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 […]

The Swimmer (1968)

I’d always wanted to see The Swimmer (1968) on the basis of its rather unique story: a man decides to swim home through all the suburban pools in his neighbourhood. Based on a short story by John Cheever, Burt Lancaster gives a brilliant, captivating performance as the strapping man brimming with confidence in only his […]

Prince Of The City (1981)

I bought Prince Of The City (1981) on iTunes last year and had always been putting it off because it was three hours long. Finally sat with it one night, director Sidney Lumet’s adaptation of the true story concerning Daniel Ciello (a career best performance by Treat Williams), a cocky narcotics squad detective who suffers […]

Beau Travail (1999)

Finally followed through on Kenta McGrath’s recommendation and watched Beau Travail (1999). I’d already seen the ending multiple times with its use of Corona’s ‘Rhythm Of The Night’ but I was still surprised by the elliptical way the film unfolded. Even though it is told through Galoup’s narration (Denis Lavant, amazing) of his time in […]

Smooth Talk (1985)

Based on a Joyce Carol Oates short story, Smooth Talk (1985) follows a young Laura Dern as a small town teenage girl, rebelling against her stern mother and hanging out with boys at the hamburger stand. This aimless character piece gets very tense in the second half with the dance of dialogue between Dern and […]