USA

  • Various – The 8th (2020)

    USA2011-2020DocumentaryVarious

    The 8th tells the story of Irish women and their fight to overturn one of the most restrictive laws on abortion in the world. After a 35-year struggle the pro-choice side have to radically shift tactics to try and bring this historically conservative electorate over the line.Read More »

  • Richard Peete & Robert Yapkowitz – In My Own Time: A Portrait of Karen Dalton (2020)

    USA2011-2020DocumentaryRichard PeeteRobert Yapkowitz

    Blues and folk singer Karen Dalton was a prominent figure in 1960s New York. Idolized by Bob Dylan and Nick Cave, Karen discarded the traditional trappings of success and led an unconventional life until her early death. Since most images of Karen have been lost or destroyed, the film uses Karen’s dulcet melodies and interviews with loved ones to build a rich portrait of this singular woman and her hauntingly beautiful voice.Read More »

  • Miguel Arteta – Chuck & Buck (2000)

    Miguel Arteta1991-2000ComedyDramaQueer Cinema(s)USA

    Quote:
    Buck is a man-child who has lived his existence in a life of Romper Room, kindergarten collages, and lollipops. When his mother dies suddenly, Buck remembers his old childhood friend Chuck, with whom he feels a need to reconnect after having invited him to his mother’s funeral. Buck treks out to Los Angeles where Chuck, an up-and-coming music record executive, is living his life. Buck ends up developing an obsession with Chuck and begins stalking him.Read More »

  • Ethan Hawke – Chelsea Walls (2001)

    Drama2001-2010Ethan HawkeUSA

    Quote:
    In New York’s storied Chelsea Hotel, a novelist, a dancer, a painter, a poet, an aged jazz singer, and a young troubadour sort out their personal and artistic lives within walls haunted by the likes of Dylan Thomas, O. Henry, and Sarah Bernhardt. A boozy novelist balances wife, mistress, and stories. A dancer who’s a waitress in the basement club chooses between a Hollywood jerk and a local painter. A youth from Minnesota who composes and sings may be the next Bob Dylan. A poet decides to give her feckless boyfriend another chance, even as her eyes tell us she knows what’s ahead. An old jazz artist wants to place a bet and share his love for Lady Day. These walls do seem to talk.Read More »

  • Alan Rudolph – Equinox (1992)

    1991-2000Alan RudolphArthouseCrimeUSA

    After a dip into the mainstream with Mortal Thoughts, the wildest card in American cinema is back on his own bizarre terrain. This modern urban fairytale is a beautifully ambivalent re-telling of The Prince and the Pauper. Modine is the separated-at-birth twins (both of them), one a hood whose dream life – moppet children, a cooing fashion-plate wife (Singer) – is coupled with violent megalomania, the other a cringing wimp who can’t bring himself to date his best friend’s anguished, poetry-reading sister (Boyle). The whole is held together with a plot about an aspiring writer (Ferrell) on the track of her first real-life drama, and by an atmospheric soundtrack (Terje Rydal, Ali Farka Toure) that accompanies the characters’ hypnotically crazed manoeuvres. M Emmet Walsh steals the show as a garage boss in a drolly choreographed homage to Jacques Demy. Delirious stuff.Read More »

  • Shirley Clarke – The Connection (1962)

    Drama1961-1970Shirley ClarkeUSA

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    Synopsis:
    THE CONNECTION is one of the most vital, fascinating films of the American independent world. Created by a woman director, Shirley Clarke, at a time when they were in very short supply, the film shattered stereotypes in just about every conceivable way. And yet, the film remained unseen for many years.Read More »

  • Jeff Kanew – Gotcha! (1985)

    1981-1990ActionComedyJeff KanewUSA

    Jonathan plays a game called Gotcha in which he hunts and is hunted by other students with paint guns. After a big win, he goes off for a vacation in France where he meets the sexy Sasha who says she is only interested in him because he is a virgin. She takes him with her to East Germany where they are separated and he has to escape back to the west on his own, all the while being trailed by East German spies. He arrives home only to find the game is still going on, and a canister of film is in his backpack. Then Sasha re-appears.Read More »

  • Joseph Pevney – Istanbul (1957)

    1951-1960AdventureDramaJoseph PevneyUSA

    Review Summary
    In this adventure, a remake of Singapore (1947), a hero finds a bracelet containing 13 precious gems while visiting Istanbul. He soon finds himself pursued by covetous crooks who want those jewels. He is then deported by the Turkish authorities, but not before he has time to hide the bracelet in a hotel. Five years later, the man returns to seek out the stones. Again he is pursued by both authorities and criminals. He must also contend with the reappearance of his wife whom he thought had burned to death on their wedding night. She lived but suffered amnesia. She then remarried. Nat “King” Cole sings “When I Fall in Love”. Read More »

  • Nathan Silver – Thirst Street (2017)

    Nathan Silver2011-2020ComedyDramaUSA

    Quote:
    Gina, an American flight attendant, falls in with a Parisian bartender on a layover only to find herself tangled in a web of deception, delusion and unrequited amour fou.Read More »

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