Here are seven films I’ve seen simply because I wanted to see them (or see again)

I haven’t done one of these Movies I’ve Recently Seen articles in months. Why? I was covering film festivals. I also took a long vacation. So, here are seven movies that didn’t belong to anything else, whether they’re good or bad. As always, they’re from best to worst.

• Boyz n the Hood
  
• The Eight Mountains
  
• Anatomy of a Murder
  
• Mexican Bus Ride
  
• Adam’s Rib
  
• The Pit and the Pendulum
  
• Alphaville
  

A Boyz n the Hood (1991)

At the age of 24, writer/director John Singleton exploded the American film industry with this story of black teenagers living in dangerous South Central Los Angeles. Young gangs with guns murder others just to prove they can. Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and his friends hope to get to college before they’re shot down. Meanwhile, Tre’s strict father (Laurence Fishburne) helps him to become a man. Among the cast is not-yet-famous Angela Bassett and Ice Cube.

A The Eight Mountains (2023)

Two young boys from different walks of life grow with their love of mountaineering in this beautiful film from Italy. Pietro and Bruno become tight friends, thanks to their love of the mountains. There are problems, of course. Pietro is from the city, while Bruno was always a man of the mountains. Even when the story drags a bit, you can just watch cinematographer Ruben Impens’ fantastic views (I can’t imagine how they shot some of the scenes).

A- Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

Not the great trail movie I thought it would be, but still worth watching if you have the time (it runs two hours and 41 minutes). The cast is terrific, with James Stewart, Lee Remick, Eve Arden, George C. Scott, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O’Connell, and more. Duke Ellington did the music, and has a cameo. Much of the dialog is adult for its time, but you should expect that when the film is produced and directed by Otto Preminger.

B Mexican Bus Ride (1951) the film is not available

16mm! One of Luis Buñuel lesser-known works, but a funny one. A group of people take a trip on a rundown bus over a very rocky path. There’s a young man who, because of red tape, can’t get away for his honeymoon. There’s a very hot momma who wants him, a bus driver taking a detour, and several goats. The people deal with considerable problems, including getting stuck in a bog and a truck that can’t get around them. But there are plenty of moments of joy. [I made a mistake in this paragraph]

I saw Mexican Bus Ride at BAMPFA, and the print may be the only one. The subtitles are horrible. It’s part of the BAMPFA series, Luis Buñuel’s Magnificent Weapon.

C+ Adam’s Rib (1949)

This Spencer Tracy/Katharine Hepburn flick seems to be an attempt to remake their wonderful first film together, Woman of the Year. Both films show the problems of a two career marriage (yes, that was something of a rarity back then). The main story is so ridiculous it’s hard to believe. A husband and wife, both lawyers, on different sides of an indented murder case. The movie tries to be feminist, even by 1940s standards. Screenwriters Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin could have done better.

C+ The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)

For a Roger Corman flick, this one has surprisingly good production value. It’s filled with medieval castle sets along with torture devices. Vincent Price over acts as he always does. The small cast talk a lot and rarely do anything else. The torture device of the title only appears for a few minutes at the end.

D+ Alphaville (1965)

The title suggests a section of Sesame Street. Instead, it’s a noirish science fiction flick by Jean-Luc Godard. Special agent Lemmy Caution must destroy an evil computer (or something like that). There’s a beautiful woman working with him, and Caution’s the only man who doesn’t try to get in bed with her. The music is horrific–mostly loud, cheap, horror movie score. I generally like Godard’s early work, but aside from a few jokes, this one doesn’t do much.