bozsid Reviews

The Stranger (1946)

Moody, unforgettable nazi hunter film.

[9/10 · 2 January 2019]

A great shame that Hollywood budget-conscious values of the era cut into this Orson Welles' film, and rendered what could have rivalled Citizen Kane into a small film easily passed over in his canon. But fortunately flashes of his brilliance can still be discerned. Even the inexperienced film-goer will tell the hand of genius is at work here.

Madam Secretary: Invasive Species (2016) Season 2, Episode 13

I sat up with a "Wow" on my lips...

[9/10 · 27 April 2016]

This review will be similar in tone and feeling to another recent, and very positive one. In fact, that so reflects my own reaction to the episode that I can think of very little to add. I've quite enjoyed the program in general, but initially felt a teeny bit disappointed in myself for doing so. It's slowly grown on me, however, probably because things aren't necessarily tied up in a neat bow at the end (for example, with regard to Dimitri, and to the McCord children's being written with a fair degree of attention to just how complex such lives are likely to be). The acting is always competent, and sometimes, even of great calibre. Téa Leoni has long been a favourite, and in Madam Secretary she never fails to be convincing as essentially a woman of principle, but who is humanly subject to the myriad conflicts between ethics and political expediency. This episode had me sitting up with a jolt. My view is that the writers excelled themselves. My opinion may of course be because the plot lines have usually more to do with the world stage, and any departure from a norm is refreshing. Nevertheless, I defy anyone (who has congregated as a family under stressful circumstances) not to identify strongly with the finely-drawn bitterness, grief, anger and helplessness that the McCord clan has to confront here. A tour de force.

The Mark of Zorro (1974 TV Movie)

Delightful, very sensual take on the Zorro legend...Frank Langella is unforgettable.

[9/10 · 28 June 2006]

I haven't seen this TV film for years and would really like to see it again. I think I fell in love with Frank Langella because of it - OK, OK, so I was much younger and more impressionable at the time but, well, he was beguiling. As suggested in one or two other commentaries on this, I felt it was as effective a version, if not even a tad better than the 1940 one - perhaps because of both the eponymous hero's sexual magnetism and the charming, intelligent and spirited Anne Archer's Teresa. From what I remember, the film was to a large extent faithful to Tyrone Power's vehicle, and added a J-ne-sais-quoi to it.

Dashing as Power undoubtedly was, to my taste Langella's rich chocolatey voice, commanding height and seductive gaze made this viewer long to be the object of his affections. I admit it, I'm shamefacedly still a bit in love with the character!

Only Human (2004)

Juliet takes her Romeo home to dinner to meet the family - marvellously funny, marvellously observed.

[10/10 · 28 May 2005]

Within two minutes of its start, I was hooked by the wonderful cast, and a witty, warm and often painfully funny script; it succeeds brilliantly and without pontification or judgement in presenting us with the absurdity of our prejudices.

Even if you've always been someone who would rather be hanged, drawn and quartered before you see a 'foreign-language film', do yourselves a favour and see this one! You won't regret it and you'll still be remembering it fondly and chuckling long after you've left the cinema, I promise you.

As it drew towards its conclusion, all my companions and I agreed we wanted it to go on for much longer than those consummately delightful but oh-so short 96 minutes. A real gem.