Thursday, March 30, 2006

Movie Review - Carny

Carny (1980)
directed by Robert Kaylor
rating: 3 out of 5 jalapeños
on VHS from Black Lodge Video

As Sam said, Jodie Foster looked a lot different when she was younger. But Robbie Robertson and Gary Busey probably looked like Robbie Robertson and Gary Busey the day they were born. And now I'll think of them as Patch and Frankie - as the godfathers I never had - in this buddy movie you don't even have to like clowns to enjoy, made the same year I was born, rented for me on my birthday, and now overdue.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

TV Review - Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks (1990)
Ep. 10: The Man Behind The Glass, directed by Lesli Linka Glatter
Ep. 11: Laura's Secret Diary, directed by Todd Holland
Ep. 12: The Orchid's Curse, directed by Graemem Clifford
rating: 5 out of 5 jalapeños
on VHS from The Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library

In which Agent Cooper performs remarkable feats of derring-do, young Audrey smiles, and owls watch from the deep, dark woods.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Movie Review - Whirlpool

Whirlpool (1949)
directed by Otto Preminger
rating: 2 out of 5 jalapeños
on DVD from Netflix

Once, some years back, Dr. Bengali came to Maine and hypnotized my good friend Mike. Mike, ever since, sleeps like a baby, without benefit of murder, blackmail, or luminous cinematography.

I sleep terribly and decided to stay up late and watch Whirlpool. Parlor tricks and showy gypsy stuff, friends.

Movie Review - Lancelot du Lac

Lancelot du Lac (1974)
directed by Robert Bresson
rating: 3 out of 5 jalapeños
on DVD from Netflix

This contemplative (ponderous) French film has a lot in common with Michael Mann's adaptation of The Last of the Mohicans - you can imagine Colonel Munro watching the French surround his fort and thinking about Lancelot, Mordred, and Guinevere (although not, in the end, in French).