September Quick Picks and Pans

 

The Spiral Staircase (1946) This superior gothic suspense film from director Robert Siodmak (based on the novel Some Must Watch, by Ethel Lina White) is short on plot but heavy on character, and dripping with atmosphere. Dorothy McGuire plays Helen, a young mute woman who might be next on a serial killer’s list. George Brent and Gordon Oliver are stepbrothers at odds with each other, and Ethel Barrymore appears as Mrs. Warren, a feisty bedridden matriarch. Elsa Lanchester almost steals the show as Mrs. Oates, a plucky housekeeper. It’s slow burn, leading to an explosive finale inside a shadowy old mansion (where the majority of the movie takes place). It’s a nail-biting experience, anchored by McGuire’s riveting performance and a cast of eccentric supporting characters. 

Rating: ****. Available on Blu-ray and DVD

 

Vanishing Waves (2012) Co-writer/director Kristina Buozyte’s Lithuanian science fiction thriller plays like a more cerebral version of The Cell (2000). An emotionally stunted researcher, Lukas (Marius Jampolskis), participates in an experiment to access the brain waves of Aurora (Jurga Jutaite), a comatose patient. As he delves deeper into Aurora’s fantasy world, Lukas becomes infatuated with her, much to the detriment of his girlfriend, Lina (Martina Jablonskyte). Lukas and Aurora seem to share a strange symbiosis, as their bond becomes increasingly emotional Meanwhile, he attempts to keep his relationship a secret from his colleagues. It’s a brooding, sometimes frustrating, meditation on science, love and ethics, that will likely captivate some and alienate others. 

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Kanopy

 

Hercules in the Haunted World (1961) Drector Mario Bava takes a shot at sword and sandal movies with this mildly entertaining entry into the long-running series about the mythical Greek strongman. Hercules (Reg Park) and his pal Theseus (George Ardisson) travel to the underworld, in search of the golden apple, which will purportedly restore Hercules’ betrothed, Deianira, back to good health. Unfortunately, there’s push-back from the god Pluto when Theseus attempts to escape the underworld with the god’s daughter, Persephone (Evelyn Stewart). Christopher Lee also appears, as devious, would-be ruler Lico. Considering what was probably a very tight budget, the film looks great, bathed in bold reds and greens, with some inventive set design.    

Rating: ***. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Kanopy

Night of the Big Heat (aka: Island of the Burning Damned) (1967) With the presence of director Terence Fisher, along with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, you would be led to believe this low-budget British film came from Hammer. Unfortunately, it’s a talky exercise, missing the spit and polish of that legendary production company. Lee plays a scientist, researching a potential alien invasion, and Cushing is a small-town country doctor. An inordinate amount of time is spent on a love triangle between a cocky author (Patrick Allen), his wife (Sarah Lawson), and mistress (Jane Merrow). It’s a big disappointment when we finally catch a glimpse of the aliens (which resemble glowing, pulsing lumps), as well as the abrupt, deus ex machina ending, but the movie has its moments. 

Rating: ***. Available on Blu-ray (Region B), DVD and Tubi

Evil Toons (1992) – First of all, don’t expect toons in this direct-to-video T&A fest from Fred Olen Ray, obviously intended to ride the coattails of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. There's only one (crudely animated) cartoon character in the whole flick, and he barely has any screen time. Four nubile women (in various states of undress) are hired to clean up a dusty old house. One of them encounters an ancient book that looks suspiciously like Evil Dead's Necronomicon, becoming possessed by a malevolent creature. Even bit parts by veteran actors Dick Miller (as their gruff boss Burt), Arte Johnson (as Mr. Hinchlow, a pervy neighbor), and David Carradine (as Gideon Fisk – some sort of mystical guy), can’t save this painfully dumb movie from itself. Just say no. 

Rating: *½. Available on Blu-ray and DVD

 

French February Quick Picks and Pans

 

Port of Shadows (1938) Jean (Jean Gabin), an AWOL soldier, hitches a ride to the port town of Le Havre, with the intention of assuming a new identity and hopping on a cargo ship bound for Venezuela. In a short span of time, he meets new friends (including a dog who stays glued to his side) and a few enemies. Things become complicated when he encounters Nelly (Michèle Morgan), a young woman with a checkered past, and it’s love at first sight. Marcel Carné’s sublimely bittersweet film (based on a novel by Pierre Dumarchais) explores the ephemeral nature of joy, contrasted with the crushing pitfalls of life. Jean Gabin is superb in his compassionate portrayal of a tough guy with a soft spot for the downtrodden. Port of Shadows is an unforgettable film that’s alternately heartbreaking and life-affirming. 

Rating: ****½. Available on Blu-ray, DVD, Amazon Prime and Kanopy

Orpheus (aka: Orphée) (1950) Jean Cocteau’s modern interpretation of the Greek Orpheus myth stars Jean Marais as the title character, a beloved local celebrity (In this version, he’s a poet instead of a musician). He becomes so engrossed in his work that he scarcely notices his pregnant wife Eurydice (Marie Déa). When she suddenly dies, the remorseful protagonist must bargain with Death (María Casares, in a winning performance) and the underworld, to bring her back to the realm of the living. Unfortunately for Orpheus, the trade-off is that he can never look upon her face again. Cocteau’s film is endlessly innovative, working with what must have been a miniscule budget. It’s a novel spin on a classic tale, told with humor and aplomb.   

Rating: ****. Available on Blu-ray and DVD

Playtime (1967) Writer/director/star Jacques Tati takes audiences on another outing for his venerable, perpetually baffled character, Monsieur Hulot. It’s hard not to admire this wildly ambitious film (one of the most expensive French productions at the time), boasting elaborate sets and complex choreography of its many players. The film, set in contemporary Paris, features an ultra-modern office building that seemed to be designed with humans as an afterthought, a trade show full of useless inventions, and a new restaurant that’s falling apart at the seams. Tati’s intricate orchestration of the many characters, sight gags (which wouldn’t have been out of place in a Keaton or Chaplin film) and detailed set pieces is truly a sight to behold. Tati’s film left me awestruck by the accomplishment, but for all its cleverness, I felt distanced (which might have been the point) by the plotless story (taking place over the course of a day) and drawn-out scenes, bordering on tedium. Ultimately, I admired Playtime more than I enjoyed it. It’s a bold attempt in filmmaking, which deserves to be seen at least once, although loving it might be a stretch.

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Kanopy 

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec (2010) Writer/director Luc Besson’s fanciful fantasy/adventure film, set in 1911 and based on a series of comics by Jacques Tardi, is a briskly paced romp. Louise Bourgoin stars as the free-spirited title character, a novelist/adventurer-extraordinaire, seeking a cure for her twin sister’s ailment (also played by Bourgoin). Her perilous quest takes her from the pyramids of Cairo to the streets of Paris, dodging all manner of cutthroats and authorities along the way. Besson, who described Blanc-Sec as “basically the grandmother of Indiana Jones,” follows in the footsteps of Spielberg’s films, with a movie that’s assuredly light on substance, but loads of fun (Who doesn’t want to see mummies walking around Paris or a pterodactyl soaring over the city?). It’s too bad that (as of today), there’s no sequel planned, since it would have been the basis for a good series.  

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Tubi

The Swindle (aka: Rien Ne Va Plus) (1997) Isabelle Huppert and Michel Serrault star as Betty and Victor, a pair of small-time grifters. They make a living preying on unsuspecting rubes, moving from town to town in a motorhome and shifting identities. They find themselves over their heads when they acquire a briefcase with 5 million Swiss francs (roughly $5.6 million USD) from a naïve businessman (François Cluzet). Huppert and Serrault have good chemistry together, but considering the subject matter, writer/director Claude Chabrol’s film seems insubstantial. Except for one particularly nasty scene, The Swindle lacks bite, and the plot doesn’t have nearly enough twists and turns. Also, considering the events that precede it, the ending is a bit forced. It’s diverting enough, but it could have been so much better. 

Rating: ***. Available on DVD and Kanopy

The Shiver of the Vampires (aka: Le Frisson Des Vampires) (1971) Okay, I would probably be the first person to admit that I don’t “get” the appeal of Jean Rollin’s films, outside of the fact that he knows how to present appealing visuals. Newlywed couple Isa and Antoine (Sandra Julien and Jean-Marie Durand) plan to honeymoon at a castle owned by Isa’s cousins. Their enthusiasm is dampened, however, when villagers inform Isa that her cousins recently died. As we soon discover, they’re not quite as dead as we were led to believe. Jean Rollin’s moody, erotic vampire film is well shot, with a flair for artsy angles and a nice use of color. As a horror film, it lacks any moments of dread or suspense, the story meanders, and the characters are generally unlikeable (the cousins are obnoxious twits). On the other hand, if all you care about is watching pretty women alternating between diaphanous, pastel-colored nightgowns and varying stages of undress, then be my guest.

Rating: **½. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Kanopy