Lemon (2017)

 'Lemon' is a very indie sort of movie which stars Brett Gelman, who co wrote the film with his then wife Janicza Bravo, who also directs. Filled with a largish cast of mostly recognizable faces, the story concerns aggressively awkward Los Angeles acting coach Issac Lachmann as he procedes to alienate almost everyone in his life just by being his miserable self. Lachmann is a lemon of a human being, he just dosen't work right, his ability to navigate basic social interactions is decidedly below average. He's an intentionally unappealing character, if the movie where just him alone it would be intolerable, it's the supporting characters and his interactions with them that make the movie watchable. I really liked the camera work, set design, music and the satirical digs at aspiring LA thespian's. Michael Cera gives the films standout supporting performance as Issac's favorite students. A rousing extended family rendition of 'A Million Matzaballs' was an unexpected high point. **1/2

Heretic (2024)

 'Heretic' is a horror/thriller in which Hugh Grant tricks a couple of LDS sister missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe Grace) into his Colordo mountainside home and proceeds to play faith challenging mind games with them. The film did a good job of throwing me off base, the perspective from which Grant's character seems to approach maters of faith shifts throughout the course of the story, all a part of his mind games. The film asks the audiance to grapel with questions of faith and knowing, a sort of introductory lecture in epistemology, melding existential horror with conventional horror. A lot of picking around the edges can easily be done here, but I thought the movie pretty effective in what it sets out to do. ***

Escape from Germany (2024)

 'Escape from Germany' tells the true story of the evacuation of 85 LDS missionaries and the mission president and family, from Germany at the breakout of the Second World War. The action is principally divided between two narratives: The escape of the family and staff at the mission office, who escape in part by hijacking a train 'Von Ryan's Express' style, this appears to be exaggerated as I can't find any colaberation for this story online. The other narrative appears to be a pretty accurate account of the escape of the missionaries in the field, led by Elder Norman Sebold (Paul Wurthrich, who looks something like Nicholas Holt). Of the many T.C. Christensen directed films telling a story from LDS history this is the one set closest to the present day and wrings alot of extra production value from some location shooting in Bucharest. 'Escape from Germany' has the distinction of being the feature film with the longest 'what happened next' wrap up texts at the end of the film. ***

Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996)

 It has been said that all prolific horror franchises eventually end up in space, Leprechaun did it in 4. Plot concerns a space princess, mad scientist and a group of space marines, the latter element felt like a play on Starship Troopers only that didn't come out until the following year. More comedy then horror, like the franchise genrally, no one here seems to bat an eye at finding a leprechaun in space. The only actor other then Wawick Davis that I recognized in the cast was Jessica Collins, she ends the film as one of four surviving characters, which in a break from tradition includes the black guy. **1/2

The Order (2024)

 'The Order' tells the true story of a more violent offshoot of The Aryan Nations, and the 1983-1984 FBI investigation that put an end to the group and its terrorists activities. It reminded me of a high end version of those 'In The Line of Dutey' true crime TV films they made in the 90's. Solid performances from Jude Law as the main FBI investigator and Nicholas Holt as leader of The Order. Filmed in Canada but set in Colorado, Idaho and Washington. ***

The Worlds Greatest Sinner (1962)

 The odd and moderetly successful character actor Timothy Carey, wrote, directed, produced and stared in this film about a suburban insurance agent who becomes a rock musician, a cult leader and a third party presidental candidate. Low of budget, unconventional in subject matter and presentation, it seems to anticipate in the relatively mild mannered Kennedy era, the societal freak out that would come later in 1960's. This is a counter culture film that bridges the eras of beatnicks and hippies. With a musical score by a young Frank Zappa and narration from prolific voice actor Paul Frees. Martin Scorsese is said to be a big fan of this film. **1/2

Christmas Evil (1980)

 'Christmas Evil' is a Santa slasher film, there are a few of those. Traumatized as a child by seeing his mother make it with his father in a Santa suit, a grown up Harry goes to work at a toy factory. He comes unhinged, obsessed with keeping lists of the naughty and nice from among his neighbors and co-workers. On Christmas eve he goes out dressed as Santa and does some real good, but also kills some people. Kinda slow, but I enjoyed how weird that last act was. John Waters is reported to be a big fan of this film, which makes sense. **

Leprechaun 3 (1995)

 A college freshman and a magicans stage assistant fight the leprechaun in Las Vegas. This movie appears to have the biggest budget yet, there are some decent effects and I believe this is the first film in the series in which wishs are actually granted. Also we learn that if you are bit by a leprechaun you become one, who knew? *1/2

The Ploughman's Lunch (1983)

 Original screenplay by Novalist Ian McEwan. Set against the backdrop of the Falklands War, 36 year old writer Johnathan Pryce sets his sights on 27 year old Charlie Dore, only to end up in a relationship with her 56 year old mother Rosemary Harris. Very McEwan, but the story is more novelia then motion picture. Dry, not much in the way of visuals. I did enjoy Tim Currey as Price's best friend. **

Hot Blood (1956)

 I read a biography of the director Nicholas Ray a few years back, fascinating man, I'd like to see all his movies. However, some are rather hard to come by, especially from his European period; complicated copyright situations. 'Hot Blood' is not one of those, it's very much a studio film, too much so. Ray envisioned location shooting to add authenticity to his semi musical tale of contemporary gypsies. 'Hot Blood' is all studio sets and backlots.

Luther Adler is Marco Torino, a 'Gypsy King' in what I suspect is suppose to be contemporary Los Angeles, or maybe New York. As a King Marco is a kind of semi official leader of local Gypsies, part Bishop part community organizer. Kind of like a ward boss. He helps his people with jobs, intercedes on their behalf with local authorities and welcomes new commers. Marco hasn't told anyone but he has recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness and wants to see his responsibility sherking younger brother Stephano (Cornel Wilde, who I'm pretty close to neutral on as an actor, though he sure was in alot of things) married and ready to take over as the new Gypsy King.

As part of this agenda Stephano is tricked into marrying Annie (Jane Russell, more sex symbol then actress this is probably one of her better performances), a transplant from Chicago who Marco has "purchased" from her father to be his brothers bride. Principly the movie is 85 minutes of dancing, misunderstandings, scheming and deception; because its a non PC Gypsy movie. It ends figuratively if not in fact with a wedding and all is set right again, so sort of Shakespeareian, or a middling contemporary imitation there of. There's nice dancing, the color really pops, Adler has a rather charming screen presence, the two romantic leads hover either side of being adequate. I think this would make a good background movie, it looks nice but dosen't demand alot of sustained attention. **

Safe (1995)

 Five years before Julianne Moore played a 1950's Connecticut housewife in crisis in Todd Haynes 'Far From Heaven', she played a 1980's California housewife in crises in Todd Haynes 'Safe'.  A trophy wife, beautiful, but a woman of seemingly little personality and no great passions. She's a nice, pleasant lady, not dumb but not particularly smart. She lives something of an auto pilot life, errands, aerobics, decorating the mini mansion where she lives with her husband (Xandier Berkley) and 10 year old step son.

It begins slowly but Carol starts having reactions to things, hair sprays, cosmetics, exhausts, bug sprays. The doctors can't find anything physically wrong with her, there is skepticism from family and friends, but she starts having incidents of shortness of breath, then a seizure in a public place, there's a hospital stay but they can't figure out what's wrong. Carol encounters a bulletin at her health club about "environmental illness". She goes to the meeting, is sold that this is what she has and sets about looking for treatment. She finds a treatment center in New Mexico, perhaps it holds the answers and perhaps it does not. I hesitate to say more.

'Safe' is the kind of movie that asks for a half hour post film discussion to unpack it. There's a lot here, but it's presented with a kind of striking blandness, both surreal and hyper real. There is a commitment to ambiguity here that I really admire. 'Safe' dosen't play it safe, and is unsettling because of this. Existential horror in dramatic disguise. ***1/2