A Movie for Each Decade [1920-2010]
March 22, 2020
Category: CLASSIC MOVIES
5 Underappreciated Hitchcock Movies
September 10, 2018
Here’s another post that has been on my mind for a while. Quite often, I hear people mentioning “Vertigo”, “Rear Window” and “Psycho” as soon as we start talking about Alfred Hitchcock. But here’s a man that directed 57 movies over the course of 54 years. Having watched most of these movies, I’ve decided to list a few “underappreciated” ones. How many of those have you seen?
Strangers on a Train (1951)
This was my very first encounter with the master of suspense. My mom got me an Alfred Hitchcock box-set for my 19th birthday, and I couldn’t wait to discover what was in there. Out of all the movies that I watched back then, “Strangers on a train” remains my favorite: a tense, masterful thriller that should rank as one of Hitchcock’s best work. In telling the story of how two strangers agree to kill someone the other person wants gone, Hitchcock keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. There are twists and turns, as you would expect from the master himself, and the climax is incredibly entertaining. If you’re still discovering old films, I highly recommend this one.
Shadow of a Doubt (1942)
One of Hitchcock’s own personal favorite films, “Shadow of a doubt” is a movie that deserves more recognition in my opinion. Joseph Cotton was still fresh out of “Citizen Kane” when he was chosen to play good old uncle Charlie, who is visiting his relatives in a small American town. Soon enough, his niece begins to suspect that he may be…wait for it… a killer on the loose! A psychological thriller through and through, “Shadow of a Doubt” is more proof that Hitchcock could easily manipulate his audience, keeping them on the edge of their seat until the credits start rolling. It’s a fantastic film from start to finish.
Saboteur (1942)
Before 1959’s “North By Northwest”, there was “Saboteur”, another tense film that features a man who is wrongly accused of sabotage. This leads to a relentless chase across the country in order to clear his name. Talking about this underrated gem, Hitchcock said “It’s what strikes the eye that leaves the most lasting impression on moviegoers”. Indeed, the film features elaborate settings and an incredible climax atop the Statue of Liberty that is truly unforgettable. It’s a great film that needs to be rediscovered by movie buffs.
Frenzy (1972)
After a hugely successful 30 years in Hollywood, it was time for Hitchcock to return to England, and what better way to celebrate his return than this terrific gem? This is the first Hitchcock film to earn an “R” rating, and he made it count. There’s a sex criminal known as the Necktie Murderer roaming around 1970’s London, and it’s up to, yet again, a wrongly accused man to find him. “Frenzy” is a delicious mix of suspense and black comedy, and it features one of the most brutal murder scenes I’ve seen in a Hitchcock film. Not for the faint of heart, for sure, but it’s one of his best movies in my opinion.
Suspicion (1941)
Hitchcock had a very busy few years in the early 40’s, directing the Oscar winner “Rebecca” while working on so many other projects. “Suspicion” might strike you as something that could have been shot in 2 weeks, and understandably so. But it’s also very effective, making it a definite must-see in my opinion. Cary Grant was still a rising star at the time, and he’s excellent as a playboy who marries a vulnerable woman (Joan Fontaine), only for her to start suspecting that he wants to kill her. It’s unusual to think of Cary Grant as a killer, and that’s what makes “Suspicion” so intriguing to watch. I’ve seen it over a decade ago and I still consider it as one of the master’s most underrated films.
Classic Movies I Don’t Love
September 5, 2018
I haven’t written anything controversial ever since fanboys messaged me for hating on 2014’s “Godzilla”, so I thought it would be a good idea to tackle something that has been on my mind for a while now: what are some classic movies that I don’t personally love? Don’t get me wrong, most of the films I’m about to mention are in fact GOOD, but I can’t say I love them enough to praise them. Let’s check them out.
1- Titanic (1996)
Possibly the most obvious choice on the list, “Titanic” was quite revolutionary at the time of its release and pretty much won every award there is, but looking back, I don’t think I’ve ever loved this film. It did put Leonardo DiCaprio on the map permanently, and his chemistry with Kate Winslet is still something to admire today, but the movie itself was too manipulative for my own taste, not to mention too damn long. Do I hate it? Not at all. But I guess it’s one of those movies that confuse the shit out of me: why did it win so many awards?
2- Requiem for a dream (2000)
This is by far my least favorite movie on the list, a disturbing (to say the least) film from controversial director Darren Aronofsky about four ambitious people who watch their lives go down the drain when their drug addictions go out of control. The actors are great, especially Jared Leto, and I understand Aronofsky’s intentions, but it all adds up to zero. The movie has many loyal fans, that’s for sure, but spending time with all these characters was no fun at all as far as I’m concerned.
3- The Shining (1980)
I’m a huge Stanley Kubrick fan, but I never managed to warm up to his 1980 horror classic. Having heard so many good things about it when I was still discovering old films, I felt that it was a bit of a letdown. I could never forget Jack Nickolson’s terrific performance as a family man who takes his family to an isolated hotel for the winter where evil lurks, but that’s about it as far as I’m concerned. The rest of the film never left an impact on me, and because of that, I rarely find myself recommending it.
4- Taxi Driver (1976)
Martin Scorsese is quite possibly my favorite director of all time, but weirdly enough, I never loved his 1976 film “Taxi Driver” starring Robert De Niro, and if that puts me in the minority, so be it. I still recommend it, notably for De Niro’s extremely powerful performance as a taxi driver who is going out of his mind, but I never find myself going back to it or watching bits from it, as opposed to let’s say “Goodfellas” or “Raging Bull”.
5- Scarface (1983)
A friend once asked me if I loved this movie and he could easily tell that I didn’t. “The eyes, they never lie” he said. How many times have you seen this quote on an Instagram post? That’s the kind of impact that this movie and its characters has on people, so putting it on the list will certainly be regarded as a controversial decision, but I don’t mind. It’s a movie that I had a blast watching, to be clear, but I rarely find myself quoting it or putting it on my list of films that you MUST see before you die. It’s a matter of personal taste at the end of the day, and I love Al Pacino more than anything, but I can’t say I loved this film.
6- Fight Club (1999)
Perhaps the most controversial title on the list, and for good reasons. But before I proceed, let me clarify: I like this movie enough, and if it wasn’t so popular you probably wouldn’t see it on this list. I’m a huge David Fincher fan, and I think his movies are quite revolutionary in their own way, but I could never truly fall in love with “Fight Club”. Aside from its shocking twist and brilliant performances, I don’t really think it’s as brilliant as people say. I know that fans like to interpret it in their own way and I’ve read endless articles about it, but it’s been shoved down our throats for almost 20 years that maybe you can understand why I feel some resistance to it. It’s still a solid film overall, but top 10 on IMDB? I respectfully disagree.
Germany Year Zero [1948] ★★★½
August 10, 2017
Roberto Rossellini’s “Germany Year Zero” is a frightening portrait of post-WWII Berlin, from the point of view of 12-year-old Edmund, who lives with his family in terrible conditions. The war may have ended, Hitler’s third Reich has fallen, but Berlin has never been more miserable. Edmund’s only concern is to provide food for his bedridden father, while his brother, a former Nazi soldier, must live in hiding or handle the consequences. Rossellini, famous for his War trilogy, which featured “Rome Open City”, “Paisan” and “Germany Year Zero”, wanted to show a nation in ruins, and to say that he has succeeded would be an understatement. This is a haunting piece of work, beautifully shot, masterfully directed, and featuring a superior performance by young Edmund Meschke. I absolutely recommend it.
Rome, Open City [1945] ★★★½
August 4, 2017
Italian filmmaker Roberto Rossellini kicked off his so-called “war trilogy” with “Rome, Open City”, a harrowing look at Rome during the Nazi occupation of 1944. Though the events that take place in the movie are strictly fictional, Rossellini knows exactly how to deliver an authentic experience. The main character here is Don Pietro, an Italian priest who finds himself helping the leader of the resistance, Giorgio Manfredi, who is wanted by Nazis. Rossellini builds up tension as we follow these character’s journey into the unknown. The mood and atmosphere of the movie are reminiscent of American film noirs of the early 1940’s, and that’s probably one of the main reasons why I loved this movie so much. Rosselini does a fantastic job in capturing WWII Rome with a dreadful mood, keeping his audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish. If you want to watch a master at work, I highly recommend “Rome, Open City”.
The Testament Of Dr. Mabuse [1933] ★★★★
April 11, 2017
People always mention “Metropolis” and “M” when they talk about German filmmaker Fritz Lang. While they’re both terrific, I personally vouch for “The Testament of Dr. Mabuse”, one of the best movies of the early talkies. Made in 1933, at a time when Nazism was on the rise, “Dr. Mabuse” was banned in Germany by Nazi propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels and was not shown to the public until 1951. When it opens, we learn that there’s a new crime wave in Berlin and it’s up to inspector Lohmann (from “M”) to investigate. All clues lead to Dr. Mabuse, a crazy scientist who’s been in a mental hospital for a decade. How is it possible? That’s the question that eats at you as “Dr. Mabuse” holds you in its grip for two hours. It’s obvious that Lang is giving a sermon about the consequences of a Nazi-infested Germany. In the words of Mabuse himself: “When humanity, subjugated by the terror of crime, has been driven insane by fear and horror, and when chaos has become supreme law, then the time will have come for the empire of crime”. Lang squeezes us without mercy in a rollercoaster of tension and suspense, but only to force us to look at the bigger picture. In a post-9/11 world, “The Testament of Dr. Mabuse” couldn’t be more relevant. It’s a timeless masterpiece.
Death Of A Cyclist [1955] ★★★½
March 31, 2017
Today’s classic film recommendation is Juan Antonio Bardem’s masterful “Death of a Cyclist”, released in the mid 1950’s under the Franco regime. It’s clear that Bardem’s aim was to criticize the huge gap between the poor and the rich, which explains why the movie was censored and Bardem was “forced” to change a key plot point. The simple story follows a rich married woman who is having an affair with a college professor. The movie opens with them driving on an empty road when they accidentally hit a cyclist. Instead of helping the injured man, they decide to drive off in fear that this incident might jeopardize their relationship. And so begins “Death of a Cyclist”, a powerful drama about guilt, paranoia and blackmail. Directed with extraordinary skill by Bardem (who happens to be Javier Bardem’s uncle), the film is a tough road well worth traveling. All the actors amaze, so does Alfredo Fraile’s breathtaking cinematography. “Death of a Cyclist” is emotionally devastating. It takes a piece out of you. If you’re into old European films, consider it a must see.
The Kid Brother [1927] ★★★★
February 24, 2017
Today I take a trip down memory lane. One of my earliest memories was watching “Harold Lloyd’s World of Comedy”, a compilation of silent comedian Harold Lloyd’s very best moments. Lloyd actually edited the film himself, in 1962, exactly 40 years since his first feature film “Grandma’s Boy” was released. But there’s no doubt in my mind that his most famous shot came in 1923, when his character found himself hanging from a clock, 12 stories above the city street. Then came “The Freshman” in 1925, another masterpiece about a college freshman who can’t seem to cope with his new environment. But somehow, it was a scene from his 1927 film “The Kid Brother” that was forever engraved in my mind. In it, Lloyd finds himself taking on a bad guy aboard a steamboat. As a kid, that scene scared the shit out of me. As an adult, it still amuses me. The son of a local sheriff, Lloyd’s “kid brother” has to prove himself as a “man” when outsiders threaten to take over the peaceful town. As usual, Llyod throws in one hilarious gag after the other, something that was very common in his silent comedies (he tried to emulate that in his talkies but didn’t quite succeed). As a result, the movie is still a treat to watch, almost a century after its release. If you’re still discovering silent comedies, you can’t go wrong with “The Kid Brother”. It’s one of the funniest movies of the silent era and one of Llyod’s very best works.
The Manchurian Candidate [1962] ★★★★
September 11, 2016
Regarded as the quintessential political satire of the 1960’s, “The Manchurian Candidate” is also meant to provoke paranoia and fear as an American patrol is captured and brainwashed by Chinese communists during the Koran war. One soldier, Raymond Shaw (a terrific Laurence Harvey), has been programmed for a top secret mission: to murder a presidential candidate 2 years later. The movie is based on a 1959 novel by Richard Condon and stars Frank Sinatra in one of his very best roles as a soldier trying to uncover the truth behind the mysterious program. The film, released in 1962, was so ahead of its time, that a legend linked it to John F. Kennedy’s assassination a year later. Needless to say, it still rings amazingly true today. Incidentally, I saw Jonathan Demme’s 2004 remake starring Denzel Washington, Liev Shreiber and Meryl Streep many years ago and wasn’t impressed. Now that Criterion has finally released the 1962 version, I highly recommend you to check it out. It’s easily one of the finest political thrillers of that era.
Fantastic Planet [1973] ★★★½
September 4, 2016
A psychedelic experience from start to finish, Rene Laloux’s richly rewarding “Fantastic Planet” (or “La planète Sauvage” in french) is unlike any animated movie you have ever seen. Set on a distant planet called Ygam where humans (called “Oms” here) are enslaved by giant blue creatures called Draags, a young boy called Terr dares to escape his captor and finds refuge with a group of “rebels”who are resisting the Draags’ reign of terror. The film’s beauty, aside from its eerie story, is in Roland Topor’s stunning animation and Alain Goraguer’s unforgettable jazz score. Awarded with a special prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973, “Fantastic Planet” ranks alongside “2001: A Space Odyssey”, “Metropolis” and “Solaris” as one of the most original science-fiction movies of all time.
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