Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #neverendingpandemic, aggregated by home.social.
I suppose this falls into the category of neo-noir, owing to its nearly all taking place during the day, as well as it being made in 1966. Other signs are ‘everyone is out for themselves,’ ‘no one has any compassion,’ ‘money isn’t as important as power,’ and ‘death happens near water.’
Damned fine picture with an incredible script. The performances and camera-work are also top-notch.
Recommended!
★★★★☆
MORE FRITZ LANG!!
If you ever wondered where the stereotype of the spy as well-positioned, tux-wearing playboy came from, it’s at least partly because of this film. More than likely the ur-Spy Thriller, this is a wonderful 2½ hours of fun.
Yes, there’s a fair bit of over-the-top gurning, but that’s to be expected. Overlook that — plus some awful anti-Japanese racism — and you’ll see some incredible performances in a solid story.
Great!
★★★★☆
An incredibly entertaining 1½ hours! This truly is a motion picture that oughtn’t to have ever got made, as the combination of actors and creative personnel seems impossible! But — oh! my! — I’m so glad it exists!
Thanks to #Kanopy and the #VPL, I can say this this is very much worth your while! Head to your library and learn how to access it, or head to https://www.openculture.com/2014/02/beat-the-devil.html and watch it for free there!
Highly recommended!
★★★★☆
I’ve always found the #Fletch books really ripe fodder for films, and yet only one was made before this. That one made Fletch glib and one-noted. “Son of Fletch” reveals his to be a complicated and thoughtful guy; think Jim Rockford with more bravado.
THIS is a decent adaptation of the character, and I hope we see more of them! Jon Hamm is perfect, as are all of the actors! Roy Wood, Jr is especially delightful as the Inspector.
★★★★☆
Probably the most intellectually stimulating 2½ hours I have ever experienced. The notion of psychological influences upon storytelling is hardly new, even when applied to cinema. But here we have a new series of dots being connected, with questions posed which are more sharp, more probing, & more illuminating.
I’ll have to watch this again, as it presents so many ideas.
Right after I rewatch the films in it.
Required viewing.
★★★★★
There are references to Übermensch who are misunderstood geniuses, their plans will cause anarchy among the people and create a new society to be run by and for the superior survivors. The fact that both the ‘genius’ and his defender are insane, and those who question the plans’ details are killed, never mind that people are only told their specific part of the plan… well…
Lang left Germany shortly after.
[:: ahem ::]
★★★★★
#review #NeverEndingPandemic #VPL #CineMastodon #CriterionCollection
Apparently I’m on a Fritz Lang binge. Tomorrow’s film will be one of his as well!
Despite this being filled with lots of tough guys with gravelly voices, this isn’t Micky Spillane or Dashiell Hammett! I get a bit of Columbo foreshadowing, though.
Revenge thrillers don’t get much better than this, although I wish it moved along a bit quicker or had more plot twists. Still, very highly recommended, as it bridges both ’40s & ’60s noir.
★★★★☆
Mostly a manner to tell the US people who the Germans under NAZI control are, it still has all sorts of Fritz Lang touches: a man struggles to hide from others bent on meting out justice, an underground setting, and a love which is unrequited.
Still, it’s pretty jingoistic at times, and much eye rolling will be induced by today’s viewer. Also, this picture has what have to be the worst accents ever.
Recommended overall, however.
★★★☆☆
So… the biggest differences here are the insertion of the scene in the 2nd image instead of a brief one where Marlow drops off Carmen at the door with the Butler. Then the replacement of the brief scene in the 3rd image with the lengthy, iconic one in the 4th image. There’s also a lengthy scene gone involving Marlow explaining things to the police which explains a few things to us.
I wish there was a blending of both.
…/more
★★★★☆
For my tastes, this has just one too many twists which do not have sufficient explanatory narrative. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good twisty plot, it just needs to have supporting reasons. One suspects that the script was run through an early Cuisinart to get the full run of the novel’s high points.
Great acting, great dialogue, excellent cinematography, please fire the focus puller.
Despite all that, still highly recommended.
★★★★☆
I’ve read the novel which was adapted for this film and found it far more rewarding than the picture. There are more twists and surprises to be had there.
Still, there’s little wrong here. Fritz Lang employs his usual long takes involving silences to great success, making the suspense build quite handily. I wish the climax involved more chase and/or answers than we get here.
Recommended.
★★★★☆
#review #NeverEndingPandemic #noir #CineMastodon #CriterionCollection #IOwnThis
This motion picture is full of wonderful characters, action, and plot twists.
Without a doubt, one of most satisfying endings in cinematic history, too.
I’m not sure how Mrs Stroud stays with her husband, as he clearly hasn’t much of a home life. Somehow she continues to stand by him. Lord only knows why.
If you haven’t seen this — or haven’t seen it in awhile — I highly recommend doing so.
★★★★★
The American Police Procedural — “Dragnet,” “NYPD Blue,” “Law & Order [insert variant here],” so on — all owe this single film for their foundation. Some aspects are dated (non-consensual gathering of hair sample, admiration of woman’s legs, etc), but the structure is sound and the story is full of surprises.
While some of the acting is wooden, the writing and action more than make up for it.
Very highly recommended!
★★★★★
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I’ve seen this multiple times, but DAMN is this ever a great picture! Tonight was the first time I’ve seen the British adaptation (discovered in the BFI’s voluminous collection) and it’s surprisingly faithful, despite lacking the original’s haunting final line.
No matter which, you should see this incredible film.
Mandatory viewing.
★★★★★
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I’m not sure what triggered this being requested from the Library, but I’m glad to have seen it! It’s funny, thrilling, saucy, and ultimately uplifting. There are too many homophobic jokes (ie: >zero), but it is from 2005, so…
For a story clearly inspired by noir / thriller / detective / tough-guy films, it hits all the right notes and plays a few modern variations in the process.
Well worth your time, especially for a fun Friday evening.
★★★★☆
This show paved the way for “The West Wing,” “Irresistible,” “Wag the Dog,” and “Bob Roberts.” The blurring of a line between satire and reality has always been fuzzy at times but here it’s really tough to distinguish.
The acting in this is really good, as well as the editing. Owing to using early ENG equipment, the image is less than stellar, but HBO is to be commended for funding the thing in the first place.
Worthwhile.
★★★★☆
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This arrived in the post today. Also arriving today was word that #PotUS 45, ████ is running for 2024’s election. Thus, this evening’s fare is the Robert Altman / Garry Trudeau collaboration about US Presidential politics in the immediate post-Reagan era. So far, I have seen three episodes. Goodness, what a simpler time it was then. And yet, how so very much things have not changed one jot. People are still as stupid as they were.
#review #NeverEndingPandemic #TV #CriterionCollection #IOwnThis
Twisty story that all comes together in the end.
A solid example of a #noir picture featuring an actual happy ending. Oh sure, some people get killed and others go to jail, but that’s a regular day in a man’s life, isn’t it? Well, sure it is, pally; at least it is if your name is Philip Marlow, that’s for sure.
Highly recommended.
★★★★☆
Damned good fun to be had here, mostly at the expense of the US Forces stationed in a village in Norfolk. Michael Caine owns the film (hardly a surprise), despite attempts by Donald Sutherland, Robert Duvall, & Donald Pleasance.
The DVD supplied by #VPL provided a less-than full screen image, the transfer was made from a dodgy print, & used a less than ideal lens (so people were a bit thinner than normal), but this was still great!
★★★★☆
An excellent series blending dark humour, action, suspense, and some incredibly affecting drama. Wonderful art direction, writing, cinematography, direction, editing, acting, wardrobe and fight choreography.
Very highly recommended.
★★★★★
Having only finished watching the first two episodes of #Kleo I cannot really review this, but if the other six episodes are anything close to this, it’s the best thing I’ve seen since… well, since #Glitch I suppose.
This is funny, thrilling, and full of surprises. Also, there’s great brutalist architecture and frequently unfortunate wallpaper from the 1970s and ’80s (there were drugs around, so…)
THIS is the sort of programming that Netflix should be doing more and more of: whimsical, silly, but thought provoking stuff that ‘normal’ outlets don’t produce. It’s weird, it’s confusing occasionally, it’s really well produced and acted, and the writing always clears things up in the end. This is really good stuff. You need to see it. Stop reading and watch all 10 episodes.
★★★★★
“Glitch,” or “Geullichi,” or “글리치” (whatever you want to refer to it as) is bananas! Wonderfully, charmingly, unpredictably, uniquely, bananas! Some of the elements are familiar, but nowhere near all of them, and the manner in which they’re employed is so inventive, so whimsical, so fresh, that you have no idea what’s coming next. I’ve seen three episodes, and they’re only just finishing the set-up.
Must see TV.
Damn, is this ever satisfying! I wish I knew how, but this hangs together better than “Noir,” by @TheAuthorGuy which I loved very much and is in the same world. Perhaps it’s easier due to a more linear narrative and less of a necessity of world-building, owing to it being the 2nd. Who knows? Who cares?
Very highly recommended.
★★★★★
I understand why Howard Hughes watched this so frequently: everything is in the right place and supports everything else. As an engineer, he would appreciate that. It’s not exciting, but it’s very well crafted.
Not ‘must see,’ but worth the time.
Solid ★★★☆☆
While I would have preferred just a •little• more ending, or perhaps more twists to the plot, but these are inconsequential matters.
Highly recommended, this sets the stage for many films to come. Incredible!
★★★★★
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An entirely acceptable spy thriller with Finland as a stepping-off point. Oddly, it’s mostly in English! Marketing, I suppose.
BONUS: being introduced to to the shoe company two weeks ago, I knew what ‘karhu’ meant!
★★★☆☆
Two incredible performances are more than worth the price of admission. Why Hitchcock got all the grief he did for making ‘terrifying pictures,’ when •this• got nothing but raves, I’ll never know.
Very highly recommended.
★★★★★
Like “The Killers,” this stars Lancaster and is directed by Siodmak. Possibly the original ‘armoured truck heist’ picture. Includes butler to The Bat Man, as well as funicular railway. Lacks Los Angeles with ‘hard g.’
★★★★☆
Despite the problematic nature of the lead actor, this film is an incredible tapestry of an experience. It’s a picture one comes away from asking ‘what just happened?’ and feeling elated.
★★★★★
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An interesting interpretation of the previous version which adapted a short story for its first scene. Great performances, but FAR TOO BRIGHTLY LIT THROUGHOUT, owing to it being intended for television.
★★★☆☆
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An incredibly well-made noire from a story by Hemingway. There are some incredible character actors in this, all doing phenomenal work. Do not walk, run to see this.
Highly recommended.
★★★★★
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A mayoral race in Wisconsin becomes a battleground for the two US political parties’ dominance. But don’t worry; it’s all for a good cause! Someone’s… we’re not sure whose…
All entirely legally permissible.
Alas.
★★★★☆
I was previously unaware of the systemic cluster-fuck that existed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regarding drug testing lab techs, the AG’s office, and non-disclosure of exculpatory evidence to defendants. Wow!
★★★★☆
Thinking I hadn’t seen this yet, I bought it on sale via Apple Movies for, I think, $10. A worthy ending to the run of James Bond films, with many inside references.
I would have preferred “007 will return” as a closing.
★★★★★
#SlashBack is billed as “Attack the Block” meets “The Thing,” and that’s a great way to get people interested! The French title is better, though: “Horreur boréale” reflects the setting, the plot, and sounds way cooler!
★★★★★
A very dark tale of losers who cannot win for losing in a very loss-filled situation.
Parallels of your humble reviewer’s life are present.
Highly recommended.
★★★★☆
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A picture about simple people working and living simple lives, and trying to do the right thing as often as possible. Sometimes, other people want to make that challenging. Those people are a problem.
Highly recommended.
★★★★☆
The dialogue is clunky, some of the performances are too far over the top, and the action is occasionally predictable, but WOW does this picture REALLY COOK!
The thing it misses is Los Angeles with a hard-G.
★★★★★
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