One, Two, Three (Billy Wilder, 1961)
James Cagney reminds one of the thirties in this fast comedy. I like Wilder for his cynical and sometimes dark view on things, this film is definitely a form of satire but not always that funny or effective. Some of the jokes about communists are simply dull, this film isn't but I expected better. 7/10
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (Kenneth Branagh, 2014)
Looks and sounds like James Bond, Jason Bourne or Mission Impossible. And yes, especially the first hour meets up with these expectations. Unfortunately it goes downhill from there, especially when things are speeded up and the plot becomes too improbable I felt really disappointed. Chris Pine isn't the worst actor in this genre, although I never bought his relationship with Keira Knightley. 5/10
The Color of Paradise (Majid Majidi, 1999)
Cinema from Iran never disappoints, neither does this one. The notion of a blind boy being unwanted may sound like emotional manipulation, but this film stays very close to a realistic and honestly gripping story. The ending overdoes it a bit, but nevertheless good. 7.5/10
Brainstorm (Lais Bodanzky, 2001)
From Brazil, a teenage boy smokes pot and is send to a rehab institution by his father. What happens to him is horrible and yes this film has its powerful moments in stating how inhuman such an institution can be. Spreading this over the whole length of the film is a bit too much for me. 5.5/10
My Blueberry Nights (Wong Kar Wai, 2007)
As I am not even a fan of Wai his Chinese stuff I reluctantly gave his Hollywood film a try. It does have both Natalie Portman and Rachel Weisz, so what could go wrong? Well, the lack of a plot and Norah Jones could. Portman, Weisz (and Strathairn) are fine but the rest really isn't, Jones isn't very suited for the lead. I could go with the mood of the opening scene for a while but it doesn't stick. 4.5/10
The Devil is a Woman (Josef von Sternberg, 1935)
The last in six von Sternberg Dietrich collaborations and not my favourite, I believe. Dietrich is great and as 'fatale' as ever but the story is simply too predictable too make this a film in the same league as the masterpiece The Scarlet Empress. 6.5/10
Panic in the Streets (Elia Kazan, 1950)
Think of this as film noir's Contagion. A corpse infected with the pneumonic plague is found in New Orleans. Richard Widmark, as the good guy, is desperate to find the killer and whoever else may be infected before the disease spreads. Suspenseful, but average. I like Richard Widmark as a doctor, but I like him better in a villain role. 7.5/10
James Cagney reminds one of the thirties in this fast comedy. I like Wilder for his cynical and sometimes dark view on things, this film is definitely a form of satire but not always that funny or effective. Some of the jokes about communists are simply dull, this film isn't but I expected better. 7/10
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (Kenneth Branagh, 2014)
Looks and sounds like James Bond, Jason Bourne or Mission Impossible. And yes, especially the first hour meets up with these expectations. Unfortunately it goes downhill from there, especially when things are speeded up and the plot becomes too improbable I felt really disappointed. Chris Pine isn't the worst actor in this genre, although I never bought his relationship with Keira Knightley. 5/10
The Color of Paradise (Majid Majidi, 1999)
Cinema from Iran never disappoints, neither does this one. The notion of a blind boy being unwanted may sound like emotional manipulation, but this film stays very close to a realistic and honestly gripping story. The ending overdoes it a bit, but nevertheless good. 7.5/10
Brainstorm (Lais Bodanzky, 2001)
From Brazil, a teenage boy smokes pot and is send to a rehab institution by his father. What happens to him is horrible and yes this film has its powerful moments in stating how inhuman such an institution can be. Spreading this over the whole length of the film is a bit too much for me. 5.5/10
My Blueberry Nights (Wong Kar Wai, 2007)
As I am not even a fan of Wai his Chinese stuff I reluctantly gave his Hollywood film a try. It does have both Natalie Portman and Rachel Weisz, so what could go wrong? Well, the lack of a plot and Norah Jones could. Portman, Weisz (and Strathairn) are fine but the rest really isn't, Jones isn't very suited for the lead. I could go with the mood of the opening scene for a while but it doesn't stick. 4.5/10
The Devil is a Woman (Josef von Sternberg, 1935)
The last in six von Sternberg Dietrich collaborations and not my favourite, I believe. Dietrich is great and as 'fatale' as ever but the story is simply too predictable too make this a film in the same league as the masterpiece The Scarlet Empress. 6.5/10
Panic in the Streets (Elia Kazan, 1950)
Think of this as film noir's Contagion. A corpse infected with the pneumonic plague is found in New Orleans. Richard Widmark, as the good guy, is desperate to find the killer and whoever else may be infected before the disease spreads. Suspenseful, but average. I like Richard Widmark as a doctor, but I like him better in a villain role. 7.5/10
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