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On his deathbed, billionaire O.M. Rivers (Howard Duff) is tricked into altering his will by a grasping Catholic priest (Jim Haynie). The dying man is persuaded to add a stipulation to his bequests: one of Rivers’ two offspring must produce an heir within a year of his death or his millions will go to the church. The catch is that Rivers’ son Sonny (Eric Idle) is gay and his daughter Bitsy (Andrea Martin) is a lesbian.Read More »
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With The Deep Blue Sea, Terence Davies selectively transforms a lesser-known Terence Rattigan play into a broody rumination on emotional freedom and frustrated desire. Davies abandons Rattigan’s linear narrative and compressed timeline in favor of a more free-form structure, one that underlines the ebb and flow of memory as it shuttles between past and present. At the same time, The Deep Blue Sea confirms Davies’s continued engagement with the period melodrama—in this case, the variety of “woman’s picture” exemplified by the doomed romanticism of David Lean’s Brief Encounter, a touchstone that The Deep Blue Sea on several occasions blatantly references. Set against the backdrop of post-WWII Britain, a dowdy period of rationing and reconstruction, The Deep Blue Sea hinges on the seemingly irresolvable predicament of its heroine, Hester Collyer (Rachel Weisz). Trapped within the confines of a passionless marriage to older, well-to-do Sir William (Simon Russell Beale), Hester vainly seeks satisfaction in an ardent affair with young, impulsive Freddie Page (Tom Hiddleston). Absorbed in memories of his carefree pre-war days, Freddie ultimately cannot return Hester’s affection, and their relationship soon degenerates into noisy rows and mutual recriminations.Read More »
One of those movies that reminds you of “Alien” and “The Thing” (not the original). The story is simple yet convincing and the special effects were good for its time. There is a little humor though not much. Most of the time it ranges from serious to dead serious. A group of underwater explorers uncover an old Russian submarine called appropriately enough “Leviathan” which translates from an ancient term meaning “sea monster” in the bible. They search the sub and find nothing of interest except a flask of vodka. However, one crew members becomes ill from drinking it and others join him. It appears that something has overtaken the unlucky Leviathan crew and they are next. It was all in all a clever film if not anti-climactic. Worth seeing surely.Read More »
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In this musical remake of The Shop Around the Corner, feuding co-workers in a small music shop do not realize they are secret romantic pen pals.Read More »
‘Menus-Plaisirs – Les Troisgros’, a film by Frederick Wiseman, showcases the Troisgros family restaurant, which has held 3 Michelin stars for 55 years over four generations. The film is about the artistry, ingenuity, and imagination that goes into creating and presenting meals of the highest quality. It follows Michel Troisgros, as he turns over responsibility of the restaurant to his son, César.Read More »
A father who received a dishonourable Army discharge hesitates to get involved with the formation of a youth group.Read More »
Axel Freed is a literature professor. He has the gambling vice. When he has lost all of his money, he borrows from his girlfriend, then his mother, and finally some bad guys that chase him. Despite all of this, he cannot stop gambling.Read More »
A fatally shot female gangleader recounts her sordid life of crime to a police officer just before she dies.Read More »
Directed by Michael Roemer, a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany, it tells the story of railway worker Duff and teacher Josie falling in love in segregated Alabama.Reputed to be Malcolm X’s favourite film, Nothing But a Man is a poignant exploration of the effects of racism on human relationships.Read More »