I want someone to drive

Average rating: 7.25

Redemption {Hummingbird} {Crazy Joe} (2013) - "Nothing can prepare a man for the horrors of war. As Joey Smith, a damaged Special Forces deserter and now a homeless drug addict, wanders London's bustling streets in complete anonymity, an unexpected discovery will soon help him get back on his feet. Little by little, as Smith struggles to rebuild his shattered life in a stolen identity as an unstoppable Chinese Mafia enforcer, the brutal death of a dear friend will, inevitably, force him to take a stand. It may lead to his redemption."

length: 1 hour, 40 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: it's been an age since I've seen it, and I've been on a Statham kick lately

    (sort of reviewed here)
IMDB: 6.2/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 49% Audience: 38%
my IMDB: 9/10

MPAA rating: R

notable quote: "I use God as an excuse to avoid looking for myself."

directed by: Steven Knight (also Written by)

my notes: it's my favorite Statham movie! It was neither critically acclaimed nor loved by viewers, but this isn't the first time I've been out on my own limb with an action movie. I thought the back-story was compelling, the progression felt organic and believable, the fight scenes were terrific (my stomach dropped painfully during one toward the end!), and the relationship of the two main characters was awesome. Of course there are a couple of little quibbles about extraordinary coincidence (what modern film doesn't have at least one?), but that's pretty minor. Overall, it's a Yay!

overall: strongly recommended

 

The Grandmaster {Yi dai zong shi} (2013) - "The film narrates the life of the Wing Chun grand-master Ip Man, beginning in the 1930s in Foshan and moving on to cover his flight to Hong Kong after the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the events leading up to his death. The movie begins with Ip Man reflecting on martial arts, and then cuts to a scene of a fight under the rain between Ip and a dozen combatants. Ip Man wins, and experiences flashbacks of his life, from his early training at the age of seven to his induction into martial arts by his master Chan Wah-shun, and his marriage to his wife Cheung Wing-sing."
length: 2 hours, 10 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: I was in the mood for martial arts, and am more than a little bit in love with Tony Leung Chiu-wai

    (previously reviewed here)
IMDB: 6.6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 78% Audience: 59%
my IMDB: 7/10

MPAA rating: PG-13

notable quote: "People . . . they change with the times. Wear shoes that suit the crossing, and pants that fit your ass."

directed by: Wong Kar-Wai

my notes: a beautiful, tragic, brilliantly-fought film. The fight choreography—by the grandmaster of his craft, Yuen Woo-Ping—is extraordinary. The opening rain fight (below)! The fight with Razor! Some of the shots are truly outstanding, such as the burning cigarette, the gates, and the tears.

    (I was right in my first review, about the distraction of the romance. Ip Man is strong and interesting, except where Gong Er gets in the way.)

    Roger Ebert's fantastic review is here—and I agree.

Academy Award nominee:
• Best Cinematography—Philippe Le Sourd

• Best Costume Design—William Chang
overall:  recommended

Bird of Paradise (1932) - "When a young South Seas sailor falls overboard, the beautiful daughter of a Polynesian king dives in and saves his life. Thus begins the romance of Johnny (Joel McCrea) and Luana (Dolores del Río). Though Luana is promised to another man, Johnny whisks her away, and for a brief time the lovers live very happily together. But, when a local volcano threatens their lives, Luana knows that she must sacrifice herself to the volcanic gods in order to save her island."

length: 1 hour, 20 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: in my continued quest to see every movie Joel McCrea ever made, I found this early option
IMDB: 6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 50% Audience: 48%
my IMDB: 5/10

MPAA rating: Passed

notable quote: "Pele's no god, Luana. Pele's just a hole in the ground."

directed by: King Vidor

my notes: Gilligan's Island (1964-1992) meets The Hurricane (1937, reviewed here) meets the most racist nonsense you can imagine—featuring the gorgeous McCrea and del Río in their prime, clean as a whistle despite the conditions, and far more sexually open and aggressive than the Code would allow a couple of years later. Luana is naked through about 1/4 of the film, and magically becomes conversant in English after about 4 minutes' tutoring by the perpetually horny Johnny. There's lots of bloodthirsty savages dressed in horns, feathers, and other stereotypical attire and makeup, chanting gibberish and bearing sharpened sticks.

overall:  recommended only for the exquisite ridiculousness and the attractive leads (and Hell yeah I'm going to watch it again!)

Panic in the Streets (1950) - "When a body is found in the New Orleans docks, it's pretty obvious that he died from gun shot wounds. The police surgeon notices that the man is also displaying other symptoms and Lt. Commander Clint Reed, a doctor with the U.S. Public Health Service, diagnoses a highly contagious disease, pneumonic plague. He tries to convince local officials to find everyone who may have been in contact with the dead man. The Mayor supports his efforts but many, including the police, are doubtful. Reed wants to avoid publicity so as not to panic the public. They have little information to go on—they don't know the dead man's identity—and Reed estimates they have 48 hours before disease begins to spread. With police Capt. Tom Warren going through the motions, Reed sets out to find the killers."

length: 1 hour, 36 minutes

source: streamed on Amazon Prime
I watched it because: Paul Douglas is a marvelous actor—and I'm into noir lately
IMDB: 7.2/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 97% Audience: 77%
my IMDB: 8/10

MPAA rating: Approved

notable quote: "Oh, he doesn't have it, eh? What do you know."

directed by: Elia Kazan

my notes: tense, gritty, and very well done. It's a beautifully shot film, artistically directed and edited. The light adds so much to the pressure and drama. Richard Widmark is very good, if a little wooden, as Dr. Reed. Barbara Bel Geddes (!) is his surprising, affectionate pixie wife, Nancy. Paul Douglas is terrific as Captain Warren, gruff and powerful, quirky-funny.

Academy Award winner: Best Writing, Motion Picture Story—Edna Anhalt, Edward Anhalt

overall:  recommended

 

[the title quotation is from Redemption]