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....

Silverado

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

Original image located here. Accessed 28th May 2021

I enjoy westerns. They continue to be one of my favorite movie genres and one I keep returning to. However, what is of particular interest is that this genre is, more or less, a dead one. Whilst westerns may have been abundant in the pre-sixties era of filmmaking, they had fallen seriously out of favour since. Aside from moments of reinvention (ie The Wild Bunch and The Good The Bad and The Ugly) and some genuine gems (Unforgiven), the western has never enjoyed the attention it once did and now looks like quite the antique. And it is interesting to see if a similar fate awaits other movie genres (rom-coms anyone?).

Which brings me to Silverado. A western made in the eighties and a clear attempt to breathe new life into a dead genre. That much is obvious given we see some stars of the day cast against type (Kevin Costner being an energetic loose cannon; John Cleese being a sheriff; Jeff Goldblum being a shady gambler) and there is some real love for the genre, and westerns past, being put to good use. And perhaps that is this movie's greatest strength: it ditches the revisionist approach of post-sixties westerns in favour of a more earnest approach, which celebrates the genre. Sure all the familiar tropes are here but that's kind of the point. And I surely can't be the only one who was reminded of High Noon in the final showdown.
But considering that this movie was written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan - who come to prominence through his work on Star Wars (Empire Strikes Back) - a saga built on a movie which was a celebration of one's love of movies, should this come as a surprise?

A Streetcar Named Desire

And this week's Friday night movie has been... A Streetcar Named Desire!

Original image located here. Accessed 21st May 2021

It's one of the most famous movies ever made - and yet i only know of it because a) it was parodied in an episode of The Simpsons and b) it apparently made an impression on one Tommy Wiseau.

Once again, it is difficult to assess something like this: It has been referenced and parodied so many times that the orignal comes across as being somewhat devoid of the bite it originally had. Much has been written about how this was a career-defining film for Marlon Brando, with his acting skills ("Stell-AAAHHH!!!!") and the image of him in a t-shirt two sizes too small.
But saying that this movie catapulted Brando into superstardom overshadows the fact that this movie really is about one woman's descent into madness. As such, this movie really is Vivien Leigh's show all the way. Seventy years on and she is still a presence in this movie, giving it her all and still maintaining audience interest. And hey, lest we forget it was Leigh that won the Oscar for this film. not Brando.
So in the end, I always find it a gamble to visit a movie from the Pre-New Hollywood era as they tend to be tarnished by both age and being replicated by its students. But this one? Still has a spark. And that's saying something

John Wick 3

And this week's Friday night movie has been... John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum!

Original image located here. Accessed 14th May 2021

It's the third movie in this series, meaning that i am officially up to date and therefore well-prepared when the fourth movie rolls around.
Really there isn't much to say about this series at this point: John Wick is still a seemingly unstoppable assassin with a awe-inspiring reputation; the body count is ridiculously large and the action sequences are astonishing to say the least.
However I do like the female characters brought forward: I like Halle Berry's spin as Sofia (you can just tell these movies were written by a dog lover). I must admit that Asia Kate Dillon has a presence as the Adjudicator. And I found Anjelica Houston unrecognizable as The Director.
In fact, it is surprising that this series has quite the mileage with having it's cast in unrecognizable roles - seriously I never knew Jerome Flynn was present until the end credits. And it is indeed proof that this series has a secret weapon to it's tried and tested formula.

You Only Live Twice

And this week's Friday night movie has been... You Only Live Twice!

Original image located here. Accessed 7th May 2021

The plan to watch more James Bond movies continues.
I hadn't planned on seeing this. That was until i realised that this movie was written by one of my literacy heroes: Mr Roald Dahl. Roald Dahl writing James Bond? That seems like a combination that's too good to be true!

As it happens, this movie is not well liked by some Bond fans. Not sure why because there is a lot going for this movie. The location footage in Japan is great. The Little Nellie is fantastic. The set design is extraordinary (particularly the lair at the film's climax). The Final fight scene is one of the finest action sequences ever conceived. We have a face reveal of Blofeld and Tiger Tanaka is a great character. So what's the problem?
Okay sure the formula is clearly setting in, sure Connery may be phoning his performance in and Bond's Japanese disguise makes him look like a Romulan but are those enough to be a deal-breaker? I don't think so.
And in the terms of this series, You Only Live Twice does indeed serve as a good way to farewell the Connery era. Which means starting next month, we start taking a look at his successors.

The Professionals

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

Original image located here. Accessed 30th April 2021

I have previously expressed a keen interest in the western genre and that interest has never dulled over the years. So here's a look at a western from the 1960s.
I know my film history and I can say that the sixties were an interesting time for the western. The decade was one where the genre going well out of fashion - which in turn offered a sense of reinvention accepted by the likes of Sergio Leone and Sam Peckinpah (in the form of The Good the Bad & the Ugly and The Wild Bunch respectively).

And it is in this period of reinvention that The Professionals sits comfortably. Compared to it's earlier brethren this film does indeed have a sense of grittiness and realism that is rarely found in the genre. There are indeed some great action sequences, more explosions than one would expect in a western and some characters with depth. But, as with many westerns, the real star is cinematography, which makes the scenery never dull and is always handled to it's best.
It may be overlooked when compared to other westerns of this era but that doesn't mean the Professionals is an worthy entrant to this genre.

Flash Gordon

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

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd April 2021

Consider this the antithesis to the dour stuff I have been watching these past few weeks.
Lets be honest here: The only reason i know this film exists is through the Queen connection ("Flash! A-HAAA!!). And it would be safe to say that I'm not the only one. Still Flash is - apparently - the king of the impossible and the savior of the universe so that was a least worth a look.

So let's not kid ourselves. This is b-grade fare: The colours are garish, the effects cheap, the acting constantly swinging between wooden and hammy, and the whole thing was laughable, even with the passage of forty one years. Still i can't say it was dull. And it is proof that adding Brian Blessed to anything will increase it's awesomeness tenfold.
And hey, the music was great

John Wick 2

And this week's Friday night movie has been... John Wick Chapter 2!

Original image located here. Accessed 16th April 2021

It may seem something of a double standard to watch this, a sequel to a revenge thriller, having said some less than glowing things about Promising Young Woman the week before. However, whilst what I said about Promising Young Woman may paint a picture of a movie that is at odds with itself, that is not the case here. John Wick Chapter 2 knows exactly what is and you, the audience member, had better believe it.

And much like any sequel, John Wick Chapter 2 knows what worked with it predecessor and builds upon it. But let's not kid ourselves: Clearly the John Wick movies thrive on the action sequences, delivering such scenes that are well-choreographed and never dull. Keanu Reeves still delivers with this character and there is a real interesting set up for the third movie.
Thing is though, this may all sound like good things but that is pretty much it: There are are some indeed slow moments in this movie but they do indeed seem out of place. And the whole 'former-assassin-struggling-to-retain-humanity' shtick from the first movie is downplayed. Which is shame seeing as it contributed a lot to the first movie being so compelling.
Still, I can't say this movie was boring. So it remains to be seen what the third movie can dish up....

Promising Young Woman

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Promising Young Woman!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th April 2021

Okay so I'm going to have to think about this one so hold on...
*Sounds of the Alchemist venturing off into the wilderness*
*37 days later*
*Sounds of the Alchemist returning from the wilderness*
....Ermmm.....

It seems to me you can't criticise this movie because doing so will only reinforce the points it is trying to get across
Still, I have the feeling this was made for a particular audience. One that does not include me.
Oh well....

Thunderball

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

Original image located here. Accessed 2nd April 2021

That title is misleading: perhaps I should start using the phrasing: 'This Month's James Bond Movie has been..'. Only that idea sounds completely dumb.

Anywho, one reason why i am watching more James Bond movies in 2021, is that I have seen bits and pieces of some but not all the way through. Therefore, watching a complete James Bond movie presents an opportunity to address some unfinished business. And Thunderball is indeed such a movie.
During the late eighties i came home from school one day to find my father who had stayed home from work on the account of being unwell. And he was watching a movie which featured some divers engaged in underwater combat. At the time, I had no idea what i was watching but i distinctly remember being mesmerized by the action taking place before me. It was exciting, gripping and was able to draw tension from a seemingly harmless situation. I also recall seeing the escape via jetpack at the start of the movie.
Of course, I would eventually find out that this was indeed a James Bond movie. So to watch Thunderball now is to revisit something that made a significant impression on me.

Unfortunately, this has so far proven to be the weakest of the Connery era. Many of the characters are dull & inconsequential, the plot is meandering & boring, the climax suffers from some bad editing decisions and the moments of gold are few and far between. Still Connery continues to be in fine form - as he no doubt has the character down pat by now - and the underwater sections are still impressive.
At least now i can say that I know which movie had those underwater combat scenes