A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
Lars von Trier, “Dogville” (2003) First in a series of films on American culture from Lars von Trier’s own rather idiosyncratic viewpoint, “Dogville” is a minimalist…
Seijun Suzuki, “A Tattooed Life / Irezumi Ichidai” (1965) A surprisingly touching and quite emotional drama, told in a traditional way, this is an underrated yakuza…
Hiroshi Inagaki, “The 47 Ronin / Chushingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki” (1962) The tale of the 47 masterless samurai who avenged their lord’s forced…
Eastern European Films, North American Films
Joshua Marston, “The Forgiveness of Blood / Falja e Gjakut” (2010) Hard to believe that even in Europe there are societies where the very new and…
Park Chanwook, “Stoker” (2013) Appropriately Chanwook Park’s Hollywood directing debut is a psychological thriller featuring an oddball protagonist who has lived a life of isolation for…
Shane Carruth, “Upstream Color” (2012) Since making “Primer”, Shane Carruth’s career as film director and producer has definitely leapt ahead. There is still a rough-edged quality…
Jerzy Kucia, “Reflections / Refleksy” (1979) Black-and-white animation has never been used so well as in this little film about the slings and arrows of outrageous…
Zofia Oraczewska, “The Banquet / Bankiet” (1976) Its style seems outdated for a short animation of its vintage but I believe this is still a much…
Andre de Toth, “House of Wax” (1953) “House of Wax” was the movie that established Vincent Price as a horror film icon and in itself is…
Atom Egoyan, “The Sweet Hereafter” (1997) It won quite a few Best Film and Director awards and was nominated for Best Director and Screenplay Oscars but…