A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
David Lynch, “Eraserhead” (1977) Five years in the making from 1971 to 1976, “Eraserhead” was David Lynch’s full-length directing debut feature. Based on his experiences in…
David Lynch, “Blue Velvet” (1986) A beautiful film to watch with noirish elements and a lot of symbolism yet oddly not very suspenseful or satisfying. “Blue…
Hatoshi Matsumoto, “Symbol” (2009) A slapstick comedy about interrelationships and the impact one person can have on events around the world, “Symbol” is the second full-length…
Alfred Hitchcock, “Secret Agent” (1936) The surprising thing about this film is that lead actor John Gielgud plays such a wooden and unappealing “hero” here after a…
Yakov Protazanov, “Aelita, Queen of Mars” (1924) This silent Soviet film from the mid-1920’s can be seen in nine parts on Youtube.com thanks to contributor Ishexan. Most…
Anders Banke, “Frostbiten” (2006) ‘Tis a Swedish vampire movie that begins with a shot of the night sky against which light snow is seen falling softly…
Benjamin Christensen, “Häxan: Witchcraft through the Ages” (1922) Intended as a study on how superstition and lack of knowledge about mental illness could have led to…
Elmer Clifton, “Assassin of Youth” (1937) It’s a laughable anti-marijuana screed but “Assassin of Youth” at least has a comic drama going for it. A reporter,…
French and French-language Films
Jules Dassin, “Rififi” (1955) A film about a technically perfect crime, only for its participants to be totally undone by one small action by one of…
Alfred Hitchcock, “Downhill” (1927) Before he found his niche as Master of Suspense, the young Alfred Hitchcock made a few films in several genres that include…