How My Heart Functions

This afternoon, words began shuffling around inside my head. So in accordance with one of my personal goals for 2011—which is to "spend more time on creative and inspirational things," including writing more often—I decided to write them down. The words freely flowed out of my mind, almost saying, "Thank you for releasing us." The result: a poem! I know! Strange, right? I don't write poetry. I don't even read poetry. But, nonetheless, I had, in fact, written a poem. So I figured I would share it with my readers.

Since today would have been the 90th birthday of one of my favorite actresses, I will dedicate this poem to Giulietta Masina.


How My Heart Functions
Written by David Douglas

There's razor wire around my heart for protection
But there's also a lock, waiting for the right combination
One day the lock will open
Or is that just my heart hopin'
I'm not trying to show too much emotion
I must have been given a love potion
The lock cannot be pried or sliced
It's not a game, though you could be diced
What's needed is a gentle hand with the right touch
But maybe that's asking too much
No one wants to put in the effort
But my heart would appreciate the comfort
Because one time someone showed affection
But left before finishing the combination
Now my heart has been nicked and is bleeding
But it has hope and will keep on beating

Favorite Movie Releases of 2010

What a great year 2010 was in terms of movie releases! Due to the new movies released, I now have ten new favorite films:
- Flame and Citron
- The House of the Devil
- The Hurt Locker
- The Law
- Revanche
- Rome, Open City
- The Secret in Their Eyes
- The Secret of the Grain
- Shutter Island
- The White Ribbon

And ten of my older favorite films are now available on Blu-ray:
- Breathless
- Charade
- Days of Heaven
- The Evil Dead
- Harsh Times
- The Night of the Hunter
- Paris, Texas
- Psycho
- Seven Samurai
- Walkabout

So, of course, it's no surprise that the majority of my picks for Best Movie Releases of 2010 will come from the titles listed above. Also, please notice I changed the title of this blog post to "Favorite" instead of "Best." I think this more accurately describes my picks—and, perhaps, my picks each month, as well. Nevertheless, here are my picks for Best Favorite Movie Releases of 2010...




Favorite Film of the Year

#1 – The Hurt Locker
Here is what I wrote about The Hurt Locker back in February, and I see no need to alter it...
"The Hurt Locker, with its adept ability to depict the realities of war, its gorgeous slow-motion scenes, and its paralyzing suspense, is, by far, the best film of the month. At times, during this captivating film, I could feel the heat and dryness of the desert sand, the anxiety of being inches away from a deadly explosive, the heartbreak of losing a fellow comrade, and, despite all the danger and uncertainty, the euphoria of having the ability and confidence to do what you love. Powerful, emotional, and exceedingly suspenseful, The Hurt Locker should not be missed!"

Released by Summit Entertainment on January 12, 2010.
Purchase from Amazon: Blu-ray | DVD


#2 – The Secret in Their Eyes
I knew very little about The Secret in Their Eyes before watching it. I am certainly glad that was the case. So I will refrain from giving a description of the plot, and just say, "if you like foreign or mystery/suspense films, then I highly recommend watching The Secret in Their Eyes as soon as possible."
Last year, The Secret in Their Eyes was the Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film. That's really saying a lot, because it had some stiff competition from The White Ribbon and A Prophet. I want to also note that The Hurt Locker was the Academy Award winner for Best Picture last year, as well. I am genuinely surprised that I completely agree with those results. And even more surprised that, out of all the films released on Blu-ray and DVD last year, I found these two to be the best, over all the others. If you know me, I usually never agree with the results of the Academy Awards. So I doubt this will ever happen again. However, it is nice to know they got it right for once!

Released by Sony Pictures Classics on September 21, 2010.
Purchase from Amazon: Blu-ray | DVD


'Under the Radar' Film of the Year

#1 – The White Ribbon
Unfortunately, I find it hard to write about this film. It is complex, mysterious, emotional, and, at the same time, subtle. I enjoy movies that make me think about them afterward, and this is certainly one of those. One will watch this looking to solve the mysteries put forth, however, as in life, not all mysteries are—nor should be—solved. The White Ribbon was deservedly an Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Cinematography.

Released by Sony Pictures Classics on June 29, 2010.
Purchase from Amazon: Blu-ray | DVD


#2 – The House of the Devil
From my previous post, when The House of the Devil was 'Under the Radar' Film of the Month for February...
"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. It's a film that builds tension and slowly reveals its mysteries."
And still now, many months later, every time I hear a song by The Fixx, I think of this movie! :)

Released by Dark Sky Films on February 2, 2010.
Purchase from Amazon: Blu-ray | DVD


Blu-ray of the Year



#1 – The Night of the Hunter
The Night of the Hunter has been a favorite movie of mine for several years now. My eyes opened wide with disbelief when I first heard the Criterion Collection was going to release a Blu-ray of this marvelous film. One of the reasons The Night of the Hunter is a favorite film is due to the lighting and scenery. It is so fantastic that I could press 'Mute' on the remote control and still enjoy watching it. Not that anyone should do that, because you would miss a great story! This 2-disc Blu-ray is stacked with extras, including "Charles Laughton Directs, a two-and-a-half-hour treasure trove of outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage." If you have never seen The Night of the Hunter, you're in luck, because it has never looked better. If you have seen it, watch it again!

Released by the Criterion Collection on November 16, 2010.
Purchase from Amazon: Blu-ray | DVD


#2 – Paris, Texas
I'm sure this Blu-ray will be replayed more than any other I purchased this past year. The following is from my post in February...
"Paris, Texas, one of my top 10 favorite films, has been given a first-class Blu-ray release, thanks to the Criterion Collection. The picture quality is magnificent; the audio quality, exquisite; and the supplements, bountiful! The talent that created this film, for me, is dreamlike. It is directed by Wim Wenders; written by, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Sam Shepard; and stars Harry Dean Stanton. I love what these three gentlemen create separately. But when all three came together, back in the early 1980s, to create one film, it was destined to become a cinematic masterpiece. I am thrilled to own this film on Blu-ray. As I now love it even more—though, I didn't know that was possible!"

Released by the Criterion Collection on January 26, 2010.
Purchase from Amazon: Blu-ray | DVD


DVD of the Year



#1 – Roberto Rossellini's War Trilogy
The Criterion Collection finally reached spine number 500 with this three film set, which includes Rome Open City, Paisan, and Germany Year Zero. The three films depict the lives of many different people—from children to soldiers—who are trying survive life during, and after, World War II. I can only imagine the extensive amount of restoration work that went into these three films, but it was well worth the effort to bring these films to DVD. For more about this DVD set, please read my previous blog post here.

Released by the Criterion Collection on January 26, 2010.
Purchase from Amazon: DVD


#2 – 3 Silent Classics by Josef von Sternberg
Before watching this three film set, which includes Underworld, The Last Command, and The Docks of New York, I was not really much of a fan of silent movies. I had the mindset that they were so old, they just couldn't be very good. Of course, I could have counted on three fingers the number of silent films I had seen before these! So, looking back, it's no surprise how ignorant my assumption was. Anyway, without a doubt, these films are much better than many (many!) films that have come along since the "talkies" began. The black-and-white cinematography is outstanding, and so is the DVD transfer—especially noting that these films are over 82 years old. But it's not only how they are filmed, it's the stories they tell that are also very interesting. My favorite of the three is the last film in the set, The Docks of New York. I highly recommend this set to everyone! It just may change your mind about silent films as well.

Released by the Criterion Collection on August 24, 2010.
Purchase from Amazon: DVD


Cover of the Year



#1 – The Magician
Click here to see a larger image of the cover.

Released by the Criterion Collection on October 12, 2010.
Purchase from Amazon: Blu-ray | DVD


#2 – The Fugitive Kind
Click here to see a larger image of the cover.

Released by the Criterion Collection on April 27, 2010.
Purchase from Amazon: DVD

Best Movie Releases of May 2010

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.

Best Movie Releases of April 2010

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 Movie Releases of March 2010

Best Film of the Month – Broken Embraces

Within 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 Complex

Last 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 Amazon


Blu-ray of the Month – Bigger Than Life

I 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 Amazon


DVD of the Month – Sous le soleil de Satan

In 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 UK

For information about the criteria I use to choose the best films releases of the month, please read my other blog post, located here.