Mat Brewster

If you can turn off questions about standing idly by while a war over slavery is fought, then I suspect you will enjoy this film a lot more than I did.

It is well worth watching; it just lacks that extra spark that makes a good film great.

It contains five films from 1940 to 1956 which run the gamut from straight-noir to musical-comedy-noir to melodrama-noir.

It’s the filmmaking that really makes this film into something special.

Icy Breasts works because it isn’t overly flashy.

If you don’t own a copy or only have it on DVD, then this is well worth the purchase.

The films included in this set run the gamut of straight-ahead crime dramas to no-plot Euro sleaze.

It is all but saved by its cast who are easy to enjoy interacting with each other and charming in their star power.

While it won’t compare favorably to your favorite animated films from Pixar or Studio Ghibli, I’m glad films like this exist.

The film moves seamlessly between character development and fast-paced action sequences.

This second film from South Korean director Bong Joon ho, is often compared with David Fincher’s Zodiac.

A wacky, highly edited, totally ’70s mesh of horror, comedy, and action that’s kind of fun and makes very little sense.

As the first existing tokusatsu, The Invisible Man Appears is massively important to Japanese history.

It didn’t receive the warmest reception from fans, but I found it well worth watching.

A strange, bewildering, long film that invites a variety of interpretations.

One of the first films to tackle antisemitism and helped usher in a new wave of social justice stories.

Its droll sense of humor and basic style give it a unique perspective.

Even if it epitomizes all the things wrong with the Chibnall era of the series.

The Last Starfighter is tailor made for 1980s gamers.

Two not-so-classic comedies from the very much classic comedy duo get a 4K upgrade.

Lupin III’s first foray into digital animation is a lovely looking, fun adventure for the family.

A few days in the sad little life of a French girl.

It is amazing this film ever got made and that it is actually good.

A perfect addition to your Halloween viewing schedule.

A fine collection of films from one of my favorite studios.

Ten of the most popular Blumhouse horror films get a nice boxed set.

What a marvelous week for cool things.

Two classics film noirs from Jules Dassin get the Criterion treatment.

I’ve really been enjoying a lot of older films that aren’t quite up to classic status lately.

This adaptation of a French satire failed to make me laugh or think very deeply.

May he forever rest in power.

A sweet romance from Clint Eastwood feels a bit queasy due to the age difference.

I’m amazed this thing got made in 1932.

An important black story unfortunately told from a white perspective.

This Douglas Sirk melodrama takes a realistic look into a marriage on the rocks and the temptation of another woman.

The Flash keeps getting bigger and bigger, but not necessarily better and better.

Jean Renoir’s realistic portrayal of migrant workers in the South of France helped influence the French New Wave and Italian Neorealism.

The script by Horton Foote is smart. It won him an Oscar. It knows about people and their inner lives

After a couple of weeks off, I’m back with Five Cool Things.

A lighthearted social satire about French life that could have used a few more laughs.

It says something about Richard Burton’s star power that he still had a career after this stinker.

The way they swing for the fences with absolute nuttiness is glorious.

When Batwoman finds its groove, it’s really good.

A great opening setup leads to just a pretty good film.

Nico Mastorakis gets into the exotic adventure game with typical mixed results.

Frederic March is brilliant as a fighter pilot slowly going mad in this gripping war drama.

A documentary-style narrative film about the days following first atomic bomb dropping.