lucky girl - you picked a handsome guy without knowing he's also smart!

Average rating: 7.75

Greed in the Sun {Cent mille dollars au soleil} (1964) - "A rugged French adventure that blends road movie, western, and character drama into a dusty chase across the North African desert. After a truck loaded with valuable cargo is stolen, rival drivers pursue it through unforgiving terrain where greed, pride, and old loyalties collide. Jean-Paul Belmondo and Lino Ventura anchor the film with charismatic, understated performances that keep the focus on the shifting relationship between the men as much as the pursuit itself. Directed by Henri Verneuil, it offers sweeping desert landscapes, dry humor, and a thoughtful look at what people will risk when fortune is within reach." 

length: 2h, 2m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Henri Verneuil  |  why I watched: I saw it in an ad and thought it might be for me

IMDb: 7.0/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: NA% / 84% Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: Approved

tone & texture: gritty, textured/earthy

notable quote: "It's not a truck, it's a confessional."

my notes: strange film. It's an adventure, and a sort of buddy movie, and it's humor can catch one off guard. It was confusing to me, and I had a hard time getting a grip on it. I did appreciate the camera work, including some amazing shots of the desert from between Belmondo's legs, and a couple that made Ventura appear absurdly huge and powerful (like that at left). Let's say I found it more visually appealing than engaging or compelling. 

themes: loyalty, moral ambiguity, power, transformation

if this movie were a food it would be:  smelly cheese and sourdough bread

overall: mildly recommended

 

The Real Glory (1939) - "A rousing colonial-era adventure with surprising moral complexity beneath its old-Hollywood swagger. Gary Cooper plays an American doctor sent to the southern Philippines, where bandit attacks, cultural conflict, and military pride collide. Though unmistakably a product of its time—with all the baggage that entails—The Real Glory succeeds best when it focuses on courage, leadership, and the uneasy relationship between idealism and force. Worth watching with both appreciation and a critical eye." 

length: 1h, 36m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Henry Hathaway  |  why I watched: I generally appreciate Gary Cooper's movies, and was curious about an early one

IMDb: 6.5/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 80% / 42% Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: Approved

tone & texture: gritty, classic Hollywood polish

notable quote: "'Mac, don't tell me you've finally found your island?'

    'Yeah, and as soon as we finish up this job, I'm moving in. That'll be the world of Terence McCool. A darling of an island: a Garden of Eden.'

    'You better start looking for an Eve.'

    'Oh, no—I want peace and quiet.'"

my notes: I liked it. David Niven is the real star, in my book: he's bold, witty, and shows such a range of emotions with barely a word. Cooper is wonderful as always, a little awkward and quite heroic. 

themes: courage, sacrifice, loyalty

if this movie were a food it would be:  Phili cheesesteak - hearty, satisfying, and not for everyday

overall:  recommended

Mechanic—Resurrection (2016) - "Jason Statham returns as elite assassin
Arthur Bishop in a globe-trotting action thriller that cheerfully prioritizes inventive set pieces over plausibility. The romance arrives at warp speed and the body count stretches credibility well past the breaking point, but the film's spectacular locations, imaginative assassinations, and Statham's trademark cool make it an easy movie to enjoy on its own terms. Tommy Lee Jones, having what appears to be tremendous fun, steals every scene he's in. Turn off the part of your brain that counts bullets, and it's an entertaining ride." 

length: 1h, 38m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Dennis Gansel  |  why I watched: I was in the mood for a solid fave (previously reviewed here and here)

IMDb: 5.8/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 29% / 40% Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: R

tone & texture: energetic, hyper-glossy action

notable quote: "'Cappuccino, Espresso?' 

    'Espresso - no sugar.'"

my notes: the best action movies are unlikely, humorous and/or romantic, and lively. This one fits the bill. Are there elements that strain credulity? Sure. Does that detract from the plot, or make the characters less compelling? Not at all. 

    I'm deathly afraid of heights, but the pool scenes get me every time. I enjoy this one. 

themes: revenge, isolation, courage

if this movie were a food it would be:  chicken Caesar salad with homemade croutons. Fresh, crunchy, nourishing, savory, and tangy. Hits the spot.

overall:  recommended

It Happened One Night (1934) - "One of the foundational romantic comedies,
this film remains astonishingly fresh nearly a century later. Frank Capra's road movie follows a runaway heiress and a down-on-his-luck reporter who would rather argue than admit they're falling in love. Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert create a rhythm of banter, exasperation, generosity, and mutual respect that became the blueprint for countless films to follow. Funny, warm, and surprisingly observant about class, pride, and the ordinary kindness of strangers during the Depression, it isn't just historically important—it still feels alive." 

length: 1h, 45m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Frank Capra  |  why I watched: I've seen it many times but never reviewed it yet. It was mentioned here, in a recap of some memorable films for me

IMDb: 8.1/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 98% / 93% Audience  |  my IMDb: 10/10  |  MPAA: Approved

tone & texture: playful, classic Hollywood polish

notable quote: "'Have you ever been in love, Peter?' 

    'Me?' 

    'Yes. Haven't you ever thought about it at all? It seems to me you, you could make some girl wonderfully happy.' 

    'Sure, I've thought about it. Who hasn't? If I could ever meet the right sort of girl. Aw, where you gonna find her? Somebody that's real. Somebody that's alive. They don't come that way anymore. Have I ever thought about it? I've even been sucker enough to make plans. You know, I saw an island in the Pacific once. I've never been able to forget it. That's where I'd like to take her. She'd have to be the sort of a girl who'd... well, who'd jump in the surf with me and love it as much as I did. You know, nights when you and the moon and the water all become one. You feel you're part of something big and marvelous. That's the only place to live... where the stars are so close over your head you feel you could reach up and stir them around. Certainly, I've been thinking about it. Boy, if I could ever find a girl who was hungry for those things..."

my notes: my favorite movies involve a progression, some way that the characters are deeply changed from start to finish. This is one of the best of those. Gable's Peter Warne is savvy and ingenious, and develops a different sort of backbone and also a more open mind. Colbert's Ellie Andrews starts out naïve, shallow, and a bit thoughtless—though she's genuinely kind and curious, too. By the end of the film, she is aware of others in ways she could not see before, and also much more honest to and about herself. This is the prototype "friendship goals" movie, prehaps the best there will ever be. 

themes: love   

if this movie were a food it would be:  cinnamon toast. It might seem insubstantial, but it is a staple for me: salty, sweet, a hint of spice, and more depth of flavor than it's given credit for.

Academy Awards: this film won the Big Five. 

overall: most highly recommended

 

[the title quotation is from Greed in the Sun]

he's not a bit like you. / And you're not a bit like you. I mean you aren't what you seem to be.

Average rating: 6.6

Star Trek: Generations [i.e. Star Trek 7] (1994) - "Captain Jean-Luc Picard faces personal loss while confronting a scientist whose obsession with recapturing paradise threatens millions of lives. At the same time, the film passes the torch from the original Star Trek crew to The Next Generation, giving two iconic captains an opportunity to share the screen. More reflective than action-oriented, it explores regret, purpose, and the temptation to escape the pain of ordinary life." 

length: 1h, 58m  |  source: my Blu-ray  |  directed by David Carson  |  why I watched: I've seen it several times, but haven't reviewed

IMDb: 6.6/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 48% / 57% Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: PG

tone & texture: reflective, crisp & modern

notable quote: "'I hate this! It is revolting!'

    'More?' 

    'Please!'"

my notes: it's not the best movie ever, or even the best in the franchise, this is the movie version of "jack of all trades, and master of none." If it were just about Data's emotion chip, or saying goodbye to Kirk and Scotty and Chekov, or Picard's tragedy, or Soran's quest—or any of the half dozen other stories being covered—then it would be a nice, tight, entertaining movie. Instead, it's underdeveloped and scattershot, playing like a Best Of television episode rather than a feature film. Still and all, I enjoyed it, and will see it again. These are my guys, after all!

if this movie were a food it would be:  appetizer platter. There's a lot of tasty things to try, but not enough of any of them. 

themes: tradition v. change, found family, identity

overall:  recommended

 

Walking Tall (2004) - "After returning to his hometown, a former Special Forces soldier finds that corruption, drugs, and intimidation have transformed the community he remembers. Refusing to look the other way, he becomes sheriff and wages a blunt, personal campaign to restore order. Lean, fast-moving, and unapologetically old-fashioned, the film updates the classic 'one good man versus a broken town' story with modern action and a surprising amount of heart." 

length: 1h, 26m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Kevin Bray  |  why I watched: it's another film I've seen before but did not review

IMDb: 6.2/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 27% / 59% Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: PG-13 (LOL)

tone & texture: gritty, high-color/stylized

notable quote: "Casinos are all the same. Room full of fake boobs and real assholes."

my notes: before I say anything else: Johnny Knoxville is the heart of this movie, and he is wonderful in the role of Ray. He's a really good actor. 

     I went into it hoping for action and heroism, and that's what I got. I didn't go in looking for cinematic brilliance, and so I wasn't disappointed.

if this movie were a food it would be: Pizza Hut buffet. A variety, but all within a small range. Meaty, salty, flavorful, not at all nutritious, and weirdly enthralling.

themes: justice, found family, courage

overall:  recommended

Secret Beyond the Door (1947) - "After a whirlwind romance, a wealthy New York woman marries a mysterious architect and follows him to his sprawling estate, where she discovers that her new husband harbors unsettling secrets behind a series of locked rooms. As suspicion, fear, and fascination become increasingly intertwined, she struggles to determine whether the danger lies within the house, within her husband, or within her own imagination. Fritz Lang blends Gothic mystery with psychological drama, creating an atmosphere of mounting unease in which shadows and silence are often as revealing as dialogue. The result is a stylish, unsettling character study that rewards close attention to mood as much as plot." 

length: 1h, 39m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Fritz Lang  |  why I watched: it was discounted by my favorite purveyor of unexpected movies, and seemed like something I might like

IMDb: 6.6/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 65% / 54% Audience  |  my IMDb: 6/10  |  MPAA: Approved

tone & texture: unsettling, noir shadows

notable quote: "I'm marrying a stranger, a man I don't know at all."

my notes: the comparisons to Rebecca (1940, reviewed here) are apt, but only as a first step. Secret is smaller and tighter. Beautifully framed and lit, with spectacular shadows and depth. I didn't exactly love the acting, and the music was 50º beyond distracting, but overall I think this is one to watch. 

if this movie were a food it would be:  there is a sandwich at a local deli called Don't Be a Chicken: Chicken breast, smothered in bacon aioli, Swiss cheese and lettuce served on ciabatta roll. Despite the deceptively simple description, it offers intricate and layered flavors. 

themes: identity, isolation

overall:  mildly recommended

The Meg (2018) - "During a deep-sea rescue mission, an experienced diver is called back into service when a scientific expedition encounters a creature thought to have been extinct for millions of years. As the enormous megalodon begins threatening both the research team and the unsuspecting public above, survival depends on a combination of expertise, nerve, and increasingly improbable plans. Mixing creature feature, disaster movie, and action spectacle, The Meg embraces its outlandish premise with a straight face and a healthy appreciation for larger-than-life entertainment." 

length: 1h, 53m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Jon Turteltaub  |  why I watched: I'm on a Statham kick lately

IMDb: 5.7/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 47% / 44% Audience  |  my IMDb: 6/10  |  MPAA: PG-13

tone & texture: straightforward hyper-glossy action

notable quote: "Chew on this, you ugly bastard."

my notes: it's no Jaws, for sure. (That is a required line for every review of this movie.) It is entertaining, legitimately startling, and undeniably fun. The romance bits are unconvincing, and the overlong scene of happy beach-goers stretched too thin. Still and all, I liked the action and the drama. (And this is the kind of movie where "6 1/2" or "a low 7" would be a more accurate numeric rating, to differentiate it from the Statham redemption/revenge films that I so appreciate.)

if this movie were a food it would be: Funyons. Lots of people don't enjoy them, they're kind of an acquired taste, too much is WAY too much, they sometimes leave an aftertaste of onion-like chemicals—and I have always liked them anyway. 

themes: courage, sacrifice, found family

overall:  recommended

 

A Double Life (1947) - "A celebrated stage actor renowned for his immersive performances accepts the role of Shakespeare's Othello, only to find that the emotional intensity of the character begins to seep into his everyday life. As the boundaries between performance and reality grow increasingly blurred, those closest to him struggle to distinguish the man from the role he has created. Mixing psychological drama with noir sensibilities, the film explores the intoxicating power of identity, obsession, and artistic ambition." 

length: 1h, 44m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by George Cukor  |  why I watched: I've liked some of Cukor's other films, and this premise intrigued me.

IMDb: 6.9/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 88% / 66% Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: Approved

tone & texture: unsettling, noir shadows

notable quote: "'Say, what's so funny?' 

    'It's nothing. It's a private joke between me and me.'"

my notes: this film distressed me more than I'd anticipated it might. The veil between person, actor, and character must have been very thin for Ronald Colman, playing Anthony John. The idea of walking up to the border of this kind of madness would terrify me. I almost had a hard time getting into the story because I was so fixated on how it would feel to be involved. 

    Edmond O'Brien played Bill Friend with quiet dignity and integrity. Shelley Winters, as always, made her role crackle and spit (that's a good thing, trust me). With the caveat that I found it psychologically intense, this is one to watch again some other day. (Maybe during daylight hours.)  

if this movie were a food it would be: espresso on an empty stomach

themes: identity, isolation

Academy Awards: winner x2 (and nominee x2) 

overall:  recommended, albeit with some reserve

 

[the title quotation is from Secret Beyond the Door]

marriage...is a disconcerting mystery

Average rating: 7.5 (6.6 if the outlier is included)

Mustang Country (1976) - "An aging rancher and a young runaway set out to capture a legendary wild mustang, beginning a quiet adventure through the American West that becomes as much about family, responsibility, and growing up as it is about the horse itself. Along the way, both discover that courage is often found in patience, kindness, and respect for the natural world. A gentle, old-fashioned family western that values character over spectacle." 

length: 1h, 19m  |  source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection  |  directed by John C Champion  |  why I watched: I love Joel McCrea, and will take any opportunity to watch his movies

IMDb: 6.2/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: N/A  |  my IMDb: 6/10  |  MPAA: G

tone & texture: warm, textured/earthy

notable quote: "All there is, is good luck and bad. Both of them are part of livin'."

my notes: McCrea is marvelously comfortable in his own skin. This is one of his last films, and it's a wonderful counterpoint to his earlier work. He's calm, and seems more prone to listening than to waiting to speak. His relationships with people and animals are realistic and expressive. It's not the most complex plot ever, but what there is is entertaining and sensible. 

themes: found family, hope, identity

overall: mildly recommended

 

3 Days to Kill (2014) - "Terminally ill CIA operative Ethan Renner sets out to repair the family life he sacrificed for decades of dangerous work, but one final assignment forces him to balance international espionage with the far more daunting challenge of becoming a real father to his teenage daughter. Blending action, comedy, and genuine family drama, the film explores whether a man defined by violence can still learn to be present for the people who matter most before time runs out." 

length: 1h, 57m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by McG  |  why I watched: I've seen it before (previously reviewed here) and was interested in a re-view

IMDb: 6.2/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 27% / NA Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: PG-13

written & co-produced by Luc Besson, of The Professional and La Femme Nikita fame 

tone & texture: gritty, crisp & modern

notable quote: "I'm gonna need a new suit."

my notes: this is an unsettlingly stupid movie that somehow manages to be entertaining and compelling. I f'ing HATE Amber Heard's acting, particularly in this thankless role that Meryl Streep couldn't have made comprehensible. The rest of the cast is really good, though, and manages to seem like they've got it going on. (OK, all except the CIA Director, played through a haze of cheese so thick you could stand a chip in it by Raymond J Barry.) 

    There's a moment toward the end of the film (1:44:19, if you want to look it up) where Costner's Renner is looking down over a balcony, at a party. He's lit from below with a neon green light. His face is creased and weathered, but his eyes are piercing. He's got a couple days' stubble and a more distinct mustache that hasn't been trimmed, so it's probably making his nose itch. He looks smart, capable, and like he needs a week-long nap. And this movie star's comfort in his own skin is why I like this movie. It's not the best action, comedy, or family film ever made, but it's hella entertaining and way more thinky than it seems. 

themes: redemption, love

overall:  recommended

Four Faces West (1948) - "Desperate to save his family's ranch, honorable cowboy Ross McEwen commits the one crime he believes he can still live with, leaving behind an IOU and hoping someday to repay what he has taken. As he flees westward, pursued by Sheriff Pat Garrett and aided by unexpected acts of kindness, McEwen discovers that his greatest challenge isn't outrunning the law but remaining true to himself in a world where trust, decency, and compassion are constantly being tested. More gentle character drama than traditional shoot-'em-up, Four Faces West is a quietly moving Western about conscience, honor, and the surprising generosity of strangers." 

length: 1h, 29m  |  source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection  |  directed by Alfred E Green  |  why I watched: it's my favorite Western (previously reviewed here and here) and I like to watch it every year or so

IMDb: 7.0/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: NA% / 71% Audience  |  my IMDb: 9/10  |  MPAA: Approved

tone & texture: straightforward, classic Hollywood polish

notable quote: "Everybody gets law-abiding when there's a reward at stake."

my notes: it's a rare movie where there is no "bad guy", people treat others decently, there is zero cursing - and it is still engrossing and fun to watch. Joel McCrea is my vote for the best listener in cinema, and he can do it seamlessly and organically. He seems like a guy I'd like to sit on a porch with, drinking iced tea and not talking at all, just being. His McEwen character is a regular guy (who also happens to be brilliant on a horse).

themes: justice, love, courage

overall: highly recommended

Parker (2013) - "After a double-cross leaves him for dead, professional thief Parker sets out to recover both his share of the money and the principles he refuses to abandon, tracking the crew that betrayed him to an affluent Florida community preparing for a spectacular heist. Forced into an uneasy alliance with a struggling real estate agent who longs for a more exciting life, Parker must balance meticulous planning, brutal efficiency, and his own uncompromising moral code. Equal parts crime thriller, caper, and character study, Parker explores the curious honor that can exist among thieves—and what happens when that honor is broken." 

length: 1h, 58m  |  source: I owned the DVD  |  directed by Taylor Hackford  |  why I watched: Statham, of course

IMDb: 6.2/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 42% / 48% Audience  |  my IMDb: DNF  |  MPAA: R

tone & texture: straightforward, crisp & modern

notable quote: "If you don't tell me what I need to know, I'm gonna press down on this chair until it crushes your trachea. Trust me, it's agonizing. Plus, there's the posthumous humiliation of having been killed with a chair."

my notes: I watched a third of it before giving up. It never made me care at all for the characters or the storyline. Statham is at his best, in my estimation, in films where he's either part of a big ensemble working for a common mission (Lock, Stock, for instance, or The Expendables), or where he's a weary loner with great competence and an exhausting backstory (Redemption, Safe, Wrath of Man...). Movies where he's an incomprehensible hardass or a romantic hero (Death Race, In the Name of the King) are hard to like. 

themes: identity

overall: not  recommended

 

La Ronde {The Circle Dance} (1950) - "Set in turn-of-the-century Vienna, a succession of chance meetings, flirtations, affairs, and fleeting romances links people from every level of society into an elegant chain of desire. As each encounter gives way to the next, the boundaries between comedy and melancholy begin to blur, revealing the fragile hopes, vanities, and longings that unite people regardless of class or circumstance. Graceful, witty, and quietly bittersweet, La Ronde is less interested in judging its lovers than in observing the endlessly repeating patterns of human connection." 

length: 1h, 33m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Max Ophüls  |  why I watched: I'm fascinated with the films of Anton Walbrook, who plays the Master of Ceremonies, and also with this director's films

IMDb: 7.4/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 94% / 83% Audience  |  my IMDb: 8/10  |  MPAA: Not rated

tone & texture: playful, classic Hollywood polish

notable quote: "I'm the personification of your desire."

my notes: such a unique premise for a movie! My favorite vignette was 'the Count and the Prostitute', with 'the Young Man and the Married Woman' a close second. Walbrook was adorable, charming and disarming as the Master of Ceremonies. My favorite film aspects were the lighting and the framing (including various shots of female characters through their ornate head- and foot-boards). I was entertained and left to think about it all.

themes: tradition vs. change, love, hope, disillusionment, loyalty

overall: strongly recommended

 

[the title quotation is from La Ronde]

you don't. give FIRE. to a kitten!

Average rating: 7.25

My Blueberry Nights (2007) - "After a painful breakup, a young woman leaves New York and drifts across America, forming fleeting connections with wounded strangers while searching for a way to heal her heart and rediscover herself. The question isn't 'Where is she going?' but 'How does a person become open to love again after being hurt?'"

length: 1h, 35m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Wong Kar-wai  |  why I watched: I'm working through the director's films

IMDb: 6.6/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 45% / 61% Audience  |  my IMDb: 8/10  |  MPAA: PG-13

tone & texture: melancholic, lush & romantic

notable quote: "'You know, I didn't even think you'd still be here.'

    'Why'd you come?' 

    'I guess I just wanted to see if I could remember what it felt like."

my notes: gorgeous, charming, contemplative. It falls somewhere between Romantic Drama and Philosophical Exploration/Indie, despite the well-known cast. Norah Jones, in her cinematic debut, blew me away as Elizabeth. She really does seem to be a natural actress. I also particularly enjoyed Jude Law (Jeremy) and David Strathairn (Arnie). 

themes: transformation, loss, love

overall: highly recommended

 

RED 2 (2013) - "Former CIA black-ops agent Frank Moses and his old partner, Marvin Boggs, are caught in the grip of retirement—but that soon changes when a powerful Cold War weapon known as Nightshade resurfaces decades after its disappearance. With assassins hot on their trail, Frank and his team set out to find the one scientist who can unravel the mystery of Nightshade and help them save themselves—and the world." 

length: 1h, 56m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Dean Parisot  |  why I watched: I've seen it before, but have not reviewed it

IMDb: 6.6/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 44% / 63% Audience  |  my IMDb: 6/10  |  MPAA: PG-13

tone & texture: playful, hyper-glossy action

notable quote: "'She has talents you and I will never have.'

    'What talents?' 

    'People like her.' 

    'If she lives, this'll be good for your relationship. You're right.' 

    'And if there's one thing I know, it's women and covert ops.'

    'That's two things.'

    'No, grasshopper. It is not.'"

my notes: kiss of death for an action movie: it's boring, and I didn't really care how it turned out. I think that Catherine Zeta-Jones killed this one for me, as she did for Ocean's Twelve (2004, reviewed here); her characters are all surface, no substance. 

    I love the interplay between Bruce Willis and Mary-Louise Parker, and even more I love that between Willis and John Malkovich; their grumpy, reluctant affection is completely adorable. And I understand that this film, even more than the original, is about the effects of aging on one's abilities and perceptions. And I really dig Lee Byung-hun. But.... 

themes: loyalty

overall: weakly recommended

War {Rogue Assassin} (2007) - "John Crawford spends years chasing Rogue, the assassin responsible for murdering his partner Tom Lone  and Lone's family. The hunt drags Crawford deep into obsession, hollowing out his marriage and turning every criminal operation into personal theater. Rogue resurfaces in San Francisco and engineers escalating warfare between Chinese Triads and Japanese Yakuza syndicates, exploiting greed, pride, and ritual loyalty to destabilize both empires. As bodies accumulate and alliances fracture, Crawford closes in on the assassin while unknowingly circling the collapse of his own moral identity. Every confrontation tightens around concealed guilt, damaged masculinity, and the unbearable weight of unfinished grief." 

length: 1h, 43m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Philip G. Atwell  |  why I watched: I've seen it many times, but never reviewed it

IMDb: 6.2/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 14% / 51% Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: R

tone & texture: gritty, hyper-glossy action

notable quote: "Pain can be a weapon, if you so choose."

my notes: it's not the best film Jet Li or Jason Statham has ever made, but it's for sure the best of the five they've done together (also including the first 3 'Expendables' and The One, {2001, reviewed here}). And there's a moment (49:55) that makes the entire thing worthwhile, where the exquisitely controlled, precise, and withholding Rogue, watching through a window as a woman plays with her child, lets loose the emotions. It is startling and beautiful, perfectly lit and shot and acted. 

themes: revenge, identity, loss

overall:  recommended

The Major {Mayor} (2013) - "On a cold winter’s day Sergey Sobolev, a major at the local police office, is driving to the hospital where his wife is about to give birth to their child. High from happiness, he’s driving too fast and runs down a boy on a passage walk, who dies. Now the major has only two options: go to prison or conceal the crime. Sobolev decides to compromise with his conscience and calls on a colleague to help him out. But the case turns out to be messy and when Sobolev finally changes his mind and tries to make up for his deed, it might already be too late." 

length: 1h, 39m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Yuriy Bykov  |  why I watched: I found a listing a catalog of movies, and it caught my eye

IMDb: 7.2/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: NA% / 70% Audience  |  my IMDb: 8/10  |  MPAA: not rated

tone & texture: bleak, grit & grain

notable quote: "Stop sniveling."

my notes: this is the most grim movie I've ever seen. I couldn't watch it all in one sitting, but had to keep stopping it to clear my head. 

themes: moral ambiguity

overall:  recommended only to someone who is fully prepared for dark. 

 

[the title quotation is from RED 2]

I like chatting with you, but I'm not sure if I can love you

Average rating: 8.25, disregarding the turkey 🦃

Moonstruck (1987) - "Widowed bookkeeper Loretta Castorini expects stability rather than passion when she agrees to marry a dependable but uninspiring man. But while helping to settle a family obligation, she meets his estranged younger brother—a volatile, wounded baker whose intensity unsettles the orderly life she has constructed for herself. Set amid the rhythms of an Italian-American Brooklyn neighborhood, Moonstruck blends romance, comedy, and melancholy into a story about the ways people negotiate loneliness, desire, duty, and the terrifying possibility of joy." 

length: 1h, 42m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Norman Jewison  |  why I watched: I've seen it before, but it's been ages - and I was in the mood for something romantic

IMDb: 7.2/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 90% / 81% Audience  |  my IMDb: 8/10  |  MPAA: PG

tone & texture: warm, lush & romantic

notable quote: "Chrissy, over on the wall, bring me the big knife."

my notes: what a sweet film. It has moments of blissful silliness, is both small and melodramatic, and makes my heart sigh. 

themes: love

    Roger Ebert's review is here. 

overall: highly recommended

 

Shaolin {Xin Shaolin si} (2011) - "After ruthlessly consolidating power during China’s violent warlord era, ambitious commander Hou Chieh finds his triumphs collapsing into betrayal, grief, and spiritual ruin. Fleeing the wreckage of the life he helped create, he takes refuge in a remote Shaolin monastery, where the quiet discipline and compassion of the monks gradually challenge the pride and brutality that once defined him. Blending sweeping action with meditative humanity, this film traces one man’s painful movement from domination toward humility, asking whether redemption is possible after immense harm has already been done." 

length: 2h, 11m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Benny Chan  |  why I watched: I love Andy Lau (Hou Chieh) and Nicholas Tse (Cao Man) (previously reviewed here, and discussed here)

IMDb: 6.8/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 73% / 71% Audience  |  my IMDb: 8/10  |  MPAA: R

tone & texture: somber, textured/earthy

notable quote: "All I know is, it's worthless to train just the moves without the spirit."

my notes: it's such a lovely movie, wrapped up in spectacle and fighting. Andy Lau is such a talented actor, so complex and open to both dark and light. And Jackie Chan might be one of the most underrated dramatic actors ever to hide in plain sight. 

themes: redemption, courage

overall: strongly recommended

The Tall Texan (1953) - "From the Panhandle to the Rio Grande, he was known as all man and ready to fight: a suspected murderer in the custody of a sheriff and now stranded in Indian territory after a Comanche attack on their stagecoach." 

length: 1h, 24m  |  source: TubiTV  |  directed by Elmo Williams  |  why I watched: it rolled up on my Tubi watchlist on a night fit for Westerns

IMDb: 6.1/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: NA / 43% Audience  |  my IMDb: DNF  |  MPAA: Approved

tone & texture: gritty, grit &grain

notable quote: "'Pioneering in this country can be awful rough.' 

    'Men go where there's money to be made.' 

    'And women?' 

    'They go with the men who make it... or try.'"

my notes: the dialog exchange above made me think this might be a good movie for me. Alas, it was as good as it got. I gave up at the one-third mark, having mentally wandered away earlier. If Lee J. Cobb can't hold my attention, it's not gonna get any better. 

themes: identity, courage

overall: not  recommended

Open Range (2003) - “Aging cowboys seeking a simple life on the open range are forced to confront violence, loyalty, and the possibility of tenderness in a town ruled by fear.”

length: 2h, 19m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Kevin Costner  |  why I watched: I've seen it before (previously reviewed here) and loved it

IMDb: 7.4/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 79% / 84% Audience  |  my IMDb: 9/10  |  MPAA: R

tone & texture: gritty, textured/earthy

notable quote: "A man's trust is a valuable thing; you don't want to lose it for a handful of cards"

my notes: deceptively simple, this movie is big, strangely warm, and surprisingly funny. Kevin Costner is marvelous, playing a complicated man with a very troubled past, but with an open heart. Robert Duvall is the star of the show. His weary, loving, gruff, morally certain Boss is a fully-fledged human from the start. It is incredibly easy to slip into the story and stay there through to the end.

themes: justice, found family, revenge

    Roger Ebert's review of the film is here, and it says in technical terms what I can only hint at as an enthusiastic amateur.  

overall: highly recommended

Confession of Pain {Seung sing} (2006) - “In rain-soaked Hong Kong, a former detective numbing himself with alcohol is drawn into the aftermath of a brutal family murder, uncovering secrets that blur the lines between justice, grief, and emotional ruin.”

length: 1h, 50m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Wai Keung [Andrew] Lau, Alan Mak  |  why I watched: I'm obsessed with both of the lead actors

IMDb: 6.5/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: NA% / 62% Audience  |  my IMDb: 8/10  |  MPAA: Not Rated

tone & texture: somber, noir shadows

notable quote: "'Isn't it true that every man describes his wife as a crazy bitch?'

    'What the hell... Cheers!'"

my notes: whoooooo boy, this is a sharp one. Beautiful performances from Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Takeshi Kaneshiro, with super subtle shadings that reveal their characters in delightfully surprising ways. There's a scene where the two play table tennis that I watched three times, each viewing shedding new light. Brilliant direction and camera work make this a new favorite.

themes: loss, revenge, justice

overall: strongly recommended

  

[the title quotation is from Confession of Pain]

so, you're an enforcer...at a hotel?

Average rating: 7.25

Police Story {Ging chaat goo si} (1985) - "After a high-risk operation brings down a powerful drug lord, a determined Hong Kong police officer is assigned to protect a key witness—only to find himself entangled in a web of intimidation, corruption, and public pressure that threatens both the case and his reputation. In this world, the line between heroism and collateral damage blurs as duty collides with chaos. Driven by escalating set pieces and grounded by flashes of humor and human frustration, the film captures a man trying to do the right thing in a system that rarely makes it easy." 

length: 1h, 40m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Jackie Chan  |  why I watched: I have loved some of Chan's movies before (Gorgeous {1999}, Little Big Soldier {2010}, Shaolin {2011}) and heard good things about this one.

IMDb: 7.5/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 90% / 88% Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: PG-13

tone & texture: energetic, fast-cut/kinetic

notable quote: "'Don't you like her?'

    'Frankly, yes - but that's no reason for me to apologize. I know she's going to call back to say she's sorry.'"

my notes: entertaining, great stunts, a metric shit-ton of glass breaking. I didn't love it, but there are much, much less enjoyable ways to spend an evening. 

themes: courage

    The RogerEbert.com review is here - and it's 4 stars. 

overall:  recommended

 

Blood Simple. (1984) - "In a dusty Texas town, an adulterous affair sets off a chain of suspicion, betrayal, and escalating mistakes. What begins as a straightforward act of jealousy fractures into something far more unstable, as each character acts on incomplete information and private assumptions. Violence isn’t driven by grand motives but by small, human errors—misread intentions, panicked decisions, and the quiet, irreversible momentum that follows. The film tightens around its characters with clinical precision, revealing how quickly control can slip when no one sees the full picture." 

length: 1h, 39m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen  |  why I watched: I have seen it, but it's long enough ago that I recalled nothing about it (except that Nick had something to do with seeing it the first time...)

IMDb: 7.5/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 94% / 88% Audience  |  my IMDb: 5/10  |  MPAA: R

tone & texture: unsettling, noir shadows

notable quote: "Never point a gun at anyone, unless you mean to shoot him. And if you shoot him, you better make sure he's dead. Because if he ain't dead, he's gonna get up and try to kill you. That's the only thing they taught us in the service that's worth a god damn."

my notes: bleak, harsh, and small. I guess I'm looking for some silver lining in my clouds.

themes: moral ambiguity

    Roger Ebert's 4-star review is here, and it is a doozy. "Is the movie fun? Well, that depends on you. It is violent, unrelenting, absurd, and fiendishly clever. There is a cliché I never use: “Not for the squeamish.” But let me put it this way. Blood Simple may make you squeam."

overall: very mildly recommended as a classic of a sort, and with a boatload of caveats

A Bittersweet Life {Dalkomhan insaeng} (2005) - "A disciplined enforcer working for a powerful crime boss lives by routine, restraint, and absolute loyalty—until a seemingly simple assignment places emotion in conflict with obedience. A moment of hesitation fractures the carefully ordered world of a man who has long suppressed his own desires and doubts. As violence escalates and betrayal reverberates outward, the film traces the unraveling of identity, revealing how quickly control collapses once a person begins to recognize the emptiness beneath their own discipline." 

length: 1h, 59m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Kim Jee-Woon  |  why I watched: it's been recommended to me by several sources

IMDb: 7.5/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 100% / 90% Audience  |  my IMDb: 9/10  |  MPAA: Not Rated

tone & texture: melancholic, crisp & modern

notable quote: "Stop digging. We're so fucked."

my notes: intensely violent, incredibly sad, frightening, melancholic, dirty. Maybe I'm not looking for silver linings in movies, so much as that the clouds feel like they matter?

themes: loyalty, identity

overall: strongly recommended

Panic in the Streets (1950) - "A routine murder investigation in the humid streets and crowded docks of New Orleans takes on terrifying urgency when a public health officer discovers that the victim carried a deadly contagious disease. Racing against time, bureaucracy, and public panic, officials attempt to trace the dead man’s final movements before infection can spread through the city. Blending semi-documentary realism with noir tension, Panic in the Streets transforms an invisible threat into a gripping manhunt, where exhaustion, skepticism, and human error prove nearly as dangerous as the disease itself." 

length: 1h, 36m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Elia Kazan  |  why I watched: I was in the mood for something black &white (previously reviewed here)

IMDb: 7.2/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 97% / 77% Audience  |  my IMDb: 8/10  |  MPAA: Approved

tone & texture: gritty, noir shadows

notable quote: "You're a fresh dame."

my notes: Richard Widmark is not my favorite, but this is a good movie well worth watching. Paul Douglas makes such a wonderful, weary, skeptical, logical counterpoint to Widmark's overenthusiastic nerd-bird character. My very favorite, though, is Barbara Bel Geddes as the plucky, smart, intuitive wife who runs the show without anyone else needing to know it. 

themes: chaos vs. order

Science History Institute's take on this film and its relevance in the COVID era is worth a read. 

Academy Award winner 

overall: highly recommended

 

[the title quotation is from A Bittersweet Life]

when you've gray hair, people think your heart never skipped

Average rating: 8

Dragon {Wu Xia} (2011) - "In a quiet rural village, a seemingly mild-mannered paper maker becomes an unlikely hero after stopping two dangerous criminals—drawing the attention of a meticulous investigator who suspects there’s more to the man than meets the eye. In Dragon (also known as Wu Xia), the story unfolds as a slow-burning unraveling of identity, where past and present collide and violence carries lasting consequence. What begins as a mystery gradually reveals itself as something more elemental: a man trying to outrun who he once was." 

length: 1h, 38m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Peter Chan  |  why I watched: Donnie Yen is growing on me, and of course Takeshi Kaneshiro is a big draw

IMDb: 7.0/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: NA% / 81% Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: R

tone & texture: somber, textured/earthy

notable quote: "'You have more questions?'

    'I'll think of something.'"

my notes: astonishingly beautiful, this film is made up of some innovative, remarkable, brain-twisting camera work and editing. That means lots of sighs (the rain! paper-making! the river!) and some gasps (the inspector, inspecting! the river!) and a few gags (the EAR!). The action sequences are terrific. 

themes: identity, tradition vs. change, justice

overall:  recommended

 

Belfast (2021) - "Seen through the eyes of a young boy, this film captures a working-class family navigating the sudden eruption of sectarian unrest in late-1960s Northern Ireland. Ordinary routines—school, movies, neighborhood bonds—are disrupted by forces the child can’t fully understand, even as they reshape the family’s sense of home. The film balances moments of warmth and humor with the growing pressure of a world becoming less safe, asking what it means to belong when staying and leaving both carry a cost." 

length: 1h, 37m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Kenneth Branagh (also written by)  |  why I watched: I'd heard such good things

IMDb: 7.2/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 86% / 92% Audience  |  my IMDb: 8/10  |  MPAA: PG-13

tone & texture: tender, documentary - real

notable quote: "'"Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart."'

    'Is that what does it?'

    'Yeah, well, you don't usually buy your wisdom with a walk in the park. Your heart has to explode.'

    'Mr. Philosopher. And when did your heart ever explode?'"

my notes: a terrific, well-made, stunning-looking film (so stunning, it seems like a series of still images rather than primarily a moving picture) that I never, ever want to see again. Ciarán Hinds and Judi Dench blew me away. It was my first exposure to Jamie Dornan, and to Caitríona Balfe since Ford v. Ferrari. It's just... I spent the entire time with feelings of intense discomfort, bordering on fear, and it was never quite resolved. It left a mark, and not in a good way. 

themes: loss, identity, loyalty

overall: highly recommended

This is Not What I Expected {Xi huan ni} (2017) - "A chance collision between a tightly wound executive and a fiercely intuitive chef sets off a quiet chain reaction neither quite understands at first. What begins in irritation and misalignment gradually becomes a series of small, revealing encounters—where taste, habit, and attention carry more meaning than intention alone. Rather than building toward sweeping declarations, the film lingers in the in-between: moments where people test, resist, and slowly adjust to one another’s presence. As routines are disrupted and assumptions quietly undone, connection emerges not as inevitability, but as something tentative, shaped through curiosity, friction, and the willingness to let another person alter the shape of your world." 

length: 1h, 46m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Derek Hui  |  why I watched: after the last film, I wanted something that I knew I would love and be comforted by (previously reviewed here)

IMDb: 6.7/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 78% / 87% Audience  |  my IMDb: 10/10  |  MPAA: TV-PG

tone & texture: intimate, lush & romantic

notable quote: "'You're not just a chef. You're special... but sometimes too special. That's beyond any standard. So special that you can't be controlled. So special that I don't know what to do with you.'"

my notes: it's a rare movie that I'll watch twice in two months. Or that I'll buy on DVD after having streamed it. Or whose rating I'll upgrade from 9/10 to 10/10 upon second viewing. This is a unicorn of a movie, and I absolutely love it. 

    It was, incidentally, produced by Peter Ho-sun Chan, who directed Takeshi Kaneshiro in Dragon. Very different films, sharing an interesting aesthetic thanks to that combo.

themes: chaos v. order, love, tradition vs chaos

overall: most strongly recommended

The Natural (1984) - "A gifted but enigmatic ballplayer arrives midseason to revive a struggling team, carrying with him a past that is both obscured and unresolved. In The Natural, myth and memory intertwine with America’s pastime, as talent alone proves insufficient without timing, integrity, and a reckoning with what came before. Told with a sense of quiet grandeur, the film traces the arc of a man who seems larger than life, yet is shaped—like anyone—by missed chances and the fragile hope of redemption." 

length: 2h, 18m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Barry Levinson  |  why I watched: the death of Robert Redford (and Robert Duvall) made it important to re-watch (previously reviewed here) 

IMDb: 7.4/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 83% / 88% Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: PG

tone & texture: warm, lush & romantic

notable quote: "My life didn't turn out the way I expected."

my notes: it's not a bad movie, just very forgettable. If you like sports films whose purpose is to feature an inspiring hero—Rudy, Miracle, The Blind Side—then this is probably for you. If you're like me, and prefer movies about sports to be more than one infallible giant, then you're looking for something more nuanced, e.g. Bull Durham, Tin Cup, 42, or Breaking Away. 

    Regardless, this is Robert Redford making it look easy at the age of 47. No knocks on that.

    Roger Ebert's review is here (and, no surprise, he didn't love it either). 

themes: redemption, courage

overall:  recommended

 

[the title quotation is from Belfast]

I won't pretend I haven't screamed in the kitchen

    If you like podcasts, I recommend The Dish Podcast (by Waitrose), hosted by Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett. At the end of a lighthearted interview with someone famous—conducted while they eat a terrific meal—Nick and Ange ask a series of "rapid-fire" questions. 

    What follows are more of those questions, adapted to American culture and customs. My original post in what may become a series, from last January, is here. 

 

poached egg

What is the scariest way to eat eggs? 

    poached. Eating eggs is an act of willful ignorance for me. In order to turn my brain off, I need to accept it as something less than what it really is; I can't look at the original format and think it's something that I'm supposed to consume. 

What is your favorite pie? 

    peach melba. I love fruit, and raspberries and peaches are among my favorites on their own. Together, they are tart-sweet and extra flavorful. When made properly, a good pie can keep them relatively intact, so the result is not a swirly pinkish mixture but two great fruits coexisting in a crispy crust.  

What is your favorite chocolate bar? 

Orecchiette

    Milky Way. Not usually my first choice if I'm buying a candy bar (which so rarely happens, anyway) but the one I enjoy the most when offered as an option.  

What is your favorite pasta shape name for a cat? 

    Fedelini (it's a very thin spaghetti, whose name means "little faithful ones") or Orecchiette (meaning "little ears") or maybe Pansotti ("big bellies")

What is your favorite drink to use to splash in someone’s face to show disgust? 

    purple Jesus 

When you’re away from home, what dish do you miss? 

grilled cheese

     hamburger gravy & mashed potatoes. It is the flavor of my childhood, an absolute and immediate comfort food, and just difficult-enough to make in small quantity that I rarely cook it just for myself. 

What is your favorite dish from childhood? 

    besides the above? Grilled cheese. 

What is your favorite toast topping? 

     on especially good bread, butter only. On regular bread, low-sugar strawberry jam.

What is your go-to pizza order? 

    Canadian bacon, fresh tomato, and either green pepper or green olive 

maple long johns

What is your favorite donut? 

    maple-frosted long johns, from the local place 

What is your favorite thing to barbecue? 

    I don't actually barbecue things, on my own. I've got a policy about working with fire, which is that I don't.

    I like things that have been grilled, but I'm super picky about it. Nothing charred, nothing stuffed, nothing with a bone. No barbecued hamburgers. I prefer my steak pan-fried in butter.

    After all that: I would choose a plain brat, on a white bun, with mustard and ketchup.     

 

[the title quotation is from Angela Hartnett]