The Day the Earth stood Still: strong and relevant theme and message still important to modern audiences
Robert Wise, “The Day the Earth stood Still” (1951) Yesterday a meteor and its debris struck an area in the Urals in Russia and the planet…
nausika
Matrix Revolutions: beneath pyrotechnics and stylistic posturing, a really very ordinary film stuck in a Hollywood matrix
Andy and Larry Wachowski, “Matrix Revolutions” (2003) Beneath layers of computer-generated pyrotechnics, film noir homage and stylistic posing, the story is fairly basic: it’s a celebration…
Masters of Money (Episode 1: Keynes): good introduction to the work and ideas of a major 20th century economist
Martin Small, “Masters of Money (Episode 1: Keynes)” (2012) This is the first episode of a three-part series by the BBC on significant economists / philosophers…
Remote Control War: technical detail substitutes for a proper inquiry into the ethics of using drones and robots in conflicts
Leif Kaldor, “Remote Control War” (2011) “Remote Control War” presents as a sober documentary on the use of robotics in war, conflict and espionage in the…
French and French-language Films
Montparnasse: an affectionate survey of a famous artistic and intellectual Parisian district in the 1920s
Eugène Deslaw, “Montparnasse” (1929) Come take a tour of Montparnasse as it was in 1929 with Eugène Deslaw to guide you. At the time, this district in…
French and French-language Films
Elles: film fails to link prostitution in its various forms to a critique of Western materialist / capitalist society
Malgorzata Szumowska, “Elles” (2011) An interesting and layered film that appears to say whatever viewers may want it to say, “Elles” initially presents as a critique…
French and French-language Films
Un monsieur qui a mangé du taureau: slapstick comedy film short with a possible ulterior message
Eugène Deslaw, “Un monsieur qui a mangé du taureau” (1935) We all know of people who spout a lot of BULL but what happens to people…
French and French-language Films
La Marche des Machines / Les Nuits Électriques: experimental shorts suggest technology has a life of its own
Eugène Deslaw, “La Marche des Machines” (1927) / Les Nuits Électriques” (1928) The Ukrainian film-maker Eugène Deslaw made a number of fairly short experimental films in the…
French and French-language Films
Autour de La Fin du Monde: silent film about a sound film hampered by lack of … sound
Abel Gance and Eugène Deslaw, “Autour de La Fin du Monde” (1930) I had heard that there was a French science fiction film “La Fin du…
Out of the Trees: uneven pilot comedy episode rehashing tired Monty Python sketches
Ian MacNaughton, “Out of the Trees” (1975) Huge surprise when I was surfing Youtube.com one day: a pilot for an abandoned TV show written by former…