An undercover agent investigates the link between the activities of a cattle rustling gang and the commerce of silver. All this occurs in 19th century Arizona just before it gains the status of State of the Union.
Routine B-Western, with some degree of watchability.
Rating: 31
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Mickey One (1965)
A Detroit stand-up comedian owes money to the local Mob and runs to Chicago where he hides under a new identity.
On first viewing it seemed a little uneven, but it can be said without fear of error that it is very well filmed (and equally well scored). Possible imperfections aside, this is a successful study of the psychology of the pursued man, with some hinted allusions to deeper metaphysical themes that I don't fully understand. There seems to be a reference to the Catholic doctrine of the original sin when the girl asks Mickey what he is guilty of, and he answers "of not being innocent". At this article, there are some literary references, but since I haven't read the cited sources, I am still somewhat in the dark. For those who don't care much for these extra dimensions, the film is enjoyable for its set-pieces (the car-wrecking site, the gizmo show, and others) and its general atmosphere and dark humor.
Rating: 65
On first viewing it seemed a little uneven, but it can be said without fear of error that it is very well filmed (and equally well scored). Possible imperfections aside, this is a successful study of the psychology of the pursued man, with some hinted allusions to deeper metaphysical themes that I don't fully understand. There seems to be a reference to the Catholic doctrine of the original sin when the girl asks Mickey what he is guilty of, and he answers "of not being innocent". At this article, there are some literary references, but since I haven't read the cited sources, I am still somewhat in the dark. For those who don't care much for these extra dimensions, the film is enjoyable for its set-pieces (the car-wrecking site, the gizmo show, and others) and its general atmosphere and dark humor.
Rating: 65
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sky High (2005)
The children of superheroes attend a special school; those students whose superpowers are considered important are placed as the elite of the school while the others are trained to be their assistants.
While some of it is derivative and cliché, some intelligence can be found in the script. And it is well made.
Saw it dubbed in Portuguese.
Rating: 50
While some of it is derivative and cliché, some intelligence can be found in the script. And it is well made.
Saw it dubbed in Portuguese.
Rating: 50
The Dizzy Acrobat (1943)
Woody wants to watch a circus show and is barred by an usher.
Saw it dubbed in Portuguese.
Saw it dubbed in Portuguese.
The Reckless Driver (1946)
Woody is reminded by an outdoor sign that his driver's license must be renewed. Wally is in charge of the tests and a conflict establishes between him and Woody.
Saw it dubbed in Portuguese.
Saw it dubbed in Portuguese.
Solid Ivory (1947)
Woody is playing pool and one of the balls falls out of the table into a chicken's nest. The latter thinks it's one of her eggs.
Saw it dubbed in Portuguese.
Saw it dubbed in Portuguese.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Chinjeolhan geumjassi (2005)
English title: Sympathy for Lady Vengeance.A woman serves time in prison for the kidnapping and murder of a boy. She is innocent and after she is released she will seek vengeance against the men who put her in that situation.
Even for those who have sympathy for Mr. Park's bizarre mannerisms, this may come off as pretty uninspired and even haphazard at times.
Rating: 20
Only You (1994)
As a girl, Faith asked a Ouija Board for the name of her soulmate and it somehow produced one. Now an adult, and about to get married, she hears that name again and chases its owner all the way to Italy.
Weak story and weak screenplay.
Rating: 20
Weak story and weak screenplay.
Rating: 20
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Place of Shadows (1956) (TV)
Man travels to a monastery seeking revenge against another man who took refuge there after having stolen his money.
A weaker episode; still, it's easy to watch, like the rest of the series.
A weaker episode; still, it's easy to watch, like the rest of the series.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Safe Conduct (1956) (TV)
A journalist on a train leaving East Germany gets involved with a soccer player's weird machinations.
Good episode, ingenious and engaging.
Good episode, ingenious and engaging.
Ladybugs (1992)
A man accepts from his boss the task of coaching a girls' soccer team; he puts his stepson -- in drag -- in the team to give it a boost.
Weak comedy which nevertheless has some good one-liners and one or two interesting sequences.
Rating: 35
Weak comedy which nevertheless has some good one-liners and one or two interesting sequences.
Rating: 35
Efter brylluppet (2006)
English title: After the Wedding.
A charity worker in India has to travel to his native Denmark for an important meeting with a prospective donor. He is then invited to a wedding. During the ceremony some facts are disclosed which lead him to think he is there by design.
Superior melodrama, which benefits from a superb ensemble of actors, doubtlessly very well directed.
Rating: 69
A charity worker in India has to travel to his native Denmark for an important meeting with a prospective donor. He is then invited to a wedding. During the ceremony some facts are disclosed which lead him to think he is there by design.
Superior melodrama, which benefits from a superb ensemble of actors, doubtlessly very well directed.
Rating: 69
Un mauvais fils (1980)
English title: A Bad Son.
After serving a drug-related prison sentence in the U.S., young man returns to France and reestablishes a link with his father. During his absence, his mother died after a long period of depression.
This is a film without concessions to melodrama, and with no comic relief; it's basically life as a prison cell. The father-son relationship is the stronger side of the film, with very interesting nuances and a marvelous performance by Yves Robert. On the other hand, I found the protagonist's love relationship to be unconvincing and badly done in some aspects. To begin with, it's hardly credible that a government program of rehabilitation and reinsertion would place two former drug addicts close to each other; also, I don't see how he would fall instantly in love with a woman who treats him coldly and has no exceptionally attractive physical traits.
Rating: 58
After serving a drug-related prison sentence in the U.S., young man returns to France and reestablishes a link with his father. During his absence, his mother died after a long period of depression.
This is a film without concessions to melodrama, and with no comic relief; it's basically life as a prison cell. The father-son relationship is the stronger side of the film, with very interesting nuances and a marvelous performance by Yves Robert. On the other hand, I found the protagonist's love relationship to be unconvincing and badly done in some aspects. To begin with, it's hardly credible that a government program of rehabilitation and reinsertion would place two former drug addicts close to each other; also, I don't see how he would fall instantly in love with a woman who treats him coldly and has no exceptionally attractive physical traits.
Rating: 58
Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
Freddy Kruger (from "A Nightmare on Elm Street") uses Jason Voorhees (from "Friday the 13th") to become stronger (watch it to know how).
Rather silly as a concept, yet the result is watchable, sort of.
Rating: 30
Rather silly as a concept, yet the result is watchable, sort of.
Rating: 30
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Out for Justice (1991)
A cop goes after the man who killed his friend -- also a cop -- and who is now killing people for no reason under the effect of drugs.
Violent thriller, brutal and not very interesting.
Rating: 30
Saw it dubbed in Portuguese.
Violent thriller, brutal and not very interesting.
Rating: 30
Saw it dubbed in Portuguese.
Tchao pantin (1983)
A middle-aged gas station attendant befriends a young drug dealer. When the latter is killed by another dealer, the former sets out to avenge him.
A poor screenplay.
Rating: 31
A poor screenplay.
Rating: 31
Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
Back in the 80s, a U.S. congressman engages himself in the plight for funding the Afghan resistance against the Soviet invaders.
This story is not as interesting as it purports to be; also, it has few intrinsically cinematic virtues. From the political angle, it has a basic ideological slant which is perfectly expressed in the title itself. Were it named "Joanne Herring's War" it would be truer to fact. For those with a capacity to see beneath the surface, the film hints at how money dictates U.S. politics.
Rating: 61
This story is not as interesting as it purports to be; also, it has few intrinsically cinematic virtues. From the political angle, it has a basic ideological slant which is perfectly expressed in the title itself. Were it named "Joanne Herring's War" it would be truer to fact. For those with a capacity to see beneath the surface, the film hints at how money dictates U.S. politics.
Rating: 61
2046 (2004)
A man gets involved with several women but has a secret inner pain which prevents him from committing to any one of them.
This film has a tendency towards hollow aestheticism; the "science-fiction" angle doesn't work at all.
Rating: 35
This film has a tendency towards hollow aestheticism; the "science-fiction" angle doesn't work at all.
Rating: 35
El orfanato (2007)
English title: The Orphanage.
A kid wich had several imaginary friends goes missing. Some clues point to the orphanage where he lived before being adopted.
This supernatural tale fails to excite or thrill.
Rating: 27
A kid wich had several imaginary friends goes missing. Some clues point to the orphanage where he lived before being adopted.
This supernatural tale fails to excite or thrill.
Rating: 27
Les barbouzes (1964)
English title: The Great Spy Chase.
Following an arms dealer's death, government agents from several countries gather at the widow's castle in an attempt to seize some secret documents concerning nuclear weapons.
Unfunny comedy.
Rating: 31
Following an arms dealer's death, government agents from several countries gather at the widow's castle in an attempt to seize some secret documents concerning nuclear weapons.
Unfunny comedy.
Rating: 31
Friday, August 08, 2008
Urban Cowboy (1980)
Bud moves from a small town to a big one. His uncle gets him a job in the same company he works at. They go out at night and Bud meets a girl. When a mechanical bull is installed at the bar, it's a big hit, but also a factor of conflict.
This film has good moments and is mostly easy to watch. The plot is somewhat silly at times.
Rating: 50
This film has good moments and is mostly easy to watch. The plot is somewhat silly at times.
Rating: 50
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Messenger of Death (1988)
The murder of the wives and children of a traditionalist Mormon man puts an investigative journalist on the trail of a Mormon family feud and also of some economic interests over a piece of land belonging to one of them.
Basically routine policier, which is watchable and quite probably won't last in my memory for long.
Rating: 36
Basically routine policier, which is watchable and quite probably won't last in my memory for long.
Rating: 36
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Ice Princess (2005)
A teenage girl is advised by her teacher to pursue a Physics career; her mother is very pleased with that idea, but what the girl really likes to do is ice skating. She tries to bring the two activities together in her essay for the scholarship, a study of the biomechanics of figure skating.
For a teenage movie this is very reasonable.
Saw it dubbed in Portuguese.
Rating: 51
For a teenage movie this is very reasonable.
Saw it dubbed in Portuguese.
Rating: 51
Monday, August 04, 2008
Fort Yuma (1955)
An army outfit is transporting some ammunition to a Fort, unaware that the Apache got word of it and is planning to attack them and steal the ammunition. There are further complications as the leader of the outfit is having an affair with the scoutsman's Native-American sister. A missionary woman who comes along with them takes an interest in the scoutsman.
Below average western, which means barely watchable stuff.
Rating: 32
Below average western, which means barely watchable stuff.
Rating: 32
Le septième juré (1962)
English title: The Seventh Juror.
Based on the novel by Francis Didelot (1st ed. 1958).
From Wikipédia (translated from the French): "On a hot Sunday in September, Duval, an honest historiless pharmacist of Pontarlier, yielding to a sudden urge, throws himself at a young woman who is sunbathing at a lakeshore. She screams and he strangles her. The woman's lover, Sylvain Sautral, is accused of the murder. But then Duval is appointed juror at the young man's trial."
Compelling drama about small towns and their morality, and also about how the choices we make in youth may lead us to personal dead-ends. The film makes masterful use of voice-over, and has a memorable performance by Bernard Blier, amid a fine cast.
Rating: 66
Based on the novel by Francis Didelot (1st ed. 1958).
From Wikipédia (translated from the French): "On a hot Sunday in September, Duval, an honest historiless pharmacist of Pontarlier, yielding to a sudden urge, throws himself at a young woman who is sunbathing at a lakeshore. She screams and he strangles her. The woman's lover, Sylvain Sautral, is accused of the murder. But then Duval is appointed juror at the young man's trial."
Compelling drama about small towns and their morality, and also about how the choices we make in youth may lead us to personal dead-ends. The film makes masterful use of voice-over, and has a memorable performance by Bernard Blier, amid a fine cast.
Rating: 66
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Le chemin des écoliers (1959)
English title: Way of Youth.
Based on the novel by Marcel Aymé (1st ed. 1946).
A young man makes a lot of money in the black market in Paris in 1943. His parents know nothing about his illegal activities.
Bittersweet look at the Occupation. The story is full of unexpected (and entertaining) turns, and of funny situations. In the fine cast, the highlights are provided by Bourvil and, in a smalller role, Lino Ventura, two actors I am very fond of.
The version I saw was 78 minutes long; according to the Internet Movie Database there is a 90 minutes version.
Rating: 64
Based on the novel by Marcel Aymé (1st ed. 1946).
A young man makes a lot of money in the black market in Paris in 1943. His parents know nothing about his illegal activities.
Bittersweet look at the Occupation. The story is full of unexpected (and entertaining) turns, and of funny situations. In the fine cast, the highlights are provided by Bourvil and, in a smalller role, Lino Ventura, two actors I am very fond of.
The version I saw was 78 minutes long; according to the Internet Movie Database there is a 90 minutes version.
Rating: 64
The Order (2003)
Alternate title: The Sin Eater.
A young priest goes to Rome to investigate the death of his mentor, and finds out about a strange "sin eating" ritual.
Not worth any comments, really.
Rating: 5
A young priest goes to Rome to investigate the death of his mentor, and finds out about a strange "sin eating" ritual.
Not worth any comments, really.
Rating: 5
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Perdoa-me por Me Traíres (1983)
Based on the play by Nelson Rodrigues (1st performance 1957).
Two stories with interconnected characters: (1) an adolescent girl is taken to a brothel by her best friend who is a prostitute at that place; (2) a man has an obsessive jealousy of his wife and asks to be committed in an institution.
An interesting text in an adequate adaptation, well directed and well acted. Some nudity and sex scenes are out of place and are obviously a concession to audience's tastes, but that doesn't seriously compromise the film.
I saw a 87-minute-long version, which seemed to be missing important scenes, although I can't be sure about it. The length of the film is generally given as 101 minutes, which further indicates the presence of cuts in the version I saw.
Rating: 58
Two stories with interconnected characters: (1) an adolescent girl is taken to a brothel by her best friend who is a prostitute at that place; (2) a man has an obsessive jealousy of his wife and asks to be committed in an institution.
An interesting text in an adequate adaptation, well directed and well acted. Some nudity and sex scenes are out of place and are obviously a concession to audience's tastes, but that doesn't seriously compromise the film.
I saw a 87-minute-long version, which seemed to be missing important scenes, although I can't be sure about it. The length of the film is generally given as 101 minutes, which further indicates the presence of cuts in the version I saw.
Rating: 58
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