Category: FILM REVIEWS
The Rains Came to Ranchipur
Just up is a review of Twilight Time’s sparking Blu-ray of Jean Negulesco’s The Rains of Ranchipur (1955), the second film version of Louis Bromfield’s 1937 novel. Also added: a review of the 1939 original The Rains Came, plus some genuine editorial blather.
The Car in Motion: Racing Films, Part II – Le Mans (1971)
In Part 2 of this highly sporadic series, I’ve uploaded a review of Steve McQueen’s Le Mans (1971), remastered in 2011 for Blu-ray by Paramount. Also: the Le Mans soundtrack review added to KQEK.com Mobile.
Steel Magnolias (1989) drips onto Blu
New review of an old-ish classic, the 1989 weepie Steel Magnolias, which defied stiff critics and enjoyed a healthy theatrical run. Twilight Time’s new Blu-ray looks swell, and includes George Delerue’s lovely score as an isolated track.
Hammer House of Horror
Synapse Films recently released a nicely remastered 5-disc set of the Hammer House of Horror, one of the studio’s last efforts to keep the brand alive in horror before the company was shuttered for more than 20 years. The big surprise: HHOH is a fun, pulpy romp through cruel territory, and the final episode closes the series with material that is, for lack of better words, 100% Wrong.
CanCon 101 and a Career Nadir: John Huston’s Phobia (1980)
Yes, another installment of CanCon 101, featuring John Huston’s much-maligned tax shelter film Phobia (1980), shot in Toronto, and available nowhere. Also: short Editor’s Blog with nods to EOne’s recent purchase of Alliance Films, and the Canadian film channel Starlight.
Canada’s Top 10, Doc Soup, and CanCon 101: Death Ship (1980)
Quick tally of notable screenings in T.O., including The Bloor’s Doc Soup: Portrait of Wally (with director Q&A) + Cinema Politica: Doctors of the Dark Side (with guest Q&A), and Canada’s Top 10 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Speaking of Canadian cinema heritage (ahem): I’ve uploaded a lengthy review of Alvin Rakoff’s Death Ship (1980), recently released in a crisp Blu-ray special edition by Scorpion Releasing, which somewhat replaces the 2007 Region 2 DVD from Nucleus Films.
Nikkatsu Naughties: Part 3 + Spotlight Japan at the TIFF Bell Lightbox
The TIFF Bell Lightbox announces its Spotlight Japan series, which focuses on classic 80s films, divas of the silver screen, and a selection of exploitation films from Nikkatsu, the established studio that switched gears in 1971 and embraced smut like Female Teacher: Dirty Afternoon / Onna kyôshi: Yogoreta hôkago (181) and Sex Hunter: Wet Target / Sekkusu hantâ: Nureta hyôteki (1972) – two erotic ‘roman porno’ titles just reviewed, and recently released by Impulse Pictures / Synapse Films.
‘Hitchcock Waltzes from Vienna’
In tandem with the release of Danny Elfman’s score to Hitchcock (Sony Classical) I’ve uploaded a release of a rarely seen Alfred Hitchcock film – Waltzes from Vienna (1934) – his only, er, musical. Also added: minor Editor’s Blog on best-of lists, and the need to acknowledge Dumb Moves and Missed Opportunities by labels large & small.
Christian Petzold’s Barbara (2012)
Running at the tIFF Bell Lightbox us Christian Petzold’s excellent and very intimate drama Barbara, starring Nina Hoss as an East German doctor quietly waiting for her chance to escape from under the evil Communist thumb. Uploaded in tandem with the film review are mobile editions of three other Petzold films reviewed at KQEK.com – Yella (2007), Gespenster / Ghosts (2005), and Wolfsburg (2003). Oh yeah: and Happy New Year!
Too Good for TV, Part I
Sometimes a TV series seems too good for TV, and in spite of genuine promise and positive critical reviews, it just vanishes from the network – a victim of the budget-cutting, hard-line cancellation or non-renewal axe. Just uploaded are reviews of two British gems – the 1995 supernatural series Chiller (Synapse), and Ultraviolet (Palm) from 1998.
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