Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Two Men and a Lancia: Il Sorpasso on Blu (1962) ✭✭✭✭


In the spirit of spring, Dino Rici’s tragicomedy Il Sorpasso from 1962 has been given a vibrant rebirth courtesy of Criterion. Rarely seen and largely forgotten in recent years, Il Sorpasso retains many structures of the classic road movie, seasoned with glimpses of the era’s growing sense of rebellious dissatisfaction. Over the years, it has proven to be an influential work; its descendant branches laced throughout any analysis of the classic film genre of wandering heroes. Artistically, Il Sorpasso may not rank among the best of the category, but its seductive amalgam of bildungsroman, social commentary and cautionary tale make for a compelling and infectious watch. 

Two Men and a Lancia: Il Sorpasso on Blu (1962) ✭✭✭✭


In the spirit of spring, Dino Rici’s tragicomedy Il Sorpasso from 1962 has been given a vibrant rebirth courtesy of Criterion. Rarely seen and largely forgotten in recent years, Il Sorpasso retains many structures of the classic road movie, seasoned with glimpses of the era’s growing sense of rebellious dissatisfaction. Over the years, it has proven to be an influential work; its descendant branches laced throughout any analysis of the classic film genre of wandering heroes. Artistically, Il Sorpasso may not rank among the best of the category, but its seductive amalgam of bildungsroman, social commentary and cautionary tale make for a compelling and infectious watch. 

Monday, April 28, 2014

TCM for May 2014


TCM brings lots of Aussie goodness in May, along with a mini-Maysles festival and a slew of silly shorts. My picks below, with full schedule HERE. All times Eastern.


5/2


A group of Aussie soldiers hope for fair dinkum in Breaker Morant

8:00 PM
When his commanding officers make a mistake, an Australian soldier faces court martial.
C-107 mins, Letterbox Format

10:00 PM
Two Australian sprinters face the brutal realities of war when they are sent to fight in World War I.
C-112 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

12:00 AM
A simple builder's laborer falls in love with a woman who offers him yard work.
C-108 mins, Letterbox Format

2:00 AM
A post-apocalyptic cop seeks revenge when his family is murdered.
C-93 mins, CC, Let

5/3


11:45 AM

Trappers lead an expedition against river pirates and Indians along the Missouri River.
BW-138 mins, CC,

2:15 PM
A young widow and her son on an isolated ranch find themselves being protected by a wild stallion.
C-77 mins, Letterbox Format

3:50 AM
Westinghouse shows women how to improve their lives by decorating their refrigerators in this short film.
C-6 mins,

5/4


2:00 AM

BW-73 mins,

A taste of the Czech New Wave in The Shop on Main Street

4:00 AM
A Christian forges an unlikely bond with an elderly Jewish shopkeeper during World War II.
BW-126 mins,

5/8


8:00 PM

Two presidential hopefuls get caught up in the dirty side of politics.
BW-102 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

10:00 PM
A free-living New Yorker fights to maintain custody of his nephew.
BW-118 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

12:15 AM
A defrocked priest surrenders to the sins of the flesh in a Mexican hotel.
BW-118 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

2:30 AM
A young veteran returns home to deal with family conflicts.
C-108 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

4:30 AM
Asylum inmates stage an unsettling play about the French Revolution in this adaptation of the legendary stage production.
C-119 mins,


5/9


8:00 PM

When a group of schoolgirls mysteriously disappear, the survivors find their lives changed forever.
C-107 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

10:00 PM
A Sydney lawyer defends five Aborigines in a ritualized murder and in the process learns disquieting things about himself.
C-106 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Dust vs. Rust in The Cars That Ate Paris

12:00 AM
A small town in rural Australia makes its living by causing car accidents and salvaging any valuables from the wrecks.
C-88 mins, Letterbox Format

1:45 AM
Two children are stranded in the Australian outback and are forced to cope on their own.
C-100 mins, Letterbox Format


5/10


2:00 AM

Tainted LSD leads to a series of shocking murders.
C-95 mins, Letterbox Format

3:45 AM
A schoolgirl spends her summer vacation in a haunted house.
C-88 mins,

5:20 AM
Experts demonstrate such innovative kitchen gadgets as the cheese slicer and the melon baller in this short film.
Cast:  Arnold Morris ,
BW-13 mins,

5:35 AM
The dangers of marijuana are outlined in this educational short film.
C-21 mins,

5/13


2:00 AM

Documentary of a reclusive mother and her daughter who created their on own world in their mansion known as "Grey Gardens."
C-95 mins,

In Salesman the Maysles offer a reality check


3:45 AM
The adventures and misadventures of four door-to-door salesmen.
BW-91 mins,

5/15


4:00 PM

An ambitious Southern boy tries to set himself up as a street preacher.
C-106 mins, Letterbox Format

6:00 PM
A bogus preacher marries an outlaw's widow in search of the man's hidden loot.
BW-93 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

8:00 PM
In this silent film, a rich hypochondriac on vacation in the tropics gets mixed up with revolutionaries.
BW-63 mins,

9:15 PM
Three sisters deal with their tangled relationships amidst the wonders of New York City.
C-107 mins, CC, Letterbox Format


5/16


12:00 AM

An account of the dramatic childhood and early adulthood of New Zealand writer Janet Frame.
C-158 mins, Letterbox Format

Jane Campion's Angel at my Table on the 16th


2:45 AM
A young woman's life is torn apart by the sudden intrusion of her mentally disturbed sister.
C-99 mins,

5/17


5:00 AM

The modern miracle of tranquilizers helps working men and their wives deal with life's little problems in this short film.
C-13 mins,

5:15 AM
This short industrial film focuses on the making of Tupperware.
C-29 mins,

5:45 AM
Military tests demonstrate the dangers of poor home maintenance in the event of a nuclear attack in this short film.
C-12 mins,

5/18


2:00 AM

A young boy's life changes the summer he moves in with relatives while his sick mother tries to recover.
C-101 mins, Letterbox Format


5/20


8:00 PM

A 19th-century doctor questions his motives for rescuing a sideshow freak.
BW-123 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

You've probably seen The Elephant Man. Watch it again.


10:15 PM
A flamboyant star throws a TV comedy show into chaos.
C-92 mins, CC, Letterbox Format


5/23

8:00 PM
Two American journalists get more than they'd bargained for during an Indonesian revolution.
C-115 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

10:00 PM
The arrival of a mysterious plumber upsets a doctor's wife.
C-77 mins, Letterbox Format

11:45 PM
An Australian cowboy undergoes numerous adventures as a stand-up comic touring England.
C-114 mins,

Things get wild and crazy at Don's Party

1:45 AM
This film focuses on a wild house party that takes place in a suburban Australian neighborhood in 1969.
C-90 mins,

5/29

8:00 PM
The investigation of a publishing tycoon's dying words reveals conflicting stories about his scandalous life.
BW-119 mins, CC,

10:15 PM
Director Orson Welles examines the career of a notorious art forger.
C-88 mins, Letterbox Format

12:00 AM
A Hollywood film director assembles a group of friends and strangers in a deserted movie theater in an examination of failed relationships and loneliness.
C-105 mins,

2:00 AM
A group of women gather for the birthday party of a friend and discuss their lives and associations with food.
C-110 mins,

4:00 AM
A conversation between a globe-trotting theater director and a playwright playfully explores ideas about art, theater, and daily life.
C-111 mins, CC, Letterbox Format


5/31


5:50 AM

In this short film, a monkey's prank on a turtle demonstrates how to survive a nuclear attack.
BW-9 mins,


TCM for May 2014


TCM brings lots of Aussie goodness in May, along with a mini-Maysles festival and a slew of silly shorts. My picks below, with full schedule HERE. All times Eastern.


5/2


A group of Aussie soldiers hope for fair dinkum in Breaker Morant

8:00 PM
When his commanding officers make a mistake, an Australian soldier faces court martial.
C-107 mins, Letterbox Format

10:00 PM
Two Australian sprinters face the brutal realities of war when they are sent to fight in World War I.
C-112 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

12:00 AM
A simple builder's laborer falls in love with a woman who offers him yard work.
C-108 mins, Letterbox Format

2:00 AM
A post-apocalyptic cop seeks revenge when his family is murdered.
C-93 mins, CC, Let

5/3


11:45 AM

Trappers lead an expedition against river pirates and Indians along the Missouri River.
BW-138 mins, CC,

2:15 PM
A young widow and her son on an isolated ranch find themselves being protected by a wild stallion.
C-77 mins, Letterbox Format

3:50 AM
Westinghouse shows women how to improve their lives by decorating their refrigerators in this short film.
C-6 mins,

5/4


2:00 AM

BW-73 mins,

A taste of the Czech New Wave in The Shop on Main Street

4:00 AM
A Christian forges an unlikely bond with an elderly Jewish shopkeeper during World War II.
BW-126 mins,

5/8


8:00 PM

Two presidential hopefuls get caught up in the dirty side of politics.
BW-102 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

10:00 PM
A free-living New Yorker fights to maintain custody of his nephew.
BW-118 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

12:15 AM
A defrocked priest surrenders to the sins of the flesh in a Mexican hotel.
BW-118 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

2:30 AM
A young veteran returns home to deal with family conflicts.
C-108 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

4:30 AM
Asylum inmates stage an unsettling play about the French Revolution in this adaptation of the legendary stage production.
C-119 mins,


5/9


8:00 PM

When a group of schoolgirls mysteriously disappear, the survivors find their lives changed forever.
C-107 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

10:00 PM
A Sydney lawyer defends five Aborigines in a ritualized murder and in the process learns disquieting things about himself.
C-106 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Dust vs. Rust in The Cars That Ate Paris

12:00 AM
A small town in rural Australia makes its living by causing car accidents and salvaging any valuables from the wrecks.
C-88 mins, Letterbox Format

1:45 AM
Two children are stranded in the Australian outback and are forced to cope on their own.
C-100 mins, Letterbox Format


5/10


2:00 AM

Tainted LSD leads to a series of shocking murders.
C-95 mins, Letterbox Format

3:45 AM
A schoolgirl spends her summer vacation in a haunted house.
C-88 mins,

5:20 AM
Experts demonstrate such innovative kitchen gadgets as the cheese slicer and the melon baller in this short film.
Cast:  Arnold Morris ,
BW-13 mins,

5:35 AM
The dangers of marijuana are outlined in this educational short film.
C-21 mins,

5/13


2:00 AM

Documentary of a reclusive mother and her daughter who created their on own world in their mansion known as "Grey Gardens."
C-95 mins,

In Salesman the Maysles offer a reality check


3:45 AM
The adventures and misadventures of four door-to-door salesmen.
BW-91 mins,

5/15


4:00 PM

An ambitious Southern boy tries to set himself up as a street preacher.
C-106 mins, Letterbox Format

6:00 PM
A bogus preacher marries an outlaw's widow in search of the man's hidden loot.
BW-93 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

8:00 PM
In this silent film, a rich hypochondriac on vacation in the tropics gets mixed up with revolutionaries.
BW-63 mins,

9:15 PM
Three sisters deal with their tangled relationships amidst the wonders of New York City.
C-107 mins, CC, Letterbox Format


5/16


12:00 AM

An account of the dramatic childhood and early adulthood of New Zealand writer Janet Frame.
C-158 mins, Letterbox Format

Jane Campion's Angel at my Table on the 16th


2:45 AM
A young woman's life is torn apart by the sudden intrusion of her mentally disturbed sister.
C-99 mins,

5/17


5:00 AM

The modern miracle of tranquilizers helps working men and their wives deal with life's little problems in this short film.
C-13 mins,

5:15 AM
This short industrial film focuses on the making of Tupperware.
C-29 mins,

5:45 AM
Military tests demonstrate the dangers of poor home maintenance in the event of a nuclear attack in this short film.
C-12 mins,

5/18


2:00 AM

A young boy's life changes the summer he moves in with relatives while his sick mother tries to recover.
C-101 mins, Letterbox Format


5/20


8:00 PM

A 19th-century doctor questions his motives for rescuing a sideshow freak.
BW-123 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

You've probably seen The Elephant Man. Watch it again.


10:15 PM
A flamboyant star throws a TV comedy show into chaos.
C-92 mins, CC, Letterbox Format


5/23

8:00 PM
Two American journalists get more than they'd bargained for during an Indonesian revolution.
C-115 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

10:00 PM
The arrival of a mysterious plumber upsets a doctor's wife.
C-77 mins, Letterbox Format

11:45 PM
An Australian cowboy undergoes numerous adventures as a stand-up comic touring England.
C-114 mins,

Things get wild and crazy at Don's Party

1:45 AM
This film focuses on a wild house party that takes place in a suburban Australian neighborhood in 1969.
C-90 mins,

5/29

8:00 PM
The investigation of a publishing tycoon's dying words reveals conflicting stories about his scandalous life.
BW-119 mins, CC,

10:15 PM
Director Orson Welles examines the career of a notorious art forger.
C-88 mins, Letterbox Format

12:00 AM
A Hollywood film director assembles a group of friends and strangers in a deserted movie theater in an examination of failed relationships and loneliness.
C-105 mins,

2:00 AM
A group of women gather for the birthday party of a friend and discuss their lives and associations with food.
C-110 mins,

4:00 AM
A conversation between a globe-trotting theater director and a playwright playfully explores ideas about art, theater, and daily life.
C-111 mins, CC, Letterbox Format


5/31


5:50 AM

In this short film, a monkey's prank on a turtle demonstrates how to survive a nuclear attack.
BW-9 mins,


Roma (2018) ✭✭✭✭✭

Alfonso Cuarón’s directorial career has dealt with everything from updated Dickens ( Great Expectations ) to twisted coming of age ( Y Tu Ma...