ALL I WATCHED in 2022 (with reviews)
First-time viewing picks of the year:
L.A. Story
The River
Modern Romance
Woman in the Dunes
Love Affair
Tunes Of Glory
Whisper Of The Heart
The Ship That Died Of Shame (PT Raiders)
Gone To Earth
Cash On Demand
The Golden Coach
Lost Horizon
The Big Trail
Safety Last!
City Lights
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Tokyo Drifter
The Ballad Of Gregorio Cortez
The Upturned Glass
The Beach Bum
Enchanted April
Lady On A Train
Who Killed the Cat?
Jack the Giant killer
Ecstasy
Freaked
Secret Admirer
One Body Too Many
Private Property
Trial And Error (The Dock Brief)
The More The Merrier
Battling Butler
Jane Eyre
I Married A Witch
The Boss's Daughter
Field Of Dreams
Tampopo
Anne Of Green Gables
Cattle Annie And Little Britches
A Life In Pieces (TV series)
Pandora And The Flying Dutchman
What's Up Doc?
Onward
Uncut Gems
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids
Lion
A Christmas Story Christmas
L.A. Story
The River
Modern Romance
Woman in the Dunes
Love Affair
Tunes Of Glory
Whisper Of The Heart
The Ship That Died Of Shame (PT Raiders)
Gone To Earth
Cash On Demand
The Golden Coach
Lost Horizon
The Big Trail
Safety Last!
City Lights
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Tokyo Drifter
The Ballad Of Gregorio Cortez
The Upturned Glass
The Beach Bum
Enchanted April
Lady On A Train
Who Killed the Cat?
Jack the Giant killer
Ecstasy
Freaked
Secret Admirer
One Body Too Many
Private Property
Trial And Error (The Dock Brief)
The More The Merrier
Battling Butler
Jane Eyre
I Married A Witch
The Boss's Daughter
Field Of Dreams
Tampopo
Anne Of Green Gables
Cattle Annie And Little Britches
A Life In Pieces (TV series)
Pandora And The Flying Dutchman
What's Up Doc?
Onward
Uncut Gems
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids
Lion
A Christmas Story Christmas
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243 titles
- DirectorMike NewellStarsJessica Brown FindlayTom CourtenayMichiel HuismanIn the aftermath of World War II, a writer forms an unexpected bond with the residents of Guernsey Island when she decides to write a book about their experiences during the war. Then she learns the secret they are afraid to reveal.This worked for new year's day viewing. Engaging story, drama with romance. Tom Courtney & Penelope Wilton raise the quality.
Historically important: people forget the channel islands (UK) were actually occupied during world war two. - DirectorMichael PowellEmeric PressburgerStarsDeborah KerrDavid FarrarFlora RobsonA group of nuns struggle to establish a convent in the Himalayas, while isolation, extreme weather, altitude, and culture clashes all conspire to drive the well-intentioned missionaries mad.Beautiful sets and photography. Curious situation with brooding, almost mythic atmosphere. Cons? Swings from ice to melodrama, perhaps lacking a more relatable element.
- DirectorGeorge PalStarsRuss TamblynJune ThorburnPeter SellersA boy (Russ Tamblyn), no bigger than a thumb, manages to outwit two thieves (Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers) determined to make a fortune from him.3rd viewing. The film that eluded me throughout childhood having seen it once in xmas 83? Enjoyed it even more now that i accept its weaknesses in advance and enjoy the ride.
- DirectorBert I. GordonStarsRichard CarlsonSusan GordonLugene SandersA man lets a former flame fall to her death rather than let her interfere with his new relationship, but her ghost returns to disrupt his impending nuptials.B movie delight. Ghost of ex-wife hounds husband in noir lighthouse world.
- DirectorJames ParrottStarsStan LaurelOliver HardyBilly GilbertIn the hospital with a broken leg Ollie is visited by Stan, who brings him hard-boiled eggs, nuts, and total mayhem.Hard boiled eggs and nuts, followed by hospital /mad car escapade.
- DirectorJames W. HorneStarsStan LaurelOliver HardyHarry BernardStan and Ollie try to hide their pet dog Laughing Gravy from their exasperated, mean tempered landlord, who has a "No Pets" policy.In the snowy cabin with the dog and the angry landlord.
- DirectorJeremy SummersStarsReggie WinchLawrie MarkDavid YoungA young boy's lucky t-shirt is transformed through a power surge and gives its wearer super-powers.Enjoyable late 70s vibe. And great idea. Why only 6? Started well but kinda petered out. Fell shy of its potential. Worth a rewatch.
- DirectorRobert HirdStarsLesley RoachGary SmithRachel BrennockA little girl, Mary, is disappointed when she doesn't receive a pet rabbit for her birthday, but then she gets one after all, in the form of an imaginary friend. Mary's parents can't see him, even though she insists that he is real.Ouch. The first time you see this rabbit man costume, you feel like you are syd barrett. However, the classic railway-children-era feel of this keeps you watching.
- DirectorBasil DeardenStarsRichard AttenboroughGeorge BakerBill OwenA trio of ex-servicemen begin smuggling innocuous black market items into post-war Britain, but through greed they graduate to more sinister cargo.(aka 'the ship that died of shame') Excellent. A surprise how good this was. Post war, ex navy men turn to light smuggling. Crime, action, moral dilemmas, even a touch of earth magic. Look forward to seeing this again.
- DirectorCharles FrendRobert HamerStarsGoogie WithersJean KentJohn McCallumOn Romney Marsh at the turn of the century, a woman farmer has three suitors.Promising set up (and setting) but for some reason, slightly under-nourishing. Not enough to the characters i suppose.
- StarsGladys BootJane FergusMarjorie FieldingYoung Viscount Pym manages to to get an army leave on the pretense of running for the Conservatives in the next local election. His only aim in fact is to marry June, a rich American heiress, before she returns to America. Due to unexpected circumstances, he is driven to take part in the election campaign but loses the vote. Humiliated, Tony must win June Back so why not stand again, as a Socialist this time?Almost a guilty pleasure. On paper the plot sounds so boring. And it plays a bit like an amateur dramatics favourite. But the humour, the butler, and dear old (or in this case, young) david tomlinson shuffle this polite, daft political comedy safely home.
- DirectorMartin RittStarsPaul NewmanFredric MarchRichard BooneJohn Russell, disdained by his "respectable" fellow stagecoach passengers because he was raised by Native Americans, becomes their only hope for survival when they are set upon by outlaws.4th? viewing. Still rocking it as one of the best westerns and one of the best paul newman performances.
- DirectorAnthony PelissierStarsGene TierneyLeo GennPamela BrownIn a 1950s British village, a teenager, who is in love with her Latin language teacher, disappears, prompting the police to investigate the teacher, amidst public rumors of rape and murder.Good uk love/crime/mystery. Tierney and Glynis johns both watchable.
- DirectorFrançois OzonStarsCatherine DeneuveGérard DepardieuFabrice LuchiniA housewife and grandma takes over the family business 1977, after her husband is hurt during a strike.A pleasure to look at 70s nostalgia through french eyes.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsJames StewartJohn DallFarley GrangerTwo men try to convince themselves they've committed the perfect murder by hosting a dinner party after strangling a former classmate to death.3rd time viewing. Sorry, still can't agree with its many fans. Always feels like a chore or a stiff, self-conscious play to me.
- DirectorGérard PirèsStarsSamy NaceriFrédéric DiefenthalMarion CotillardTo work off his tarnished driving record, a hip taxi driver must chauffeur a loser police inspector on the trail of German bank robbers.1st time viewing in 2022, was a joy to revisit the late 90s action vibe. Made with style and heart.
- DirectorDale RosenbloomStarsBlake HeronMichael MoriartyScott WilsonA small-town Southern boy named Marty Preston must rescue a young beagle from his abusive owner, Judd Travers.Steiger stands out amongst the (bless 'em) amateurs in this hearty dog dilemma flick.
- DirectorJames GriffithsStarsNick FrostRashida JonesChris O'DowdBeneath Bruce Garrett's under-confident, overweight exterior, the passionate heart of a salsa king lies dormant. Now, one woman is about to reignite his Latin fire.A funny modern dance rom-com? It worked though.
- DirectorRobert HamerStarsJohn MillsJohn McCallumElizabeth SellarsReleased from prison after twelve years, a wrongfully convicted British man seeks revenge on the witnesses who lied at his trial.John mills does a good job, sweating it out, piecing together the jigsaw of his betrayal. Worth another watch.
- DirectorDouglas TrumbullStarsBruce DernCliff PottsRon RifkinIn a future where all flora is extinct on Earth, an astronaut is given orders to destroy the last of Earth's botany, kept in a greenhouse aboard a spacecraft.2nd viewing. Not as good as it was in my mind. Good concept but ultimately drawn out, i kept nodding off.
- DirectorMike FiggisStarsRichard GereAndy GarciaNancy TravisAn Internal Affairs agent becomes obsessed with bringing down a cop who has managed to maintain a spotless reputation despite being involved in a web of corruption.1st time watching. All the attitude and cliche of late 80s thrillers. Evil richard gere is quite fun.
- DirectorJohn DavisStarsAnthony KempMary BurleighMartin BeaumontAn Imaginative young boy called Tony whose Dad is the Town Mayor, isn't believed when he might actually be telling the truth for once.Decent CFF venture. Biggest surprise - that journalist is daisy from keeping up appearances!
- DirectorJacques AudiardStarsJohn C. ReillyJoaquin PhoenixJake GyllenhaalEli and Charlie Sisters, an infamous duo of gunslinging assassins, chase a gold prospector and his unexpected ally in 1850s Oregon.Enjoyed more than i expected too at the time, but haven't thought of it since. Reilly & Phoenix carry it with their bickering-meets-violence combo (pulp fiction-esque). Watchable but not loveable.
- DirectorMary HarronStarsChristian BaleJustin TherouxJosh LucasA wealthy New York City investment banking executive, Patrick Bateman, hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he delves deeper into his violent, hedonistic fantasies.Pretty faithful to the book in its depiction of 80s greed culture at its extreme edges. 20 years on, it succeeds more as a time capsule than a shock venture. Saved by its dark humour.
- DirectorJohn SturgesStarsKirk DouglasAnthony QuinnCarolyn JonesA marshal tries to bring the son of an old friend, an autocratic cattle baron, to justice for his role in the rape and murder of the marshal's Native American wife.2nd viewing. Steady film. Kirk D and Quinn on solid form as old pals drawn into conflict over a senseless murder.
- DirectorMichael FischaStarsSusan BlakelyJohn SaxonTina CasparyAfter being bitten by a mysterious pet-shop owner, house-wife Leslie begins a gruesome transformation into a werewolf. Her only hope is her young daughter Jennifer who races against time to stop Leslie from turning into an animal for good.Very silly but fun. So bad it's good, in a knowing way. 80s teen movie meets comedy horror. I enjoyed it throughout.
- DirectorSergio SollimaStarsGian Maria VolontèTomas MilianWilliam BergerA history professor has a chance meeting with an infamous outlaw and eventually assumes leadership of his gang.I tend not to bother much with spaghetti westerns but this one comes up a lot as 'a different kind'. Yes i see that, it had a tad more morality and intellectual claim than usual, but ultimately it felt pretty much like other examples of the genre, ie lost in a sea of overdubbing and over-baked action.
- DirectorWim WendersStarsHarry Dean StantonNastassja KinskiDean StockwellTravis Henderson, an aimless drifter who has been missing for four years, wanders out of the desert and must reconnect with society, himself, his life, and his family.Halfway through i began to really hate this movie in a way that i don't usually feel. I didn't like anyone in it, or anything they did. It just got worse. Wallowing, annoying, airless.
- DirectorRobert WiseStarsJames CagneyDon DubbinsStephen McNallyWith no law within 200 miles horse rancher Jeremy Rodak runs his spread with an iron hand and deals with rustlers even more ruthlessly.Sped through some of it. I was tired. And i never seem able to gel with james cagney. But this had a nice story to it. Just didn't enjoy it fully.
- DirectorRobert DayStarsPeter SellersDavid LodgeBernard CribbinsWhile in prison, Dodger plots the perfect heist: break out, steal diamonds, get back before noticed. With days left on sentence and a solid alibi, he's confident nothing can go wrong.2nd viewing. Better than before. Contender for 'wrong arm of the law' crown.
- DirectorHenry HathawayStarsJohn WayneDean MartinMartha HyerRanch owner Katie Elder's four sons determine to avenge the murder of their father and the swindling of their mother.2nd viewing. Better than before i'm glad to say. Something fake about john wayne in every film really, but this is one of his better ones.
- DirectorAdam WingardStarsAlexander SkarsgårdMillie Bobby BrownRebecca HallThe epic next chapter in the cinematic Monsterverse pits two of the greatest icons in motion picture history against each other--the fearsome Godzilla and the mighty Kong--with humanity caught in the balance.Too big and empty and just so... i don't know. Glad when it ended really.
- DirectorRobert AsherStarsNorman WisdomJennifer JayneRaymond HuntleyNorman wants to be a policeman like his father was, but he fails the height test (amongst others). One day he gets out his father's old uniform and "walks the beat". This leads to a level of chaos that only Norman could cause.Recommended by Derek on Bangers and Cash! My 1st Norman Wisdom comedy. Enough laughs to roll it along nicely. I imagine this is probably as good as NW films get..?
- DirectorSam PeckinpahStarsJoel McCreaRandolph ScottMariette HartleyAn ex-union soldier is hired to transport gold from a mining community through dangerous territory. But what he doesn't realize is that his partner and old friend is plotting to double-cross him.2nd time viewing. Much better this time. I 'get it' now. Almost a love letter to old westerns. But something about Scott playing a greedy man though, it just doesn't work.
- DirectorNicholas RayStarsHumphrey BogartGloria GrahameFrank LovejoyA potentially violent screenwriter is a murder suspect until his lovely neighbor clears him. However, she soon starts to have her doubts.Just a bit meh. There is a bogart film i'm looking for, thought this was it , but no.
- DirectorDziga VertovStarsMikhail KaufmanElizaveta SvilovaA man travels around a city with a camera slung over his shoulder, documenting urban life with dazzling invention.Like a diver launching himself off into the blue. The early excitement of 'what a camera can do' is expressed here with all manner of variety, emotion and film trickery.
- DirectorRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsChristian CookeFelicity JonesTom HughesA 1970s-set comedy centered on three young working class friends in a dreary suburb of Reading.Made with affection. Captures well a lot of the detail and feelings of the era. Some reason i don't love it. Not sure why. Too stagey? Tv like?
- DirectorAkira KurosawaStarsTatsuya NakadaiTsutomu YamazakiKen'ichi HagiwaraA petty thief with an utter resemblance to a samurai warlord is hired as the lord's double. When the warlord later dies the thief is forced to take up arms in his place.Like a big kite that launches up, looking mighty and impressive but after a while you realise you are watching a pretty box filled with air. Some lovely moments (the king's grandson) but long battle scenes that made me phase out and think of the washing up.
- DirectorCarl ReinerStarsSteve MartinKathleen TurnerDavid WarnerA brain surgeon marries a femme fatale whose life he saved, causing his life to turn upside down. Things go even more awry when he falls in love with a telepathic brain.1st time i'd seen it since the 80s/90s VHS days. Surprised me how i well i'd remembered every word and also just how much i enjoyed seeing it again now, decades later. My younger self always did have good taste.
- DirectorNorman TokarStarsBill BixbySusan ClarkDon KnottsThree orphan children strike gold in 1878 California.The goofy villain duo give it the 'butlins redcoat performance' touch. The rest was like eating a boring sandwich.
- DirectorMarcel VarnelStarsBud FlanaganChesney AllenJimmy NervoAlf discovers that one of the buttons on his uniform is made from the metal of Aladdin's lamp. When he cleans it a genie appears.I spent the whole film silently geeing them on, wanting them to crank it up and be more funny. Mostly it's Bud flanagan making weak jokes with the other 5 guys hanging around him like suits draped over furniture. A magical set up, sadly wasted.
- DirectorJ. Lee ThompsonStarsYvonne MitchellAnthony QuayleSylvia SymsA middle-aged married woman is shocked to discover that her husband, whom she thought was content in their marriage, has become infatuated with a beautiful younger woman and plans to leave his family for her.His wife is the centre, in all her domestic and emotional chaos. Well made, well observed. Made me feel a bit stressed though, watching it. That soap opera 'personal breakdown' thing.
- DirectorHarmony KorineStarsMatthew McConaugheySnoop DoggIsla FisherA rebellious stoner named Moondog lives life by his own rules.Very stoned. Almost a 'so bad it's good' movie. As if a 14 year old in the 90s had imagined a 'super cool dude drug man life with girls and cars and everything' and here it is.
- DirectorLeo McCareyStarsGroucho MarxHarpo MarxChico MarxRufus T. Firefly is named the dictator of bankrupt Freedonia and declares war on neighboring Sylvania over the love of his wealthy backer Mrs. Teasdale, contending with two inept spies who can't seem to keep straight which side they're on.3rd time viewing. Enjoyed clown antics more than usual, and groucho perhaps less than usual.
- DirectorNoel BlackStarsAnthony PerkinsTuesday WeldBeverly GarlandWhen a mentally-disturbed young man tells a pretty girl that he's a secret agent, she believes him; murder and mayhem ensue.It's questionable now, how hollywood makes violence 'sexy' - but it's a good example of that type of film. Noir/amour fou for the teenage boomers. Shelve with badlands etc.
- DirectorJacques TourneurStarsJoel McCreaVera MilesLloyd BridgesIn 1874, after noticing the total lawlessness in Wichita, Wyatt Earp reluctantly accepts the Marshal's job and runs into the worst local troublemakers.A better class of oater.
- DirectorBasil DeardenStarsOliver ReedDiana RiggTelly SavalasA woman causes a group of assassins to face their greatest challenge.Very sixties; like bold, synthetic, coloured ruffles with not much behind the eyes. Haven't thought about this film since.
- DirectorLudwig BergerMichael PowellTim WhelanStarsConrad VeidtSabuJune DuprezAfter being tricked and cast out of Bagdad by the evil Jaffar, King Ahmad joins forces with a thief named Abu to reclaim his throne, the city, and the Princess he loves.4th time viewing. Classic as ever. Next time i want to see a blu ray copy.
- DirectorCurtis HarringtonStarsDennis HopperLinda LawsonGavin MuirA young sailor is attracted to a mysterious mermaid performing at a carnival, but soon suspects that the girl is actually a siren who draws men to their watery deaths during the full moon.Slow, subtle but i liked being there in black and white in a sleepy seaside town, despite dennis hopper overplaying his character's wild-eyed innocence.
- DirectorLionel JeffriesStarsLaurence NaismithGraham CrowdenDorothy AlisonTwo children befriend ghosts in a haunted mansion. To help the ghosts, they make a potion allowing time travel to the past. After becoming housekeepers, they return to the mansion's past and aid the dead children.3rd time viewing. Better and more moving than ever.
- DirectorAnthony MannStarsJames StewartJanet LeighRobert RyanA bounty hunter trying to bring a murderer to justice is forced to accept the help of two less-than-trustworthy strangers.I wanted to enjoy it more. Jimmy stewart's constant intense nervous anger made it ultimately annoying.
- DirectorMike NewellStarsAlfred MolinaJoan PlowrightMiranda RichardsonFour English women, after World War I, who are unhappy with their lives, and their time away on vacation in a beautiful Italian villa.Lovely little surprise. Enjoyable characters, funny moments, touch of magic. One of the best uk films of the era.
- DirectorWilliam A. FrakerStarsKlinton SpilsburyMichael HorseChristopher LloydThe sole surviving Texas Ranger (Klinton Spilsbury) of an ambush arranged by outlaw leader Major Bartholomew "Butch" Cavendish (Christopher Lloyd) returns to fight back as a great masked western hero, The Lone Ranger.Yeah it's weak on many levels but i loved basking in that early 80s sunset vibe, esp when, as it began, i suddenly remembered seeing the trailer for this back in 1981, in the granada cinema, aged 6.
- DirectorLesley SelanderStarsRandolph ScottDorothy MalonePeggie CastleLarry Madden returns to Little River after several years, still vowing to avenge himself against the humiliating whipping he received at the hands of cattle baron Tucker Ordway.One of the better 'non-Budd' westerns made with Randolph
- DirectorMontgomery TullyStarsVanda GodsellMervyn JohnsNatasha PyneA scheming widow tries to persecute three old ladies, but fate takes its revenge on her.Fun, satisfying UK crime drama. Every character is enjoyable. Good English old lady vibes. Whole film has a real twinkle in it's eye.
- DirectorMike NewellStarsHugh GrantAndie MacDowellJames FleetOver the course of five social occasions, a committed bachelor must consider the notion that he may have discovered love.Better, funnier and more succinct than i'd imagined.
- DirectorWilliam BeatonLisa LakeRobin MahoneyStarsRichard AshcroftPhil BellCharlie Creed-MilesA no-holds-barred trip through the music, magic and midsummer madness of the legendary Glastonbury Festival. Featuring The Orb, Spiritualized, The Verve, Lemonheads, Porno for Pyros and more! A must-see for all festival fans.This does a great job of capturing the details, people and vibes of that year. I was there and it was my first time ever at a glastonbury festival. So personally, they couldn't have picked a better year to make this film.
- DirectorErnst LubitschStarsCarole LombardJack BennyRobert StackDuring the German occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy.3rd time viewing. As good as ever. Still one of the all-time best comedies.
- DirectorJohn BadhamStarsRoy ScheiderWarren OatesCandy ClarkThe cop test pilot for an experimental police helicopter learns the sinister implications of the new vehicle.80s pulp action at its best. Gets silly and a bit leery but always engaging. A guilty pleasure? Warren Oates steals it.
- DirectorWilliam A. WellmanStarsCarole LombardFredric MarchCharles WinningerAn eccentric woman learns she is not dying of radium poisoning as earlier assumed, but when she meets a reporter looking for a story, she feigns sickness again for her own profit.This film is all about the celebration of Lombard's character's looming and premature death. Lombard herself died 5 years later, aged 33. Hmmm..
- DirectorGregory La CavaStarsWilliam PowellCarole LombardAlice BradyA scatterbrained socialite hires a vagrant as a family butler - but there's more to Godfrey than meets the eye.Always a joy. Probably my favourite film of the thirties and one of the best comedies of all time.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsKaren BlackBruce DernBarbara HarrisA phony psychic/con artist and her taxi driver/actor boyfriend encounter a pair of serial kidnappers while trailing a missing heir in California.Better, and more fun than expected. More caper than crime i guess. Hitch bows out with a wink.
- DirectorLeo McCareyStarsIrene DunneCharles BoyerMaria OuspenskayaA French playboy and an American former nightclub singer fall in love aboard a ship.Later remade as 'an affair to remember'. Expertly unfolds from sparkling comedy into subtle yet true emotion. Well pitched throughout. Probably one of the best films of the decade.
- DirectorJane CampionStarsHolly HunterHarvey KeitelSam NeillIn the mid-19th century a mute woman is sent to New Zealand along with her young daughter and prized piano for an arranged marriage to a farmer, but is soon lusted after by a farm worker.Three selfish adults and their immoral behaviour expose a child to torment and inappropriate scenes. Beautifully shot.
- DirectorFrancis MegahyStarsPierce BrosnanRay McAnallyAlison DoodyAn Irish tough-guy debt collector is asked by his local community to help rid the town of developers bent on building a chemical plant on the outskirts of town. The developers are ruthless and have sent their heavies into town to keep the locals quiet.Like a script written by Alan Partridge but with extra edge.
- DirectorRoberto RosselliniStarsIngrid BergmanGeorge SandersMaria MaubanAn unhappily married couple attempts to find direction and insight while vacationing in Naples.Strange combo of a sincere intention meets hands-on cinematic style meets detached characters/actors. Saved by a late-goal 'miracle'.
- DirectorJason ReitmanStarsCarrie CoonPaul RuddFinn WolfhardWhen a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.Affectionate, well made retro-based sequel - sadly spoiled by a number of inappropriate scenes and lines involving children (as did many other so-called 'family' movies of the 80s).
- DirectorArthur RipleyStarsRobert CummingsMichèle MorganSteve CochranChuck Scott gets a job as chauffeur to tough guy Eddie Roman; but Chuck's involvement with Eddie's fearful wife becomes a nightmare.Strong, quirky noir with a mind/time twist.
- DirectorEnzo BarboniStarsTerence HillBud SpencerSteffen ZachariasA lazy, unorthodox gunfighter and his portly, horse-thieving brother defend a Mormon settlement from a land-grabbing Major, a Mexican bandit, and their henchmen.Good enough comedy. I watched the whole movie here 'for the 1st time' before realising - i'd seen it 3 years ago. So it must be a bit forgettable then, despite being fun. I think that's the effect of overdubbing: disengagement.
- DirectorMichael PowellEmeric PressburgerRouben MamoulianStarsJennifer JonesDavid FarrarCyril CusackA beautiful, superstitious, animal-loving Gypsy is hotly desired by a fox-hunting squire even after she marries a clergyman.Her accent (Cockney/irish/cornish/swedish/alabama?) coupled with moments of dialogue that make no sense, caught me off guard at first. Once i'd decided to accept all that and relax - it soon became a near-masterpiece of a dark, rural fairy tale, beautifully shot, full of primal power.
- DirectorQuentin LawrenceStarsPeter CushingAndré MorellRichard VernonA charming but ruthless criminal holds the family of a bank manager hostage as part of a cold-blooded plan to steal 97,000 pounds.The best Peter Cushing performance? Brilliant tense, claustrophobic crime gem.
- DirectorGeorge Roy HillStarsPaul NewmanRobert RedfordKatharine RossIn 1890s Wyoming, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid lead a band of outlaws. When a train robbery goes wrong, they find themselves on the run with a posse hard on their heels. After considering their options, they escape to South America.Hadn't seen it for many years. Was looking forward to seeing it again but meh.
- DirectorJean RenoirStarsAnna MagnaniOdoardo SpadaroNada FiorelliThree men of varying social standing - a viceroy, a bullfighter, and a soldier - vie for the affections of an actress in 18th-century Peru.Visually striking. Playful. Interweaves between the movie itself and the 'play within the movie' with artful grace. Duncan Lamont's cool wit grounds the film, saving it from becoming too dramatic, or too shallow.
- DirectorOtto PremingerStarsDana AndrewsGene TierneyGary MerrillDet. Sgt. Mark Dixon wants to be something his old man wasn't: a guy on the right side of the law. Will Dixon's vicious nature get the better of him?Decent noir plot, perhaps a little overplayed by dana andrews. Rewatch this. I was tired at the time.
- DirectorMike LeighStarsMarion BaileyTim RothPhil DanielsWhen one brother gets a job from their wealthy aunt, the other becomes increasingly jealous.Real, you can smell the ashtrays and burnt sausages. It's the slight oddness of the characters that make it memorable. Some of the usual mike leigh class cliches, but there's all the dark comedy and hearty performances you'd hope for here.
- DirectorBuster KeatonStarsBuster KeatonRuth DwyerT. Roy BarnesA man learns that he will inherit a fortune if he marries by 7PM that evening.Romps away with joy, bordering on surreal.
- DirectorCharles ChaplinStarsCharles ChaplinMack SwainTom MurrayA prospector goes to the Klondike during the 1890s gold rush in hopes of making his fortune, and is smitten with a girl he sees in a dance hall.A little soft-headed but fun enough.
- DirectorGustav MachatýStarsHedy LamarrZvonimir RogozAribert MogEva has just got married to an older gentleman. She leaves him, and one day, she meets a young man, and they fall in love. Fate brings the husband together with the young lover that has taken Eva from him.Poetic and ahead of it's time. A pleasing surprise.
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsRonald ColmanJane WyattEdward Everett HortonWhen a revered diplomat's plane is diverted and crashes in the peaks of Tibet, he and the other survivors are guided to an isolated monastery at Shangri-La, where they wrestle with the invitation to stay.Grand, deep, philosophical and a touch of magic.
- DirectorBerthold ViertelStarsConrad VeidtRene RayFrank CellierThe tenants of an old boarding house are terrorized by an evil slumlord. One day a strange man arrives at the house and begins to help them with their problems.The mary poppins effect comes to upstairs/downstairs 30s household. Lots of enjoyable moments with a few protracted scenes.
- DirectorErnst LubitschStarsMarlene DietrichHerbert MarshallMelvyn DouglasA woman and her husband take separate vacations, and she falls in love with another man.Despite nudging the boundaries of the believable, this has plenty of style and a good heart.
- DirectorHoward HawksRichard RossonStarsPaul MuniAnn DvorakKaren MorleyAn ambitious and nearly insane violent gangster climbs the ladder of success in the mob, but his weaknesses prove to be his downfall.Feels advanced for 1932. Has character and stones.
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsHumphrey BogartLauren BacallWalter BrennanDuring World War II, American expatriate Harry Morgan helps transport a French Resistance leader and his beautiful wife to Martinique while romancing a sensuous lounge singer.Hard not to compare to Casablanca. Like a more playful, earthy version. Bacall is much more fun than Bergman.
- DirectorRuss MeyerStarsTura SatanaHajiLori WilliamsThree go-go dancers holding a young girl hostage come across a crippled old man living with his two sons in the desert. After learning he's hiding a sum of cash around, the women start scheming on him.Yep. Still stands up as perhaps the queen supreme of all trash/cult movies.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsIngrid BergmanJoseph CottenMichael WildingA young gentleman goes to Australia where he reunites with his now married childhood sweetheart, only to find out she has become an alcoholic and harbors dark secrets.Hmm. Bit of a gulf between its quiet, complex psychological situation and its brightly coloured, visual presence. Now i know what to expect, i'll probably enjoy it more on 2nd view.
- DirectorAlbert BrooksStarsAlbert BrooksKathryn HarroldTyann MeansAlbert Brooks directs himself as a successful film editor with far too many issues that affects the relationship between him and his remarkably patient girlfriend.Where has this gem been hiding? Like a classic woody allen from another angle. Laughed a lot.
- DirectorLloyd FrenchStarsStan LaurelOliver HardyMae BuschKeen to climb the social ladder by marrying a rich widow, Oliver finds the nerve to cheat on his partner Stanley. What he doesn't know is that her favorite hobby is murder--and it looks like he's next. Who can save Oliver the Eighth?Potential murder + their childishness = good comedy.
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsGary CooperBarbara StanwyckOscar HomolkaA group of professors working on a new encyclopedia while living in a Manhattan mansion take in a mouthy nightclub singer who is wanted by the police to help bring down her mob boss lover.I expected full on night-club sass. It was more folksy/studious scenario. Enjoyable all the same.
- DirectorNathan JuranStarsKerwin MathewsJudi MeredithTorin ThatcherA farmboy-turned-knight must protect a princess from the schemes of an evil wizard.Feels like the classic Harryhausen Sinbads but brings something extra: good rhythm and pace (no lagging bits), villain had depth and humour, inventive costumes and ideas. A real treat.
- DirectorAnthony AsquithStarsSophia LorenPeter SellersAlastair SimA millionairess and a doctor cannot marry until they meet conditions set up by their respective parents.Sophia Loren purrs and whirls around in various lingerie while Peter Sellers mumbles around the furniture pretending to be Indian. It's colourful but never really funny. Jarring psychedelic editing just looks out of place in such overall blandness.
- DirectorLawrence HuntingtonStarsJames MasonRosamund JohnPamela MasonA British brain surgeon punishes the murderess of his lover.Solid noir. Inventive 'double ending'. Good photography. James Mason at his best.
- DirectorMick JacksonStarsSteve MartinVictoria TennantRichard E. GrantWith the help of a talking freeway billboard, a wacky weatherman tries to win the heart of an English newspaper reporter, who is struggling to make sense of the strange world of early 1990s Los Angeles.Steve Martin's script is the star. A touching love letter to life and the city. Balances crazy with gentle, surrealism with satire. Properly funny throughout. A feel good gem.
- DirectorDennis HopperStarsDon JohnsonVirginia MadsenJennifer ConnellyUpon arriving to a small town, a drifter quickly gets into trouble with the local authorities - and the local women - after he robs a bank.Film noir in sunny '80s setting. It's all cliche (characters, plot, amour fou) but that's ok, plays like a pulpy, graphic novel. Pace and direction flow well, as does the soundtrack. Guilty pleasure movie. Surprisingly fun ending.
- DirectorHiroshi TeshigaharaStarsEiji OkadaKyôko KishidaKôji MitsuiAn entomologist on vacation is trapped by local villagers into living with a woman whose life task is shoveling sand for them.The situation and the sand itself serve as a multitude of allegories (time, societal pressure, individualism vs the collective etc). Artsy in a good way. Sublime photography and use of sound throughout. Groundhog day noir? Roots of The Shining?
- DirectorAlberto CavalcantiStarsSally GrayTrevor HowardGriffith JonesAfter WW2, former RAF airman Clem Morgan joins a gang of black-market smugglers-thieves but when a robbery goes wrong, Clem is caught , framed for a policeman's murder, and is sent to prison where he plots his escape and revenge.UK noir that really goes for it: gangsters, murder, violence to women, cocaine (!), a western-style showdown fought amongst the coffins, snappy dialogue. Perhaps a too little staged and self aware? But great to watch Trevor Howard in a dark lead.
- DirectorTom HooperStarsColm MeaneyHenry GoodmanDavid RoperThe story of the controversial Brian Clough's 44-day reign as the coach of the English football club Leeds United.A fine host of UK actors but it's all eyes on Sheen, almost scientific in his character portrayals. Just enough drama and hero's journey to appeal to non football fans. Plus all that 1970s detail.
- DirectorMike NewellStarsAl PacinoJohnny DeppMichael MadsenAn FBI undercover agent infiltrates the mob and finds himself identifying more with the Mafia life--at the expense of his regular one.Another 90s 'gangsters are cool' movie. Donnie's home-life side story is a chore, the bursts of violence are OTT. Pacino's acting + script feels like watching Peter Serafinowicz's (or even Rob Brydon's) impression of him. And what a weak ending! Enjoyable still for it's low key vibe and period detail.
- DirectorTom SternAlex WinterStarsBrooke ShieldsWilliam SadlerEduardo RicardA vain actor, his best friend, and an activist end up at a mutant freak farm run by a weirdo scientist.Like, soo 90s. Comedy-horror for MTV generation. Mucho latex, fart jokes, cliche bashing. Even Mr T in drag (!). Garish and ugly but a joyride that makes no excuses. Genuinely funny moments, include the milkmen, the hammer/spanner 'story'. The final second made me laugh out loud.
- DirectorFrank De FelittaStarsLindsay WagnerMarc SingerAlan FeinsteinJennie Logan discovers an antique dress in her attic that allows her to travel back in time. Soon she's torn between life with her philandering husband and a romance with a handsome artist who was murdered at the turn of the century.Most time travel is worth a watch (within reason) especially one made in the cosy late '70s. This has very much a TV movie feel with some sniggerworthy moments of bad acting (marc singer), but a good story and even managed to moisten our eyes at the end.
- DirectorJohn SchlesingerStarsShirley MacLaineNavin ChowdhryPeggy AshcroftRenowned Russian piano teacher Irina Sousatzka gets a new student - Bengali piano prodigy Manek. They are both immigrants in the UK and bond quickly. When Manek's single mother's business fails, he must make a career decision.An uncommon (and promising) set up - teenage brit-asian prodigy under the wing of eccentric piano teacher in late 80s london. But little character depth is given, so when the film prompts you to feel moved - you don't. And as for the hero's kiss with Twiggy (maybe more??) - euwww...