Evil Chinese, worse Americans, innocent bystanders, brainwashing, assassination, and party politics collide in this surprisingly timely cold-war thriller from 1962. While the suspense grows, the story attacks both Communism and McCarthyism (a recent memory with lingering effects in the early 60s). it also contains the most evil mother in the history of movies. I reviewed … Continue reading Manchurian Candidate Criterion
Category: Thriller
Marriage, alienation, and Alfred Hitchcock: Why Rear Window belongs on my A+ list
You hardly notice the knot growing in your stomach. The glamorous movie stars on the screen are doing little more than talking as they try to work out whether or not there has been a murder. Slowly you begin to realize, long before they do, that they're putting themselves in danger. Your hand starts squeezing … Continue reading Marriage, alienation, and Alfred Hitchcock: Why Rear Window belongs on my A+ list
Manos Sucias: Not-to-be-missed thriller coming to the Roxie
A Political and social thriller Written by Alan Blanco & Josef Kubota Wladyka Directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka I loved Manos Sucias when I saw it at last year's San Francisco International Film Festival. But it had no American distributor, and I assumed that neither I nor anyone else in the Bay Area would ever see … Continue reading Manos Sucias: Not-to-be-missed thriller coming to the Roxie
Miracle Mile: A quirky romantic comedy thriller about the ultimate disaster. My Blu-ray review
I usually review Blu-rays of well-loved classics. This time, I'm covering a little-known film you've probably never heard of. But it should be a well-loved classic. Miracle Mile starts as a quirky, one-of-a-kind romantic comedy. Harry (Anthony Edwards) woos Julie (Mare Winningham)--in a science museum--with his wit and his slide trombone. He meets her grandparents. … Continue reading Miracle Mile: A quirky romantic comedy thriller about the ultimate disaster. My Blu-ray review
Comic noir down under: Kill Me Three Times (my review)
A Comic thriller Written by James McFarland Directed by Kriv Stenders As Alfred Hitchcock well understood, a good thriller can carry a heavy load of dark humor. And since this particular thriller stars Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead), you come in expecting more laughs than thrills. But make no mistake, Kill Me … Continue reading Comic noir down under: Kill Me Three Times (my review)
Pioneer Review: Deep Water, Shallow Story
C+ Writtern by Nikolaj Frobenius, Hans Gunnarsson, Cathinka Nicolaysen, Erik Skjoldbjærg, and Kathrine Valen Zeiner Directed by Erik Skjoldbjaerg Early in this Norwegian thriller, two brothers—both highly-skilled deep-sea divers—have a talk. The one who’s a loving husband and father tells his bachelor brother that this will be his last dive; he wants to spend more … Continue reading Pioneer Review: Deep Water, Shallow Story
MVFF: A Bridge to a Border
Saturday afternoon, I made it to the Rafael for a Mill Valley Film Festival screening of Rob Nilsson's A Bridge to a Border. To be honest, I wouldn't have picked that film if I had recognized the director's name. Two years ago I caught his Maelstrom, and hated it. I'm glad to say that A … Continue reading MVFF: A Bridge to a Border
The Two Faces of January: The Best Thrillers Take Their Time
A thriller Written by Hossein Amini, from a novel by Patricia Highsmith Directed by Hossein Amini The less you know about The Two Faces of January when you walk into the theater, the more you’re going to enjoy it. So I’m going to try talking about this thriller without giving away much of the plot. … Continue reading The Two Faces of January: The Best Thrillers Take Their Time
Charlie Chan, Sherlock Holmes, and the Strange Case of the Stereotyped Detective
Racism clouds old Hollywood movies. Even films intended in their time to be progressive and tolerant can look shockingly bigoted today. Consider Charlie Chan at the Opera, which the Stanford will screen Thursday and Friday. And that's just the beginning. The theater will screen Charlie Chan mysteries every Thursday and Friday through October 10, each … Continue reading Charlie Chan, Sherlock Holmes, and the Strange Case of the Stereotyped Detective
A Classic Comedy and a Colombian Thriller: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
This year's San Francisco International Film Festival is beginning to wind down. Sunday was the last non-workday of the festival. I attended two events, and hit the jackpot both times. The Mel Novikoff Award Ceremony and The Lady Eve More than anyone else, Mel Novikoff helped bring repertory cinema to the Bay Area. The SFIFF's … Continue reading A Classic Comedy and a Colombian Thriller: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
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