The Jackpot (1950)

A father and husband (James Stewart) employed in a midwestern department store wins big on a radio quiz program. He is ecstatic until he realizes he will have to sell most of the prizes so he will be able to afford the taxes on them. That's only the beginning of the disasters that will follow. Based on a New Yorker article by John McNulty and directed by Walter Lang (STATE FAIR). What should have been an amusing comedy becomes instead a laborious exercise in ineptitude. This is James "aw, shucks" Stewart at his worst with every tic and mannerism in full force, everything I dislike about him as an actor. I'll be upfront about it. Outside of his work with Hitchcock and Anthony Mann, I'm not much of an admirer of the man. Still, audiences of the day lapped it up and it showed up in 20th Century Fox's profit column. With Barbara Hale, Natalie Wood, Fred Clark, Patricia Medina, Alan Mowbray and Tommy Rettig.

Over The Moon (1939)

A young woman (Merle Oberon) struggling to maintain a household becomes engaged to a country doctor (Rex Harrison). But when she suddenly inherits $18 million dollars, she goes wild running off to Monte Carlo, buying clothes and jewelry and taking up with gigolos. Directed by Thornton Freeland (FLYING DOWN TO RIO). This Technicolor romantic comedy is a mixed bag. For one thing, lovely as she is, Merle Oberon isn't much of a comedienne. As the love interest, Rex Harrison's character is a bit of a stuffed shirt and I couldn't help thinking that Oberon is better matched with the charming disgruntled millionaire played by Robert Douglas. Still, it's a attractive looking movie and Oberon looks smashing in her Rene Hubert gowns. With Ursula Jeans, Wilfrid Hyde White, Elisabeth Welch, Ethel Griffies and Evelyn Ankers.

The Screaming Skull (1973)

A failed scientist (David McCallum) survives by living off his wealthy wife (Carrie Nye), who hates him. When she demands he move out, he kills her. But it doesn't end there as she terrorizes him from beyond the grave. Directed by Gloria Monty. Originally shot on videotape for late night television, this neo Gothic horror film manages to stir up some ghostly atmosphere but its narrative is deja vu. We know right from the beginning where this is headed and sure enough, it goes straight there. McCallum does okay as the murderous scientist and Carrie Nye provides an appropriate bitterness as his unhappy wife but as McCallum's brother, Vincent Gardenia is just too obvious. He doesn't belong in this Gothic atmosphere. If you're fond of those Amicus portmanteau horror movies like TALES FROM THE CRYPT and VAULT OF HORROR, you might enjoy this one. With Sarah Cunningham and Leon B. Stevens.

Phantom Raiders (1940)

While vacationing in Panama, a detective (Walter Pidgeon) is approached by an international insurance firm to investigate the possible sabotage of merchant ships after a Scotland Yard agent (John Burton) is murdered. Directed by Jacques Tourneur (OUT OF THE PAST). The second of MGM's three film Nick Carter series is a benign spy movie that moves quickly at a 70 minute running time but one can barely remember it minutes after it's over which isn't necessarily a bad thing, after all it's served its purpose. Once again, Donald Meek provides some unneeded comic relief as Pidgeon's bee keeping sidekick but at least he's a little less annoying here than in the first movie. Audiences liked it well enough so that MGM turned a modest profit. With Joseph Schildkraut as the film's villain, Florence Rice, John Carroll, Cecil Kellaway, Nat Pendleton, Dwight Frye and Steffi Duna.

Megalopolis (2024)

Set in an alternate universe called New Rome, an architect and Nobel Prize winner (Adam Driver) has developed a revolutionary building material which he plans on using to build a Utopian community. Written, produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola (THE GODFATHER). An ambitious science fiction epic (it's no coincidence that the film's title echoes Lang's sci-fi epic METROPOLIS) that uses the fall of the Roman Empire as a parallel to contemporary America. Visually, it's amazing. As cinema, it's an incoherent mess! It's never boring but in the end, it's still a beautifully wrapped empty package. It's a failure but the kind of crazy fiasco that only a major talent can create. The acting is all over the place ranging from bad (Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight) to adequate (Nathalie Emmanuel, Laurence Fishburne) and while I can admire Adam Driver taking risks, it's one of his lesser performances. With Dustin Hoffman, Aubrey Plaza, Giancarlo Esposito, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman and James Remar.

The Bad Seed (1956)

A mother (Nancy Kelly) seemingly has the perfect little girl (Patty McCormack). She's well mannered, smart and loving. But slowly, the mother discovers to her horror that her daughter is a cold blooded psychotic murderess! Based on the play by Maxwell Anderson (by way of the novel by William March) and directed by Mervyn LeRoy (RANDOM HARVEST). The film was highly acclaimed and a big hit as was the Broadway play. Alas, it has not aged well. The film uses almost all of the original play's cast and with one exception, the performances are crude and play to the balcony. She may have won the Tony award for best actress and received an Oscar nomination for the movie but as the mother, Nancy Kelly is just awful with not a shred of sincerity or believability in her performance. The only actor who resembles an actual human being is Eileen Heckart as a grieving alcoholic mother, her pain and desperation very much in evidence. To appease the still active Production Code, the play's ending was changed so the evil are punished. With Henry Jones, Evelyn Varden, Paul Fix and William Hopper.

Logan Lucky (2017)

Hoping to reverse a "curse" that's hung over his family for generations, a man (Channing Tatum) hatches a plan to rob a speedway during NASCAR's biggest race of the year. Directed by Steven Soderbergh (ERIN BROCKOVICH). Soderbergh returns to the heist genre but instead of an OCEAN'S ELEVEN, he gives us a red neck variation that could be dubbed OCEAN'S SEVEN ELEVEN! I found it modestly entertaining but I have little patience for movies with stupid people at the core of the narrative. Is this film so different than SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, WHITE LIGHTNING or other "hicksploitation" movies of the 1970s? I don't want to be too hard on it because as I said I was entertained by it despite my distaste for the genre. There's a lot of talented people involved and I was most impressed by Daniel Craig, showing some comic flair, as a tatted safe cracker serving time in prison. The film has a higher dose of sentimentality than the usual Soderbergh film. With Adam Driver, Hilary Swank, Katie Holmes, Seth MacFarlane, Riley Keough, Dwight Yoakam, Sebastian Stan, Katherine Waterston and LeAnn Rimes.

The Power And The Glory (1961)

Set in Mexico in the 1930s, when Mexico was trying to suppress the Catholic church. An outlawed alcoholic priest (Laurence Olivier) is a fugitive sought after by the government for continuing to conduct the Catholic Mass. Based on the novel by Graham Greene (THE THIRD MAN) and directed by Marc Daniels (JANE EYRE). Shot for American television but released theatrically overseas. Greene's acclaimed novel has never received anywhere near a definitive adaptation in spite of numerous stage and TV productions and John Ford's 1947 version entitled THE FUGITIVE. But this one has a dream cast and a fine performance by Olivier. It's a complex role and the priest is a hot mess: he's a drunk, he has an "illegitimate" daughter from an affair and he exploits the faithful for money. Olivier never attempts to make this man a hero as his priest struggles to maintain a semblance of duty while unrepentant in his earthly pleasures. The impressive cast includes George C. Scott, Julie Harris, Roddy McDowall, Patty Duke, Mildred Dunnock, Keenan Wynn, Fritz Weaver, Martin Gabel, Cyril Cusack, Rose Gregorio and Lou Antonio.

Todo Sobre Mi Madre (aka All About My Mother) (1999)

After her son (Eloy Azorin) is killed in a car accident, a woman (Cecilia Roth) goes on a mission to seek out her son's father (Davis Lopes) but her life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters an HIV pregnant nun (Penelope Cruz). Written and directed by Pedro Almodovar (VOLVER). An international success and the recipient of an Oscar and BAFTA award as well as best director award at the Cannes film festival. The film is a homage to Tennessee Williams and John Cassavetes' OPENING NIGHT as well as to directors Douglas Sirk and George Cukor. In what could have been in lesser hands a tearjerker of a soap opera, Almodovar provides a sensitivity and empathy for its eccentric characters that belies their screwball lives. Touching on motherhood, gender identity and homosexuality among other things, Almodovar has made what many consider his best film. With Marisa Paredes, Candela Pena, Antonia San Juan and Rosa Maria Sarda.

The Statue (1971)

A Nobel Prize winner (David Niven) has had a statue commissioned by the U.S. ambassador (Robert Vaughn) to be displayed in London's Grosvenor Square. The statue is created by the Nobel winner's wife (Virna Lisi), a noted sculptress. However, he is shocked when he sees the 18 foot nude statue especially since the genitals depicted aren't his. He becomes convinced his wife has a lover. Based on the play CHIP CHIP CHIP by Alec Coppel (Hitchcock's VERTIGO) and directed by Rod Amateau (THE GARBAGE PAIL KIDS MOVIE). Oy! A one joke comedy that pushes its one joke way past its expiration date! 90 minutes of David Niven attempting to look at penises in an attempt to discover his wife's alleged lover. There was another penis movie in 1971 called PERCY. What was in the British drinking water? There was only one remotely amusing scene in the whole movie when Niven goes into a photo booth to photograph his penis. But that's just 30 seconds in a 90 minute movie. With John Cleese, Ann Bell and Derek Francis.

Her Jungle Love (1938)

When their plane crash lands on a jungle island, an aviator (Ray Milland) and his mechanic (Lynne Overman) are shocked to discover an exotic girl (Dorothy Lamour) living there with only animals to keep her company. Directed by George Archainbaud (THIRTEEN WOMEN). Hokey adventure but not much fun. Dorothy Lamour had found fame wearing a sarong in THE JUNGLE PRINCESS (1936), solidified that image with John Ford's THE HURRICANE (1937) and with this movie, made her Technicolor sarong debut. Except for the explosive volcano finale which is impressive, the movie moves along at a snail's pace, stopping for a couple of songs sung by Lamour. Normally, I'm a sucker for kitsch like this but I just grew impatient after awhile. With J. Carrol Naish, Virginia Vale and an annoying chimpanzee played by Jiggs.

We Joined The Navy (1962)

An officer (Kenneth More) in the British Navy has a problem. He has the habit of of speaking the truth at the most inopportune times. This leads him to be transferred from ship to shore and then to instruct at the Royal Navy College. Based on the novel by John Winton and directed by Wendy Toye (THE TECKMAN MYSTERY). I'm not big on military comedies but even taking that into account, this is a banal film. Actually, it starts off promisingly with some irreverence for the Navy and for awhile I thought it might be fun but it jumps the shark at the halfway mark and never finds its way back. It looks nice with cinematographer Otto Heller (PEEPING TOM) using the CinemaScope frame pleasingly (especially in the South of France). With Dirk Bogarde briefly reprising his Simon Sparrow role from the DOCTOR franchise, Lloyd Nolan, Joan O'Brien, Mischa Auer, Laurence Naismith and Sid James.