danieljfarthing

1954's curious "Invasion USA" is a gem of Cold War propaganda - with writer Robert Smith resolutely urging America to arm itself against the potential Soviet threat. As a random group (inc Peggie Castle, Gerald Mohr & Tom Kennedy) drink in an NY bar news breaks that foreign soldiers have breached Alaska... then over the film's 1hr 13mins the invasion grows to include 'A Bombs', infrastructure destruction, retalition, attacks on the big cities, drunk rapist soldiers, the fall of government, and widening world war - with director Alfred E Green (born in 1889 btw) cutting in lots of interesting actual combat footage for effect. It's quirky, but it's worth checking out.

After a glut of high quality true-tale back-stories to iconic brands there've been none for a while - but now there's "Swiped", another good 'un, this time on dating apps. According to writers Bill Parker, first-timer Kim Caramele, & Rachel Lee Goldenberg the original 2013 brains behind Tinder's success was Whitney Wolf Herd (Lily James - so strong again) before her toxically misogynistic bosses (inc bf Jackson White & big boss Ben Schetzner) forced her out... only for Dan Stevens (with ludicrous accent) to offer her a comeback via Bumble's creation. The writers have a clear agenda, but Goldenberg directs it fast, light, & entertaining. It's a banger of a movie.

Character-driven small-town crime is the king of cinematic genres, with "Americana" a fine & worthy addition to it. When stuttering Dakota diner waitress Sydney Sweeney stumbles on Simon Rex & Eric Dane's plan to steal a valuable artefact she asks new pal Paul Walter Hauser to help her steal it from THEM... but plans go awry, pulling in Halsey, young Gavin Maddox Bergman, the local Native American tribe (inc Zahn McClarnon), and a misogynistic gun-toting cult. Performances are terrific (esp Sweeney, Hauser, Dane, Halsey, & McClarnon) helped by Tony Tost's writer / director debut being so bang on (he is clearly one to watch going forward). It is a terrific movie.