“One pill, and he thought he could handle anything. One pill, and he thought he was bigger than life!”
Synopsis:
Overworked husband and father Ed Avery (James Mason) is prescribed cortisone as a pain-reliever for his rare arterial disease, and soon becomes addicted to the feelings this “wonder drug” produces in him — but his increasingly [...]
Posted on October 31st, 2006 by admin
Filed under: Original Reviews | 1 Comment »
“If I left home, Father would be lost…”
Synopsis:
An aging widower (Chishu Ryu) lovingly deceives his devoted daughter (Sesuko Hara) in order to convince her that she should marry.
Genres:
Father and Child
Grown Children
Incest and Incestuous Undertones
Japanese Films
Ozu Films
Widows and Widowers
Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, this “simply told yet lovely [...]
Posted on October 30th, 2006 by admin
Filed under: Response Reviews | 2 Comments »
“[It's] Jesus — He’s in our barn. He’s come back.”
Synopsis:
Three motherless siblings (Hayley Mills, Diane Holgate, and Alan Barnes) find a fugitive (Alan Bates) hiding in their barn, and mistakenly believe he is Jesus.
Genres:
Childhood
Do-Gooders
Fugitives
Mistaken Identities
Religious Faith
Review:
At the age of five, I desperately wanted to know who “God” was, [...]
Posted on October 28th, 2006 by admin
Filed under: Original Reviews | 2 Comments »
“If he didn’t do it, I’ll get him off.”
Synopsis:
Female lawyer Teddy Barnes (Glenn Close) questions the innocence of the man (Jeff Bridges) she is defending on suspicion of murder.
Genres:
Courtroom Drama
Lawyers
Murder Mystery
Thriller
Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, this popular ’80s courtroom thriller is “absurdly written”, “too slick”, and “manipulative”. Nonetheless, it [...]
Posted on October 27th, 2006 by admin
Filed under: Original Reviews | 1 Comment »
“Our young people are citizens. They’re concerned, committed, original, vital – they are citizens; we must give them the rights of citizens…”
Synopsis:
Senator Johnny Fergus (Hal Holbrook) uses popular rock star Max Frost (Christopher Jones) as a political ploy to gain the country’s “youth vote.” Things quickly spin out of control, however, when Frost and [...]
Posted on October 22nd, 2006 by admin
Filed under: Response Reviews | 1 Comment »
Synopsis:
Chuck Berry introduces acts from the 1964 Teenage Awards Music International – including Bo Diddley, the Supremes, the Ronettes, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Lesley Gore, and the Rolling Stones.
Genres:
Concert Films
Rock ‘n Roll
Teenagers
Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, this early concert film featuring hit American and British rock groups of the day [...]
Posted on October 21st, 2006 by admin
Filed under: Response Reviews | 1 Comment »
Synopsis:
Xica (Zezé Motta), a black female slave in 18th century Brazil, gains freedom, wealth, and power by seducing the town’s new Royal Diamond Contractor (Walmor Chages).
Genres:
Comedy
Historical Drama
Political Corruption
Race Relations
Social Climbers
South and Central America
Strong Females
Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary’s review of this “popular [Brazilian] film by Carlos Diegues” is [...]
Posted on October 20th, 2006 by admin
Filed under: Response Reviews | No Comments »
“I was much too far out all my life / And not waving, but drowning…”
Synopsis:
British poet Stevie Smith (Glenda Jackson) discusses her childhood, her literary fame, her failed romance, and life with her beloved maiden aunt (Mona Washbourne).
Genres:
Biopics
Flashback Films
Play Adaptations
Spinsters
Writers
Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary’s review of this theatrical adaptation is [...]
Posted on October 20th, 2006 by admin
Filed under: Response Reviews | No Comments »
“Something’s happened lately — these moods are getting deeper and longer…”
Synopsis:
Composer George Bone (Laird Cregar) suffers from sound-induced blackouts, during which he commits crimes he can’t remember. When he’s jilted by a manipulative dance hall singer (Linda Darnell), he commits one murder too many, and a Scotland Yard doctor (George Sanders) is hot on his [...]
Posted on October 19th, 2006 by admin
Filed under: Response Reviews | 1 Comment »
“No excitement can ever equal the elemental force of the orgasm!”
Synopsis:
Through a creative mixture of documentary and fictional footage, Yugoslavian director Duŝan Makavejev explores the links between sexual and political freedom in the Cold War era.
Genres:
Documentary
Eastern European Films
Satires and Spoofs
Sexual Liberation
Response to Peary’s Review:
Though he acknowledges Makavejev’s stylistic ingenuity in [...]
Posted on October 18th, 2006 by admin
Filed under: Response Reviews | No Comments »