Stalker (1979)

I finally watched my first Tarkovsky with Stalker (1979; Сталкер). It was on a Friday night when I’m tired from the week and more in the mood for trashier fare rather than a two-and-a-half-hour slow meditation life, but I pushed through. And it was great, as many people have said to me. With a sci-fi […]

Switchblade Sisters (1975)

Switchblade Sisters (1975) is directed by Jack Hill, and is a title that has come up a lot as an exploitation drive in classic (Tarantino re-released it on his Rolling Thunder label in the late 90s, I think). A teen gang of girls led by the intense Lace (Robbie Lee, delightfully gnashing at the scenery) […]

All That Jazz (1979)

I’d been keen to see Bob Fosse’s semi-autobiographical All That Jazz (1979) for awhile and I finally sat down with it over one weekend. Fascinating to watch such a reliable and straight-laced performer like Roy Schneider stretch himself, playing a version of Fosse that is glib, controlling, physical, exhausted and ultimately, a rueful asshole. Some […]

Caged Heat (1974)

Caged Heat (1974) was written and directed by a young Jonathan Demme for Roger Corman’s New World Pictures. Working within the lurid ‘women in prison’ genre with all that entails, the movie is a cut above due to its singular characters (such as Barbara Steele’s imposing yet strange warden), surreal dream sequences, broad jokes, and […]

Le Cercle Rouge (1970)

Being a huge fan of the stylish classic Le Samourai, I’ve been very remiss in not seeking more of director Jean-Pierre Melville’s other films. When I saw a DVD copy of Le Cercle Rouge (1970) available for cheap, I snapped it up and settled in. Now if you thought Alain Delon was impeccably handsome in […]