3 hours 22 minutes, R for numerous murders Fair Value of The Godfather Part II : $18.00. It’s overlong and the pacing can drag, but it’s an immaculately acted film with several stunning set pieces. Focus on the Family: The first Godfather was a study in the parallels between Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and his […]
The Godfather: Part 2
May 9, 2021 by
Film Title
The Godfather: Part 2Synopsis
Arguably better than the first, making it the greatest movie ever made.
Director
Francis Ford CoppolaCast
Al Pacino
Robert Duvall
Diane Keaton
Robert DiNero
John Cazale
Talia Shire
Lee Strasberg
Michael V. Gazzo
G.D. Spradlin
Bruno Kirby
The Godfather (1972)
April 26, 2021 by
Film Title
The GodfatherSynopsis
An offer you simply cannot refuse
Director
Francis Ford CoppolaCast
Marlon Brando
Al Pacino
James Caan
Robert Duvall
Sterling Hayden
Al Lettieri
Diane Keaton
Abe Vigoda
Richard S. Castellano
Talia Shire
John Cazale
2 Hours 57 minutes, rated R for Gangland Violence Fair Value of The Godfather: $30.00. It is essential American Cinema. Fundamental to an entire genre of movie. But How Good Is it? The first time I saw the Godfather was on a date when I was sixteen years old with my first girlfriend, whom I […]
Castle Cagliostro
March 14, 2021 by
Film Title
Castle Cagliostro (1979)Synopsis
A dashing thief, his gang of desperadoes and an intrepid policeman struggle to free a princess from an evil count’s clutches
Director
Hayao MiyazakiCast
Yasuo Yamada
Eiko Masuyama
Kiyoshi Kobayashi
Makio Inoue
Goro Naya
Sumi Shimamoto
1 hr 42 minutes, PG-13 for violence and crime. Fair Value of Castle Cagliostro: $14.00. This Miyazaki adaptation of a French novel is fun and picturesque, almost like a cinematic cousin of a Tintin adventure. How Kid Friendly is this Film? It would probably get a PG in modern standards. There’s guns but not blood, a […]
Pale Rider
December 15, 2020 by
Film Title
Pale RiderSynopsis
Anonymous man ruins capitalism in small California town.
Director
Clint EastwoodCast
Clint Eastwood as the Right Reverend Scowl and Squint
Richard Dysart as Moustache Twirler
Chris Penn as Moustache Twirler Jr.
Michael Moriarty as the Common Clay of the New West... you know, a moron.
Fair value of Pale Rider: $2.00. This is a middling Clint Eastwood western, surprisingly old-fashioned, which is really only for the Eastwood completists. And Death Was His Name: After a posse of hired thugs devastate a ramshackle prospecting camp, a young girl prays for justice. Soon enough, Preacher (Clint Eastwood) appears, silently and inexorably fighting […]
True Grit
October 4, 2020 by
Film Title
True Grit (2010)Synopsis
A gnarly and stubborn girl employs True Grit to help track down her father’s murderer
Director
Ethan & Joel CoenCast
Jeff Daniels as The One-Eyed Dude
Hailee Steinfield as a national treasure.
Matt Damon as smarmy, and ostensibly Texas
Josh Brolin as the bad guy.
1 Hour 50 Minutes, PG-13 for maiming and violence. Fair Value of True Grit: $15.00. Because you can’t watch Sergio Leone all the time, this tale of Prairie Justice is one of the better of modern westerns. In many ways it is the perfect balance of the comedic and the dark aspects of Coen Brother’s […]
Raising Arizona: Devon’s Take
September 20, 2020 by
What Makes Raising Arizona Work? FAIR VALUE of Raising Arizona: $8.00. Like contemporaries A Fish Called Wanda or Brain Donors, Raising Arizona is a relentless slapstick comedy that has high re-watchability. THE COEN BROTHERS BEGIN HONING THEIR CHOPS: In many ways, Raising Arizona is the wooliest, most slapdash of all of the Coen comedies. They […]
Army of Darkness
August 9, 2020 by
Film Title
Army Of DarknessSynopsis
Ash is back in time to go medieval on an army of deadites.
Director
Sam RaimiCast
Bruce Campbell
Embeth Davidtz
Marcus Gilbert
Ian Ambercrombie
Patricia Tallman
Richard Grove
One hour 21 minutes, R for copious fountains of blood Fair Value of Army of Darkness: $20.00. If you asked me to name a film that was the perfect embodiment of the charm of midnight movies, it would be Army of Darkness. Perfectly fun, endlessly quotable, and never dull. More cheesy goodness than a Wisconsin […]
Evil Dead 2
August 1, 2020 by
Film Title
Evil Dead 2Synopsis
A continuation of The Evil Dead, where Ash tries to survive in a cabin possessed with evil.
Director
Sam RaimiCast
Bruce Campbell
Sarah Berry
Dan Hicks
Kassie Wesley Depaiva
Ted Raimi
Denise Bixler
Richard Domeier
1 hour 24 minutes, R for violence and gore Fair Value of Evil Dead 2: $6.00. It’s one of the classics of 80s horror comedy, not as memorable as it’s sequel, but a live action Warner Brothers cartoon of zombie slapstick. The Bruce Campbell Show: It’s all on the comic chops of the lead, Bruce […]
Three Days of the Condor
July 28, 2020 by
Film Title
Three Days of the CondorSynopsis
A CIA analyst must flee undercover when a team of assassins slaughter his station.
Director
Sydney PollackCast
Robert Redford
Max von Sydow
Faye Dunaway
Cliff Robertson
1 hour 57 minutes, R for violence Fair Value of Three Days of the Condor: $6.00. This Sydney Pollack classic is a twisty and cynical spy film, one that prefigures much of the Jason Bourne films in the theme of ‘disavowed spy forced to live off his wits’. Crackling. Golden Age Cinema and the […]
The Farmer’s Wife (1928)
July 19, 2020 by
Film Title
The Farmer's WifeSynopsis
A middle-aged empty-nester has trouble finding another suitable mate
Director
Alfred HitchcockCast
James Thomas
Lillian Hall-Davis
Gordon Harker
Gibb McLaughlin
Maude Gill
Louie Pounds
2 Hours 9 minutes Fair Value of The Farmer and His Wife: $0.00. In this early (1928) silent film, a young Hitchcock is both out of his element (mystery) and his medium (dialogue), and so this early drama is generic and basic, largely lacking in Hitchcock’s style. This is a snoozer. Summary of the Concept: […]
