All User Reviews

When "Usher" (Richard Boone) and his two pals hold up the stagecoach, the cowardly passenger "Mims" (John Hubbard) hastily volunteers that his wife "Doretta" (Maureen O'Sullivan) is worth a fortune and that her copper-mining father will pay a hefty sum to get her back safely. Shrewdly, "Usher" sends him and "Chink" (Henry Silva) to negotiate with the father-in-law, whilst settling down to wait with the enigmatic "Brennan" (Randolph Scott) who had only just lost his horse; hitched a ride on this ill-fated coach and is now also a prisoner. As they wait, the dynamics between the two men and betwe…

I’m not so sure that this is a “battle cry”, but more of an interesting travelogue of a nation where civilisation has prevailed for centuries and where life for many has changed little in that time. The pretext for journalist Niles Welch’s journey is, of course, the militaristic ambitions of the Japanese as their troops emerge from their Manchurian enclave to challenge both the established British and French colonial enterprises as well as those of Chiang kai-shek in the age-old interior of this largely agrarian land of hundreds of millions of people. Beginning in the city of Chungking, his jo…

I suppose that pretty much every Hollywood "legend" ended up doing something a bit dodgy for the cash, so no reason why David Niven couldn't. His Count Dracula is pining for his wife, "Vampira" whom he can only resurrect if he can secure a supply of triple O- blood to restore her from her half-century snooze. With his loyal factotum "Maltravers" (Peter Bayless) in tow, he has been luring glamorous girls, straight out of "Playboy", and giving them just enough of a nibble to ensure their compliance in blood donation but not to create a new coven. Success! They manage to find some and swiftly res…

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, because you just might be surprised by what’s inside. The same, of course, can be said for people, and that’s especially true when it comes to individuals with the rare and unusual condition known as Tourette Syndrome. And that’s precisely the point driven home by this excellent new fact-based comedy-drama from writer-director Kirk Jones. For those unfamiliar with Tourette, it’s a condition in which those affected exhibit potentially offensive and/or violent behavior unexpectedly in the midst of what seems like otherwise-“normal” activity. Quit…

When a filmmaker’s reach exceeds his grasp, that’s when you end up with movies like this work of pretentious existential nonsense from writer-director Francesco Sossai. For roughly the first 45 minutes of this aimlessly meandering road trip/buddy flick, barflies Carlobianchi (Sergio Romano) and Doriano (Pierpaolo Capovilla) go in search of the evening’s “one last drink” at various roadside watering holes across northeastern Italy. They eventually set their sights on Venice, where they’re scheduled to meet their old friend and work colleague, Genio (Andrea Pennacchi), who’s flying in the follow…

**Atonement (2007)** _Directed by Joe Wright_ The story is powerful and emotional, based on Ian McEwan's novel about a single catastrophic lie and its decades-long consequences. The screen adaptation by Christopher Hampton is as strong as, or stronger than, the source material. This is an incredible, maybe perfect, screenplay brought to life by Joe Wright with a visual style that's utterly unique. Wright doesn't just film the story; he creates a cinematic language for it, using long takes, precise compositions, and that extraordinary Dunkirk tracking shot that moves through chaos…

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) Directed by John Ford Well, it is an old Western, so it's all about bullies, and how they invariably lose to a more powerful bully. Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin) terrorizes the town with violence; he's replaced by lawyers, politicians, and the machinery of government. Same power dynamics, more sophisticated weapons. The famous line "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend" isn't inspiring, it's cynical. The film is about how America built its mythology on lies, how the people who write history aren't necessarily the heroes they claim …

Ainbo is a visually really nice movie with lovely depictions of nature and really nice animations. Sadly, writing and pacing are, how to say? "All over the place?" I have to agree with other reviews that say it's a mix of several Disney movies without hitting the spirit of any of them. The main story feels like a mix of Moana and Pocahontas: A young girl needs to safe her village from a dark curse that kills humans and fishes alike, assisted by her animal spirit guardians. The spirit guardians are two friendly animals that ewoke some feelings of Lion King's Timon and Pu…

This might not be the most original thing in the world, but it is executed well and the characters are relatable enough to build tension. That makes the moments of fright more engaging and leaves you ultimately quite satisfied. The casting is fantastic, and of course the locales where this is shot are breathtaking. It's really not a bad movie, and I recommend it.…

Before he has even passed his bar exam, aspiring lawyer "Mitch" (Tom Cruise) is offered an hefty salary to take a job with a prestigious law firm headed up by "Lambert" (Hal Holbrook). Needless to say, he and wife "Abigail" (Jeanne Tripplehorn) are delighted with his new Mercedes and their new home, but is this simply too good to be true? Well shortly after he joins, two of his colleagues die in what appears to be a boating accident, then he is approached by the FBI and given some shocking news about his new employers and their involvement with the Chicago mob. Using something between the carr…