WELCOME BACK TO THE WALL, BASTARDS!
Kind of quiet week on The Wall. I really wanted to hit GIRLS AGAINST BOYS but I didn’t have a chance to jump on it. Almost down to the last person the word on that has been strong. The grindhouse radar is going crazy for that flick so hopefully it lives up to the buzz. Also not screened in time for the column was SANSHO THE BAILIFF from Criterion. Kind of ashamed to say I have never seen that film, but I didn’t want to put that on with a cluttered mind, hopefully I get to it this weekend. Anyway, let’s get ramblin’.
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— DG PICK OF THE WEEK–
I had never heard of director Leos Carax prior to this film but his passion for cinema is on full, brilliant display. This film is beautiful, moving, dangerous, mystifying, and full of a chaotic energy unlike anything I have ever seen. Consider me a new fan of Mr. Carax. One of the more hypnotic films I have seen recently.
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK…
Between BARTON FINK and FARGO came one of the more underrated films in the Coen Brothers cannon. THE HUDSUCKER PROXY is top to bottom flawless. Wrapped up in the kind of crazy that only these guys could bring and featuring perfect performances from Tim Robbins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and a gruff Paul Newman. Fucking classic.
Jess Franco was capable of making a good film… but this isn’t one of them. For every VAMPYROS LESBOS or THE AWFUL DR. ORLOF there is a shit-fest like this. I would advise you to skip this but for those Redemption collectors out there it may be hard to pass up. They did an okay job with it, but it’s lipstick on a pig. The 82 minute runtime feels like a 12 hour marathon of watching paint dry.
Easy to make the same argument here as I just did for OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES but I am a Jean Rollin apologist. However, I have a my limits and this film crosses the boundaries of watchable atrocities. Skip it.
We will have a full review of this coming up shortly but know this: JOSHUA TREE is a tough as hell joint full of Dolph Lundgren kicking all kinds of ass. This was directed by Vic Armstrong, known mostly as a stuntman whose credits include the first three Indiana Jones films (the only actor to appear in all three in addition to Harrison Ford). Armstrong showed real chops when it came to directing, it’s far from flawless but the guy knew how to film a fight.
ADDITIONAL TITLES OUT THIS WEEK NOT SCREENED
IN TIME FOR THE COLUMN…
That’s it for this week, Bastards. We’ll be back next week with: WESTWORLD (Blu), WRECK IT RALPH, RED DAWN (2012), SCHINDLER’S LIST (Blu) and more.
Until then…
HERE’S TO GOOD WATCHING THIS WEEK, SALUTE!
SEE YOU ON FORTY DEUCE,
G
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