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Maryland (2015)
Between MAN ON FIRE and the coming ELYAS
When I review this one, I think of Tony Scott's MAN ON FIRE - it self a remake of an Elie Chouraqui's film starring Scott Glenn - and of course the coming soon Florent Emilio Siri's ELYAS, starring Roschdy Zem in a seemingly EQUALIZER or JOHN WICK like character. A former special forces soldier become a bodyguard for a wealthy family and who will have to face many dangers towards this same family - beautiful wife and - or - kid. But the movie I review now is only a bit action oriented, however not that much, it is more focused on the psychological matter, character relationship study. But it is directed by a woman, with a great dose of sensitivity, evoking the post war traumatic disorder. Unlike what the Florent Emilio Siri's film trailer suggests. ELYAS - which I will comment, don't worry - will be far more focused on the action packed stuff, as was his famous NID DE GUEPES. So, this very movie MARYLAND is a hell of a film, especially from a woman director. A wonderful little gem, offering a terrific performance from Mathias Schoendaerts. Excellent action sequences, especially a very brutal, bloody one. It was shot in Saint Jean Cap ferrat - south of France, French riviera - a town where you have hundreds of huge, gigantic billionaires villas and castles, fancy mansions mostly owned by Russian oligarchs and other wealthy, very very wealthy, businessmen whose "affairs" are far from being so legal...If you know what I mean. So, watching this movie reminds me my vacation site, and I am not a very wealthy business man !!!!
Calling Homicide (1956)
Bill Elliott in a non western yarn !!!!!
And also director Edward Bernds in a non science fiction nor western movie !!! So, you have understood that this short thriller is interesting at least for both elements. And that's enough for me, after all, it is only one hour length. And no matter the plot, intrigue, I stilll enjoy to see Bill Elliot without a cow boy hat, a horse, a gunbelt...Not a bad little film. Forgettable. But, again, to see a western main actor under the direction of also a western film maker - with whom he never worked before - made me think of John Wayne under the direction of John Sturges in MC Q. Yes, you can watch this Eddy Bernds thriller.
Criminals Within (1941)
Only for Joseph H Lewis' fans
But beware, this pure propaganda spy drama has absolutely nothing to do with GUN CRAZY, TERROR IN A TEXAS TOWN or even SO DARK THE NIGHT, also directed by this so gifted director, who, despite the fact he was a B director, has his own trademark: interesting camera angles, as also Sidney J Furie - for another period, I admit. This one is a good time waster however, but I did not notice some of those Joseph H Lewis' tricks with the camera and directing trademark. Anyway, it is easy to purchase, so you can try it, don't bother the short length. But if you want to really appreciate this exceptional film maker, start with SO DARK THE NIGHT,made four years later.
'C'-Man (1949)
C MAN
I did not know this movie at all and I must admit that it is not bad at all but forgettable. Just as the other films directed by this Joseph Lerner, for instance GIRL ON THE RUN. But it is worth watching, after all John Carradine and Dean Jagger contribute a lot to the story, but they don't steal the show either. It is not a gritty.actionner, and anyway not an actionner at all. This is just an acceptable time waster, only destined to movie buffs in search of a rare item to watch. Even directed by a Joseph H Lewis or a Budd Boetticher, the result would have been the same - a bit better though - because there was nothing exceptional to take from such a story.
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
But unfortunately not Sean Connery as 007...
This James Bond film was at first supposed to be the last with Sean Connery as 007, because the latest had previously decided to make a change in his acting career. But as anyone knows, he resumed twelve years later with Irvin Kershner's NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, an amusing title for the situation !!!! And also in total rivalry with the other 007 film starring Roger Moore: OCTOPUSSY. That said, this one directed by Guy Hamilton is as excellent as the previous ones, as exciting, awesome in every domain, every scene. And I particularely love the duo of killers characters; a scheme that we have never seen in the franchise before. Their place in the story....very unusual.
Captain Caution (1940)
Amazing adventure yarn
I had totally forgotten this adventure film made by the director of SINBAD THE SAILOR, another famous adventure film, but taking place in another period...Here, the story takes place in 1812 and the message is - what a surprise - a bit anti British, instead of being anti Nazi - or simply anti German. But the director Richard Wallace was a comedy film maker instead of action films and from time to time, we can feel it properly thru light touches that we would not have found in a Raoul Walsh or Michael Curtiz's film, for instance. But the most important, the action matter, are also effective and this all long the movie. I also forgot that Victor Mature had already begun in thee business in 1940, and in a lead role....
The Last Posse (1953)
Harry Joe Brown production before Budd Boetticher
Yes folks, this superb little western - posse western, a genre within the genre - is produced by the same man who will work several years later with Budd Boetticher and Randolph Scott on the same kind of stuff. Short, small budgets but so great ideas, with nothing really expected, nothing predictable and pulled by strong performances, and the whole without any f...heroes; only terrific characterd=s study. Look for instance Broderick Crawford in one of his best roles, an aging sheriff, his most poignant, terrific ones. And with this western, director Alfred Werker, proves once more - before DEVIL'S CANYON, THREE HOURS TO KILL, CANYON CROSSROADS, AT GUNPOINT, REBEL IN TOWN - that he was nearly at the level of a Budd Boetticher in terms of budget-quality ratio.
Série noire: Une gare en or massif (1991)
Light hearted crime drama
After LE MANTEAU DE SAINT MARTIN and LE SALON DU PRET A SAIGNER, this is another adaptation from Joseph Bialot's books. All taking place in Paris, exploring different districts. Here, it takes place near Gare du Nord, and Saint-Ouen town, very specific district of the north of Paris. It focuses on the people living in this area, all modest folks, some kids and also a gangster dreaming of a big heist. The gangster is played by Daniel Duval, in a role made for him. This is a bit tragic but mostly light hearted, very offbeat, not that predictable, typical of the eighties spirit, hesitating between drama and more or less comedy.
Série noire: Le manteau de Saint Martin (1988)
Cute little crime drama
Adapted from a Joseph Bialot's novel, I don't remember if it is faithful or not to the book, which I read a long time ago, but the result on TV screen is just agreeable, a social topic showing petty hoodlums, common folks, and a group of terrorists. It is made, written in the pure eighties fashion, with no real solid script, only characters study. Lousy acting but quite cute, sometimes gripping elements to enhannce the social message. It is a rare TV movie also providing some light hearted scenes, nearly humor. The main interest for this movie, as for the Joseph Bialot's books, is the description of some deep and unknown places of Paris. In Bialot's books, each one described a different district.
Layer Cake (2004)
Daniel Craig before Permit To Kill
I think this film was the last movie in which Daniel Craig was not widely known yet; this before the CASINO ROYALE and all the other James Bond movies which he will be the star of. The peculiarity here is that the lead character, and narrator, is nameless. Not unique nor exceptional that a lead character is nameless in a film, but it remains very rare. The story telling is so British, more or less in the Guy Ritchie style, with some light hearted touches, not really comedy ones, but enough to prevent this film to be reallt gritty, bloody and brutal feature. But the ending is quite effective for my taste. Complicated, complex story, not very interesting, but the overall film is worth though, even if only for Daniel Craig.
Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)
Outstanding
My comment won't be that different from the first one, concerning this tremendous short film series. Too short, but everything must have an end. And maybe it stopped before becoming lousy, as so many other franchises.... So, yes, the cast, director and producers - but not screen writer - also the same, so what can we ask for? Both films look very alike, same formula, and also same surprises which precisely belong to the formula. The director Bob Fuest worked for TV industry and more precisely THE AVENGERS series, and that doesn't surprise me at all. Same atmosphere and overwhelming fantasy, crazy world. So refreshing, exciting...If you love this film, don't miss theater of blood, also starring the terrific and terrifying Vincent Price.
The Toughest Gun in Tombstone (1958)
It could have been an Edward L Cahn's film
The producers and screenwriters of this small western were the same who worked with Edward L Cahn. Same atmosphere, frame, story telling. Not a bad film, despite the cast and Earl Bellamy in his earliest days, before he became more ambitious with bigger budgets and TV industry jobs. And, as many other westerns, the story uses real names of the West history: here Clanton family. It could have been Billy The Kid or Jesse James. I repeat, not a bad western, but rapidly forgettable. But if you can get it as a western buff, of course try. George Montgomery has done worse than this one. Awful predictable ending.
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)
Amicus gallery
If you know this British horror film company, you'll notice the films were mostly as effective, but quite different though, as Hammer productions. And the US TV series, one decade later, NIGHT GALLERY, was also highly inspired by the Amicus movies schemes. I mean five different tales in one movie. Different stories very well made and especially very creepy. They never casted Vincent Price, because they were British and at this time Vincent Price was not in England yet. He will be later for ABOMINABLE DR PHIBES two movies and THEATER OF BLOOD. So, this very one, directed by Freddie Francis - the true equivalent for me of Terry Fisher and who made mostly of those Amicus films - is absolutely terrifying and efficient. I don't understand that Amicus productions were underrated by many horror fans, who only focused on Terence Fisher, Val Guest or John Gilling's films. I will try to review many more films from this company. Many tributes, however, to American horror films: Val Lewton's movies atmosphere in the voodoo segment, BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS in the hand segment; Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe's adaptations for the first story; DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS for the scond tale.....
Sous la Seine (2024)
JAWS in Paris aka Welcome to the Olympic Games
I am dead sure that Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo will be very sorry that this movie is shown on Netflix one month before the Olympic Games in Paris and more precisely the triathlon event...There is already the big, huge issue of the supposed - or not - clean water of the Seine river. And this horror thriller is also an ecological thriller, as also was John Frankenheimer's 1982 PROPHECY. But at least Xavier Gens the director is back to France, where he began in 2007 with the terrific FRONTIERES. In the meantime, he worked for the Hollywood industry. This disaster horror thriller from France is of course daring, and proceeds the today's tendency for French film industry to produce action and horror flicks - film de genre, as we say in France - which was rather rare so far. Or exceptional. This one is good, not terrific, and, I repeat, it is funny that it is aired one month before the Olympic Games in Paris. But why not? At least the sharks don't fly, as in SHARKNADO. But the finale of this one is totally, definitely, entirely unbelievable, unrealistic at the most. And so fun, crazy and gloomy in the same time. A total surprise that may leave you puzzzled.
La Peste (2024)
Albert Camu's COVID?
This famous novel, written in the forties, and supposed to be an allegory of the WW2 and the Nazi troops who occupied France, has never been put on screen by the French movie or even TV industry; only foreign...So now the French has at last decided to make it. And what better pretext, not better reason, to use this story to evoke the COVID period? Many, many elements remind us the COVID plague and all the restrictions, lockdowns, masks, curfews.... And also a good pretext to denounce totalitarian regimes, the manipulation that the government may use against population. This is a thriller, full of characters and fates, not always without gloomy atmosphere, tragic elements that makes this series not for all audiences. It may be depressing, from time to time. Frederic Pierrot is awesome in the lead role, and I would also have imagined Jean-Pierre Daroussin in this doctor character.
11:14 (2003)
AMORES PERROS meets COLLISION
The two movies which I mention above opened a new kind of topics and that made possible many, many rip-offs, including this one; and not only for the American film industry. So, this scheme is excellent, as any of this kind - the collision of several fates - precisely because of the editing that prevents to make any story being boring. Full of suspense, it also pushes audiences to be very careful, concentrate on different characters, and that makes this viewing even more interesting. Yes, there were many of those schemes during the 2000's, not all produced with huge budgets, but what for? Only script and good editting counts.
Striking Distance (1993)
Typical nineties action flick....
I went to see this film only because of the director Rowdy Herrington, who gave us the tremendous ROAD HOUSE, four years earlier, and also because of Bruce Willis who, at this time, was still rising to the top, twenty years before he began to fall down...Ok, this is a good action film, never boring, but just so so...Predictable, as were so many films from Hollywood made during this period. I would never go to the movie theaters now to watch this kind of stuff. What's the use, what for?? My tastes have also changed.... The best of Rowdy Herrington will forever remain ROAD HOUSE for me, and I am sure I am not the only one to think this.
Fury at Showdown (1957)
Cute little western
This is not a major western, this is not a Delmer Daves, John Ford or Anthony Mann's western, it will not stay in memories. It's just a seventy five minutes film, without much ambition, except bringing something unusual, moving, as the Budd Boetticher's western films series was during the same period. Not big budget yarns, but still riveting because of the characters study, not necessarily the gunfights. The two brothers relationship is really the must see of this Gerd Oswald's movie. Not ambitious at first sight, but, I repeat, really worth. Try it, just try, and I am sure you won't regret it. And It's rare too.
Série noire: Piège à flics (1986)
Pure typical crap from the eighties
The story itself is not uninteresting, though not that realistic. A cop is involved against his will with a group of armed robbers. He is trapped by a blackmail affair. Not bad but that exciting either. This story could have been enhanced by a solid and strong directing, but it was unfortunately not the case at all. The only good thing here are the action and shooting scenes, very bloody and realistic, which creates a contrast with the lame rest of this forgettable film. But, to summarize, it remains watchable, bearable. Anyway, during the eighties, most of the productions looked more or less.
Le mouton enragé (1974)
You have to be French to get it all
A so French satirical drama, or comedy drama, and played by the perfect cast of actors. Jean-Louis Trintignant and Romy Schneider are here not as good as in LE TRAIN, made the very same year, but this movie is a perfect testimony of this seventies period. Jean-Louis Trintignant is delightful of cynicism, selfishness, as a cool ruthless man. This film, I repeat, is a satyre of social rise during this period. Keep in mind that the seventies was a period that we never knew after. Greed was smooth, ambition was fun, and we could speak about that, show this without any restriction, with a bit of humor. Foreign audiences will probably understand nothing to it.
Cleopatra (1963)
There could have been a movie about the shooting of this one.
It was the WATERWORLD before its time. A movie which the shooting was so long, so long, with so many interferences, problems, postpones, delays.... It was absolutely unbelievable. But the result is awesome, not terrible, it is a true gigantic sword and sandal film, as good - quite different - as BEN HUR or THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. And the couple Elizabeth Taylor and her husband Richard Burton participates to the legend, the myth of this tremendous story. You can not avoid this film, impossible, and don't be afraid of the length, many movies are long too and they are bearable for audiences. It nearly destroyed - physically and mentally - the director Jo Mankiewicz, as he did Rouben Mamoulian. A big, huge Hollywood masterpiece.
Captive Women (1952)
Yes, interesting
This post apocalyptic plot is not as good as THE WORLD THE FLESH AND THE DEVIL nor even LAST MAN ON EARTH but it is still worth, considering it is made by Stuart Gilmore, the former Howard Hawk's editor...he gave us some westerns, this small budget science fiction film and even a B western strarring Tim Holt. It is very short, so you won't have any excuse to despise it because of the length. It is a curiosity, but not more, let's be fair. I am not sure many audiences remind this one. For the period, it is daring, it deserves to be seen. It's not a bad film, there has been far worse. Far far worse.
The Golden Blade (1953)
Amazing Universal studios gem
During those early fifties, Universal Studios tried to replace the adventure movies from the forties starring Maria Montez and Jon Hall. Those colorful and action packed enchanted movies taking place in the south seas, Arabic deserts...So there were those One Thousand and One Nights tales, such as this one and SON OF ALI BABA, VEILS OF BAGDAD, PRINCE WHO WAS A THIEF and many many more. Typical from this amazing studio. Generations of fans loved this kind of stuff and even still now old timers still crave for it. Lousy but fun and full of nostalgia. They don't make such films now. It's a lost period, but not for everyone.
Série noire: Aveugle, que veux-tu? (1984)
An eye for an eye
This blind gunfighter plot reminded me an US movie starring Patrick Wayne, back in 1966 - AN EYE FOR AN EYE - but no one had noticed it, of course.... François Cluzet in a very early good performance, not that easy, and an excellent and convincing performance of Henri Lambert in a villain character. Here, you have two parts: the young woman segment, and the young boy one. The kid part is a bit annoying, I prefered the girl in love with the blind man. I like this feature, faithfully adapted from Robert Destanque's novel, and pretty dark, gloomy. And the training methods to teach the blind man how to shoot - the clock method - looks very the same with the film, a western, I just mention above - AN EYE FOR AN EYE.....
The Godfather Part III (1990)
What a finale !!!!
I am still amazed by this third part of the most prestigious mafia films trilogy ever made. This movie is absolutely stunning, terrific, unforgettable. I would say that the more the better, unlike many other franchises. The meeting between Al Pacino and Andy Garcia is also a pure moment of hapiness for any movie lover. Everything is flawless, jawdropping here. It is poignant, gripping, it grabs your guts till tears invade your eyes. I would have not guessed that after twenty years, the GODFATHER franchise could proceed in such a awesome way. It must be seen at all costs by every movie buff. A pure masterpiece.