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Downfall (2004) If you have even the slightest interest in WWII in Europe, Downfall is a must-see. Who isn’t fascinated by Hitler? I lived in Germany in the mid-1950s and the images are still with me: bombed out buildings, walls with bullet holes, kids my age with twisted legs from rickets, women everywhere, almost no men. Downfall captures the horror and banality of life in a war-raped city. It captures as well the mentality of those who believed in their Fuehrer and stayed with him to the end. Though it creeps me out to admit it, I was moved. Brilliant acting, surprisingly sympathetic characters, and a new star for your nightmares: Frau Goebbels. |
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Big Night (1996) I remember big, seemingly endless Italian family meals in Veneto: course after course, plenty of wine, conversation, friends . . . this wonderful movie brings it all back. In addition to some of the most lascivious food porn you’ll ever see (Tom Jones? That was nothing compared to this!) you get a great story and brilliant acting to go along with l’antipasto, il primo, il secondo, il contorno, and il dolche. This wonderful film was released in 1996 . . . how did I miss it until now? |
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Appaloosa (2008) I never got into westerns as a kid, but have come to appreciate the blank slate elementalism of the genre, and I suspect that’s what Ed Harris was looking for here. When it comes to directing his own movies, though, he reminds me of Clint Eastwood . . . the pacing is a little slow and self-indulgent. But that’s my only quibble . . . it’s a damn good story, Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen make a great team, and Renée Zellweger almost steals the show as a (finally) realistic Western woman. |
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The Boondock Saints (2000) Loads of laughs. Where else are you going to find a Ron Jeremy lookalike (OMG it was Ron Jeremy!) villain getting shot to death in a porn shop video booth and a peek up William Dafoe’s crotch while he’s dressed in drag? Nowhere, that’s where. Devoid of meaning, lacking redeeming value, absurdly violent, great fun. |
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Deathproof and Planet Terror (2007) These two movies are marketed under the Grind House label: the idea was to recreate some good old-timey drive-in thrills, updated for our current fascination with gore. These movies deliver. Planet Terror is a terrific zombie flick, and I love zombie flicks. Deathproof put me off at first, because I thought it was just going to be about a cold-blooded serial killer (Kurt Russell), but once he makes the mistake of going after three women who fight back, the entire tenor of the movie changes, and you’re on your feet rootin’ for the girls. Captain’s mast . . . how long will it be before all the ladies are doing it? There are rumors of a third Grind House installment . . . I hope it’ll be Machete! |
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Lakeview Terrace (2008) It was kind of fun seeing Samuel Jackson playing a creep, and the way they worked an actual, ever-encroaching Southern California wildfire into the story was effective and memorable, but otherwise? Made-for-TV (and not in a good way, like the Jesse Stone movies), utterly predictable. |
Sheila and I watched “The Fall” by Fincher and Jonze last night, and I was wondering if you had seen or reviewed it? To say it was unusual is a classic understatement. I would appreciate your take.