Brief notes on recent random viewing choices; a mixed bag of horror, fantasy, action, genre revisionism, satire and political thrillers.
Brief comments, part one
Tag: Western
Robert M. Young’s The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982): Criterion Blu-ray review
Criterion’s Blu-ray release of Robert M. Young’s The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982) gives new life to a remarkable but too-little known film which takes on greater urgency in the current political climate in the U.S.
Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man (1995): Criterion Blu-ray review
Criterion’s new Blu-ray of Dead Man (1995) presents a luminous transfer of Jim Jarmusch’s masterpiece, a western which is also a poetic contemplation of the conflict between a material world and spiritual survival.
Recent viewing: March-April 2018
A round-up of recent reviewing across multiple genres – western, black comedy, musical, animation, road movie.
The early films of Sydney Pollack
In his early work, Sydney Pollack explored various genres from a distinctly literary perspective before becoming a maker of prestige, middlebrow Hollywood entertainments; excellent Blu-ray presentations of his best features – Castle Keep (1969), They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969) and Jeremiah Johnson – reveal a promise not entirely fulfilled in a long career.
Melodrama from Twilight Time
Some recent Twilight Time releases showcase the value of melodrama as social critique and character study.
Speed reviewing: 50 Capsule Comments
Very brief comments on several dozen disks viewed over the past few months.
Twilight Time goes West
Recent Twilight Time releases trace the western from the frontier myth to post-’60s cynicism, with a side trip to post-war racial tension in Los Angeles.
Late summer viewing: more short takes
An eclectic assortment of recent viewing, including an obscure short feature from England, a couple of westerns old and new, and a pair of Elmore Leonard adaptations.
Summer viewing: short takes
A round-up of recent viewing ranging from classic fantasy to low budget horror to rugged adventure and a western.
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