The Wire, The Dark Night Rises, Criss Cross, The Killers, and Film Forum’s Universal 100th Anniversary Festival on Monday Morning Diary (September 23)

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The Wire, The Dark Night Rises, Criss Cross, The Killers, and Film Forum’s Universal 100th Anniversary Festival on Monday Morning Diary (September 23)

July 23, 2012 by wondersinthedark

Burt Lancaster in Robert Siodmak’s masterpiece “Criss Cross,” one of the greatest film noirs of all-time

by Sam Juliano

The comedy countdown draws nearer, with an opening salvo scheduled for Monday, August 6th courtesy of Sydney native Tony d’Ambra, who also provided the fantastic sidebar banner. Other site friends and visitors are urged to insert the banner at their own sites, if such a procedure is manageable. It would of course be greatly appreciated. The first week (Nos. 100 through 96) will also feature essays from “J.D.” of Radiator Heaven, Shubhajit Laheri of Cinemascope, and both Allan and I. The second week, commencing on August 13th with Nos. 95 through 91, will feature two essays from our Chilean college student wunderkind Jaimie Grijalba, one from veteran Treadway, one from our own Jamie Uhler, and another by Allan.

The events in Colorado are sickening beyond words, and some of us have shared our feelings by e mail. As movie-goers we can further connect with the utter senselessness and depravity of such barbaric acts, planned and hatched in one of our prime cultural havens. The families must now undergo unconscionable grief and agony. While temperatures have fallen to tolerable levels in the northeast, and some much-needed precipitation has consorted to cool things off further, reports from the mid-west continue to confirm some oppressive heed in some areas.

I have finally begun to take a look at some recent American television shows that have won the highest praise from the “inner circle” and have moved to acquire blu-ray sets of Deadwood, Breaking Bad and Rome, as well as DVD sets of Carnival and The Wire. I have now watched the first half of the first season of The Wire, and will have much more to say on future Diarys. I plan on watching the entire run before the summer is out, and will tackle some of the others purchased. The one other show I will be moving to acquire (one that a number of people at the site have praised on Diary threads is Mad Men.

The Film Forum’s four-week “Universal 100th Anniversary” Festival continue in full force, and Lucille and I and several of the kids were in attendance for three sessions during the seven-day span of the Diary. We saw only one new release, which all things considered is the one most of America has now seen: The Dark Night Rises, directed by Christopher Nolan.

We saw:

The Dark Night Rises *** 1/2 (Friday afternoon) Secaucus multiplex

Criss Cross ***** (Thursday night) Universal at Film Forum

The Killers **** 1/2 (Thursday night) Universal at Film Forum

Magnificent Obsession (Stahl) *** 1/2 (Tuesday night) Univ. at Film Forum

Imitation of Life (Stahl) **** 1/2 (Tuesday night) Univ. at Film Forum

Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein**** 1/2 (Sunday) Univ. at Film Forum

The Bank Dick **** (Sunday) Universal at Film Forum

THE DARK NIGHT RISES was slow to get untracked and after about an hour I was figuring the same old, same old, but director Christopher Nolan suffused the progressively tense superhero film with compelling does of gloom and angst and some arresting set pieces that brought the final chapter in the trilogy to a worthy enough conclusion, one that properly focused on the Batman Christian Bale character. Not quite the equal of THE DARK KNIGHT, but within a half star. Still I doubt a few weeks from now if much of this will resonate. The film will always bring the gruesome memories of the tragedy in Colorado for nearly everyone, I’m sure.

I am finally convinced that the noir masterwork CRISS CROSS is Robert Siodmak’s masterpiece (Lancaster and DeCarlo are extraordinary, and the stunning black and white expressionistic photography rates among the best of it’s kind) but this is a dark and fatalist film in the Lang tradition that gives a new meaning to the term “double cross.” Based on Hemingway’s THE KILLERS, the film of the same name isn’t always easy to follow, but it again features the team of Siodmak and Lancaster, in a film about the irreversible underpinnings of fate in an existential brew negotiated by a labyrinthine plot that superbly utilizes the flashback. Acting and writing are of teh top-rank, and the film straddles the masterpiece level.

John Stahl’s IMITATION OF LIFE is better than the Sirk re-make that will be screening on Wednesday night, but Stahl’s MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION falls short of the later Sirk version screening sometime next week at this same festival. Both ABBOT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN and W.C. Fields’ THE BANK DICK never fail to entertain no matter how many times one has seen them.

Candlelight vigil for movie theatre shooting victims in Aurora, Colorado

I managed to update a good number of links:

Tony d’Ambra has penned a superlative essay on 1953′s “The Bigamist”, a film for which he applies the term ‘shades of grey’ at FilmsNoir.net: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/the-bigamist-1953-shades-of-grey.html

Judy Geater has penned a terrific review on Hitchcock’s ‘The Ring’ and the BFI’s retrospective on the master director at Movie Classics: http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/the-ring-alfred-hitchcock-1927-and-the-bfis-hitchcock-retrospective/

The always fecund Jon Warner has penned another exceptional essay on the work of pioneer D.W. Griffith at Films Worth Watching with his leading piece on “Way Down East”(1920): http://filmsworthwatching.blogspot.com/2012/07/way-down-east-1920-directed-by-dw.html

John Greco has penned a fantastic essay on the renowned noir classic “Touch of Evil” at Twenty Four Frames: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/touch-of-evil-1958-orson-welles/

As always, the gifted social leader Laurie Buchanan offers up a telling post on anger management at Speaking From The Heart: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/removing-self-from-the-anger-equation/

Samuel Wilson has again raised the bar with his spectacular essay on “The Dark Knight Rises” at Mondo 70: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2012/07/on-big-screen-dark-knight-rises-2012.html

Marilyn Ferdinand has penned a fascinating and superlatively written essay on film preservation, digital projection and the Chicago Film Society at Ferdy-on-Films that well deserves a look-see: http://wp.me/p16NRb-3Yj.

Murderous Ink at Vermilion and One Nights announces the passing at age 95 of the great Japanese actress Isuzu Yamada: http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2012/07/isuzu-yamada-1917-2012.html

Shubhajit Laheri has posted one of his brilliantly-written capsules reviews at Cinemascope on “The Manchurian Candidate”: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2012/07/manchurian-candidate-1962.html

Terrill Welch talks about the significance of blog writing and reading at the Creativepotager’s blog, where she again features another magnificent painting she completed: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/does-anyone-read-blogs-and-does-it-matter-that-you-write/

Jaimie Grijalba has posted the ninth film in his stupendous series of Chilean cinema at Exodus: 8:2: http://exodus8-2.blogspot.com/2012/07/cine-chileno-del-2012-9-las-mujeres-del.html

Joel Bocko’s latest post is a superlatively-penned essay on Spade and Marlowe, private eyes at The Dancing Image: http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2012/06/spade-marlowe-private-eyes-maltese.html

Shubhajit Laheri has written another splendid capsule at Cinemascope, leading the way with his piece on “The Manchurian Candidate”: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2012/07/manchurian-candidate-1962.html

Ed Howard has written a master class review on Francois Truffaut’s beautiful “Two English Girls” at Only The Cinema: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2012/07/two-english-girls.html

Sachin Gandhi’s ‘Euro 2012′ has wound down, with some noted cinematic vehicles crossing the finish line at Scribbles and Ramblings: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2012/06/euro-2012-final.html

At The Movie Projector the incomparable R.D. Finch, who just completed stewardship of one of the net’s greatest-ever projects on William Wyler, the Maestro has written a stupendous piece on two vital Wyler wartime documentaries: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2012/06/complete-reality-war-documentaries-of.htm

Murderous Ink at Vermilion and One Nights takes a probing look at Hiroshima and the great director Kaneto Shindo, who passed on at age 100 a weeks back: http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2012/07/sakura-tai-chiru-1988.html

Roderick Heath has posted a terrific new review on “Chronicle” at This Island Rod: http://thisislandrod.blogspot.com/2012/07/chronicle-2012.html

David Schleicher features ‘Trailer Park Art in the Master” at The Schleicher Spin: http://theschleicherspin.com/2012/07/21/trailer-park-art-in-the-master/

At Patricia’s Wisdom, our very good friend has penned a fascinating review of a book focusing on the ‘feminist mystique’ in the 1960′s: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2012/07/a-strange-stirring-the-feminine-mystique-and-american-women-at-the-the-dawn-of-the-1960s-stephanie-coontz/

J. D. at Radiator Heaven takes a meaningful look at “Good Morning Vietnam”: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2012/07/good-morning-vietnam.html

Jaime Grijalba takes a penetrating look at the Chilean film “Efectos Especiales” at Exodus 8:2, which he considers a flat-out masterpiece. Grijalba writes here with much passion: http://exodus8-2.blogspot.com/2012/06/cine-chileno-del-2012-7-efectos.html

Adam Zanzie has crafted a passionate defense of Oliver Stone’s “Savages” at Icebox Movies: http://www.iceboxmovies.blogspot.com/2012/07/oliver-stones-savages-is-powerfully.html

Jason Marshall has written a buffo piece on Claude Rains, his #1 choice for Best Supporting Actor in “Casablanca” at Movies Over Matter: http://moviesovermatter.com/2012/07/12/apparently-youre-the-only-one-in-casablanca-with-less-scruples-than-i-claude-rains-best-supporting-actor-of-1942/

Craig Kennedy reviews the new blu-ray/DVD combo pack of the critically-praised but mutilated ”Margaret” at Living in Cinema: http://livingincinema.com/2012/07/10/margaret-directors-cut-lands-on-dvd/

Peter Lenihan has posted an arresting screen cap display of Murnau’s “Phantom” at The Long Voyage Home: http://thelongvoyagehome.blogspot.com/

At Doodad Kind of Town Pat Perry’s splendid contribution to the For the Love of Film Preservation blogothon is on Hitch’s “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”: http://doodadkindoftown.blogspot.com/2012/05/hitch-does-rom-com-for-love-of-film.html

Just Another Film Buff has penned a terrific capsule on Satoshi Kon’s 1997 “Perfect Blue” at The Seventh Art: http://theseventhart.info/2012/05/19/ellipsis-61/

At The Blue Vial Drew McIntosh leads up with “off the Wall” which brings “Silver Load” and the great John Alton into focus: http://thebluevial.blogspot.com/2012/06/off-wall.html

At The Last Lullaby, the ever delightful filmmaker Jeffrey Goodman takes a look at part sixteen of his long running quartet series: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2012/04/favorite-four-part-sixteen.html

Stephen Russell-Gebbett at Checking on my Sausages again offers up a briiliantly creative feature, using the upcoming Olympics to survey films revolving around a number of sports covered in the games: http://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/2012/07/film-olympics-archery-to-judo.html

Tony Dayoub takes a look at the summer’s Barnes and Boble 50% off sale for Criterion collectots at Cinema Viewfinder: http://www.cinemaviewfinder.com/2012/07/criterion-summer.html

Greg Ferrara at Cinema Styles talks about the Colorado shootings in a moving feature: http://cinemastyles.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-dark-knight-shooting-in-colorado.html

A notable artistic collaboration leads the way at Michael Harford’s heartening Coffee Messiah’s blog: http://coffeemessiah.blogspot.com/2012/05/collaborations.html

Jeopardy Girl talks about social changes of movie watching in her latest posting at The Continuing Saga of Jeopardy Girl: http://jeopardygirl.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/social/

Hokahey has penned a terrific takedown of “Battleship” at Little Worlds: http://hokahey-littleworlds.blogspot.com/2012/05/boom.html

At The Cooler Jason Bellamy and Ed Howard discuss two-time Cannes winner Michael Haneke for the latest phenomenal ‘Conversations’ dialogue: http://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2012/05/conversations-michael-haneke.html

Dave Van Poppel has a tremendous batch of short reviews up at Visions of Non Fiction on the Toronto Film Festival: http://visionsofnonfiction.blogspot.com

Posted in Uncategorized | 83 Comments

83 Responses

on July 23, 2012 at 3:14 am | Reply Dave Hicks

Sam,

I’ll get in with a reply on a Sunday night before I go to bed. I am still very envious of you getting to see those two Siodmak masterpieces on the big screen. And as I already told you, I am also very happy to know that you have finally come to your senses and realized that Criss Cross is the best film of Siodmak’s career!

I watched a lot of movies this week…actually a pretty varied list, which kept things interesting. I was happy to be able to find the time for some mini-marathons and took full advantage! With the exception of the last two I mention, all are first-time viewings.

War of the Worlds (Steven Spielberg) – Far, far better than I expected coming into it. Between this, A.I., Munich and Minority Report, Spielberg had a spectacular decade in the 2000s. A 4/5 (albeit a weaker 4) type film for me.

Pale Flower (Masahiro Shinoda) – Picked up this criterion at the Barnes & Noble sale and was glad I went with the blind buy on this one. It might be the best Japanese crime drama I have seen, honestly. It is really stylish, immediately reminiscent of a Melville-type film, which as anybody who is familiar with my tastes knows, is right up my alley. A wonderful film.

Intimidation (Koreyoshi Kurahara) – Another Japanese noir, this one from 1960. This honestly might be one of the tightest movies I’ve ever seen – it clocks in at just 65 minutes but feels like it accomplishes so much. This, along with Pale Flower, definitely made me interested in finally working my way through the number of Japense noirs that I have and simply haven’t gotten to yet.

Avatar (James Cameron) – Believe it or not, I had never seen this until this week. Can’t say I was really a fan. Every character felt like an archetype, which meant that the story, and each character’s reaction to it, were all too predictable. I normally appreciate most all of Cameron’s work, but I don’t think I will be revisiting this one. Sam, I know its a personal favorite of yours, so I apologize! LOL

The Immortal Story (Orson Welles) – A unique effort from Welles. Initially, at least, I came away with feelings similar to those I felt after watching The Lady From Shanghai – this is either a very good film or a very a bad one. And like my assessment of Shanghai, I feel confident in saying that this is a very good film, one that asks for repeat viewings.

A Better Tomorrow (John Woo) – Of all of the Hong Kong action/triad movies I have seen, only Infernal Affairs II tops this one for me. This is a great action movie, and at this point I would have to say it is my favorite that I have seen from John Woo. Crazy action shootouts meeting sometimes over-the-top melodrama, but the combination is well-executed.

Two-Lane Blacktop (Monte Hellman) – The other purchase I made at the Criterion B&N sale. First of all, Criterion did an amazing job on this offering and it is a great package. As for the movie itself, I have been thinking about it ever since I watched it. It’s a real “creeper” type of film, the way the story sticks with you and can creep up over time. This is a lonely, loneley movie telling a very lonely tale. But it has stuck with me, kept me thinking, which is usually the sign of a movie that will only increase my estimation on repeat viewings.

Talk Radio (Oliver Stone) – The first 20-odd minutes are just so crisp, but things became a bit too monotonous. Bogosian’s performance is a powerhouse, and based on it alone this film needs to be seen, but I honestly feel like it could have lost a 1/4 of its running its time and actually been more effective. Mid-level Stone in my opinion, but still intriguing in spots.

Yellow Earth (Chen Kaige) – My first experience with Chen Kaige, definitely has me interested in further exploring his work. I viewed a copy of horrible quality, which makes me think I might have been missing out a bit, but I could still appreciate the film.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (Joseph Sargent) – An expertly-crafted thriller. It’s influence onto later films like Speed and Reservoir Dogs is obvious, and while I am a fan of both of those later films, neither is as well-paced as this one.

The Sound of Music (Robert Wise) – Just not my cup of tea. There are only a few musicals that I would say I truly love (The Sound of Music and The Band Wagon), so it was an uphill battle from the start for this one!

Assault on Precinct 13 (John Carpenter) – While I am not of the opinion that this one is the underrated masterpiece that many whose opinions I trust say that it is…that being said, it’s still a tight, entertaining thriller. Yeah, the Rio Bravo influence is obvious, but nowhere near a rip-off or remake, IMO. All-around solid.

The Good Shepherd (Robert De Niro) – I had been led to believe that this was a complete bomb of a film, but I gotta be honest…I loved it. Thought it was a wonderfully depiction of spies and espionage types doing their work as it is most likely done – not via shootouts and daring assassinations, but at exclusive gatherings, secretive telephone calls, etc. Reviews that I read complained about characters feeling detached, but I think that is precisely the point. The Matt Damon character truly is detached – from everything. The film is examining what happens when a man’s entire existence – his only real justification for his life – is based on lies. Is it enough for him to depend solely on his country as the justification for his actions? One of the more underrated from the last decade, IMO.

I also revisited both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight on blu-rays I picked up for cheap this week. I had seen both of them once before, but honestly did not remember them all that well so it was nice to see them again. I am not much for comic book movies, but these both work very well for me because of the dark, noirish city and atmosphere that Nolan creates. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed them, and don’t remember liking them this much the first-time around. Are they ever going to be considered great artistic achievements? Perhaps, but I’m guessing probably not. But, even so, if all big budget films were at least at this level of quality, the movie world would be in a LOT better shape. Watching them again has at least made interested in seeing the finale of the trilogy.

Have a great week Sam (and everyone else at WitD)!
- on July 23, 2012 at 7:42 am | Reply Judy
  
  Glad to hear you liked ‘The Immortal Story’, Dave – I saw this at the cinema in about 1980, purely by chance, as it was added to a showing of another film, and still remember it vividly – it made a much stronger impression on me than the main feature. I’m amazed to realise now that Welles was only 50 in this (younger than I am now!) as I thought he was ancient. Must see it again soon.
- on July 23, 2012 at 11:53 am | Reply dennis
  
  DAVE-
  
  Gotta agree with you almost 100% on the Spielberg statement. Some seem to think that this past decade was one of his weakest but, in reality, it’s really one of his most vibrant and “different”. The sense of maturity that’s running through his work in the films mentioned, and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (don’t forget to add this little comic gem to the list), see a new phase for the director that so few think has never grown up.
  
  The parallel to terrorism that is the core metaphor of WAR OF THE WORLDS (that terrorism is senseless, comes out at you from seemingly nowhere and achieves nothing in the end) raised the film from gee-whizz special effects actioner to a thought provoking meditation on reactions that society has on meaningless violence. I, actually, am stunned when I hear people bemoan the “abrupt” ending of the film (that’s EXACTLY the way H. G. Well’s ended his novel) and call it “lesser” Spielberg. I don’t know of too many film-makers that would have brought such intelligence, maturity, feeling and ingenuity to what many says amounts to nothing more than a quick rollercoaster ride. The special effects were so photo realistic that I know the film gave me the creeps in the moments the first space-ship crawls out of the concrete street but, more than that, felt the sequence worked even better than most due to Spielbergs eye for wonderfully realistic reactive performances by the players on the street. There’s an almost unbearable sense of hopelessness that pervades these early sequences (as well as the wide shots of the Tri-Pods destroying a countryside and the incredible “Ferry-boat” scene) and I feel alot of what Spielberg brought to the table in the “Omaha Beach” opening of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN was used to even better advantage with WOTW. I think it precisely because you’d never think he’d apply that kind of visual style to a Sci-Fi film that it works enormously well.
  - on July 23, 2012 at 2:40 pm Dave Hicks
    
    Great points here, Dennis, and I think your analysis of what the movie says about terrorism is perfectly complemented by the way you are just thrown right into the story – no analysis of what is happening, why it is happening, or a build-up of suspense before something happens. It’s just BOOM, they’re here and things are out of control. Having not read Wells’s novel or seen the original film, I cannot comment if this is the same in those films also, but regardless, it really works to this film’s benefit.
  - on July 23, 2012 at 3:25 pm jamieru
    
    Terrorism, as vile as it usually is, never ‘comes from nowhere’ and only achieves ‘nothing in the end’ (when it’s righteous) for various geopolitical neo-liberal stronghold reasons.
    
    That’s no doubt what Spielberg believes, I’d agree with you there, but then, Spielberg’s politics are barely HS level once properly dissected. “War of the Worlds” offers little on the topic of terrorism’s causes, roots, effects, and potential remedies.
  - on July 23, 2012 at 3:34 pm Dave Hicks
    
    You’re right, it doesn’t “come from nowhere” – it is infinitely more complicated than that when fully analyzing terrorism. But to someone experiencing it on a purely personal level, as an “average guy” so to speak, which is what Cruise is trying to portray in the movie, I think it does feel like it is coming out of nowhere. And that feeling is effectively put across in the story. Plus, ignoring the supposed social commentary that is put forth by Spielberg, I just enjoy the movie for what it is anyway, regardless of the politics.
  - on July 23, 2012 at 3:42 pm jamieru
    
    Right, but if you are going to praise the film chiefly for its ‘core metaphor’ about terrorism (as Dennis states), then say it is presented by Spielberg without ANY nuance or deeper analysis and you just like the film for its ‘movie’ qualities these can’t be BOTH argued. Either it is a potentially serious study (I’d say “no way” to this obviously), or it’s “fluff”. “Fluff” is fine, from time to time, but if it’s supposed to be about terrorism, it itself becomes quite vile because terrorism is a topic deserving more than exploitation to sell tickets.
  - on July 23, 2012 at 3:59 pm Dave Hicks
    
    Fair enough, I’ll let you and Dennis duke it out then. I don’t want to get sucked into one of the classic Jamie/MovieMan/Bob Clark never-ending debates on a topic that I’m not all that interested in devoting that much time to anyway. LOL.
    
    What I will say, though, is that I don’t have a problem with somebody making a movie about a serious topic and only looking at it from one specific angle/experience/whatever rather than feeling obligated to give it some sort of great in-depth, nuanced look from every angle. If he wants to tell a story from the eyes of an average guy in the crisis, i don’t think he necessarily has to analyze all of the root causes and effects of that crisis.
  - on July 23, 2012 at 4:07 pm jamieru
    
    Yeah, who wants to get serious about a serious topic? Now that is Spielberg’s proper legacy. Nothing, from the horrors of war, to terrorism, is equal to “having a good time at the movies”.
    
    /leaves to vomit violently.
  - on July 23, 2012 at 4:09 pm Dave Hicks
    
    Yeah, that’s exactly what I said…
  - on July 23, 2012 at 4:20 pm jamieru
    
    I can’t find the middle of two sides, neither being ones you’re that interested in discussing. My apologies if I’m misinterpreting you here.
    
    Either way it’s a film you don’t want to go to the mat for, and neither do I. Let’s move on. WAR OF THE WORLDS deserves this indifference I think.
  - on July 23, 2012 at 5:51 pm Dave Hicks
    
    “Either way it’s a film you don’t want to go to the mat for, and neither do I.”
    
    Perfectly put, Jamie. Not one I feel like going to war over.
  - on July 23, 2012 at 8:41 pm Bob Clark
    
    This is one of those rare occasions I more or less agree with Jamie, both on the shallow qualities of the film, and on my lack of interest in debating it much. It’s not worth going to the mat for, even if it’s just a pushover.
    
    Only thing I will say is that the main thing that bothered me is that the movie doesn’t really have much to say, if anything, about the age of terror beyond all of the shock and awe set-pieces. It’s more an imaginary look at an American war refugee experience than anything tangibly related to the effect that terrorism can have on a population’s psyche, and the ways in which that effect can be taken advantage of by both the perpetrators and protectors alike. Any given episode of “24″ has more of substance to say about terrorism than the whole of this film– I may disagree with it, but at least it’s trying to make a point. The problem with WOTW is that there’s nothing on screen to disagree with other than “scary things are scary”.
  - on July 23, 2012 at 9:00 pm jamieru
    
    Yeah Bob, 132 million just doesn’t go as far as it used to.
  - on July 23, 2012 at 9:08 pm Bob Clark
    
    It’s odd that Spielberg actually made a potentially more valid statement on the post 9/11 world with “Minority Report” before this, the only snag being that it was, y’know, made before 9/11 happened. This is partly Spielberg’s problem– when he’s doing his own thing, he’s pretty good. When he actively tries to “respond” to an event or an idea, it comes off as false or shallow. “Jaws” and “Duel” weren’t responding to anything in particular, and neither was “Minority Report” when it was made, but they all carry a whole lot more ideas and substance even in their action than stuff like WOTW does. They’re less burdened with intent.
  - on July 23, 2012 at 9:09 pm jamieru
    
    Oh and the ultimate “What the fuck” goes to Cahiers du Cinema who listed War of the Worlds the 8th best film of the Aughts. No, not for 2005, which itself would be absurd and highly inaccurate, but for the entire decade. That’s unreal to me.
  - on July 23, 2012 at 9:13 pm Bob Clark
    
    Oh, Cahiers. I admire the chutzpah of putting a big, special-effects filled blockbuster spectacle like that up near the top, but does it have to be that one?
  - on July 23, 2012 at 9:48 pm jamieru
    
    What’s crazy is the revision that must have played into it, as it didn’t make the top ten for their 2005 list, but then appeared, as I’ve already said, at #8 for the decade.
    
    South Korean’s monster flick The Host is the only other film of that type to appear similarly high, at #4.
  - on July 24, 2012 at 1:40 am Tony D'Ambra
    
    Looks like Jamie has coined a new oxymoron – righteous terrorism.
  - on July 24, 2012 at 2:09 am Sam Juliano
    
    Wow, this is quite a sub-thread here, but I want to say first and foremost that our friend Dave Hicks (MIA while law school rightly took center stage in his life) has returned with one of the most spectacular comments ever entered on a weekly thread that has a nearly three-year history. Dave, I must salute you here! Ha! Yes, you can be rest assured that I have come to my senses on Siodmak and CRISS CROSS! I still love THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE and think THE KILLERS is a near-masterpiece with one of the greatest opening scenes in any noir to these eyes and ears, but yes CRISS CROSS is the masterpiece. Some of it’s brooding images are still floating around in my head, especially that final sequence in the remote seaside house. Lancaster and DeCarlo gave stunning performances, but as you delineated in your own review at GOODFELLAS there is so much more! I’m not the fan you and Dennis are of WWOT, but I can definitely appreciate the excellent defense. But yes I know you won’t quite go to the mat for it. There are other Spielbergs I WOULD go to the mat for–E.T., A.I., SCHINDLER’S LIST, and my personal favorite, EMPIRE OF THE SUN. Thrilled to hear that positive response on a blind buy with PALE FLOWER, and like that comparison to Mellville. Three other Kurosawas come to mind here–STRAY DOG, THE BAD SLEEP WELL and HIGH AND LOW. I completely agree on INTIMIDATION and the Welles minor gem, though with Woo, I give higher marks to THE KILLER and to a lesser degree HARD BOILED. Like the “creep up on you” framing of the unique Hellman film, think YELLOW EARTH is a minor masterwork, and I have always liked the camp aspect of PELHAM 1-2-3. I completely understand where you are coming from with THE SOUND OF MUSIC, but you well know my sentiments too. Ha! Heck, musicals are among my favorite types of films, though the 1965 film is one I have such fond memories of in my ralier days. I am also one who thinks Carpenter’s film is overrated, and think THE GOOD SHERPARD is solid enough. Your quality analysis of the Nolan Batman films is fair enough, and I believe you’ll hold to that position after you see the newest installment.
    
    Thanks again Dave, for this incredible re-cap!! Have a great week!
  - on July 24, 2012 at 2:47 pm jamieru
    
    Tony, a shame you must have neglected reading up on Bobby Sands, Augusto César Sandino, John Brown, Malcolm X, etc.
    
    All considered ‘terrorists’ by the larger States they opposed, the same States who generally get to define the term and get it to pass into excepted culture (Hell even the British Government considered Gandhi and his supporters political prisoners [i.e. terrorists]). I’d think you’d consider all these ‘revolutionaries’, but your soft boomer values haven’t surprised me in the past.
- on July 25, 2012 at 12:32 am | Reply Tony D'Ambra
  
  Jamie. Let’s not muddy the waters, you clearly referred to ‘terrorism’, not revolution, not revolutionaries, and not dissent. I think we are all pretty clear on what we mean when we talk about ‘terrorism’. The propaganda labeling of dissidents as ‘terrorists’ is another issue. You reject such propaganda by arguing against the label not qualifying it.
  - on July 25, 2012 at 12:36 am jamieru
    
    But I didn’t just say merely ‘terrorism’ did I? I said ‘righteous terrorism’ which is what you called an ‘oxymoron’. It is interesting that your retort completely omits 50% of my two words.
  - on July 25, 2012 at 12:49 am Tony D'Ambra
    
    Good try, but the usual bullshit response when your rhetoric is found wanting.
  - on July 25, 2012 at 12:59 am jamieru
    
    Tony thanks for showing up, but isn’t there a bridge in need of a troll elsewhere?
on July 23, 2012 at 5:50 am | Reply Burt Gold

Nice to see Criss Cross get some love. It’s a really terrific film. The dance sequence and robbery are visual/cinematic gems especially.
- on July 24, 2012 at 12:29 am | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Thanks very much for stopping in Burt! Yes those scenes are indeed incredible. I’ve always liked the film a lot, but this past Thursday am looking at it in that “masterpiece” light!
on July 23, 2012 at 6:01 am | Reply dennis

Nothing much to report this week as I worked many extra hours overtime at work to help out a sick co-worker.

Glad to hear you’re attempting to tackle the many TV series we recommended to you within the email chain. I was recently speaking with a friend of mine in California and we both kinda agreed that the most original and detailed work in film these days seems to be coming off the small screen. Certainly, we’ve been finding that grander, more epic ideas are being realized there. It’s almost as if a new golden age on the tube has begun to take place.
Speaking of the shows…

BREAKING BAD roared in last night with one of their very best and most intricate episodes to date. Rather focusing the attention on Walters slow ascent to the top of the cartel food chain, writer/creator Vince Gilligan turned tail and focused brilliantly on his side characters to reveal a vein behind the surface of the structured plot. Looking at Big Mike, the enforcer of the group, the episode followed the intricacies of laying down the foundation of a crime syndicate from the ground floor up. Loaded with some great plots twists, brilliant visuals and a stand-out turn by actor Johnathan Banks (WISEGUY) , the episode proved that even on its final stages BREAKING BAD has more than its share of rabbits left up its sleeves.
- on July 24, 2012 at 2:19 am | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Well Dennis, it does appear that at the very least Maurizio and Allan are in agreement as to the best work being done over the past decade in the US is on the “small screen.” While I am not yet through my planned investigation to take this position, I am certainly more than intrigued with what I have seen so far of THE WIRE, and will see BREAKING BAD and the others (I have actually seen the first season of DEADWOOD and liked it) but will re-visit from the beginning on blu-ray for the three seasons. Your celebratory commendation of BB is now legendary, and I hope to honor you by watching it ASAP. Thanks as always my very good friend, and have a great week!
on July 23, 2012 at 8:06 am | Reply Judy

Thanks very much for the plug, Sam. I haven’t had a chance to watch much this week – just saw two classics at home, ‘Bicycle Thieves’ (a first-time viewing for me) and ‘Notorious’ (a repeat viewing) and loved them both, and one more recent film, ‘Cowboys & Aliens’, which left me cold. I’d rather have had the cowboys without the aliens! Wishing a good week to you and all.
- on July 24, 2012 at 12:28 am | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Judy–
  
  Seeing BICYCLE THIEVES for the first time is quite a cultural revelation for any week, and more than fills the gap for a pared down volume! Of course NOTORIOUS is a timeless classic on endless re-viewings. Ha, I had no use at all for COWBOYS AND ALIENS, which I recall as quite a stinker, and like you I could also have been spared the “aliens.” Ha! Have another great week my friend and many thanks as always!
on July 23, 2012 at 9:17 am | Reply Murderous Ink

Sam,
Thank you for the link update. I was feeling sick from obnoxious cold, and later from obnoxious corporate politics, therefore wasn’t able to drop by to thank you for the past weeks.

I lived in Denver in early 90′s, and deeply horrified by the event last week. I know this mall and its theater (before renovation) particularly well, in fact, I saw “Die Hard 2″ in that theater (pretty horrible experience). After Columbine highschool shootings and this, I wonder what prompts some people with several screws loose to go on such rampage in that laid-back town.

“Crisscross” and “The Killers” are two of my top noir films. I mean, the first twelve minutes of “The Killers”. That terse language is really Hemingway’s, and I love it. In both films, Lancaster is so fitting as a loser in the making, and Siodmak’s direction is textbook noir.

This week, I saw “Across 110th Street” for the second time. Last time I saw it was when I was twelve or thirteen and this is one of the movies which had long-lasting impression on me, with all suffocating grit and tragic final frames. After watching it more than three decades later, I still believe it is one of the most riveting 70′s cop/gang drama. Harlem in its ugliest, race tension in its harshest, gang violence in its bloodiest, I wonder if anyone would even try to make this kind of film today. Maybe I am strongly biased, but I am glad to have had an opportunity to catch this film again.

Again, thanks.

MI
- on July 23, 2012 at 3:31 pm | Reply jamieru
  
  Nice.
  Another fan of ‘Across 110th Street’! I agree with all you say here about it here. There are only a few films of that type on its level… I also like ‘Detroit 9000′ a great deal too, and same goes for ‘The Spook Who Sat by the Door’ and the animated ‘Coonskin’. All great films.
  
  Plus Womack’s title track theme (in 110th Street) is one of the greatest cinema has ever heard. A fact most wouldn’t readily state, or would neglect to recall.
- on July 23, 2012 at 10:09 pm | Reply Murderous Ink
  
  Jamie,
  Yes, the Womack title track is above the top, I agree. I thought these days many people arrive at this film via Tarantino’s Jackie Brown. (At least that’s the major ad gimmick they used for DVD release here. “The original of that cool Tarantino track !”)
- on July 24, 2012 at 2:47 am | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  MI—
  
  Wow, I am stunned to hear that you were actually a patron in that movie theatre!!! I never knew you were living in Denver in the early 90′s!! You have certainly made your rounds my friend. But yes, horrifying beyond words, and impossible to figure how anyone, much less a PhD candidate could snap and inflict such carnage and heartbreak on the human race. The stories about bravery and sacrifice are wrenching, and many survivors will now lead shattered lives. But I was just talking to Lucille about the irony of such a laid-back seemingly rural bastion getting two calamities within 12 years of this magnitude.
  I completely agree on the opening of THE KILLERS, and just said as much to another person on this thread. It’s one of the greatest openings in all of noir, and really pulls you in to be challenged by the intricate plot that follows. THE KILLERS is masterful any CRISS CROSS is a flat-out masterpiece. Agree too what you say there about Siodmak.
  
  I am ashamed to admit this, but I have NOT yet seen 100th STREET!! Ever. I have heard the Womack title song of course, but I never sat down for this, nor ever saw it in the theatre. I see good used copies are on amazon for only 3 bucks, so I am in immediately, and will definitely broach it in the upcoming weeks. But your persuasive framing there is much appreciated.
  
  I hope the “cold” has subsided, not to mention the other headaches my friend. I wish you a much better week, and many thanks!
  - on July 24, 2012 at 2:54 pm jamieru
    
    Sam, you’ll never see it if you keep looking for ACROSS 100th STREET as that film doesn’t exist. The other is easily obtained on netflix which I am almost positive you have a subscription for.
    
    I’ve always wanted to do a blaxploitation countdown here, and it appears it would be both incredibly necessary and fresh for many here.
- on July 24, 2012 at 3:12 pm | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Ha Jamie! You surely must have figured that I entered a typo here, as I did find “110th Street” last night on amazon and actually placed an order for it (3 bucks was hard to pass on) and I know the Womack title song quite well. But yes, netflix was another option, and I would have gone that route had the film not been so inexpensive.
  - on July 24, 2012 at 4:03 pm jamieru
    
    Yeah, that was a gentle ribbing. I await your thoughts… 3 bucks is a great deal.
- on July 25, 2012 at 2:01 am | Reply Murderous Ink
  
  Sam,
  You may recall Matt Stone interview in “Bowling for Columbine”. It may have to do with somewhat tightly-knit community. As the others have already raised the issue here, Columbine shootings raised issue of gun control, and this incident may renew that debate. As I know both worlds, the world with full of guns and the one without, I would say gun control may reduce the number of casualties in case of violent rampage such as this. We do have some tragic events in Japan as well, some sorry person just goes berserk killing anyone around him/her using knives, poison, or driving a truck into a group of small kids. You know, they will come up with many different ways to achieve their inhumane objectives. If you can buy an assault rifle and thousands of ammo over the counter or internet, that won’t help. Yes, gun control will reduce unnecessary deaths by crimes or accidents. But, I am sorry to say, I have a feeling that weapon industries are such an integral part of US society that effective gun control won’t be achieved over night.
  And it is pretty disturbing that this crime was committed in movie theater, and the criminal was impersonating the character in the movie. As if the violence in the movie can be enacted in real world. You see, we movie lovers always say, “it’s just a movie!” But to some, this incident will be another evidence for “violence in fiction begets violence in reality”. I personally find excess graphic violence in films is not particularly of artistic merit, but “Hollywood and French contaminate our society” is completely off the mark. However, there will be plenty of psycho-social analysis on the topic in the coming weeks, I’m afraid.
  
  BTW, I can’t wait to hear your take on “Across 110th Street”. I hope you would like it.
  
  MI
on July 23, 2012 at 12:24 pm | Reply John Greco

Sam,
Thanks again for the shout out. Glad you got to see the Siodmak double feature, two excellent that deserve big screen revivals. I have been following the Universal tribute at the Film Forum and only wish I could be there. I finally and embarrassingly just got around to watching our friend Jeffrey Goodman’s first feature film and can honestly say I was completely blown away by it.

The Last Lullaby (****) Retired hit man comes out of retirement for one final kill and a big payoff, only to fall for his beautiful intended victim. On the surface not original but our friend director Jeffrey Goodman paints an exacting palette filled with moody muted colors, juxtaposing a steady unhurried pace with the sudden burst of explosive violent gunfire. The film has the mood and the texture of the early 1970′s. The dialogue is as sparse and as natural as it’s Louisiana scenery.

The Naked City (****)The film still holds your interest, though thousands of similar “Law and Order” and other police procedurals that have followed have dulled its impact a bit. Still, the street scenes of 1948 New York City fascinate and the final scene atop the Williamsburg Bridge remains a first rate piece of filmmaking.

Hang em’ High (***) Clint Eastwood’s first American film after completing his classic Sergio Leone western trilogy which this film attempts to emulate in style. It’s not completely successful but Clint walks his trade mark walk and squints his eyes enough times to make mortal men’s eyelids real sore.

Barbary Coast (***1/2) I found this to be midlevel Howard Hawks lacking the typical independent upfront Hawksian female. Miriam Hopkins character is a gold digger who hooks up with Edward G. Robinson’s slime bag for no other reason than money. Toward the end she tearfully sacrifices herself, by willing to marry him, in order to save the life of her true love the sensitive poet Joel McCrea. By this time we are practically in Joan Crawford tearjerker country. There are some redeeming factors though, a entertaining performance from Walter Brennan and a exceptionally well done scene when a vigilante mob, led by the sheriff, haul Brian Donlevy, Robinson’s enforcer, thru the foggy streets of San Francisco to a dark secluded alley conduct a quick mock trial before hanging him.

Design for Scandal (***) Somewhat charming piece of fluff with Rosalind Russell and Walter Pigeon, in a role that cried out for Cary Grant, about a scheming newspaper reporter who helps his boss (Edward Arnold) get out of a large alimony payment. Edward Arnold stands out of the gruff newspaper owner who married a gold digger (Mary Beth Hughes) and after a three month marriage is condemned by the court and female judge Russell to pay, $4,000 a month in alimony.

Illicit (***) Barbara Stanwyck is a independent free thinking woman, a post feminist long before the term was even thought of in this pre-code film. Stanwyck and her lover, James Rennie, have been living quietly out of wedlock going away together on weekends until they are spotted by a nosy acquaintance. When confronted by Rennie’s father they agree to do the more conventional thing even though Stanwyck explained her theories on marriage and how married couples become complacent, have kids and begin to take each other for granted. The film is a bit sluggish at times, the first half hour or so takes place on just one set. Highlight is the pre-code dialogue that does have some sparkling sassy lines.
- on July 24, 2012 at 3:23 am | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  John—
  
  The Universal Festival, unlike a number of other Film Forum retros, offers up remarkable diversity spanning seven decades and every genre imaginable. I simply can’t do what I have with other festivals, and am mainly concentrating on the Sirks, Siodmaks, and especially the horrors that the kids are excited to see there. There is one rarity lined up for tomorrow night – the Clarence Brown silent THE GOOSE WOMAN. But I certainly know you’d be there with bells on if you were back up in these parts. Completely agreed on the two Siodmak masterworks I saw on Thursday and well remember your past stellar reviews posted at TWENTY FOUR FRAMES. Jeffrey Goodman will surely be thrilled to read of your glowing assessment (heck I am myself!) of his exceptional THE LAST LULLABY, a film, that has impressed a number of bloggers who have wisely invested in the DVD. Your eloquent analysis there is outstanding! Of the other films you saw in yet another typically spirited movie watching week, I have not seen ILLICIT, which is rather embarrassing in view of my reverence for Stanwyck, and practically every film she stars in. I see it’s flawed, but still worth a look. I probably would go a half star higher on THE NAKED CITY, but fair enough, as I am a half star less on BARBARY COAST. Completely agreed on HANG EM HIGH and DESIGN FOR SCANDAL. Once again you have provided the readers here with a wonderful report on a wide range of films. Have a great week my friend, and many thanks!
on July 23, 2012 at 2:06 pm | Reply Frank Gallo

The horror in Colorado is extemely depressing, even from the far away vantage point. Now the politicians will re-visit the gun control laws, though it is doubtful that any reform will be instituted. For once I am with Bloomberg on this issue. Because of what happened, I just couldn’t muster up the energy nor desire to venture out for The Dark Knight Rises. Maybe this week. I see the Yanks got a dose of reality with the sweep in Oakland.

Some great films at that Universal Festival!
- on July 23, 2012 at 2:13 pm | Reply Peter
  
  I thought that Obama’s visit to the hospitals was a tremendous gesture, Frank. I read this morning that they are now speculating that a jilted affair may have set him off.
- on July 24, 2012 at 12:25 am | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Frank, I wanted to feature the tragedy with more elaboration/discussion here, but it’s just so heartbreaking that I don’t want to come off as stating the obvious. I just read tonight that three of the young men killed saved the lives of their girlfriends. There is little one could say about this dastardly criminal act, and even anger will only get us so far. But yes Bloomberg is definitely on the right track with that, though it’s doubtful we’ll get any changes. I can well understand you wanting to stay back, after the report came in on the tragedy. I felt the same way, and went only because I had promised my ten-year-old. But i walked into that theatre with a heavy heart. Oh yes, the Yanks took it on the chin, and the Universal Festival is exciting.
  
  Thanks as always my friend!
- on July 24, 2012 at 1:32 am | Reply Tony D'Ambra
  
  Bloomberg of course is right. I can’t imagine how Obama had the face to meet with the victim’s families after his dismal failure to do anything on gun control.
  
  Beyond this of course is the absence of any kind of data analysis/system to flag the legal (sic) purchase over 3 months of four assault weapons and 6,000 rounds by one individual!
  
  Another sobering statistic – every year in the US 100,000 people are killed or injured by guns.
  
  Apparently the latest issue of the NRA magazine has a half-page ad for the weapon used in the Colorado shooting.
  - on July 24, 2012 at 1:54 am Jaime Grijalba
    
    yeah, Obama’s fault, because he wrote a constitution that allows citizen to have guns because their pancakes may be too hot in the morning breakfast.
  - on July 24, 2012 at 3:21 pm jamieru
    
    Tony, since you’re not an American I must assume you’ve never taken an American High School Civics course. Here’s a refresher from an American who has: in American legislation laws are drafted, then voted on, and passed (if it obtains a majority vote) by the Congress (which is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives) which is known then as the ‘Legislative Branch’ of our government. The ‘Executive Branch’, which is the President, then signs the passed bill into law (or can offer veto power, but that’s an unnecessary side point at this time for the discussion). But, and this is the central crux here, the President cannot create laws on a whim and put them into place. It’s the essential component of a checks and balances democracy and not a full on dictatorship (the President will generally use his political capital to recommend specific bills be written, but that is all he/she can do as President). Now our Congress is incredibly corrupt and oft barely functionable (and in this particular topic is controlled by NRA money lobbying) but this is beside the point that you originally made, that Obama needs to somehow circumvent (or outright destroy) democracy to create laws as he wishes.
    
    Hope this helps.
- on July 24, 2012 at 1:46 am | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Tony, that 100,000 figure is truly frightening, and it further points to the urgency of gun-control. Something much be done, and fast, to cub this insanity, and the opportunity for psychos to ply their trade, which is to break os many hearts. I read the stories about the three valiant boyfriends, and fought back tears as so many of us have. I will certainly vote for Obama again in November (I am a card-carrying Democrat) but he definitely dropped the ball big-time on this issue much as Romney has done as well.
  - on July 24, 2012 at 3:08 am Sam Juliano
    
    This report is mind-boggling:
    
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/james-holmes-weapons-internet_n_1694451.html
on July 23, 2012 at 2:22 pm | Reply Marilyn Ferdinand

Hi Sam – I, too, am glad to see your love for Criss Cross, a wonderful noir with a cameo by Tony Curtis in the dance sequence. Here in Chicago, the Silent Summer film festival kicked off with John Barrymore inSherlock Holmes. It’s very visually pedestrian and overstuffed, but the performances by Barrymore and Roland Young as Watson are quintessential Holmes characterizations. As one commenter mentioned, it’s a Holmes origins story, and worth a look. We have been out and not taking in too much in the way of films, but on cable we saw a passable family film, The Dust Bucket, a passable Bond film, For Your Eyes Only, and an absolutely wonderful pre-Coder directed by King Vidor, Street Scene. This week, we are looking forward to La belle equipe in the Wednesday classics series and The Kid Brother as the second Silent Summer offering.

BTW, the link to my post is http://wp.me/p16NRb-3Yj.
- on July 24, 2012 at 12:18 am | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Marilyn—
  I have always held CRISS CROSS in high esteem, but as our good friend in the UK, Judy Geater, rightly notes in her film preservation-themed piece on Hitchcock’s THE RING, there is nothing to match the big screen experience when it is possible to negotiate. But I am preaching to the choir here as you are a seasoned veteran in that department, as you once again testify to here reporting on a fantastic week in the dark! I love John Barrymore like most and would want to see the 1922 HOLMES for him alone. Wow, they are showing THE KID BROTHER in that series? Fantastic! I would also frame FOR YOUR EYES ONLY and THE DUST BUCKET as “passable” by sad to say I haven’t yet seen Vidor’s STREET SCENE. LE BELLE EQUIPPE is another exceptional film. Incidentally, until you just mentioned it I never realized Tony Curtis has a cameo in CRISS CROSS. In any case thanks again my friend, and congrats on yet another spectacular film preservation post at FERDY-ON-FILMS!! Have a great week!
on July 23, 2012 at 4:18 pm | Reply Samuel Wilson

Sam, Criss Cross was definitely represented in my 1949 votes and I was tempted strongly to pick it over Third Man. I certainly know of none better from R. Siodmak. I’m gradually coming back to reality after last week’s madness — though dammit! I want to see Dark Knight Rises again despite all my criticisms — and got back into a Pre-Code mood yesterday. Fortunately TCM was delivering the goods last week, among which were Robert Florey’s The House on 56th Street, a Kay Francis melodrama that actually impressed me as an above-average gambling movie, though it’s also a woman-in-prison picture for a while as well as a maternal-sacrifice weepie; Lionel Barrymore’s Ten Cents a Dance, a rare directorial job outside M-G-M that toys with our and Barbara Stanwyck’s expectations by making a seeming working-class hero into a social-climbing creep and Ricardo Cortez the eventual good guy; and Roy Del Ruth’s Prisoners! a largely setbound WW1 melodrama notable for a rape/murder subplot in a POW camp and a big mass breakout scene, all subordinated to the rivalry of fellow prisoners Leslie Howard and Douglas Fairbanks Jr over Margaret Lindsay. Apart from that I watched Eichi Kudo’s 13 Assassins, reportedly the second-most popular samurai movie of all time but after watching I question the taste of Japanese movie fans. Not because Kudo’s film was bad, but that I can think of so many better ones. This one is notable for making us wait for the big fight as the main characters play a long cat-and-mouse game, and the payoff just about justifies the wait. I’ll be curious now to check out Takashi Miike’s remake for comparison’s sake. Until then, deshi deshi basara basara!
- on July 24, 2012 at 3:41 am | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Samuel–
  
  I did indeed notice that you championed CRISS CROSS, as you did back when our esteemed friend Dave Hicks ran the noir countdown at GOODFELLAS and when our own Maurizio Roca did the same here at WitD. Well, I would find it hard to put it above THE THIRD MAN, I really couldn’t fault anyone for doing so. I was really dazzled the other night with the stunning print on display. I did see that remarkable essay you penned on THE DARK NIGHT RISES and need to add my two cents. I know that Florey film well, and would say you did well in framing it as a hybrid. I have not seen TEN CENTS A DANCE nor PRISONERS! but am definitely interested, especially with Stanwyck’s appearance in the former. I liked 13 ASSASSINS quite a bit, though normally that’s not a genre I care all that much about, but I respect your own formidable immersion and comparative qualification. I’m sure you know that there is a shortened version of the film out there, which seems to be the one that most people have seen.
  
  Thanks as always my friend! Have a very good week!
on July 23, 2012 at 7:25 pm | Reply mark s.

To quote Laura Dern in ‘Wild at Heart’, it’s “hotter than Georgia asphalt” here in the Midwest, and the Criterion shelves at Barnes & Noble are barer than Mother Hubbard’s, though I still managed to find some loot, incl. Monicelli’s scarce ‘The Organizer’ with Mastroianni. I hope never to see ‘The Dark Knight (the dark night?) Rises’, a film now so redolent of ugliness and human slaughter. Don’t know how you sat through it, Sam, especially with the awful events still so ripe.
Hey, it’s summertime and my movie watching just gets thinner and thinner – only one, but it’s a lulu.
Keeping it brief, ‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown’ is a classic screwball comedy generously ladled with kitsch and directed by an openly gay cineaste (sharp, cheeky homages to Fellini and Hitchcock), surely the only example of its kind. And you thought screwball had died out with Hawks. So paint your funnybone canary yellow and get ready for 90 deranged minutes with some seriously whacked-out senoras. Aka, ‘Confessions of a Spanish-Speaking Gazpacho Spiker’, after de Quincey, I suppose, and “Women on the Verge’” may actually help one “dream splendidly”. Or maybe the film is all about the grandeur of dreams.
(Watching ‘Nightmare Alley’, Out of the Past’ and ‘Criss Cross’ tonight at home with all the lights down).
Later, my friends
PS: I don’t have much use for ‘War of the Worlds’ either, though Cruise is very good as a father at the end of his tether (and now he really is a father at the end of his tether, though I weep not for Scientology or its adherents.
- on July 24, 2012 at 3:59 am | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Mark–
  
  I know well that the ovens have been on for weeks in the midlands, and I can’t blame you for your indoor preferences! The Barnes & Noble shelves have really been plundered out there? Wow. I think the outlets in my area (northern New Jersey just east of Manhattan) were prepared for this sale and stocked up well. On the second day of the sale I saw about a dozen copies of THE GOLD RUSH on blu-ray for example. Just a few days ago suppliesx were still plentiful. Last November I recall they were pretty much depleted. THE ORGANIZER is a great choice. I also picked up the blu of that one.
  
  Mark, I went to see THE DARK KNIGHT RISES largely because I had promised the kids I would earlier in the week. I can’t say I didn’t think of the massacre less than a dozen times during that trip, but nothing was going to change it of course. Warner was probably right to stay the course with the screenings, as stunned audiences needed release to get their minds off the horror. But yes, I agree there will always be an undeserved connection between that film and the tragedy in Colorado. I once had to endure a screening of ANTI CHRIST after a family tragedy a few years back and to this day I now regret that decision because of the horrifying tone of the film, not because it’s not an artistic triumph.
  
  “Gespacho” and WOMAN ON THE VERGE will always be synonymous with me, and I do fondly remember seeing the film in a theatre a block north of the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas that has long been torn down during it’s opening Manhattan engagement. It still stands to this day as one of Almodovar’s defining films. ‘Wacked out senoritas’ indeed!!!
  
  Wow that is some noir triple you have lined up!!! I’m expecting a glowing response!!
  
  No fan of WAR OF THE WORLDS either, but some I respect think otherwise. Go figure.
  
  Many thanks my friend! Have a great week.
  - on July 24, 2012 at 6:32 pm mark s.
    
    God, what was I just babbling about — the grandeur of splendid dreams, etc. A convoluted way of saying that Almodovar is a surrealist and ‘Women’ s style is hallucinatory. By the way, that noir triple-header didn’t come off because we lost power again. This heat seems to generate a lot of thunderstorms.
    Just took a gander at David Thomson’s “Have You Seen…?” and noticed the way he keeps fingering Reagan for the bad movies Hollywood made in the 80′s — and beyond, incl. ‘Forrest Gump’. Hmmm. Does that mean ‘Grease’ is Jimmy Carter’s fault? Or ‘Cleopatra’ Kennedy’s? I don’t think the occupant of the Oval Office has anything to do with the films Hollywood makes during any particular epoch. Interesting sociological slant, but is it really film criticism? By that reasoning the disgraced Nixon would be one of the greatest presidents we’ve ever had. Think of the films Hollywood made during the Nixonian era — The Wild Bunch, Midnight Cowboy, Medium Cool, Five Easy Pieces, Wanda, M*A*S*H, Mean Streets, The Godfather, The Last Picture Show, A Clockwork Orange, Cabaret, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Badlands, Bananas, Two-Lane Blacktop, Payday, The Conversation, Salesman, Chinatown, etc. I have only a mild respect for some of these films, but they’re all gutsy examples of filmmmaking, and I don’t think today’s Hollywood honchos would go near any of them with a 10-foot poker.
    Speaking of the 70s, farewell to Frank Pierson, writer of Lumet’s truth-can-be-stranger-than-fiction “Dog Day Afternoon”.
    Later, my good friend
  - on July 24, 2012 at 7:04 pm jamieru
    
    I think Thomson’s point(s), and others like him (Robert Kolker’s ‘Cinema of Loneliness’ offers much analysis on these grounds, and it might just be my favorite cinema book I’ve ever read), amount to that if the general tone of films matches the ideological concerns that sweep a President into office there is reason for dissection there. Reagan’s aftermath was a decade of almost nothing but Conservative leaning films so it, since big budget movies are so market tested prior to release show exactly the tone of what that culture wants, and what mirrors it in it’s concerns.
    
    I actually think more should be made at the rising control of media in these eras (Nixon to Reagan) by Corporations (the Big 6 control all market share essentially) effectively stamping out fringe mainstream cinema. This then would be why the country continues to veer more and more right as all they every see, hear, or experience are arguments slanted in a conservative way. It then almost becomes a chicken or the egg type of puzzle as to what’s walking the dog.
    
    What’s also very interesting to consider is the actual filmgoing habits of Presidents since they have a functioning theater in the White House that can screen virtually anything they desire to see. It says a lot about that President’s embracing of the arts and, in a roundabout way, their intellectual curiosities. The Saint Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote something about this in one of his pieces and it’s what you’d expect; W. Bush cared nothing for culture and just watched sports, Reagan, surprisingly as he was an actor, watched little, but did watch old John Wayne from time to time, and Clinton liked mostly new releases. Carter watched the most movies the log showed, and had the widest taste. The piece was written pre-Obama, but I’ve read that he decorated the White House with the most Modern art it’s ever seen.
  - on July 24, 2012 at 7:12 pm Maurizio Roca
    
    The Hollywood honchos of the 30′s, 40′s, and 50′s wouldn’t either Marky Mark. The 70′s was the greatest (and purest) decade for American filmmaking.
    
    After reading Nicholas Ray: The Glorious Failure Of An American Director (and countless other books on the matter), one begins to realize any great films made in the studio era were in spite of the system in place not because of it. So many movies were done in by the Hayes code and other censorship (political) issues we should rejoice any classics exist at all. The 70′s was the ideal atmosphere for cinema to thrive in the States for various reasons… the true golden age.
on July 23, 2012 at 7:27 pm | Reply Jon

Hi Sam!,

Wow thanks for the overwhelming support and mention! I too was very saddened and shocked by the Batman shootings. I was looking forward to seeing it a month ago, but with the half-hearted reviews coming in and now this….I’m not really sure if I even want to see it. I don’t know. I might see it this weekend cause I will be visiting Chicago and seeing my family and we might go out. Not sure.

I really like the Sirk versions of those films but haven’t seen the Stahl versions. Hmm will have to see if I can find them.

For some reason, I’m not a big fan of the Siodmak noirs. I’m always a bit underwhelmed by The Killers and Criss Cross. I think it’s the pacing that is lacking a bit for me….or maybe it’s Burt Lancaster. I thought I liked him…but maybe I don’t like him enough to love those films. I prefer him in Brute Force, which I think is far better than those other two, but that’s Dassin for you.

Yes our heat wave continues with 95F and high humidity today. We went camping over the weekend with the in-laws and the girls had a fine time…until they wore out on the last day, but they’re still young.

I actually didn’t get to as many films last week as I wanted to, but still The Ladykillers was probably tops of the bunch. Quite hilarious and even funnier this time I watched it compared with last time. If I had watched it earlier this summer, it would probably have made my top 60, but you just can’t get to all of them.

Up this week will be Intermezzo, Stromboli, and some of the Czech New Wave films from the new Criterion set. Hope you have a great week Sam!
- on July 24, 2012 at 3:29 pm | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Jon–
  
  For whatever it’s worth the reviews for the new Batman film were not half-hearted at all, but were actually very strong. (Again for whatever it’s worth, not to declare any significance, just to establish a fact). All three of Nolan’s Batman film have actually been recipient to generally excellent reviews. Admittedly the tragedy has tarnished the film in anumber of ways, and I can well understand you approaching this without much enthusiasm. Jon, the Stahl version of MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION is actually in the Criterion 2 disc set of the Sirk version. You may already own it. The Stahl IMITATION (which most people prefer to the Sirk re-make) is out inexpensively on a Universal DVD. Whil I am a big fan of Siodmak myself, I respect your position. Not sure if you are a fan of THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE, which is one of my absolute Siodmak favorites. I definitely agree with you on BRUTE FORCE and Lancaster’s compelling performance in it. God, what scorching temperatures you and the girls endured! Ugh! I can’t be optimistic for the rest of the summer as far as diminished heat, but we’ll see. Great to hear that enthusiastic response to THE LADYKILLERS, and good luck with another great line-up. The Czech New Wave set is fantastic! Today, BTW, the equally terrific JEAN GREMELION Eclipse set streets at half price in the sale that ends on Monday! Many thanks my friend! Stay cool.
  - on July 25, 2012 at 2:20 am Jon
    
    Thanks Sam actually yes I do like The Spiral Staircase! That’s probably my favorite Siodmak, and is a bit more of a horror/thriller/noir. That’s right the Stahl version of Magnificent Obsession is on the Criterion. I don’t own it but can get my hands on a copy. Thanks!
on July 23, 2012 at 8:16 pm | Reply Pat

Sam -
Sounds like another fine week of film going there.
Here I managed three new movies over the weekend, two of them via the convenience of On Demand.
We saw TO ROME WITH LOVE on Friday night. While it’s no great artistic achievement (we’re definitely talking Woody Lite here), I still found it to be the most enjoyable Allen film in years, silly and unpretentious on the whole, with a bit more reasonance here and there. The whole plot line around the Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page and Alec Baldwin characters was particularly interesting to me, as it’s not only a startlingly clear-eyed deconstruction of the unstable/psuedo-intellectual dream girls who’ve populated so many of Allen’s films, but almost a takedown/abandonment of Allen’s own worst tendencies as a ‘serious’ filmmaker (pretentiousness without genuine depth as in, for example ANOTHER WOMAN or the tragic half of MELINDA AND MELINDA). It felt to me as if Allen might be saying “Good-bye to all that!” and relaxing into a softer, gentler comic groove. Whether that’s just for this film or for the future – or whether I’m just reading more into those scenes than was intended – remains to be seen.
As someone who has loved Thomas Hardy’s TESS OF THE D’URBERVILLES since I was about 16, I was fascinated to watch Michael Winterbottom’s TRISHNA. I think it is a better adaptation than was Roman’s Polanski’s 1980 film, and probably the best performance of Frida Pinto’s career to date.
Finally, I mostly admired Sarah Polley’s TAKE THIS WALTZ, although the film’s ending was a bit unsatisfying Nicely observed for most of the way, though, with some very fine acting and a nice, evocative feel the Toronto neighborhood in which it was set.
Well, my big move day is just a week away,ater which I am itching to get back to the blog. Also looking forward to setting some time aside to watch the extedned cut of MARGARET which I purchased from Amazon last week.
Have a great week, Sam and everyone else at WITD!
- on July 24, 2012 at 3:39 pm | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Pat—
  
  I have seen all three of the films you engagingly frame here, and am not too far off from your positions. I also agree that TO ROME WITH LOVE is Woody in lighter mode, and like the way he examines that trio, but the celebrity satire surrounding Roberto Benigni and the opera singer in the shower gag were the ones that had me rolling. I do agree with you that it is still one of the most enertaining Woody Allen films in years, and one that takes full advantage of it’s irresistible setting. I was also disappointed with teh ending of TAKE THAT WALTZ, and while in general I did not find the film in a league with Polly’s previous THE SWEET HEREAFTER, it was mostly an impressive work. My feelings for TRISNA have cooled since I saw it at Tribeca, but there was enough narrative truth and visual eye candy to be worth a recommendation. My best wishes for the upcoming move my friend! Have a terrific week!
on July 23, 2012 at 9:44 pm | Reply coffeemessiah

Hello Sam and appears to have been another great week for you -
A friend lent us the Wire earlier this yr and although slow, it was a great piece of television –
Mad Men didn’t do anything for us, but not everything does -
We wanted to see Moonrise Kingdom this week, as I saw it listed last week – alas, now gone, for Batman in 3 theaters I guess ; (
Otherwise, all else the same = Cheers!
- on July 24, 2012 at 12:11 am | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Great hearing from you Michael!!! Yes the past week was a busy one, what with the Universal Festival in full gear. THE WIRE definitely takes it time, but the last two episodes have finally begun to pay dividends, even though I am really in the early stages. But great to hear from another fan! I know MAD MEN has some quite indifferent, so I’ll definitely remember what you say when I get around to it down the road. Yep, it’s all Batman in the multiplexes, but if the chance arises again I do recommend MOONRISE KINGDOM! Have a great week my very good friend and thank you!
on July 23, 2012 at 11:07 pm | Reply Jaime Grijalba

Hello Sam and everyone!
Well, vacations are on for you and me, I guess, so it’s nice to hear that you are spending some time with the family, which is always good, and seeing great films, as you always do. Of all the films you’ve seen, I’ve only seen Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, and even if I consider them my favorite comedic duo, I rate this particular film ****, still great stuff. On the rest… well, The Dark Knight Rises, sadly, didn’t open the same week, but I’ll sure be the first in line to watch it this week. On the rest, I want to see them all.
Well, I’ve also been going to my personal Asian Film Festival in a local theater and I’ve been particulary fond of their japanese horror section, and I shall be attending some other screenings as the week goes on (there are some really nice asian films for my bi-monthly work here, I guess. I’ve had many wonderful time with my girlfriend as well.
I have also an announcement to make, that I shall make available through email. I will be starting tomorrow a new thing on my blog called 100 Days of Horror, there are 100 days starting tomorrow until October the 31st and I shall be reviewing one film a day, it will be fun, more information at my blog tomorrow! Hope you all can recommend movies and chime in.
My week movie wise:
- Double Trouble (2012, Hsun-Wei David Chang) *** A Taiwan action/comedy/buddy film that features many beautiful sights and some good acting, I’ll have more to say about this one later.
- Blanche (1972, Walerian Borowczyk) **** I finally saw the film that Allan and Jamie championed so much, thanks to the copy and the beautiful package that Uhler sent me. I was not a fan of the visual style or the shooting procedural of this film, but as it went on I fell in love with the story, and that’s what was more important at the end, the characters were greatly created and I was feeling them and I was involved in it as well. Good movie overall, but there was something about that fixated horizontal style of direction that didn’t really do it for me.
- The Monk and the Temptress (1958, Eisuke Takizawa) ****1/2 Maybe someone can correct me, but this one I saw at my Asian film festival, and at the start they said that this copy was the last 35mm copy of the film in existence. It was truly a marvel to see it, and as I have this new project at my blog I shall talk about the experience a lot more in depth. Overall, a great movie with some strange elements, great acting and some beautiful images to boot. A wonder.
- Once Upon a Time in the West (1968, Sergio Leone) ****1/2 I rewatched this film for a review I had to write for a competition I am in, I shall not link to it since it’s supposed to be a secret entry and no one can know who I am. The movie is a visual wonder, one of the greatest westerns ever made, with great characterizations, great shooting style, amazing music and one of the best scenes ever comitted to film reunited in this simple and yet amazingly complex action/Adventure/love story at its heart.
- Ju-on (2000, Takashi Shimizu) ****1/2 Shot on video and released straight to… DVD I guess, or maybe VHS, in Japan, this was the first of the series that has scared many people around the world and directed by this wonderful japanese director. This was seen at the Japanese Horror special at the festival, and while not as good as the 2002 version of this story, it is still scary and it’s a class of low budget filmmaking that can go famous and beyond its simple roots. Great job. Proof that this film isn’t for everyone, a parent and his four kids left the theater 20 minutes shy of its ending, I pictured you and your kids, hahaha, sorry.
- Kahaani (2012, Sujoy Ghosh) **** One of the most succesful indian films of the year, and it’s really really long, with many turns and quips, but its ultimately good for the ride and not so much because of the final twist (even if it did caught me by surprise). It carries a powerful main performance from an indian actress, and it’s filled with clues, and you find yourself entertained by the majority of the time that passes and time goes along and you feel acompanied enough.
- The Original Black Swan (2011) ***1/2 When Black Swan was getting all the prizes, this short skit comes along that features the director of the film, Darren Aronofsky, telling us a story on how the movie really started. The result is funny.
- POV: Cursed Film (2012, Norio Tsuruta) **** A found footage horror film from Japan (this was seen by me only, not at the festival), that I’ll have more to say about later, but I’m just going to say that I was impressed.
- Ringu (1998, Hideo Nakata) **** A japanese horror classic showed at 35mm on the festival was really all I could ask, the mixture of the texture of the film and the digital/video quality of what it’s seen in the televisions in the storyline talks so much about the real qualities about the film. It’s a paused film and if you know the scares, they aren’t as effective, but it’s still extremely well done in a lot of spots. A pleasure to be seen at a theater in the big screen and feel that ending in your bones.
- Ringu 2 (1999, Hideo Nakata) ***1/2 Much more confusing than its predecesor and including many elements that aren’t as throughly worked as in the previous installment, this one still is worth watching because it is more of a visual piece than the other film, but lacking one visual: a reprise of the “coming out of the television” scare, that was so powerful in the first movie. Still, this was one has even less scares, but there are some beautiful scenes and gruesome set pieces.
- Wild Man Blues (1997, Barbara Kopple) **** The Woody Allen documentary about his blues tour in Europe is still interesting to see him as a person in another facet, still being funny, and in his relationship with his last wife. It is not much of a visual piece, and while I think that the performances were the center plate of the film, supposedly, Allen is still the star of everything that he’s in, and for that is a good insight for fans. For the rest, I don’t know.
- [REC]³ Génesis (2012, Paco Plaza) ****1/2 One of my most look-forwarded movies of the year is the third installment of this spanish horror series, and I just loved it for what it was, a horror comedy with certain rec elements and an overall nihilistic atmosphere filled with funny and witty characters. It’s scary, bloody and funny, in the vein of Evil Dead 2, and that is quite amazing from a series that has achieved so much all around the world. Of course it’s different from the rest, but what the hell!
Have a good week Sam!
- on July 24, 2012 at 10:05 pm | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Wow Jaimie, this is truly one of the most spectacular submissions you have ever made on this thread! I applaud your new Top 100 horrors and assure you I will be over there! I also await the report on the short film, and would love to see it posted here! I’ll admit I haven’t seen a number of the films in this remarkable report, but as you know I adore Leone’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, which I just saw at the spaghetti western festival and would rate it with five stars. I do think you were fair enough in your estimation of BLANCHE, but it’s another i would go with the highest rating on. Your reports on all the others are impressive, and I still have not sat down to watch Kopple’s Woodman documentary. That’s great that you have been attending the Asian Film Festival, and I applaud your diligence in publishing a number of reviews on the event here and at EXODUS 8:2. I also know you are a big fan of ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEETS FRANKENSTEIN, which is always a hoot. I’m definitely intrigued by the Indian film KAAHANI and RINGU.
  
  I’m afraid that this week I can’t say I’ve seen many of your line-up. But in a way that’s a good thing, as I now have the scoop.
  
  Have a great week my friend, and many thanks as always. Good luck with the horror countdown!!! As I say I will be checking in.
on July 24, 2012 at 1:57 am | Reply David H. Schleicher

Sam – I liked The Dark Knight Rises a bit more than you (would probably give it ****. maybe ****1/2) – and I think it will resonate for a long time and the trilogy as a whole will be looked back on favorably. I think sometimes Nolan’s films are so overstuffed with stuff – it’s easy to overlook just how good the good stuff is (if that makes any sense – ha ha). Anyhow – I put my thoughts on the Spin, naturally:

http://theschleicherspin.com/2012/07/23/orphans-terrorism-and-dickensian-economics-in-the-dark-knight-rises/

Over the weekend I also watched:

Casa di me Padre – **1/2 – kinda funny, I guess.

Pariah – **** – Excellent! An overlooked gem from last year for sure.
- on July 24, 2012 at 9:22 pm | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  David—
  That is certainly fair enough as far as THE DARK KNIGHT RISES is concerned. I know many think it’s quite a ride. I’ll be over to THE SCHLEICHER SPIN to check out your take, though I’m sure it will be masterfully presented as always. I gave PARIAH *** as I recall but your grade and response is certainly fair enough. I have not however seen CASA DI ME PADRE, but will investigate. Thanks as always my friend, I’ll see you at the SPIN, and have a great week!
on July 24, 2012 at 3:02 am | Reply patricia60

No films for me this week rather I was overwhelmed by the abundance of raspberries and blueberries I needed to deal with…..24 quarts of raspberries frozen and 21 of blueberries and the blueberries are just starting. I just had to dive in full force to get everything stored for winter enjoyment. I thought I would be watching something because I had a small surgery this week, but not much luck except for a few episodes of Mad Men to connect to my book review. I did work the fruit from my trusty stool instead of standing.

We are still only having occasional bouts of summer, but the morning clouds and showers are consistently now breaking off into sunny bright afternoons. This is the 3rd year of cooler climes and I am getting used to it.

Terrill’s art and post was stunning this week and good news for her show success and Laurie always keeps me on my toes. I think by next week I will be back to linking to your whole list to see what’s happening, unless the Gravenstein apples start falling.

Did you make your trip to the Jersey shore already? I do so fondly remember my summers working in Cape May cleaning those guest rooms. Do they still have the big sand castle competitions?

Happy cooling trend…and added to my list once again Thank you
- on July 24, 2012 at 9:17 pm | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Patricia–
  
  You can count me as a huge blueberry fan, in fact I consume too many. But August is the prime month for all the berries, and certainly strawberries are large, sweet and succulent at this time. But 24 quarts? Wow! I have heard from others that you can freeze them for the winter, but we have never done so to this point. I hope all is well with you after the physical procedure my friend, and you are now in comfort. I still need to tackle MAD MEN at some point. I must say I am rather surprised that you’ve had “cooler” summers the past few years, as most people would claim the opposite where they reside. Terrill’s art continues to reach the heights of sensory beauty and Laurie is just a lovely person. Lucille and I have decided to forego the Wildwood vacation in favor of a very interesting car ride west, one I’ll be discussing in the coming weeks. But yes in Wildwood they do have the sand castle competitions indeed! Great stuff! Feel better my friend, and have a great week! Enjoy those berries!
  - on July 25, 2012 at 3:04 am patricia60
    
    I have 17 blueberry bushes in my yard, and still purchase some from the Farmer’s Market. I put them in ZIPLOC quart bags into the freezer…frozen blueberries (1 cup frozen raw) and raw organic carrots, one whole per day, (with skin on) are the greatest cancer fighters in the world and naturally lower blood pressure. I have some water tricks on PW this week that also lower heart attack risks…
    The car trip sounds good too…hope it is not too hot.
    I was excited to get my children to the EAST for Washington DC and NYC visits…..How to get the East coast to get their children west? Lots of beauty here and ferry rides for about 1/2 the cost of going the other direction! Just a thought
on July 24, 2012 at 10:24 am | Reply Stephen

Thanks for the kind words, Sam, and the continued advocacy of so many writers.

This week I saw
JULY RHAPSODY **** Very nice. Like Lost in Translation, but better.

I’m glad to hear it’s not so hot. How hot did it get? It’s starting to get hot here now (high 80s fahrenheit, the usual one week of summer!). I’m also glad that the Comedy countdown is coming – I don’t watch too many. In fact I will soon be watching Bringing Up Baby for the first time.
- on July 24, 2012 at 3:57 pm | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Stephen–
  
  Thanks as always for the very kind words! I have not actually seen JULY RHAPSODY, but weill do some investigating. I wasn’t much of a fan though of LOST IN TRANSLATION, which i know most adore. Great to hear you are looking forward to the comedy countdown, which commences on Monday, August 6th, and will run all the way into December. But that time most of us will be on the floor with body aches caused by hysterical laughter! I think? Ha! The temperatures here are presently in the 80′s as well, though muggy. Hope you cling to your refuge over there. Have a great week and many thanks as always! And enjoy BRINGING UP BABY! That’s a classic in the truest sense!
on July 24, 2012 at 12:35 pm | Reply Laurie Buchanan

Sam –

Len and I share your well-penned thoughts regarding the senseless massacre that took place in Aurora, Colorado. Thank you for addressing it here.

You intrigued me with what you wrote about the storyline of the 1948 movie CROSS CROSS. I just checked online with our library and they can, indeed, get it from a sister library. We should have it for our viewing pleasure within two weeks.

This morning we woke up to rain and a thunderstorm – Whoohoo! It promises to keep the temperature in the mid-eighties. A much needed reprieve.

Make it a brilliant day!
- on July 24, 2012 at 3:51 pm | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Laurie–
  
  Thank you. I was further saddened to read that one of the victims resided in your hometown of Crystal Lake, Illinois. There are few words one can apply in this time of unconscionable pain and sorrow. I’m almost certain you’ll greatly appreciate CRISS CROSS and I look forward to your reaction! As to the mention of thunderstorms, we’ve had the same over the past several days, with a lightening storm last night that would delight Thor himself! Today it’s in the 80′s but muggy. Thank goodness you guys have had some relieve. Thanks as always my very good friend! Have a great week!
on July 24, 2012 at 6:21 pm | Reply Shubhajit Lahiri

Thanks Sam for the mention. Great to see that you revisited The Killers – undoubtedly a great masterpiece and one of the most unforgettable film noirs I’ve ever watched.

Looking forward to the Comedy Countdown indeed (though it isn’t really a big deal, but just wanted to clarify that you’ve got the spelling of my surname slightly wrong – there should be an ‘i’ instead of an ‘e’ after ‘h’ – its the same as the surname of the Pulitzer Prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri, not that we’re related, at least not that I know of). Also, really enjoying my participation in the yearly countdowns being conducted by Allan every Sunday.

I didn’t manage to post any movie reviews this past week, though I did post a book review of Lolita at my lit-blog Biblioscope (http://cliched-monologues1.blogspot.in/) – I’d really love to see you visit it sometime. I’m hoping to keep it going alongside Cinemascope, though I’m quite sure it wouldn’t be anywhere close to the latter in terms of the number of posts or frequency of updates.

I managed to watch only 4 movies this past week:
- The brilliant Polish filmmaker Andrzej Munk’s fascinating debut feature, Man on the Tracks
- Robert Bresson’s masterful escape drama, A Man Escaped
- The latest Batman offering from Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises – found it reasonably decent and at par with The Dark Knight; I read the article by Bob Clark the other day, and, though I didn’t get around to leaving a comment, I did find it a fine, unbiased and an intellectually stimulating write-up
- Sorcerer (which I finished watching only a few minutes back) – a pretty good remake of Clouzot’s classic French thriller Wages of Fear
- on July 24, 2012 at 9:07 pm | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Shubhajit–
  
  I will definitely rectify that spelling error. I am a master at such mistakes I will admit. But you are absolutely right to make mention of it with the comedy countdown upcoming. Yep THE KILLERS is a great noir, and the big-screen viewing was the best I’ve ever taken in with this film. I won’t soon forget Thursday night. Be rest assured I’ll soon be checking out that LOLITA piece and that site (which until now I wasn’t aware of). I must hand it to you I do rather like THE SORCEROR myself, and completely agree on what you say about THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. The Bresson is in my opinion the greatest prison movie ever made, and of course Munk’s film is one of the most important Polish films of the 1950′s. Your participation in the Sunday and comedy countdown is deeply treasured my friend. Thanks and have a great week!
  - on July 25, 2012 at 4:32 am Shubhajit Lahiri
    
    I had somehow overlooked that you watched Siodmak’s Criss Cross too, along with his The Killers. Given that both are such terrific noirs, and also share so much in common (the theme, the tone, even the style), that they would surely have made for an incredible double bill – more so in the big screen.
on July 27, 2012 at 1:09 am | Reply bobby J.

Hi Sam,
As you probably know, I’ve been rushed off my feet recently, alas.
I’ve watched ‘The Avengers’* which basically consists of three big set-pieces, the first two are fine and second one amid a floating fortress and with the Hulk coming out is the highlight of the film. The ending is the usual over the top nonsense that just seems to go on forever, the plot already seems hackish having already being used for the ‘Thor’ film and has waaaay too much going on with the amount of the information on screen. The star of the show is the actor playing ‘The Hulk’, he has the casual gruffness, an innate intelligence and a sense of something wicked this way comes if things don’t go right.
‘Promethus’** – this was a strange brew. The first ‘Alien’ film had a slow-burning sense of menace but it had ideas that casual unveiled themselves. It was a high class piece of SF with a plot suggesting low-brow. This prequel is wholly low-brow yet insanely entertaining in a loopy way, as if it had been done for gaudiest SF adventure magazine. The whole plot and theme could be transposed to Rider Haggard’s Africa -the journey to another planet a trip into lost valleys and tribes amid a forgotten city, the search for immortality could be from a fountain, the members of the expedition get wiped out would be via all the creepy crawlies on the way. The whole thing has an action-orientated ethos for the modern teen, last minute escapes, lumbering spaceships that come howling, crashing down just in the nick of time for the heroine to in just the right place to avoid death. It takes the elements of the ‘Alien’ universe and stirs them in with Indiana Jones and Rider Haggard. Curiously, I’ve always thought the perfect Indy film would be called ‘Indiana Jones in the Valley of the Dinosaurs’. I can imagine that title would sell itself.
I also saw ‘The Hollow Crown’ – which I commented on in Allan entry on it. The first three parts have many, many fine elements that work for them, I think Irons steals the show and the actor playing Richard II. It’s compulsive. It makes me realise just how inspired and brilliant hre casting of Welles’ ‘The Chimes of Midnight’ and both versions of ‘Henry V’ were. There is one scene in the last part where they’ve restored the text so that Henry promises such savage death, rape and pillage – it’s quite shocking and it’s a surprise that it was never included in Brangh’s version. Anyway, the last part of the of plays may be my one of my least favourite Shakespearian adaptions, it’s simply awful and actors who were generally good in the other films fall down due to really poor direction. I heard an interesting comment in some of the special features for ‘Fahrenheit 451′ where Ray Bradbury (RIP) expouses a pet theory that if a great film has a weak ending, it loses much of it’s power, whereas a good movie with a great ending is raised in estimation. I kind of feel that way about the last part of ‘The Hollow Crown’. It commendable that the Beeb have been ambitious, hopefully their forthcoming adaption of ‘The Man in the High Castle’ will be more consistent.
I also saw a three part TV mini series called ‘Chiefs’ from 1983, based on a book and the only reason I watched was because of a good review IMDB, it stars Charlton Heston as a decent politician and his observance of the three police chiefs during that time, three of them over three decades in a small American town from the ’20s to the present. It’s pretty formulaic and predictable.
Also watched selected episodes (as most highly voted for on IMDB) of ‘Johnny Staccato’ – a lively, jazzy, sassy series starring John Cassavetes in a world of clubs and music and small time intrigue. It’s hip and full of jive and noirish ambiance in visual and aural terms, if never in noir’s fatalistic grip.
- on July 30, 2012 at 3:05 pm | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Bobby—
  
  My apologies for the late response, but I just now saw this submission (and Jeffrey Goodman’s below) Well, you can be rest assured I am no fan of THE AVENGERS either, and for various reasons would pretty much give it the same quality rating (or lack thereof! Ha!) I like the ‘entertaining in a loopy way’ in consideration of Ridley Scott’s PROMETHEUS, which certainly did have it’s moments and share of technical bravado. I recall going with a general 3 of 5 rating for it, and pretty much would stay the course now. I did indeed see your fantastic comment under Allan’s review of HOLLOW CROWN, and concur with you on the points about CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT and the two parts of HENRY, and am also surprised Branagh opted to leave those out. That’s apersuasive point by Bradbury about endings spoiling much of what comes before. Haven’t yet negotiated CHIEFS and that Cassevetes, but appreciate the telling report. Have a great week my friend! Many thanks as always.
on July 29, 2012 at 8:19 pm | Reply Jeffrey Goodman

Sam, thanks so much for the great mention.

I’m totally with you on CRISS CROSS and THE KILLERS. I consider them both very top shelf noirs. With these two and of course THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE, Siodmak definitely made his mark.

This week I took in mostly music docs: WE JAM ECONO – THE STORY OF THE MINUTEMEN, LEONARD COHEN: I’M YOUR MAN, and LOUDQUIETLOUD: A FILM ABOUT THE PIXIES. I also saw the Mankiewicz noir SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT. I was happy to see them all but particularly enjoyed the Minutemen doc. It really gives you a sense of the band, in ways that I’ve rarely experienced in these kinds of films.

Here’s to another awesome week, Sam. Thanks so much for all that you do!
- on July 30, 2012 at 2:54 pm | Reply Sam Juliano
  
  Hey Jeffrey!
  Very sorry for the tardy response here to both your submission and Bobby J’s above, but I just now saw them. Alas I’ve never seen the Minutemen documentary, but appreciate the stellar response. I’ve seen a few of the others though, and have been a huge fan of Leonard Cohen and his’songs’ album for decades. Thanks as always for the peerless support and eternal friendship on these these threads my friend!