Set in 19th century New England, an old sea dog (Willem Dafoe) and his young apprentice (Robert Pattinson) arrive by boat on a remote island where they will live for the next four weeks while taking care of the island's lighthouse. But a major storm prevents a boat from picking them up after the four weeks and the men find themselves on the brink of losing their sanity. Directed by Robert Eggers (THE WITCH), it takes a bit of patience before you get pulled in by the movie but when you're pulled, you stay with it till the end. I'm not sure the film is about anything really but as an exercise in cinematic style and two first rate actors at the top of their game, it's a winner. Shot in B&W 35 millimeter film in the old Academy ratio of 1.37 by Jarin Blaschke, the film's look is very much a part of its appeal. Make no mistake about it, after this and THE WITCH, Eggers is a film maker to get excited about. The score by Mark Korven helps in creating a dark universe. I suspect the film isn't for everyone (certainly not for the staid Masterpiece Theater crowd) but if you're adventurous, you should find much to get excited about.
Set in a medieval kingdom in the 15th century, a devious Queen (Carol Burnett) conducts impossible to pass tests to young Princesses who hope to marry her son the Prince (Denis O'Hare). Unnaturally attached to her son, she doesn't want him to marry hence the unfair tests. Based on the hit 1959 Broadway musical with music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Marshall Barer (which in turn is based on the fairy tale, THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA) and directed by Tony award winning choreographer Kathleen Marshall. In the original stage production, Carol Burnett played Princess Winifred (now played by Tracey Ullman) and in this version takes on the role of the Queen. This is a winning and appealing production of a delightful musical. While many of the original stage production's songs (and characters) have been eliminated, what remains is a solid diversion. Ullman makes for a quirky but endearing Princess while Burnett seems to be having a ball playing the wicked Queen. The songs are hummable and the dance numbers lively. With Zooey Deschanel, Tom Smothers, Matthew Morrison and Michael Boatman.
A businessman (Edmond O'Brien) leads two lives. In San Francisco, he lives with his wife (Joan Fontaine) who helps him run the business while they await word on an adoption. In Los Angeles, he lives with his wife (Ida Lupino) and their newborn baby. How he became a bigamist is the core of the movie's narrative. Directed by Ida Lupino, the film is surprisingly (and perhaps disturbingly) sympathetic to the bigamist. He didn't do it out of malice but with good intentions. Yet somehow the film doesn't extend as much empathy toward the two wives. I was waiting for the big scene where the two wives meet and confront each other but it never happened. The film could have used a powerhouse scene like that and Fontaine and Lupino are strong enough actresses to carry it off. It's a good little film but it never fulfills its potential. But mine is a minority opinion. The film is greatly admired and its reputation growing in the ensuing years since its original release. Considering the subject matter, it's sort of ironic that the film was written by Lupino's ex-husband Collier Young, who was married to the film's other leading lady, Joan Fontaine! With Edmund Gwenn, Kenneth Tobey and Jane Darwell.
Set in France in 1944 during the waning days of WWII, a surgeon (Philippe Noiret) drives to a remote village where his wife (Romy Schneider) and daughter (Catherine Delaporte) are staying to avoid the German occupation. However, when he arrives, he finds his wife and daughter brutally slaughtered along with the rest of the village. Based on the horrific massacre at Oradour Sur Glane in 1944 and directed by Robert Enrico. The film was highly admired in France and won the best picture Cesar (the French Oscar) as well as a best actor Cesar for Noiret. Unfortunately, in spite of it being based an actual incident, I found it not very different than your usual revenge drama like DEATH WISH but with Nazis instead of New York street thugs. Of course, it's more high toned what with Noiret having flashbacks of happier days in between the slaughter and the film seems to think it's more than just an exploitation vengeance action movie. I'm a huge fan of both Noiret and Schneider as actors and they're both very good here but in the end, I found it rather pointless. With Karl Michael Vogler, Madeleine Ozeray, Jean Bouise and Robert Hoffman.
A Broadway dancing star (Fred Astaire) and a nightclub owner (Bing Crosby) are both in love with the same girl (Joan Caulfield). She's not in love with the dancer, she's in love with the nightclub owner but he's too unstable to make a marriage work. Directed by Stuart Heisler (THE GLASS KEY) with songs by Irving Berlin. The narrative of this film is old hat and not even Berlin's music or Astaire's dancing can cover up the tired screenplay. I can give a musical's book a pass if the musical numbers are great but in this case, it's only Astaire's dancing and Hermes Pan's choreography that occasionally elevate the movie out of its slump. I've never been a fan of Bing Crosby (either his singing or acting) and while Joan Caulfield is lovely, she's on the bland side here. The musical highpoints of the film are Astaire's Puttin' On The Ritz number and the Heat Wave production number with Astaire and Olga San Juan. Still, the film was a huge hit and garnered good reviews. With Billy De Wolfe and Frank Faylen.
During the oppressive reign of King George III, a General (Geoffrey Keen) and his troop are sent to a small village to smash a ring that smuggles brandy from France to avoid paying revenue to His Majesty. The leader of the smugglers is a masked man known as The Scarecrow, who smuggles not for his own profit but to pass the proceeds to the overtaxed villagers and other needy people. Based on the DOCTOR SYN books by Russell Thorndike and directed by James Neilson (THE MOON SPINNERS). Originally conceived by Walt Disney for a three part television event in the U.S., an edited version was shown theatrically in Europe and in the 1970s eventually shown in U.S. cinemas. Previously made into films in 1937 and 1962, this version is a more family friendly effort (violence is kept to a minimum). Patrick McGoohan plays the title character, who when not the masked Scarecrow is the village vicar. It's a pleasing and well acted action/adventure yarn with a nice period detail and enough plot complications to keep adults and youngsters engaged. If you prefer your adventure movies darker and more adult, you might be better off with the 1962 version, CAPTAIN CLEGG but they both work equally well. With Kay Walsh, Michael Hordern, Patrick Wymark, George Cole and Eric Pohlmann.
In New York, a radio comic (Bob Hope) is kidnapped by agents from a small country called Barovia. It seems he is the heir to the throne of the assassinated monarch but they must get him to Barovia to be crowned before the same radical underground group that murdered his father assassinates him. Directed by Sidney Lanfield (THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES), this is one of Hope's lesser comic vehicles. The one liners are hit and miss though fortunately they tend to hit their mark more often than not. The plot is preposterous but I wish the script wasn't so ragtag. Hope is in fine form but there's only so much he can do with the weak material. Hope fans (like me) should be okay with it but others may not be so charitable. With Signe Hasso, William Bendix, George Zucco, George Coulouris and Norma Varden.
In London, a man (Bill Travers) buys an otter on impulse from a pet shop. It isn't long before he realizes that a London flat is no place for an otter so he moves to a small coastal village in Scotland where the otter can run free over the fields and swim in the sea. Based on the best selling non fiction book by Gavin Maxwell and directed by Jack Couffer. Maxwell's autobiographical book was about his experience of bringing back an otter from Iraq and living in Scotland. The film fictionalizes his story, keeping only the man and otter in Scotland storyline. Travers and his wife, Virginia McKenna, had made BORN FREE three years earlier. This film has the same affection for wild life and the adorable otter (actually two otters) playing Mij is irresistible. This is a wonderful family film although the sad ending might be too traumatic for very young children. Travers and McKenna (as the village doctor) are just fine but they are no competition for the otter who steals every scene he's in. Wolfgang Suschitzky's cinematography does the beautiful Scottish location justice and there's a lovely score by Frank Cordell. With Peter Jeffrey.
The renowned detective Sherlock Holmes (Christopher Lee), assisted by his loyal companion Dr. Watson (Thorley Walters), takes on his nemesis Professor Moriarty (Hans Sohnker) in regards to a priceless stolen necklace thought to have belonged to Cleopatra. Very loosely based on VALLEY OF FEAR by Arthur Conan Doyle and directed by Hammer veteran Terence Fisher from a screenplay by Curt Siodmak (I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE) though it appears other hands reworked Siodmak's script. This Anglo-German (more German than Anglo) production seems to be a product of too many cooks in the kitchen. It doesn't feel like an authentic Holmes mystery. The entire cast (even the British actors) are dubbed which hampers Lee's otherwise fine performance as Holmes. The movie is often incoherent. I still don't get the motive behind the murder of Wolfgang Lukschy's character. All one can do is commiserate on what could have been if Fisher and Lee were allowed to do their jobs. Watchable ..... just. With lovely Senta Berger, Ivan Desny, Leon Askin and Hans Nielsen.
In 2005, U.S. State Senator Dianne Feinstein (Annette Bening) is disturbed by reports that the CIA destroyed almost 100 video tapes of interrogations on suspected terrorists in the years following 9/11 on the order of CIA director Jose Rodriguez (Carlos Gomez) and orders a staff member (Adam Driver) to investigate and provide a detailed account. What follows is a shocking and blatant misuse of power, deceit, corruption and crimes against humanity. Directed by Scott Z. Burns in a semi-documentary style, this is a compelling piece of film. It may not be Art or break new ground in cinema but stories like this need to be told and when done as skillfully as THE REPORT is, it's riveting. Be forewarned that the images of torture are graphic and horrifying to watch. I can't imagine any humane person who won't be outraged by what is seen here. Torture doesn't provide the truth, it provides confession which is not the same thing. Who wouldn't confess to anything to stop the torture and pain? The performances are good with Bening giving a strong award worthy performance. With Jon Hamm, Tim Blake Nelson, Ted Levine, Michael C. Hall, Matthew Rhys, Maura Tierney and Douglas Hodge, who unfortunately overdoes the sadistic psychologist as if he were playing Simon Legree.
