Felix's Idle Film Fancies
Some definitive works of idle interest. Fitting fuel for casual conversations on the art of intense film making...
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- DirectorFranklin J. SchaffnerStarsGregory PeckLaurence OlivierJames MasonA Nazi hunter in Paraguay discovers a sinister and bizarre plot to rekindle the Third Reich.Unique take on post WWII Nazism. Peck as usual is im'peck'able as the former demigod of Auschwitz, rotting away in a sub-tropical hell of his own making. Similarities to Brando's 'Kurtz' in Apocalypse Now...
- DirectorRoman PolanskiStarsJohnny DeppFrank LangellaLena OlinA book broker discovers his latest find may summon Satan.Interesting twist on the phenomena of 'devil worship'. Based on the book 'El Club Dumas', Polanski has crafted an engaging 130 minutes of occult mystery. Johnny Depp plays a convincing literary hound, hot on the trail of his own destiny. Takes a few viewings to get all the signs, though the characters are all well played (Emmanuelle Seigner's 'The Girl' is the kind of supernatural friend you wish you had in a fix), soundtrack nicely composed and the overall journey enjoyable as the film plays out toward it's inevitable conclusion. Plenty of dry humor keeps the work from taking itself too seriously, adding to its charm.
- DirectorJohn LandisStarsJohn BelushiDan AykroydCab CallowayJake Blues rejoins with his brother Elwood after being released from prison, but the duo has just days to reunite their old R&B band and save the Catholic home where the two were raised, outrunning the police as they tear through Chicago.Spawned from a combination of John Belushi's SNL greatness and Dan Akroyd's love of the blues. An epic, mischievous and at times virtuousic movie adventure featuring some of the all-time great exponents of North American rhythm & blues, soul and jazz... 103 used cop cars destroyed in it's making? What's not to like!
- DirectorMichael CiminoStarsRobert De NiroChristopher WalkenJohn CazaleAn in-depth examination of the ways in which the Vietnam War impacts and disrupts the lives of several friends in a small steel mill town in Pennsylvania.Just watch it - If only for the guitar theme...
- DirectorEdward DmytrykStarsDick PowellClaire TrevorAnne ShirleyAfter being hired to find an ex-con's former girlfriend, Philip Marlowe is drawn into a deeply complex web of mystery and deceit.Perfectly written, directed, shot and acted. If only for the last 10 seconds! RKO Radio producers, what were you thinking?
- DirectorNicholas TomnayStarsDavid Hyde PierceClayne CrawfordNathaniel ParkerAn on-the-run convict looking for temporary cover finds it at the house of a very colorful character.An original take on the themes of home invasion, dominance and subterfuge. Every time you think you know where this one is going, it takes a clever twist in a new direction. David Hyde Pierce is quite convincing and entertaining as the delusional and all to welcoming bachelor host come would-be (not so) grim reaper. Better in my opinion than Sleuth, Hard Candy and all other films it is sometimes compared to, as it is quite spontaneous and by no means a pre-meditated situation. Also, the addition of a little zesty 'camp' to the overall morbidity allows the viewer to take the inevitable emotional roller coaster ride, without any need for bucket loads of graphic gore.
- DirectorFred SchepisiStarsWill SmithStockard ChanningDonald SutherlandAn affluent New York City couple finds their lives touched, intruded upon, and compelled by a mysterious young black man who is never quite who he says he is.A tale almost too cute to be true, tho apparently based on the real-life story of a con-man masquerading as the son of Sidney Poitier during the 1980s, in order to win the confidence of those he aspired to living 'as'. Will Smith is perfect in this role and whilst it takes a few minutes to get used to the posh upper-class airs of Stockard Channing and Donald Sutherland's characters, the movie becomes instantly engrossing - Because after all - Don't we all want to know what it's like to 'exist' in the world of the privileged few?
- DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsEllen BurstynJared LetoJennifer ConnellyThe drug-induced utopias of four Coney Island people are shattered when their addictions run deep..Much to see and then promptly forget - Too much pain ain't healthy. Well, at least that's the message I take away from this shocking Aronofsky masterpiece...
- DirectorTinto BrassStarsMalcolm McDowellPeter O'TooleHelen MirrenA dramatization of the ascent to Caesar and subsequent reign of Caligula, one of the most notorious leaders of ancient Rome. We see his ambition, his scheming, his perversion and decadence, his brutality and his lunacy.Ah, If ever there was a more controversial excuse to film hot girl on girl penthouse pet action (or rather splice it into the mix after the event)? I give it 8 stars just for the use of Khachaturian's Adagio from Spartacus and the immense unbridled excess of the production. Both Director Tinto Brass, maker of many a raunchy softcore study into Euro decadence and writer Gore Vidal, disowned the film post it's release on the basis of Guccione's added sexual content. I would've thought excessive sadistic disembowelment was more cause for concern? Though that's just me. Malcolm (little boots) McDowell 'eats up' his role. Teresa Ann Savoy works disturbingly well as his incestral plaything. The sets are stunning works of film art and the graphics are at times overwhelming. The film depicts a ruthless, bloody time in Roman history; a time of gross excess, blood feuds and the underlying ever-present struggle for a democratic republic. Certainly not everybody's cup of historic exploitation tea, though if you haven't seen it yet - well, you 'definitely' haven't seen it.
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsRod SteigerJames CoburnRomolo ValliA low-life bandit and an I.R.A. explosives expert rebel against the government and become heroes of the Mexican Revolution.An epic Sergio Leone masterpiece. An ever expanding tragedy with morality tale undertones and allusions to more modern conflicts. At the end of the day, trust and friendship are king...
- DirectorNicolas RoegStarsArt GarfunkelTheresa RussellHarvey KeitelA psychiatrist, living in Vienna, enters a torrid relationship with a married woman. When she ends up in the hospital from an overdose, an inspector becomes set on discovering the demise of their affair.Another Nicolas Roeg classic - Featuring the inimitable Art Garfunkel!
- DirectorWilliam FriedkinStarsRoy ScheiderBruno CremerFrancisco RabalFour unfortunate men from different parts of the globe agree to risk their lives transporting gallons of nitroglycerin across dangerous Latin American jungle.Great suspenseful movie. If you've ever had anything to do with driving or riding in trucks this will please immensely. Oh and 'Sorcerer' is the name of the 2nd truck...
- DirectorJohn Erick DowdleStarsPerdita WeeksBen FeldmanEdwin HodgeWhen a team of explorers venture into the catacombs that lie beneath the streets of Paris, they uncover the dark secret that lies within this city of the dead.Intriguing twisting of myth and historic tale; very watchable variation on a well-worn handy-cam theme...
- DirectorDave BoyleStarsAyako FujitaniPepe SernaKazuki KitamuraA mystery outside of San Francisco brings together small-town sheriff Paul Del Moral, Japanese author Aki Akahori, and a traveler from Reno who soon disappears, leaving behind his suitcase and a trail of questions.New wave old school culture-shock romantic mystery heaven.
- DirectorMatthew ChapmanStarsJennifer Jason LeighBrenda VaccaroJack HallettCarol inherits a night club from her weird uncle. She moves into the place, only to find out just how weird her uncle really was. She begins to remember more about her very special relationship with her uncle as she battles her memories and her surroundings in her new home.Haunting, disturbing, challenging, a must see.
- DirectorPeter BogdanovichStarsTim O'KellyBoris KarloffNancy HsuehAn aging horror star questions his place in modern Hollywood, while a disturbed young man goes on a shooting spree.
- DirectorCornel WildeStarsCornel WildeGert van den BerghKen GampuDuring the 1800s, a safari guide, two elephant hunters and their crew run into trouble with the natives in the South African veld when they refuse to offer gifts to the tribesmen.
- DirectorArthur PennStarsGene HackmanJennifer WarrenEdward BinnsLos Angeles private investigator Harry Moseby is hired by a client to find her runaway teenage daughter. Moseby tracks the daughter down, only to stumble upon something much more intriguing and sinister.
- DirectorPhilip RidleyStarsViggo MortensenLindsay DuncanJeremy CooperIn the 1950s, a young boy living with his troublesome family in rural USA fantasizes that a neighboring widow is actually a vampire, responsible for a number of disappearances in the area.Deeply disturbing character study of a young serial killer in the making...
- DirectorKathryn BigelowStarsAdrian PasdarJenny WrightLance HenriksenA small-town farmer's son reluctantly joins a traveling group of vampires after he is bitten by a beautiful drifter.A unique & understated take on some well-worn mythology...
- DirectorRobert AldrichStarsBurt LancasterRichard WidmarkRoscoe Lee BrowneAn imprisoned rogue USAF general with a secret personal agenda, escapes the brig and takes over an ICBM silo, threatening to start WW3.
- DirectorTheodore J. FlickerStarsJames CoburnGodfrey CambridgeSevern DardenWhen the overworked and stressed-out White House presidential shrink runs away, the CEA and the FBR scramble to retrieve him before he could be abducted by various competing foreign intelligence services.
- DirectorMichael CiminoStarsClint EastwoodJeff BridgesGeorge KennedyWith the help of an irreverent young sidekick, a bank robber gets his old gang back together to organize a daring new heist.
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodGeorge KennedyVonetta McGeeClassical art professor and collector Dr. Jonathan Hemlock, who doubles as a professional assassin, is coerced out of retirement to avenge the murder of an old friend.
- DirectorAlan RudolphStarsBruce WillisNick NolteAlbert FinneyA rich car dealer is losing his mind. His son lives in the bomb shelter. His suicidal wife has an affair with his transvestite sales manager.