My life at the movies.
Directed by Irving Cummings. Starring Warner Baxter, Lois Moran, Gilbert Emery, and Claude King.
Boris Karloff’s first talkie. His contribution comes via a bit part as lead Warner Baxter’s vaguely Arabian manservant. Though billed as a mystery, the film plays as a melodrama. Baxter and Lois Moran play would-be lovers kept apart by Moran’s murderous, philandering husband and the script’s insistence that Moran behave like an impetuous child.
Directed by Blake Edwards. Starring Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, and Buddy Ebsen.
It’s Audrey Hepburn’s movie, but George Peppard deserves some credit. Continue reading...
Directed by Jordan Peele. Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Catherine Keener.
Daniel Kaluuya stars as Chris, a young photographer. His girlfriend, Rose, played by Allison Williams, takes him home to meet her parents at their remote estate. Chris is apprehensive because Rose hasn’t told her family he’s black. She assures him everything will be fine. Everything is not fine. Continue reading...
Directed by Fede Alvarez. Starring Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, and Daniel Zovatto.
The more I think about Don’t Breathe, the less I like it. Continue reading...
Directed by David Ayer. Starring Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, and Viola Davis.
You’d think an ancient demon threatening Armageddon would be hard to forget, but Suicide Squad proves otherwise. Continue reading...
Directed by Scott Cooper. Starring Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, and Joel Edgerton.
Based on a true story, Black Mass sees Johnny Depp made up as a balding and paunchy James “Whitey” Bulger. The film chronicles Bulger’s ascent from small-time hood to South Boston crime-lord. A journey made possible by the FBI. Continue reading...
Directed by Roy Ward Baker. Starring Barbara Parkins, Richard Todd, Sylvia Syms, and Peter Cushing.
Asylum is another anthology horror from Amicus Productions. As with The House That Dripped Blood (1971), the script comes courtesy of Robert Bloch. Continue reading...
Directed by Peter Duffell. Starring John Bryans, John Bennett, Denholm Elliott, and Peter Cushing.
Reviewing anthology movies is hard. I picture you, dear reader, trudging through endless paragraphs of plot synopsis and I feel guilty. I have let you down. Continue reading...
Directed by Giulio Paradisi. Starring Mel Ferrer, Glenn Ford, Lance Henriksen, and John Huston.
Once upon a time, an intergalactic criminal called Sateen fled to Earth. On Earth, Sateen mutated and developed psychic powers, which it used to wreak havoc. Another alien defeated Sateen with an army of birds, but not before Sateen impregnated a slew of Earth women. Those women continued Sateen’s legacy through their children. Continue reading...
Directed by Scott Frank. Starring Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, David Harbour, and Boyd Holbrook.
Liam Neeson plays Matthew Scudder, a recovering alcoholic and ex-cop. Scudder quit the force after gunning down some street toughs robbing his neighborhood bar. His superiors begged him to stay, calling him a hero and giving him a commendation. Scudder quit anyway. He quit drinking too. Later, we learn his actions weren’t so heroic. Continue reading...
