Category: FILM REVIEWS
Bouchet-Tolo Double-Bill = Quadruple-Trouble!
Reviews of Code Red’s B-movie double-bill Stoney / Surabaya Conspiracy (1969) + The Killer Likes Candy / Un killer per sua maestà (1968).
The Titanic Legacy, Part I
Yes, it’s Friday the 13th, and tomorrow makes the day the world’s greatest oceanliner – the Titanic – struck an iceberg and lost most of her passengers. A tragedy, pop culture phenomenon, and merchandise windfall all in one, and the 100th anniversary brings out oodles of new and old material to feed nostalgia, fascination, and genuine empathy for the 1500+people who died April 14th. Not reviewed is James Cameron’s Titanic (do you really need to read another review of the most-reviewd Titanic film?), but a pair of recently aired teleplays on CBC Newsworld, and available online via streaming – the excellent Saving the Titanic docu-drama, and TitanicL The Canadian Story – plus reviews of Sony Classical’s 4-CD Titanic: Collector’s Anniversary Edition set, and BSX Records’ Titanic: An Epic Musical Voyage.
The Erotic Shades of Zalman King, Part I
American erotic film pioneer Zalman King died in February at the age of 69, and the release in March of his first major screenwriting success – a film version of Elizabeth McNeill’s autobiographical 9 1/2 Weeks (1986), directed by Adrian Lyne – seems like the perfect opportunity to both review the film and begin a sporadic look at King’s oeuvre as a filmmaker, with a lengthy Editor’s Blog / tribute to the marginalized oddball.
Darrell Wasyk’s The Girl in the White Coat
After a lengthy absence from feature films, writer / director Darrell Wasyk (H, Mustard Bath) returns with The Girl in the White Coat, his liberal adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s short story “The Overcoat,” starring Pascale Montpetit, which begins its engagement at the TIFF Bell Lightbox Friday. Uploaded is both a film review, and an interview with Wasyk, who also discusses his breakthrough film H, and its planned DVD release. Yes, really!
The Films of Frankie-Boy, Part I
Slight editorial blather to set up the first set of reviews focusing on the films of Frank Sinatra, crooner, and pretty good actor who eventually settled into a familiar groove and sometimes got lazy in the execution of a film or two. From Olive Films on Blu-ray comes the Rod Serling-scripted heist thriller Assault on a Queen, and the film version of Neil Simon’s first play, Come Blow Your Horn; and from Twilight Time we have Pal Joey, with pal Frankie sandwiched between palsies Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak. No spicy hot sauce required at all!
Critical Thoughts: Gerald Peary on American Film Criticism
Review of Gerald Peary’s 2009 documentary For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism (2009), which screened this past Sunday March 25th at Toronto’s Bloor Cinema. Also included: bonus audio clips from Peary’s pre-screening intro + post-screening audience Q&A (in lo-fi mono!)
Jean Renoir in America, Part 1
In Part 1 of this diptych series covering Jean Renoir’s work in America (1941-1947), we have reviews of Swamp Water (1941) from Twilight, plus a film review of Fox’s 1952 colour remake, Lure of the Wilderness, and reviews of This Land is Mine (1943) and The Southerner (1945) from VCI. Also, a few slivers of home video news.
‘Swell Welles’ Part II – Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, The Battle Over Citizen Kane, and RKO 281
In Part 2 of ‘Swell Welles,’ reviews of Warner Home Video’s Citizen Kane set on Blu-ray, featuring Kane, the 1996 documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane, and the 1999 HBO TV movie RKO 281, plus authentic editorial blather.
‘Swell Welles’ Part I: Orson Welles’ Magnificent Ambersons (1939, 1942, and 2002) & More!
In Part 1 of ‘Swell Welles,’ a lengthy comparartive essay on Orson Welles’ Magnificent Ambersons (Warner Home Video) – the 1939 radio show, the 1942 RKO film, and the 2002 A&E teleplay – plus the 1993 documentary It’s All True: Based on an Unfinished Film by Orson Welles (Paramount).
Picnic (1955), The Roots of Heaven (1958), and Twilight Time’s Julie Kirgo
In Part 2 of my profile of home video label Twilight Time, I interview TT’s resident film historian Julie Kirgo, and discuss the virtues of special features content on DVDs and Blu-rays (and their sudden paucity of late). Also reviewed: TT’s sparkling Blu-rays of Picnic (1955) and John Huston’s awesome, awesome The Roots of Heaven (1958), AND a tally of upcoming Twilight Time releases thru June.
Connect
Connect with us on the following social media platforms.