Behind Bars Sometimes it is a joy rummaging around in the old Hal Roach and Mack Sennett comedies. There’s an assumption behind the humor that by itself is rewarding: physical stuff and often heartfelt goodness. But sometimes they fall into sour recall, the times not being so forgiving of the humor of pain and embarrassment.… Continue reading Fatty Joins the Force (1913)
Clue (1982)
Hasn’t a Clue No genre has more opportunities for mind-bending and/amusing bends than the mystery. Especially film mysteries. And this one has a very promising foundation: a parody of a parody: ‘Murder by Death,’ which itself was rather clever in a lowbrow sort of way. Add to this the also clever notion of building on… Continue reading Clue (1982)
First Spaceship on Venus (1960)
The Beginning In 1958 Russia changed the world by launching Sputnik. This really was a shock; modern readers may not appreciate it as of the magnitude (in the US) of 9-11. In terms of national will, there was a more universal mobilisation and commitment of resources than after 9-11, that’s for sure. Both the Russian… Continue reading First Spaceship on Venus (1960)
Fata Morgana (1971)
Notebooks Herzog has produced works of genius. That’s because he has incredibly trustworthy cinematic intuition, believes in forces that called be charmed forth and is unafraid to take deep risks in his quest. He also has some interesting things to say about his work. But I advise you to not listen to what he has… Continue reading Fata Morgana (1971)
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Reflective Engagement I normally write about folding; the most obvious is when a film contains a film or play, but there are a bewildering number of types. The most interesting of these to me is when the film ‘folds’ the watcher in, in some way. The least interesting is when a film overtly quotes another.… Continue reading Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Fat Girl (2001)
Sets Us Aside Brellliat drives me a little crazy. She is an observer of one small corner of life and seems incidentally a filmmaker. You get different editions of her observations on the distance of young sex across which we throw ropes. So the question is which is the best and whether each one that… Continue reading Fat Girl (2001)
Far and Away (1992)
Another Slap Here is another film in the tradition of “The Quiet Man:” Irish as hard drinkin hard fightin dopes downyou luvem. Once again, the hero is a fighter with a pure heart who the fight-addicted crowds love. Once again, the fiery redhead needs to be won with land as a matter of her dowry.… Continue reading Far and Away (1992)
Enola Holmes 2 (2022)
Confidence Games Three things to like in this. The first is the obvious breaking of the fourth wall. Rather than be sly like Bruce Willis often was, this is in your face old school in-action narration. It is refreshing. Not so sure it will still work in a third film, though. The second is simply… Continue reading Enola Holmes 2 (2022)
Fantastic Four (2005)
Two and a half We are seeing a new genre be invented and the process is quite thrilling. No one really knows what the genre will actually be, what it will look like and what few things will characterise it. So dozens of teams take stabs at it. Most will fail so utterly (like this… Continue reading Fantastic Four (2005)
The Kovak Box (2006)
Inverted Writing There is a standard form for a movie like this. It is so heavily imprinted that when you encounter a deviation, it shocks. We have a writer who wrote a book that comes alive. We expect that the relationship between book (the film within) and reality will be adjudicated on the viewer’s side.… Continue reading The Kovak Box (2006)