The Irishman was a little disappointing if only for the amount of praise the film received from both the professional and regular everyday movie-watchers, however it was great to see three veteran actors together.
The Naked City is a well done crime-drama that certainly was done in an interesting style with a documentary-like narration and filming on location in New York City.
Marriage Story is a bittersweet drama featuring two incredible, award-worthy, performances (not to take away from Laura Dern who was great in her own right) by both Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver.
The Criterion Collection has announced the date and released artwork for a seven-disc collector’s set, Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits containing The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Game of Death and The Way of the Dragon.
1938’s Holiday is a charming enough romance-drama featuring a few great performances, primarily Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Doris Nolan.
I wish I could recommend this Criterion Collection release of All About Eve but even though the video and audio transfers and features were great, the cheap packaging and shoddy work holding discs using rubber hubs makes this a no-go in my book.
Magnificent Obsession is a wonderful romantic drama featuring two great performances by Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman (who was nominated for an Academy Award), beautifully shot by director Douglas Sirk.
In the Heat of the Night is a wonderful and culturally important film from the 1960s and while I don’t think it’s among Sidney Poitier’s best, with To Sir, With Love being my favorite of his, but it still is a great performance alongside Rod Steiger.
Shampoo is a tour-de-force of a movie more with the acting from Warren Beatty, Goldie Hawn, Julie Christie and Lee Grant, who took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, than the screenplay, written by Robert Towne and Beatty (Oscar nominated).
Cold Water (L’eau froide) is a well acted and quite realistic drama about adolescent youth with Assayas’s screenplay holding no punches and avoids some of the pratfalls of similarly themed movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Sex, Lies, and Videotape is a strong feature film debut for Steven Soderbergh and features some great performances, primarily Andie MacDowell and James Spader. This is well worth watching for anyone who appreciates a well written character drama.
Midnight Cowboy for me wasn’t entirely the classic in my eyes, yet still is understandable for its cultural impact and propelled by two incredible performances by Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight, both equally deserving of their Best Actor Academy Award nominations.
The Virgin Suicides is a movie that didn’t have a huge impact on me then and now I can appreciate it for its direction and the performances, but nothing else otherwise in terms of any emotional impact.
The Criterion Collection has announced the date and released artwork for a variety of great titles for July including sex, lies and videotape and Bull Durham amongst others. Click on the link below or image to the left to check out the features and artwork.
The Age of Innocence is an all around rich experience between the costumes, production/sets and a fine cast led way by Daniel Day-Lewis and Michelle Pfeiffer. It certainly was an unusual choice for Martin Scorsese yet like any master filmmaker, really pulled it off.