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Frank's Movie Log

My life at the movies.

  1. Duel to the Death 1983

    A-: 4.5 stars (out of 5)

    Directed by Siu-Tung Ching. Starring Norman Chu, Damian Lau, Flora Chong-Leen, and Paul Chang Chung.

    My favorite wuxia. Set in medieval China on the eve of a once-a-decade contest between China’s greatest swordsman and Japan’s greatest swordsman. The Chinese champion is Ching Wan. The Japanese champion is Hashimoto. Unbeknownst to Hashimoto, his Shogun has a secret agenda involving a ninja army. Continue reading...

    Watched on
    13 Jan 2022
  2. The Hills Have Eyes 1977

    C-: 2.5 stars (out of 5)

    Directed by Wes Craven. Starring Susan Lanier, Robert Houston, John Steadman, and Janus Blythe.

    A murderous clan of cannibalistic savages descends upon an unwitting family stranded in the desert. Continue reading...

    Watched on
    12 Jan 2022
  3. Corridor of Mirrors 1948

    D+: 2 stars (out of 5)

    Directed by Terence Young. Starring Eric Portman, Edana Romney, Barbara Mullen, and Hugh Sinclair.

    Christopher Lee’s feature debut. Also Terence Young’s directorial debut. A Rebecca knock-off featuring Eric Portman as a wealthy eccentric who believes Edana Romney to be the reincarnation of an Italian countess he loved in a past life. Lee’s bit part comes early and his lone line lacks his resonant baritone. Continue reading...

    Watched on
    10 Jan 2022
  4. Raw 2016

    D+: 2 stars (out of 5)

    Directed by Julia Ducournau. Starring Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Nait Oufella, and Laurent Lucas.

    I was fine with the cannibalism, but everything else irked me. Continue reading...

    Watched on
    09 Jan 2022
  5. Headhunters 2011

    A-: 4.5 stars (out of 5)

    Directed by Morten Tyldum. Starring Aksel Hennie, Synnøve Macody Lund, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Julie R. Ølgaard.

    An elite corporate head hunter finances his lavish lifestyle by stealing art from his prospects. This setup serves as a fulcrum for a clockwork plot. To reveal anymore would spoil the film’s myriad surprises. Continue reading...

    Watched on
    05 Jan 2022
  6. Five Fingers of Death 1972

    B: 4 stars (out of 5)

    Directed by Chang-hwa Jeong. Starring Lieh Lo, Ping Wang, Hsiung Chao, and Chin-Feng Wang.

    A prestigious Kung Fu tournament. Two rival schools, one of which will stop at nothing to win. A promising young student. Imposing villainous fighters with exotic techniques. Despite the abundant tropes, the film surprised me. Continue reading...

    Watched on
    05 Jan 2022
  7. Black Christmas 1974

    B+: 4 stars (out of 5)

    Directed by Bob Clark. Starring Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, and John Saxon.

    Commentary watch. Recorded in 2001 with director Bob Clark. A few minutes in, after describing how the camera’s moving on screen, he admonishes his prior comments as “all terribly didactic.” I smiled, won over. He reveals Gilda Radner had Andrea Martin’s role, but dropped out for Saturday Night Live. This proves the extent of his behind-the-scenes disclosures. Instead, he focuses on the cinematography and the performances on screen. His stern defense of the film’s third act didn’t change my opinion, but I appreciated how much he believed in it.

    Watched on
    24 Dec 2021
  8. Christmas Evil 1980

    B+: 4 stars (out of 5)

    Directed by Lewis Jackson. Starring Brandon Maggart, Jeffrey DeMunn, Dianne Hull, and Andy Fenwick.

    Commentary watch. Recorded in 2006 with writer/director Lewis Jackson and John Waters. Waters disappoints, coming in unprepared, having not seen the film for several years despite being a huge fan. He often shifts into a passive viewer, laughing at what’s on screen instead of commenting. That said, as an independent filmmaker himself, the questions Waters does ask often prove insightful. For his part, Jackson, unprompted, points out several bits I’d never noticed, such as how he had several interior sets painted with green walls to keep a red-green color scheme, and Home Improvement mom Patricia Richardson in a bit part.

    Watched on
    24 Dec 2021
  9. Two-Fisted Law 1932

    F: 1 star (out of 5)

    Directed by D. Ross Lederman. Starring Tim McCoy, Alice Day, Wheeler Oakman, Tully Marshall, and Wallace MacDonald.

    Tedious, idiot plot opens with Tim McCoy losing his ranch to a crooked land baron played by Wheeler Oakman. McCoy then departs to prospect for silver, but returns in time to save love interest Alice Day from Oakman’s schemes. Long in talk and short in action. John Wayne has a bit part as one of McCoy’s sidekicks. Walter Brennan has an even smaller role as a sheriff’s deputy.

    Watched on
    22 Dec 2021
  10. The Rich Are Always with Us 1932

    D: 2 stars (out of 5)

    Directed by Alfred E. Green. Starring Ruth Chatterton, George Brent, Bette Davis, John Miljan, and Adrienne Dore.

    George Brent plays a writer in love with an heiress played by Ruth Chatterton. She loves him too, but can’t stop mothering her philandering husband. Bette Davis plays Chatterton’s kid sister who’s also sweet on Brent. Continue reading...

    Watched on
    22 Dec 2021

Pagination

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