Archive for November 2011
The Rules of the Game (1939) Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Jean Renoir, Je T’aime
The Criterion Collection brings us a constructive release of this reconstructed classic.
Read MoreUnder Fire: Journalists in Combat Movie Review: Slapdash Production Values Undermine Compelling Content
The subjects of Under Fire are compelling storytellers, but they’re surrounded by stylistic clutter in this Oscar shortlisted doc.
Read MoreGod Bless Ozzy Osbourne DVD Review: Pulling Back the Persona to Reveal the Man
A fascinating look at the private side of the Prince of Darkness.
Read MoreFrosty’s Winter Wonderland DVD Review: A Warm Return from Everybody’s Favorite Snowman
A lonely Frosty meets Crystal the snowlady.
Read MoreGhost Warrior DVD Review: Like a Corny Tabloid Headline Come to Life
A forgotten “fish out of water” tale from the boys in the Band family.
Read MoreThe White Bus DVD Review: Gorgeous Photography Makes Up for Tedium of Experimental Film
A minor effort from the director of If…, featuring beautiful photography and sophomoric surrealist satire.
Read More30 Rock: Season 5 Is the Pick of the Week
30 Rock boosts a pretty slow week for new releases.
Read MoreThe Music Lovers DVD Review: A Spirited Symphony of Excess
Ken Russell’s film about Russian composer Tchaikovsky is no tired biopic.
Read MoreDon’t Worry, We’ll Think of a Title DVD Review: The Spy Who Came In From The Catskills
Anything this bad is great in my book.
Read MoreEnter the Ninja DVD Review: ‘So, Who Are You Going to Kill Next, Mr. Ninja?’
An epic, illustrious failure from Cannon Films and Golan-Globus.
Read More12 Angry Men Criterion Collection DVD Review: Explosive Drama in the Jury Room
A masterfully directed piece with nothing but the emotions of the players to provide the action.
Read MoreIdentification of a Woman Criterion Collection DVD Review: Searching for a Way out of the Fog
The story of a man trying to find himself while lost in love.
Read MoreKill a Dragon DVD Review: Don’t Train It; Kill it!
A low-budget Seven Samurai made for the 007 market and starring Jack Palance as the good guy. What’s not to like?
Read MoreFrankenhooker Blu-ray Review: Nobody Makes Movies Like Frank Henenlotter!
An uproarious parody of classic horror/sci-fi films that’s been given a sizeable dose of supercrack.
Read MoreThe Narrows DVD Review: A New York Coming-of-Age Gangster Movie
A not entirely happy amalgam of genres sometimes just makes genre-soup.
Read MoreThe Sleeping Beauty DVD Review: French Provocateur Catherine Breillat Re-imagines the Fairy Tale
Breillat’s second fairy tale adaptation proves to be a good fit with her pet theme of sexual awakening.
Read MoreWest Side Story 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Review: The Story’s Not the Thing
The choreography and music dazzle in HD, but the story still falls flat.
Read MorePrep & Landing DVD Review: A Real Christmas Treat
This year, we’re not only leaving out cookies for Santa, we’re also setting out some for Wayne and Lanny.
Read MoreStagecoach (1966) DVD Review: The Version Everyone Forgot About
Twilight Time brings us a beautiful transfer for a rather underrated remake of the John Ford classic.
Read MoreThe Last Gun / 4 Dollars of Revenge Blu-ray Review: A Double Dose of Mediocrity
Where the hell is Franco Nero when you need him?
Read MoreThe Life and Death of Colonel Blimp Lives Again, Thanks to Martin Scorsese and the Film Foundation
Scorsese kicks off a two-week run of the restored classic at New York City’s Film Forum.
Read MoreWoody Allen: A Documentary Review: His Films Make Life Worth Living
The director is featured in this career overview on PBS’ American Masters.
Read MoreQuigley Down Under Blu-ray Review: Yet Another Reason Tom Selleck Kicks Ass
An adroit tale of an American sharpshooter in the Australian Outback.
Read MoreThe Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) Blu-ray Review: ‘Gesundeidt’
The Definitive Version.
Read MoreMaking the Boys DVD Review: An Important Look at the Boys from The Boys in the Band
Even though padded to feature length, this documentary is a must-see for aficionados of theater, movies, and gay cultural history.
Read MoreRushmore Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Wes Anderson’s Best Film Dazzles in High-Def
Criterion upgrades their early release of Anderson’s sophomore feature.
Read MoreMalone (1987) DVD Review: Hey, Little Sister, Shotgun?
We all die Malone and afraid.
Read MoreThe Stool Pigeon (2010) Blu-ray Review: Contemporary Hong Kong Action at its Finest
Director Dante Goes on the Lam from All the Beastliness.
Read MoreThe Mysterious Monsters DVD Review: Peter Graves Hunts for Bigfoot!
A must for fans of absolute nonsense and misguided edification.
Read MoreProfessor Layton and the Eternal Diva DVD Review: Animated Sleuthing Success
A richly illustrated full-length film based on the Nintendo DS puzzle game series.
Read MoreGod Bless Ozzy Osbourne DVD Review: A Side of Ozzy We Have Never Seen Before
The film has a very strong story to tell.
Read MoreThe Wind That Shakes the Barley Movie Review: A Tale of Two Irish Brothers and the War of Independence
In guerrilla warfare on home turf, things are always more personal.
Read MoreDazed and Confused Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Celebrating Being Caught Between Dreaming and Adulthood
“A new fiesta in the making.” – Wooderson
Read MoreEames: The Architect and The Painter Movie Review: More Nostalgia Than Anything Else
An almost dynamic documentary about a dynamic couple.
Read MoreThe Christine Jorgensen Story DVD Review: An Amusing Period Piece but Just Not Campy Enough
More like a mild soap opera than a tabloid shocker, but good photography and music.
Read MoreThe Quatermass Xperiment (AKA The Creeping Unknown) DVD Review: Too Slow to Bother With
Often referred to as a cult classic. Not sure why.
Read MoreGalaxina / The Crater Lake Monster Blu-ray Review: Two Crazy Crown International Titles Go Blu
If you’ve ever seen some of the god-awful movies that independent film studio Crown International Pictures released like The Beast of Yucca Flats, The Creeping Terror, or They Saved Hitler’s Brain, you may have pondered the age-old question: “What they fuck were these guys thinking?” Well, while the more “traditional” film historians out there will…
Read More12 Angry Men Is the Pick of the Week
Sidney Lumet’s classic court-room drama gets the Criterion treatment.
Read MoreThe River Murders DVD Review: All Kinds of Awful
A seminar in embarrassment with Prof. Ray Liotta, Dr. Ving Rhames, and Christian Slater.
Read MoreMy Cousin Rachel (1952) DVD Review: A Victorian Era Psychological Thriller?
Not to be confused with My Cousin Vinnie.
Read MoreBook Review: Screen World: The Films of 2010, Edited by Barry Monush
A good analog resource though its easily trumped in our digital world.
Read MoreThe Flim-Flam Man (1967) DVD Review: George C. Scott at His Most Amusing
Twilight Time releases the never-before-released cult classic to DVD as a limited exclusive.
Read MoreAFI FEST 2011 Review: Into the Abyss
Director Werner Herzog stares into Texas’ death penalty.
Read MoreFanny & Alexander Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Bergman’s Documentary Trumps Feature Film
While the film is somewhat bloated and slow, its accompanying documentary is revelatory.
Read MoreTom and Jerry: Fur Flying Adventures Volume 3 DVD Review: As Fun as Ever
Fourteen more crazy tales with Tom and Jerry!
Read MorePride and Glory Movie Review: Needs a Little More Pride
A tale of family and loyalty and dirty cops in New York that could have been so much more.
Read MoreSugar Hill (1974) DVD Review: The Grandmother of All ’70s Blaxploitation Zombie Flicks!
Hey Sugar: do do that voodoo that you do so well!
Read MoreAtlas Shrugged Part One DVD Review: Who Is John Aglialoro?
Surprisingly faithful to the source material but hampered by lackluster casting and mediocre direction.
Read MoreBlue Velvet 25th Anniversary Blu-ray Review: Just As Good As You Remembered It
Sparkling new Blu-ray release with newly discovered deleted scenes proves you can go home again.
Read MoreRay Charles: Live in France 1961 DVD Review: The Genius in His Prime
Rare footage of Ray Charles at work in 1961 makes its DVD debut.
Read MoreIdentification of a Woman Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: A Futile Search for Romantic Fulfillment
An exploration of modern love, Antonioni’s late-period film is a worthy effort if not as obviously masterful as some of his earlier work.
Read MoreHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Is the Pick of the Week
The end comes to the fantasy-film franchise.
Read MoreKuroneko Criterion Collection DVD Review: Expressionistic Horror in Feudal Japan
Kaneto Shindo’s film is a psychologically wrenching ghost story.
Read MoreThe Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! Volume 3 and 4 DVD Review: Entertainment Assembled!
A very good animated program for superhero fans.
Read MoreCars 2 Blu-ray Review: Stuck in Neutral
Pixar’s first misstep fails to capture the heart of the original.
Read MoreStake Land Movie Review: A Serious Post-Apocalyptic On The Road Vampire Movie
This unexpected gem is on par with “Near Dark” and is certainly worth a viewing.
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