A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
Stanley Kubrick, “The Shining” (1980) In most directors’ hands, a Stephen King horror novel of a family disintegrating under the impact of the husband / father’s…
Oliver Stone, “Snowden” (2016) Surprisingly even though I’m familiar with the story of National Security Agency whistle-blower Edward Snowden through Laura Poitras’ documentary “Citizenfour”, Oliver Stone’s…
Sophie Barthes, “Cold Souls” (2009) In the vein of Charlie Kaufman’s “Being John Malkovich” but without that film’s sprightly tone, “Cold Souls” is a metaphysical comedy…
Italian and Italian-language Films, North American Films
Ubaldo B Ragona and Sidney Salkow, “The Last Man on Earth” (1964) Over 50 years since it was made, this cheaply made horror film has clearly…
Alfred Hitchcock, “Dial M for Murder” (1953) A clever and witty murder mystery with fine acting and sparkling dialogue, “Dial M for Murder” is a highly…
Sam Lim and Bruce Timm, “Batman: the Killing Joke” (2016) That “Batman: the Killing Joke” has lasted nearly 30 years as a milestone in the history…
Alfred Hitchcock, “Under Capricorn” (1949) Set in the early days of the British colony of Sydney in Australia, “Under Capricorn” turns out to be an intense…
Martin Scorsese, “New York, New York” (1977) One of Martin Scorsese’s most under-rated films, in my opinion, and in many ways an experimental and even surreal…
Charlie Chaplin, “Modern Times” (1936) In its own way, “Modern Times” is significant as an example of how one actor / director adapted his style from…
Todd Browning, “Freaks” (1932) A unique cult film of the kind that can be said to be the only film of its genre – outsider film,…