged sword of being viral and Internet notoriety. The intelligent script gives the audience a lot to chew on. The setting may be in Iran but a lot of the themes being talked about are universal. It is compelling drama but it's also a fascinating look at how the Internet has affected our lives and our moral fiber. An excellent picture.

The Big Steal (Don Siegel) ***1/2 - An American military officer, falsely charged with stealing the Army's payroll money, tries to chase the real thief across Mexico. The words "fun" and "film noir" do not usually go together. But this time, somehow it does. This is a pretty fun basically a chase movie with some genuinely great chase scenes. Robert Mitchum also injects some humor into the proceedings alongside his leading lady Jane Greer who gets caught with the entire thing. It becomes a more traditional film noir in the end but overall, the film is a really good, entertaining ride. Definitely one of the more surprising discoveries.

This Is Not A Burial, It's a Resurrection (Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese) ***1/2 - After losing her husband, daughter and grandchild, an elderly woman plans her funeral. This is a film from the African country of Lesotho. Suffice to say, this is the first film from that country I've ever seen. It's a stunner. I wish I had seen this in the big screen. There are shots here that are achingly beautiful. It serves as a backdrop to this story of a woman consumed by grief and is saddened by the changes that's been going on in her tiny village. The film is a slow-burn immersive experience. The film's slow pace and unconventional structure may not be for everyone but unforgettable for people who allow themselves to fall under its spell. Worth a look.

Charles, Dead or Alive (Alain Tanner) **1/2 - After being interviewed for the 100th anniversary of his family business, a man has a bit of nervous breakdown then runs off to live with a Bohemian couple. This film from Switzerland has some interesting and intriguing ideas but none of it really fleshes out in a particularly meaningful way. The lead character is kind of dull and uninteresting so I never was particularly invested in his plight which made this a bit of a chore to watch. It picks up a bit when he meets the aforementioned couple but that also doesn't go anywhere. There is something in there that's worth exploring but it only skims by it.

[malcolm1980]

1/25

Parole, Inc. (Alfred Zeisler) **1/2 - A police detective goes undercover to bust a criminal operation that involves bribing parole board members to hasten the release of criminals. I have to say, I kind of find the main conceit to be reeking of "copganda" and the notion that people should be "tough on crime", etc., a message, in light of certain recent events, I find troubling to say the least. But putting that aside, the film itself is pretty much standard B-noir stuff with a kind of a mediocre script. The performances are fine, nothing special here. But the film does manage to entertain and tell a complete story in 70 minutes so fans of the genre could find some value in this. So I would classify this as for fans only.