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La mort d'un tueur (1964)
Powerful crime programmer
I am not sure at all that many people ever watched this movie. Such a shame because it is a gritty and downbeat crime drama, with a good cast: Robert Hossein, Robert Dalban, Jean Lefebvre...But I admit that the story has a strange story telling, not for wide audiences. The story of a vengeance, in the HORACE 62 mode. Powerful and splendid ending that could announce THE WILD BUNCH... Good score too. Yes, that's a shame this film was not better shown since its release, sixty years ago. It really deserves to be discovered again. Robert Hossein is behind and in front of the camera. Jean Lefebvre in one rare dark role; for once !!
Tigres et Hyènes (2024)
Paper Tigers?
For me, the French HEAT is still not for now.... This movie ending is closer to PLUS BELLE LA VIE TV show atmosphere than a masterpiece such as HEAT. Once more, director Jeremy Guez deceives me after his awful KANUN, for which my expectations were so great. The harder I fell !!!! The problem is not the directing nor the cast, but the ending? Why, why giving such a lousy ending for a movie supposed to be gritty, dark, bleak, violent? Why? The series BRI also produced by Guez was nearly OK, but something was missing too.... Sorry folks, I grew up with directors such a Jean-Pierre Melville and Sam Peckinpah with whom you could never have such lousy endings...Never. For the rest, I admit that 's not a bad film, on the contrary, the hoodlums are very professional, and I love that. The action scenes quite good, fast paced. But why such a f...ending like this? Now, I wait for THE QUIET ONES, starring Reda Kated, and supposed to be released next year. I hope that for this one, I will not fall "from a cliff" too. Because after watching the trailer, my hopes, expectations, are as high as the Empire State Building.
Gun Belt (1953)
Ray Nazarro or Ray Enright
In this western, the specialist Ray Nazzaro, the most prolific western provider - with Lesley Selander - borrows some elements from director Ray Enright ; I mean westerns from the last forties where true celebrities of the conquest of the West history were used in terms of characters names. For instance, here, you have the Ringo brothers - from OK Corral myth - and also Wyatt Earp in a supporting character. I would have never imagined Ray Nazarro making his westerns this way. Plus, such a grade B western maker hired Tab Hunter, Jack Elam...George Montgomery is not a surprise though for this cute little and agreeable movie.
Riding Shotgun (1954)
In waiting for Budd Boetticher's golden gems
I have always persisted and signed, for Randoplh Scott's western, there will be a before and after his Budd Boetticher's westerns, by the end of his career, not long before the end of his; I mean his role in RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY, where he co starred Joel McCrea. My point is that, before the Budd Boetticher's western by the end of the fifties, all the Randolph Scott's western were all alike. You could confound all of them, except DOOLINS OF OKLAHOMA; in all of them he was the perfect, flawless true American hero, as Gary Cooper was. This solid western belongs to those films, but it is of course worth the "ride" for movie buffs. Andre De Toth - Randolph Scott association is not as magican and terrific as the Boetticher - Scott one though.
The Crawling Hand (1963)
QUATERMASS meets BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS
From a director such a Herbert Strock, no one could expect a masterpiece but a good fun and cheap time waster, for saturday evening ot matinee drive in. If you check the other Herbert Strock's movies, you'll understand what I mean. This plot, this scheme of an astronaut back to earth from space and bringing an alien species with him, this scheme has already been done hundreds of times since and even before. American and British film industries offered us many of those ; for instance the QUATERMASS Hammer films movies, or Robert Day's FIRST MAN INTO SPACE. This one is a bit below in terms of quality. But still fun to watch. With also a bit of DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE.
Monsters (2010)
More boring than exciting science fiction flick
I warn you, this is not really a science fiction film, or if you wish a romance science fiction movie. I admit though the mix-up between the two elements is rather unusual. Well, this is not a genuine bad film. I regularly confound this movie with another science fiction film from this same year 2010: SKYLINE, which some elements are the same as here. Very strange actually. Of course CLOVERFIELD inspired this movie, useless to be a die hard movie buff to undertsand it. I prefered the 2008 film however. But if you don't know MONSTERS yet, try it. I repeat, it is unusual. And for a first film, it's a good one.
Red Light (1949)
Solid stuff
This time George Raft played in a crime drama not directed by Edwin L Marin, with whom he worked for JOHNNY ANGEL, NOCTURNE, INTRIGUE, RACE STREET. Roy Del Ruth was a musical specialist for Warner Brothers in the thirties and forties, but also astonished us with PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE and ALLIGATOR PEOPLE. And also of course WHY MUST I DIE. So, this very movie is taut, gritty, with George Raft is at his peak, and Raymond Burr too. It's just a shame that Roy Del Ruth did not make more crime films during his career. He seemed to be gifted for this kind of films. Splendid photography and also climax.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Not only of the Sierra Madre but of the Hollywood industry
The forties was one of the most prestigious decade for Hollywood film industry. This film is a pure masterpiece, they don't make films like this any more. No, in 2024, we have mostly super heroes trash, junk garbage stuff. How can anyone could despise, dislike such a film? Humphrey Bogart in one of his best roles, far more interesting than his AFRICAN QUEEN performance. Many movies have been inspired by this one, including Robert D Webb's WAY TO THE GOLD, but of course at a lesser scale. This is not a glamorous film destined to dumb but elite audiences. Yes, unfortunately, they don't make such movies any more.
Saute ma ville (1971)
Depressing
Short but shocking, gritty, downbeat. I did not know at all this incredible but so powerful little programmer. Short film, actually acted and directed by the late Chantal Ackerman. Some lines of this feature remind me ROSETTA, the movie from Dardenne Brothers. One scene of this film, I guess, is inspired by this short movie. The plot is this young woman who gets back to her small apartment which seems to be as large as a closet, as who begins to behave in a very strange manner. And she suddenly, more and more, let you find out what is is exactly about. Yes, it is depressing, so depressing that this very same female director commited the same thing in 2015. You have already guessed what I am talking about.
Time: Episode #1.3 (2021)
Engrossing UK TV series
I am astonished by the quality of this mini anthology series. At least the first part. It is so far a drama, not a crime drama. It takes place in a prison, and tells the story of an inmate and a warden. The inmate is played by Sean Bean, my favorite Brritish actor, whose face and characters are so powerful and convincing. The warden's character is played by Stephen Graham, my second favorite British actor, whose face is also so outstanding for any role; he can be a gangster, a rough and tough one, or a cop, an ordinary man. Here, as a warden, he is absolutely terriffic. His face reminds me a bit Olivier Gourmet. Graham could have been some kind of British Barton Mc Lane. A very realistic depiction of characters, a deep analysis of people that moved me very much.
Contrainte par corps (1988)
In the Costa Gavras manner, but a very poor man's Costa Gavras.
I don't know why, but after the first twenty minutes, I thought about L'AVEU, from director Costa Gavras. First, it takes place in a foreign country, an unknown foreign country, where freedom of speak and act is not the most common word...See what I mean? It is not really connected to a political matter, but not so far either. I am a bit surprised that this film is partly directed by Serge Leroy, I don't recognize his trademark here. It is a strange film, not uninteresting, but some ingredient is missing, I quite don't know exactly what. I did not know this film, and am happy to have discovered it. This unknown country settings scheme reminds me another French movie: LES AVEUX LES PLUS DOUX, from director Edouard Molinaro. A rather close plot, made in (1971). In terms of woman's prison, this is a really bad movie, nothing to do with CAGED nor WOMAN'S PRISON ....The scenes between the inmates are totally lame, terrible, it looks like some nude prison films, exploitation grindhouse material from the seventies.
Hugues-le-Loup (1975)
Very interesting eerie tale
I did not know at all this story, this TV movie. I just discover it now. The typical stuff that you could often have during the sixties and seventies. Now, it becomes rare. It evokes a countryside doctor - a scheme often evoked in TV series from this period - who has to deal with myths and legends, and one in particular. The action takes place, I guess, probably during the eighteenth century, and the production design of this TV movie shows with great accurracy how people lived in those remote villages of France during those periods. I know there was a remake, several years later, but I think another remake should be produced.
The Way to the Gold (1957)
Treasure of what?
This tepid adventure movie, which plot is even thinner than a cigarette paper, is worth watching for the settings, landscapes and atmosphere. That's all. I regularly forget it in Robert D Webb's filmography. And each time I watch it, three times since the mid eighties, I regularly forget it afterwards, just after I switch my TV set off. And each time I understand why. It is some kind of a smooth, lame and lousy TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE distant rip-off. Especially for the "climax", the resolution of the film. Speaking of treasure hunt films, this kind of ending is however often used, such as L'ANNEE SAINTE ( 1976) last Jean Gabin's film. Or Sam Raimi's A SIMPLE PLAN.
Street of Shadows (1953)
Routine folks, just routine
I watched this movie only because I had nothing else to do. It is forgettable but cute, gently lousy, because so predictable, only a little surprise near the end. For the rest, it's just a kind little thriller with much charm, more than it could appear at first sight. Cesar Romero seems to wonder what he is doing in this mess, he was the wrong actor for this role, in this very movie. It is a British feature and a bit above average but still not the best mystery programmer ever made. I don't know the director, only Cesar Romero and the late Kay Kendall. I remember her in QUENTIN DURWARD. So, concerning this little crime mystery yarn, try it. Just try.
Robbery Under Arms (1957)
Terrific Aussie western
I have always considered this underrated western from Australia and produced with UK as effective and excellent as an Hollywood product. Even better, not because of the directing, but because of the plot. It saves many unusual elements, characterization that you don't necessarily have in US westerns from this fifties period. This western is mostly shown as a tragedy, bleak, dark, gritty, where the audience can feel empathy for all those bad or "less bad" characters. Of, course I advise you to watch this western from Australia. There was a batch of those after this movie. It is not the only western but I guess the first and one of the best. If not the best.
The Last Ride (1944)
Fast paced Warner Bros B picture
This excellent thriller, very short thriller, proves that director D Ross Lederman offered his best years at Warner Bros studios, during the thirties and forties. After this period, for Columbia Pictures and the Lone Wolf series, he showed very bland movies, very ambitionless features. But, I repeat, for the Warner Bros company, he made really tremendous fast paced and exciting crime - ESCAPE FROM CRIME, BULLET SCARS -, action, war, adventures movies. Such as this one, which deserves to be seen at all costs. The climax is a pure Warner Bros trademark. I was so astonished by this film I did not know at all. I know there must be many of such stuff still under the radars.
Le 4ème pouvoir (1985)
Weak Sidney Lumet like political drama
This plot reminded me some Sidney Lumet's work, I don't why...Maybe the choice of the subject, scheme...But the result is definitely not NETWORK nor POWER. However, the actors are quite good, especially Nicole Garcia, as usual. Serge Leroy once more makes a drama speaking of the modern society failures, as he has done all long his brief career. It is a plot that asks many questions without necessarily giving answers. Yes, it's rather good, but do not compare it with Sidney Lumet or Norman Jewison's movies. It is a material from the eighties, noot the best decade for this kind of subject. One decade earlier, it would have been terrific. More production frreedom, I mean. I guess.
The Toughest Man Alive (1955)
Good little spy thriller
Especially from this western and adventure film maker, Sidney Salkow, for whom this kind of film was no the speciality. I totally forgot this movie, rather hard to find. I like it mainly for Anthony Caruso. This is a forgettable stuff though, but not that bad either. It is rare and short in length. There were many of this kind in the fifties, during the red scare period. Only a handful of them were really good, this one is not in the Samuel Fuller kind. Dane Clark was a bit lame as an actor, and here, it confirms for my taste. The plot, scheme, brings nothing more to many other stories of this kind and, I repeat, Anthony Caruso steals the film, at least for me.
Earthquake (1974)
Earthquake
Typical disaster movie from the seventies, one of the three best; I mean TOWERING INFERNO, POSEIDON ADVENTURE and this very one. Forget the rest: THE SWARM, DAMNATION ALLEY.... Forget also the AIRPORT films series, which could be considered as disaster films because of the characters presentation, nearly always big movie stars, even has been actors from the silent era. Here, those schemes are present, but the main flaw of this film is precisely this characters presentation. It is lame, boring, totally uninteresting, except maybe Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner eleven years after 55 DAYS AT PEKING. Great special effects though, but after all it was the purpose of this movie wasn't it?
Le démoniaque (1968)
From James Hadley Chase
Well, I will be frank, I watched this movie only because it is adpated from one of my favourite writer's novel: I mean James Hadley Chase. This film is rather bland, but also rather faithful to the book atmosphere and plot. I have seen worse, in terms of adaptation, especially from Chase. The director René Gainville gave us much better with LE COMPLOT, which has nothing to do with this one. An agreeable thriller time waster, but it is not PEEPING TOM either. For movie buffs in love with the French cinema from the sixties - 1968 especially and after - and also the James Hadley Chase fans. So, to summarize, it is worth watching.
The Beast with a Million Eyes (1955)
Not so bad science fiction horror programmer
Yes, this is a Roger Corman's school stuff, that means it's not a bad movie, cheap, but efficient, and far better than many more of this kind which were produced during the late fifties and early sixties. Please don't despise this little film- but 78 minutes is not that short isn'it? Some Universal Pictures science fiction movies from the fifties were also 78 minutes long: DEADLY MANTIS, TARANTULA.... I saw this film a long time ago and nearly forgot it, shame on me. Edward L Cahn, from this same late fifties period, did not do better than this feature. I don't know the director, but as far as Roger Corman is involved, I can watch it my eyes closed, as we say in France.
The Nightcomers (1971)
Disturbing jewel
The best film for me from director Michael Winner, though totally different from the actioners which he used us to. No Charles Bronson here, but a Marlon Brando in a character so unlikely, so weird, so unforeseeable that the audiences can only be astonished by this performance. Before LAST TANGO IN PARIS and MISSOURI BREAKS, you have another face of Marlon Brando's talent. This is a plot with children involved but certainly not a film destined to them. It can belong to the evil children genre movies list, but it is more complex than this. I repeat, the main reason to watch it is Marlon Brando, and if you liked Jack Clayton's THE INNOCENTS, this is the prequel.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Purely awesome
That's for me the best POW camp film ever made, the most complex and sophisticated, a so outstanding character study, so poignant, so gripping. And you already had many of them since the fifties, the most prestigious so far being BRIDGES OVER THE RIVER KWAI. This one is less spectacular, with a maybe lesser climax, but it still remains a milestone in the list of such schemes: POW films. You could not have put German instead of Japanese, because both Japanese and German cultures are quite different. So, this one is a film that you can't afford to miss. David Bowie gives here a performance even better than a professional actor. With HUNGER, produced the same year, david Bowie put his forever mark in the movie industry.
Dillinger (1973)
I still hesitate between this one and PUBLIC ENEMIES
I perfectly know that both films are really different, because made during two different decades. One was produced in 1973 and the second in 2008, so many things are not the same. Concerning this one, it still has something from the Roger Corman's spirit and soul - BLOODY MAMMA. But besides this, I still admit that I love both movies, both are excellent and the best films ever made about the famous gangster. Max Nosseck's version, in 1945, was good too, but again, this was another period, and another budget too. Here, Warren Oates is splendid, at his peak, just between THE WILD BUNCH and BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA; DILLINGER is a pure product of the seventies, speaking of the style, actors, atmosphere. If you added more slow moving gunfights, it could have been a Sam Peckinpah's film. One last thing, that I guess no one has even notced. There is an element in common with Michael Mann's HEAT - and not PUBLIC ENEMIES - that's the fact that the two main leads, the gangster and the cop after him - Warren Oates (Dillinger) and Ben Johnson (Melvin Purvis) - never met ; except in a restaurant but - as in HEAT - not in the same take, the same shot. Not together.
The Moonshine War (1970)
Curious movie actually
Curious film, yes, without any real hero nor real lead character, not good vs bad ones scheme, but I still find something of Richard Quine in this crime drama using some comedy elements, Tarantino before its time, or even Coen Brothers. You can think of SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT from time to time, but far less of course than in WHITE LIGHTNING, from director Joseph Sargent, and made three years later, another moonshine and bootleggers scheme feature . Richard Quine was a great comedies provider during the fifties and sixties, but he also gave us PUSHOVER - a terrific crime noir drama - though I prefer forgetting DRIVE A CROOKED ROAD. I really like this film, for its characters symphony, where you have some good unusual things, surprises. Each time I see it, I feel great pleasure, though it is not a great movie. Yes, I always have a strange feeling with this film, one of the last of this great Hollywood comedy maker.