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Soon, I hope to be back on track, as this blog is now finished, and the blog for June should not be far behind. In the meantime, if you haven't done so, be sure to check out my newly redesigned homepage and the LightningFilmz Store (powered by Amazon.com). Notably, I update the "Coming to DVD/Blu-ray" section of the store, at least, 3 times a week.
Best Film of the Month – The Road
Released by Sony Pictures on May 25, 2010.
The Road is a post-apocalyptic tale about a father and son's journey across America and their struggle for survival. It is directed by John Hillcoat, who previously directed one of my favorite films, The Proposition, and is based on the book by Cormac McCarthy, author of No Country for Old Men. Also, the music is composed by Nick Cave (my favorite musician) and Warren Ellis.
Watch the Trailer | Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon
'Under the Radar' Film of the Month – One Deadly Summer
Released by Bayview Entertainment/Widowmaker on May 11, 2010.
A beautiful, young woman (played by Isabelle Adjani, who won the best actress César award in 1984 for her performance) moves to a small, French town with her German mother and handicapped father. Fairly quickly—almost too quickly—she is engaged in a relationship with a local young man. As One Deadly Summer progresses, it becomes more complex, mysterious, and thrilling. I believe this is one of the most 'under the radar' films that I have picked, thus far; and it's a shame One Deadly Summer has not been seen and enjoyed by more people, outside of France.
Buy the DVD from Amazon
Another 'under the radar' film I enjoyed this month: North Face (Watch the Trailer).
Blu-ray of the Month – Walkabout
Released by the Criterion Collection on May 18, 2010.
After a tragic event at the beginning of Walkabout, a young brother and sister find themselves stranded in the Australian desert. While journeying through the harsh terrain, they meet a young Australian Aborigine, who is on his walkabout—a rite of passage in which adolescent, Aborigine boys are initiated into manhood by journeying into the Australian wilderness alone, for a period as long as six months. With his help, the siblings attempt to find their way back to civilization. There seems to be something mystical (as in, otherworldly, spiritual, and mysterious) about films set in the Australian Outback, and Walkabout is no different. This Blu-ray gorgeously displays the natural beauty, and severity, of the the Outback. A great double-feature would be to pair Walkabout with Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Visit the Criterion Collection | Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon
DVD of the Month – Oshima's Outlaw Sixties
Released by the Criterion Collection on May 18, 2010.
Oshima's Outlaw Sixties is the 21st release in the Criterion Collection's Eclipse Series line. According to Criterion, "Eclipse is a selection of lost, forgotten, or overshadowed classics in simple, affordable editions. Each series is a brief cinematheque retrospective for the adventurous home viewer." This 5-disc DVD set includes five, Japanese New Wave, films directed by Nagisa Oshima.
Visit the Criterion Collection | Buy the DVD from Amazon
For information about the criteria I use to choose the best films releases of the month, please read my other blog post, located here.
Before I begin with my choices for April, I would like to apologize for the long delay. My business partner and I have been very busy building the CaseFunding.com website. I believe my time was well spent, though, as I am very pleased with the design and function of the site. Nevertheless, thank you for your patience.
Best Film of the Month – Ride with the Devil
First, I should address: what makes Criterion's new release of Ride with the Devil different from the film's previous DVD—released by Universal Studios on July 18, 2000? The difference is that the new release is a director's cut with an additional 11 minutes of footage added to the film. This may not sound like much of an addition, but according to the director, Ang Lee, the film has better pacing, more plot and action, and feels more epic. All of which, he stated, "makes a big difference to me."
Before the Criterion Collection announced their release of Ride with the Devil, I had never heard of the film. I looked over some reviews of the film, and they were very mixed. Some loved it, some hated it, and some were indifferent. Unfortunately, the same is still true, even with the release of the new director's cut. I'll admit, it is definitely not the greatest film ever made. Some of the acting is borderline and some portions of the dialog made me cringe. So how can a flawed film, like this, be the best film of the month? Because there are things about this film that are masterful. The cinematography is gorgeous; the costumes, hair, makeup, and settings are all period-specific, which instill the film with authenticity; and, finally, the story is engaging and, most notably, not one I've seen or heard told before. The film takes place during the American civil war, and follows a group of Southern guerrilla fighters, who fight Union soldiers and supporters, but are not, themselves, members of the Confederate army. Later, as the war nears its end, the remaining members of this resistance group must come to terms with their past transgressions and contemplate what to do next, in an unforeseen future.
Several weeks have passed since I watched Ride with the Devil, but it has left lasting memories. It's been quite a while since a film has stayed with me, the way this one has, and I hope to watch it again soon. The Blu-ray flawlessly presents the film with perfect picture and audio quality. I applaud the Criterion Collection for rescuing this film from obscurity!
Visit the Criterion Collection | Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon
'Under the Radar' Film of the Month – Kapò
Kapò tells the story of a young Jewish woman, who is separated from her parents when they arrive at a Nazi concentration camp. A sympathetic doctor enables her to switch identities with a recently deceased prisoner—thus, saving her from certain death. But as she witnesses her parents, and many other prisoners, being escorted to the gas chamber, it seems her heart hardens. And, even though she is determined to survive, is this lack of emotion really any better than death? Kapò was one of the first films to depict the horrors of the holocaust, but its age is definitely not an impairment. In fact, I think it is one of the best holocaust films I have seen. Besides the powerful, existential story, I was also captivated by the wonderful cinematography, which added radiance to such a dark subject matter. Fans of The Pianist, and other similar films, should not miss this overlooked gem.
Visit the Criterion Collection | Buy the DVD from Amazon
A couple more 'under the radar' films I enjoyed this month: Summer Hours (Watch the Trailer) and—so films released from the Criterion Collection do not dominate the entire month—Storm (Watch the Trailer).
Blu-ray of the Month – Vivre sa vie
Another early Jean-Luc Goddard film, Vivre sa vie [My Life to Live], starring Anna Karina, is released by the Criterion Collection. I feel Goddard's films defy description. So really, there's not much to say. Goddard is one of the pillars of the French New Wave film movement, which is one of my favorite film periods; Anna Karina is a goddess, who makes any film more elegant and enjoyable; and this Blu-ray showcases the film perfectly, and includes many resourceful extra supplements. If you know nothing about Goddard, Karina, or the French New Wave, then, in addition to watching Vivre sa vie, I would also recommend: Breathless, Band of Outsiders, and, my favorite Goddard film, Pierrot le fou. (By the way, these are some of the films, which Quentin Tarantino credits as inspiring him to become a filmmaker.)
Visit the Criterion Collection | Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon
DVD of the Month – The Fugitive Kind
I absolutely love films like this! The Fugitive Kind, based on a Tennessee Williams play, is set in a small town in the deep South, where the smoldering heat and humidity are not just in the atmosphere, they are also felt in the heated, and passionate, emotions and interactions between the characters. The film stars: Marlon Brando, a drifter looking to turn his life around for the better; Anna Magnani, a unhappily married, store manager, who employs the drifter; and Joanne Woodward, a local wild child, who is irresistibly attracted to the drifter. In addition to the regular attributes I could praise the film for, such as the acting, directing, and in this case, especially, the writing, I wanted to compliment the film on how well it highlights the closed-mindedness and gossiping nature of the some of the characters. Some films do this and it feels so clichéd, but in this film, the characters, and their ways, felt very authentic. Anyway, this is a director-approved 2-disc DVD set, which includes a new video interview with the director, Sidney Lument; "Three Plays by Tennessee Williams," an hour-long television presentation of one act plays, directed, too, by Sidney Lument; and much more. Suddenly, Last Summer is still my favorite film based on a Tennessee Williams play, but The Fugitive Kind is definitely not far behind. I think the DVD is worth purchasing, just for outstanding cover art—which is the best I've seen in quite a while! But with the purchase, the wonderful film and numerous extras are also included—making this one of the easiest recommendations I will ever have to make!
Visit the Criterion Collection | Buy the DVD from Amazon
For information about the criteria I use to choose the best films releases of the month, please read my other blog post, located here.
Best Film of the Month – Broken EmbracesWithin Broken Embraces, a film of love, passion, repulsion, obsession, and filmmaking, are characters facing a turmoil of emotions. It's how they choose to react to these emotions that, ultimately, leaves the characters harboring numerous buried secrets. Though, this film is not, technically, a mystery, I was delighted at how the buried secrets of the past were gradually revealed—bringing to mind the great, classic films of Alfred Hitchcock. In addition to the story, and the marvelous performances by all the actors, I highly enjoyed the vivid colors used throughout the film. This film has received very mixed reviews. It's seems people either love it or hate it. In fact, I almost neglected to watch it—what a tremendous shame that would have been! Needless to say, I fall into the category of those who love this film. It's definitely most rewarding for those, like myself, who enjoy dark, destructive love stories... and this is the best I have seen since Match Point. Highly recommend!Watch the Trailer | Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon'Under the Radar' Film of the Month – The Baader Meinhof ComplexLast year's Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Picture, The Baader Meinhof Complex, has finally come to Blu-ray and DVD in the U.S. Based on actual events, which took place in the late-1960s to 1970s Germany, The Baader Meinhof Complex focuses on the, now adult, children of former Nazis. Fearing that the newly democratic Germany may, once again, be turning toward fascism, the group begins to organize and carry out robberies, kidnappings, assassinations, and destructive bombings, in an effort to stop German fascism forever. The film never tries to judge the characters or bias the viewer. Instead, the film simply, and authentically, portrays the historical events that occurred during this fearful time in Germany. Though, I didn't like this film as much as Munich—which I love—it is in a similar vein. So fans, or haters, of Munich will most likely feel the same way toward The Baader Meinhof Complex. If you have never seen either film, they would make a great—though, long—double-feature!Watch the Trailer | Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from AmazonBlu-ray of the Month – Bigger Than LifeI can only imagine the audience reactions to Bigger Than Life, when it was first released in 1956. Keep in mind, this was a year before, the television show, "Leave It to Beaver," which, supposedly, depicted the "normal" American family, went on the air. Bigger Than Life shows a similar, typical, American family, but with one huge difference: the father is dying, addicted to prescription drugs, going crazy, and becoming violent! The father, played by—the stellar—James Mason, is diagnosed with a rare medical condition, which will be fatal if not treated with medication. However, this medication, when not taken correctly, can cause psychosis. I greatly enjoyed watching James Mason begin to lose his sanity; and I believe this is one of his best performances! This is also a fabulous Blu-ray. I cannot remember ever seeing a film that looks the way this one does. The image reminds me of antique paintings I've seen in museums. In a sense, it's like watching a painting in motion. And the way the young boy's blue eyes, almost, seem to glow, make this Blu-ray's image unforgettable. With, not only, such a unique image, but also a story that is just as effective today, as it would have been 50+ years ago, Bigger Than Life easily receives a high recommendation from me.Visit the Criterion Collection | Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from AmazonDVD of the Month – Sous le soleil de SatanIn Sous le soleil de Satan [Under the Sun of Satan], a country priest, struggling with his spirituality, meets, and is bestowed a special gift of insight by, Satan. This is the seventh, and, probably, final, Maurice Pialat film to be released by the Masters of Cinema. Though I haven't seen as many films from the French director, Maurice Pialat, as I would like, I have seen enough to know his films are unlike any others I have seen. To me, Mr. Pialat's films are admirable due to, not only, the performances he evokes from his actors, but also, his, seeming, fearlessness to not cut the camera away—thus, ending a scene—when his character is having a deplorable experience. In Sous le soleil de Satan, one such instance—though, there are more—of this fearlessness can be observed in an unforgettable scene involving a young girl (portrayed, impeccably, by Sandrine Bonnaire), her lover, and a shotgun. Yes, Mr. Pialat's films are, at times, distressing; however, as an avid cinema fan, I find them highly rewarding and inspirational. This is a wonderful 2-disc DVD release, which contains abundant supplemental material for the film, as well as, two early short films by Maurice Pialat.When I started choosing the best movie releases of the month, I did not intend to select a film that was not released in the U.S. However, this release, in my opinion, eclipsed all of the other DVD releases that I evaluated. So it deserves this recognition. Nevertheless, please note, this is a PAL European DVD and not a standard NTSC American DVD. So, in order to play this DVD, you will need a PAL DVD player or region-free DVD player, which is what I have.Visit the Masters of Cinema | Buy the DVD from Amazon UKFor information about the criteria I use to choose the best films releases of the month, please read my other blog post, located here.
Best Film of the Month – Flame and CitronBased on actual events that occurred in Denmark during World War II, Flame and Citron is a fierce WWII resistance film, with thrilling shootouts, intricate character relations, and, as with any films of this type, distressing war violence. The film is centered around two Danish resistance fighters, almost assassins, Flame and Citron. They are issued missions by a select group of higher-ups in the Danish resistance. But when doubt arises about the validity of some of the missions, Flame and Citron begin to wonder whether they can trust anyone, besides each other. The characters around Flame and Citron are so shady, I, personally, didn't know who they could trust, until the very end of the film. This, along with the many other outstanding qualities, such as the acting, writing, and direction, makes Flame and Citron my choice for the best film of the month.
Watch the Trailer | Buy the DVD from Amazon'Under the Radar' Film of the Month – The House of the DevilTechnically, Flame and Citron belongs here as well. However, since it earned the distinction of best film of the month, I'll use the opportunity to award another film the honor of 'under the radar' film of the month. And that film is The House of the Devil. If, like me, you enjoy older horror films with a devilish and/or cult theme, such as Rosemary's Baby, Suspiria, The Wicker Man, or The Sentinel, you will most likely enjoy The House of the Devil. It is like a long, lost psychological horror film from the early 1980s. In fact, this was the intention. The locations, clothes, cars, music, and everything else, including the payphone and cassette tapes, are all reminiscent of the 1980s. And by being similar to the older horror films, The House of the Devil is much more psychological thrilling, than it is bloody or gory. Some have referred to it as boring, and though slow at times, I was never bored—even during my second viewing. It's a film that builds tension and slowly reveals its mysteries. Another striking aspect of the film is the lead actress, Jocelin Donahue. (I have to admit that I was a little entranced by her.) I thought she played her role marvelously. Also, she reminded me, slightly, of a young Margot Kidder, who has starred in several horror films, such as Sisters, Black Christmas, and The Amityville Horror, from around the same era in which this film is set. In any case, if you're a fan of any of the above mentioned films, don't miss this one!
Watch the Trailer | Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from AmazonBlu-ray of the Month – A Serious ManI watched a A Serious Man in theaters, and although I liked it, I was a little overwhelmed by all of the Jewish references. However, after watching it again, on this magnificent Blu-ray, I enjoyed it immensely! This is another terrific black comedy from, my favorite American directors, Joel and Ethan Coen (also known as: "the Coen brothers"). There are almost two films here: the feature film about a man who is striving to find meaning, and maintain order, in his life, as everything around him, including his family, career, health, and faith, is spinning into chaos; and a strange, yet contemplative short film, preceding the feature film, about a "dybbuk." [From Wikipedia, "In Jewish folklore, a dybbuk is a malicious possessing spirit, believed to be the dislocated soul of a dead person."] As for the Blu-ray, the picture and audio quality are, basically, stunning! It's nice to see, something, other than a comic book film, look and sound this exceptional!
Watch the Trailer | Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from AmazonDVD of the Month – Bad Girls of Film Noir"Bad Girls of Film Noir" is a two volume (sold separately) DVD set. While watching these films, I realized the title is a little misleading. The films in the set would not actually be classified as "film noir." However, I understand the title is referring to the leading actresses, who can be classified as "Bad Girls of Film Noir," based on other films completed during their respective careers. Nevertheless, it's nice to see these classic films on DVD. They all seemed to have been restored, as the picture and audio quality is really impressive.
Volume 1 includes the following films:
• The Killer that Stalked NY, starring Evelyn Keyes, is about a woman who, unknowingly, is spreading smallpox throughout New York. This was my least favorite of all the films. It almost seemed like a propaganda movie, saying, "hurry and get your smallpox vaccine." Though, it could easily be updated to "hurry and get your swine flu vaccine."
• Two of a Kind, starring Lizabeth Scott, is a splendid, con artist film with plenty of double-crosses.
• Bad for Each Other, starring Lizabeth Scott and Charlton Heston, is about a surgeon who must decide between helping people in desperate need or being well-paid. Lizabeth Scott's character was almost unbearably icy in this film. I much prefer her as loving and emotional, as seen in the film noir, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers.
• The Glass Wall, starring Gloria Grahame, is a suspenseful, race-against-the-clock film. This is my favorite film from Volume 1. Though, that could be attributed to the talented beauty, Gloria Grahame, as I really enjoy her other films, such as The Big Heat and In a Lonely Place.
Volume 2 includes the following films:
• Night Editor, starring Janis Carter, is about a cop, who, while on a date with his mistress, witnesses a murder. For fear of losing his wife and child, he does nothing about it. But when faced with the guilt and his duty as a policeman, will he come clean? And will the murderer let him? I enjoyed this one very much!
• One Girl's Confession, starring Cleo Moore, is about a woman who, justifiably, steals $10,000, buries it, and goes to jail because of it. Never telling anyone where the money is buried, she smoothly serves her time behind bars. But once released, will the owner of the money—or even, others who know about the crime—be waiting to see where it is buried? If she has someone else dig it up, can she trust them? I love these kinds of movies! This, and the previous, one remind me of something that might have been shown on the television show, "Alfred Hitchcock Presents."
• Women's Prison, starring Cleo Moore, Jan Sterling, and Ida Lupino, is, as the title states, about a women's prison. This film was a little melodramatic, but, at times, was so well-done that I was infuriated with the warden of the prison! Definitely an engaging film!
• Over-Exposed, starring Cleo Moore, is about a woman with a knack for getting what she wants. After training to become a photographer, she quickly becomes the number one 'camera girl' of a mafia-funded nightclub. But when her dream job, as a news photographer, opens, is she in too deep to leave her nightclub job?
If I were to pick one volume over the other, I would easily choose Volume 2. One of the main reasons for this is that, before watching this set, I had never seen, or heard of, Cleo Moore. I am now sad that more of her films are not currently available. She is, especially, great in these types of films. Regardless, I enjoyed both volumes, and happily choose the entire set as the best DVD release of the month.
Buy Volume 1 or Volume 2 from AmazonFor information about the criteria I use to choose the best films releases of the month, please read my other blog post, located here.
The best channel on television, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), has an outstanding schedule this month.
TCM Star of the Month – Ginger Rogers
Beginning on Wednesday, March 10 at 7:00pm (central time) and continuing every Wednesday night for the remainder of the month, TCM will be showing numerous films starring, my favorite classic actress, Ginger Rogers. On March 10, and continuing well into the next day, TCM will be showing all of the musical films, which pair Ginger with co-star, and friend, Fred Astaire. On March 17, TCM will be showing Ginger's earliest films, including Rafter Romance and Gold Diggers of 1933. On March 24, TCM will air the films that show off Ginger's terrific comedic ability. My two favorite films of hers—which, for reasons beyond my comprehension, are not yet available on DVD—Bachelor Mother and Vivacious Lady (co-starring Jimmy Stewart) will be among the films shown. And finally, on March 31, TCM will be showing the drama, Kitty Foyle, for which Ginger won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 1941. During that year, Ginger also starred in another drama, Primrose Path, which will also air on the 31st. I look forward to watching some of the few films starring Ginger Rogers that I have not yet seen, such as Primrose Path, and re-watching a few of the films I have seen many times before, such as Bachelor Mother. Ginger Rogers could do it all. Whether she was in a musical, comedy, or drama, Ginger never had a disappointing performance. So I believe, as do others, Ginger Rogers was one of the greatest (and my favorite) actresses of classic cinema!
TCM Spotlight – Akira Kurosawa's 100th Birthday
March 23, 2010 would mark the 100th birthday of the great Japanese director, Akira Kurosawa. To celebrate, TCM will be showing many of his films starting on Tuesday, March 9 at 7:00pm (central time) and continuing every Tuesday night for the remainder of the month. Last year, thanks to TCM airing Rashomon and Seven Samurai, I became an instant fan of Akira Kurosawa. I now have watched and own several of his films, but there are still many I have not yet seen. With all the Kurosawa films showing this month, including a 24-hour marathon of films on his birthday, I will now be able to catchup on the films I have not yet seen. If you have never seen any of his films, I highly recommend tuning in one of these Tuesday nights.
For more information, and to see the complete schedule, visit TCM.com. Also, my blog for "Best Movie Releases of February 2010" should be posted in a few days. I'm working on it now.
