The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Treasure of the Sierra Madre!

Original image located here. Accessed 25th June 2021

Its difficult to assess a classic movie like this (classic as in pre-New Hollywood era). The problem being? Much has been written about such movies in the decades since their release that it's difficult to come up with something new. Indeed, if people are still talking about Shrek in 2021, it would be interesting to see if they will have something new to say about in 2051.

In all honesty, there's not a lot I can say about this movie: It's a fascinating study of paranoia, greed and seeing how these three guys are playing off each other. Everyone involved here - particularly actors Humphrey Bogart and Walter Huston and Director John Huston - are at the top of their game.
And it is noteworthy of having the "laughter of the Damned' at the end: The kind of laughter one has borne of the frustration of trying to make some headway in the world but not succeeding (a laughter i know all too well).

Russian Ark

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Russian Ark!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th May 2021

Once upon a time, i started this movie but, for whatever reason, I never got around to finishing it. Well, today's the day I rectify such a situation.
When this came out, much was made of the technical prowess of this film: It's one mammoth, 90 minute single shot movie. No edits and no interruptions. Well, given the passage of time and nearly two decades of advancement in film-making, has time worn done Russian Ark?

Apparently not. The technical nature of the film is nothing less than astonishing. Get past the nature of a single unedited shot and we see incredible sets, a cast of thousands, some magnificent recreations of Czarist Russia and a unbeatable homage to history. Indeed, I have seen many beautiful looking movies in this lifetime and Russian Ark could sit comfortably in the upper regions of such a list
Sure it may have been a challenge to get through at times but in the end the challenge was well and truly worth it.

Rashomon

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Rashomon!

Original image located here. Accessed 11th June 2021

I walk into my local library without any intention to borrow anything and yet i walk out with a DVD of this movie. How strange it is that I partake in an antiqued act that should have died with Blockbuster.
But how could i refuse? This is one of the all time classics - one that announced Japanese cinema to the world and gave us the trope of the same situation retold by multiple unreliable narrators.

And it would appear that seventy one years has not tarnished this film at all. It is gripping, well-directed and beautifully shot. And it is shining example of what one can do with a small cast and an even smaller number of locations (one can imagine many a independent/budding filmmaker watching this and taking notes). It may be bleak when compared to Akira Kurosawa's other masterwork - The Seven Samurai - but it still has his humanist approach and his eye for sword battles

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

And this week's Friday night movie has been... On Her Majesty's Secret Service!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th June 2021

Behold George Lazenby. The first successor to the role Sean Connery made his own and the least of the actors to play James Bond.
I can't say i was looking forward to this one: For many years Lazenby has borne the brunt of a lot of hate, being the worst of the six Bond actors, a one-hit wonder and the weak link in a chain of excellence.
But in more recent years, he's gone under something of a rehabilitation: many people are now pointing to On Her Majesty's Secret Service as the best Bond movie and citing that the movie represents an evolution in the character of Bond - which wouldn't have worked with the self-assurance that Connery used to define the role.

Well I do agree: This does indeed show Bond in a different light in that he's allowed to be vulnerable: he is frequently shown to be in danger (and certainly shown to be afraid for his life) and he has some great scenes with Tracey. It may be easy to dismiss Lazenby for his limited acting skills but it's not to the detriment of the movie - his scenes with Tracey sparkle with chemistry and you can't say he doesn't nail the final, gut-punching scene.
Other than that, everything here shows a Bond movie firing on all cylinders: Tracey is a compelling character played by Diana Rigg (Olenna Tyrell!). The Swiss alps make for a beautiful setting. The action sequences are existing and fast paced. Telly Savalas makes an engaging Blofeld. And Peter R. Hunt makes for a great director (shame he didn't do any more Bond movies).
So is On Her Majesty's Secret Service the blemish on the series that is often made out to be? I don't think so. If anything, there's a lot going for it - which makes stand proudly amongst the best.
And damn, that final gut-punching scene....