The Banality of Evil in Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest
The banality of evil winds its way around every scene. However, we do feel something. Tension, perhaps, mixed with boredom.
Read Moreby Patrick | Dec 7, 2023 | Best International Film, Drama, Film Reviews, Historic Events, My Favorites, New Releases, Thriller
The banality of evil winds its way around every scene. However, we do feel something. Tension, perhaps, mixed with boredom.
Read Moreby Patrick | Dec 3, 2023 | Best International Film, Drama, Genres, MUBI, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, TV / Streaming
With its labyrinthine structure, discursive storyline, and exploration of themes such as duality, reality, identity, and the nature of time, the movie is reminiscent of the great Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges
Read Moreby Patrick | Nov 18, 2023 | Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, Historic Events, My Favorites, Netflix, New Releases, Queer Film/TV, Queer Film/TV, Thriller, TV / Streaming
Unfortunately, the movie never takes off because of a cliche-ridden screenplay despite Domingo’s great performance.
Read Moreby Patrick | Nov 6, 2023 | Drama, Fantasy, Film Reviews, Genres, Historic Events, My Favorites, Mystery, New Releases, Queer Film/TV, Queer Film/TV, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller
The direction of Haigh in this film is exceptional, creating an enthralling atmosphere that visually amazes the audience.
Read MoreNathan Fielder and Benny Safdie’s brilliant “The Curse” brings out the masochist in me. Thanks to the genius of Emma Stone, it’s essential viewing
Read Moreby Patrick | May 6, 2023 | Drama, HBO Max, Historic Events, Mystery, Thriller, TV / Streaming
This is the superior version thanks to a spectacularly good Elizabeth Olsen as Montgomery, a housewife who has everything on the Baby Boom checklist.
Read Moreby Patrick | Nov 6, 2023 | Comedy, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, MUBI, My Favorites, Mystery, New Releases, Queer Film/TV, Romance, Thriller, TV / Streaming
Walker’s film follows three teenage girls on vacation in Greece. Mia McKenna-Bruce delivers a heartbreaking performance as Tara. One of the year’s best.
Read Moreby Patrick | Nov 1, 2023 | Comedy, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, Horror, Mystery, New Releases, Queer Film/TV, Queer Film/TV, Thriller
Fennell’s writing and directing are brilliantly inventive, with humor, tragedy, and horror mixing perfectly. She gets immense support from her cinematographer, Linus Sandgren, whose work here is truly breathtaking.
Read Moreby Patrick | Nov 8, 2023 | Comedy, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, Horror, Mystery, New Releases, Science Fiction, Thriller
There are too many scenes straight out of Bunuel’s famously scathing “The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie”. Gradually, you feel this movie has been stolen.
Read Moreby Patrick | Nov 10, 2023 | Action, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, Netflix, New Releases, Thriller, TV / Streaming
After a while, you look around for real assassins like Edward Fox or John Malkovich. Skip this one in the cinema. Just stream it on Netflix.
Read Moreby Patrick | Oct 23, 2023 | Action, Drama, Epic, Film Reviews, Gangster, Genres, Historic Events, Mystery, New Releases, Romance, Thriller, Western
Scorsese directs all of these multiple storylines with great flair. from the broad vistas to the most minute period detail in costume and production design.
Read Moreby Patrick | Oct 21, 2023 | Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, Mystery, New Releases, Thriller
The film boasts in German actress Sandra Huller’s prime suspect, one of the cinema’s great performances.
Read Moreby Patrick | Oct 26, 2023 | Action, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Best International Film, Criterion Collection, Drama, Epic, Film Reviews, Genres, Historic Events, Horror, Masterpieces, My Favorites, Queer Film/TV, Queer Film/TV, Road Movie, Thriller, TV / Streaming
Pálmason, his cinematographer (Maria von Hausswolff), and his composer (Alex Zhang Hungtai), bring back colonial memories of such movies as “Black Robe”.
Read Moreby Patrick | Jul 21, 2023 | Drama, Film Reviews, Historic Events, New Releases, Thriller
In the midst of all this history and all of this chaos, Cillian Murphy gives one of the most intimate and internalized performances on film.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 19, 2023 | Comedy, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, MUBI, Mystery, New Releases, Queer Film/TV, Thriller, TV / Streaming
Now, after ten years in the (relative) wilderness, Saavedra and Silva (and Silva’s co-screenwriter Peirano) have returned with a delicious slice of meta.
Read Moreby Patrick | Aug 1, 2023 | Documentary, Documentary, Genres, HBO Max, Historic Events, Horror, Mystery, Queer Film/TV, Thriller, TV / Streaming
Caronna gives these five men back their dignity, something they were stripped of when they became victims of a horrific crime.
Read Moreby Patrick | Jan 9, 2022 | Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Archival Posts, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, Historic Events, Mystery, Queer Film/TV, Thriller
Now, ” Live Flesh” has dropped to the number two position. “Parallel Mothers” is the new movie at the top of my treasured Almodóvar catalog.
Read Moreby Patrick | Jul 28, 2022 | Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Archival Posts, Horror, Masterpieces, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
Guys with erect penises walking downward into a transparent ooze, confused, as Scarlett walks on another level above them.
Read Moreby Patrick | Jul 27, 2022 | Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Archival Posts, Drama, Film Reviews, Horror, Masterpieces, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
It boasts a tremendous performance by Michael Shannon as a quiet man, raising a family, who has horrific nightmares and daytime visions of a meteorological disturbance followed by a feeling that we (the Earth) are being visited by something alien.
Read Moreby Patrick | Aug 23, 2022 | Action, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Archival Posts, Drama, Film Reviews, Gangster, Genres, Thriller, TV / Streaming
Plaza’s performance is something to behold. All of that nervous energy is now bursting out in a performance that is always true and believable.
Read Moreby Patrick | Aug 21, 2022 | Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Archival Posts, Comedy, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, Horror, Mystery, Queer Film/TV, Thriller, TV / Streaming
Beautifully Queer friendly, the relationship between Bee (Maria Bakalova) and Sophiie (Amanda Stenberg) is the emotional center of the movie.
Read Moreby Patrick | Jan 3, 2023 | Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Archival Posts, Comedy, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, HBO Max, Horror, Hulu, Thriller, TV / Streaming
There is a fantastic faceoff between Fiennes and a mysterious guest who was not invited. She is played by the extraordinary Anna Taylor-Joy
Read Moreby Patrick | Jan 3, 2023 | Action, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Archival Posts, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, Thriller, TV / Streaming
But the movie belongs to Newton who gives the best performance of her career here. We are completely in her spell.
Read Moreby Patrick | Nov 4, 2022 | Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Archival Posts, Film Reviews, Genres, Horror, Thriller, TV / Streaming
A marvelous performance by Maika Monroe, who shares with her namesake a beauty and star quality that gives any movie in which she appears a touch of class.
Read Moreby Patrick | May 14, 2023 | Apple TV+, Archival Posts, Comedy, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller, TV / Streaming
If you can take moments of extreme gore and disfigurement – it succeeds more as a horror movie than as a piece of social satire – you could do worse.
Read Moreby Patrick | Oct 8, 2022 | Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Archival Posts, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, Queer Film/TV, Thriller, TV / Streaming
However, no one seems to have stopped and thought about the age difference between these two maestros. By my calculations, Lenny would have been teaching Lydia when she was five years old!
Read Moreby Patrick | Apr 27, 2023 | 70s | 80s | 90s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Comedy, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, My Favorites, Mystery, Queer Film/TV, Queer Film/TV, Romance, Thriller, TV / Streaming
Excellent work by Robert Stephens (his best screen performance) and Colin Blakely (Dr. Watson). Geneviève Page gives a gorgeous melancholy performance.
Read Moreby Patrick | Jun 27, 2023 | 70s | 80s | 90s, Action, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, BFI Classics, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, Historic Events, Queer Film/TV, Thriller, TV / Streaming
Another example of a gay character whose sole purpose in the movie is to be killed. Still, Zinnemmann and Rodgers treat his character with a modicum of respect.
Read Moreby Patrick | May 22, 2023 | 70s | 80s | 90s, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Film Reviews, Genres, Historic Events, Mystery, Thriller
Polanski captured the FEEL of LA better than anyone before or sense. Jack Nicholson gives his greatest performance as private dick J. J. ” Jake” Gittes.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 10, 2022 | 70s | 80s | 90s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Drama, Gangster, Historic Events, Queer Film/TV, Thriller
Pacino is magnificent. With Michael Corleone in The Godfather movies, “Dog Day Afternoon” is his defining role.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 10, 2022 | 70s | 80s | 90s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Drama, Horror, Pauline Kael, Queer Film/TV, Thriller
Brian De Palma’s masterpiece and one of the GREAT HORROR MOVIES with tremendous performances from Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie. The unforgettable score is by Pino Donaggio.
Read Moreby Patrick | Aug 11, 2022 | 70s | 80s | 90s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Drama, Genres, Masterpieces, My Favorites, Mystery, Queer Film/TV, Thriller
“Ripley”, Minghella’s masterpiece, boasts Matt Damon’s best performance plus stunning turns by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jude Law.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 1, 2022 | 50s | 60s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Film Reviews, Genres, Hitchcock, My Favorites, Queer Film/TV, Thriller, TV / Streaming, YouTube
Hitchcock reverses himself here, having gay actor Farley Granger play the straight character and straight actor Robert Walker play the gay character.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 15, 2022 | 50s | 60s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Mystery, Thriller, TV / Streaming
The buildup to Monroe’s superstardom started here. The magnificent widescreen technicolor cinematography if by Joseph MacDonald.
Read Moreby Patrick | Oct 6, 2022 | 50s | 60s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Film Reviews, Genres, Hitchcock, My Favorites, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, TV / Streaming, YouTube
Stewart, Kelly, and Ritter are all magnificent. Kelly, looking radiant, gets to deliver one of the big screen’s all-time sexy lines.
Read MoreNancy Kelly is ON 100% of the time straddling the twin minefields of camp and drama yet managing to accomplish both simultaneously.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 11, 2022 | 50s | 60s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Gangster, Genres, My Favorites, Queer Film/TV, Thriller
Yes, that is Mercedes McCambridge as the unnamed lesbian gang leader getting her kicks while watching Janet Leigh getting roughed up in Welles’ other masterwork.
Read Moreby Patrick | Oct 6, 2022 | 50s | 60s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Film Reviews, Genres, Hitchcock, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, TV / Streaming, YouTube
Anchored by an incredible performance by James Stewart as Scotty Ferguson a private detective and ex-cop who suffers from vertigo (fear of heights) after a coworker fell to his death, and Kim Novak is spectacular in the dual role of Judy/Madeleine.
Read Moreby Patrick | Oct 6, 2022 | 50s | 60s, Action, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Film Reviews, Gangster, Genres, Hitchcock, My Favorites, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, TV / Streaming, YouTube
Eva Marie Saint gives Grace Kelly in “Rear Window” a run for her money as Hitchcock’s most elegant leading lady and the chemistry between the two leads is more palpable than in any Hollywood picture before or since.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 11, 2022 | 50s | 60s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Film Reviews, Genres, Hitchcock, Horror, My Favorites, Mystery, Queer Film/TV, Road Movie, Thriller, TV / Streaming, YouTube
Anthony Perkins’ Norman Bates made him immortal while, at the same, time, ending his career in Hollywood. A masterpiece.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 11, 2022 | 50s | 60s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Drama, Queer Film/TV, Thriller
Preminger always liked to be cutting edge and he was with “Advise and Consent” a beautifully written, acted and directed movie.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 11, 2022 | 50s | 60s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, BFI Classics, Cinematographers, Drama, Film Reviews, Genres, My Favorites, Queer Film/TV, Thriller, TV / Streaming
A savage indictment of the waning British class system, it’s one of the most chilling films ever made. Winner of Best Screenplay of 1964 from the NYFCC.
Read Moreby Patrick | Aug 31, 2022 | 50s | 60s, Drama, Film Reviews, Masterpieces, Thriller
“The Best Man” boasts three outstanding performances: Henry Fonda, Cliff Robertson and pre-code star Lee Tracy who returns to the screen.
Read Moreby Patrick | Aug 31, 2022 | 50s | 60s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Drama, Film Reviews, Masterpieces, Thriller, TV / Streaming
A peak entry in the American political thriller genre, the film boasts four of the greatest performances of the sixties.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 12, 2022 | 50s | 60s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Drama, Queer Film/TV, Thriller
“Dorian”, Gill’s hairdresser persona is, of course, gay with a classic sibilant-rich delivery. In the movie’s best scene, just as he is caressing the neck of his intended victim Miss Belle Poppie…
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 12, 2022 | 50s | 60s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Drama, Mystery, Queer Film/TV, Thriller
However, the awful script by Abby Mann – “Judgement at Nuremberg” – and the mediocre direction by Gordon Douglas put the kibosh on everything.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 1, 2022 | 30s | 40s, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Film Reviews, Genres, Hitchcock, My Favorites, Mystery, Queer Film/TV, Thriller, TV / Streaming, YouTube
“Rebecca”, marked the arrival in Hollywood of the man who was, or would eventually become, the greatest director in the history of cinema.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 1, 2022 | 30s | 40s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Film Reviews, Gangster, Mystery, Queer Film/TV, Thriller
The performances are there to savor with the great Mary Astor doing a superb turn as Bridget O’ Shaughnessy and the gay triumvirate bringing up the rear!
Read Moreby Patrick | Oct 5, 2022 | 30s | 40s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Hitchcock, Mystery, Thriller, TV / Streaming, YouTube
Alfred Hitchcock, the cinema’s greatest director, made seven perfect films in which every shot, every camera move, every editing sequence is, well, perfect.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 1, 2022 | 30s | 40s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Film Reviews, Genres, Queer Film/TV, Romance, Thriller
“Double Indemnity” is the best of the three great film noirs of 1944, the others being “Laura” and “The Woman in the Window”. The three leads are superb as is Wilder’s direction.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 1, 2022 | 30s | 40s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Mystery, Queer Film/TV, Romance, Thriller
“Laura” is one of the classic film noirs. Gene Tierney is born and Clifton Webb becomes a star in his fifties. Haunting Raksin score.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 1, 2022 | 30s | 40s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Drama, Mystery, Queer Film/TV, Thriller
Albert Lewin directed his masterpiece, a superb adaptation of Oscar Wild’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” with a beautiful Hurd Hatfield.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 1, 2022 | 30s | 40s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Gangster, Mystery, Queer Film/TV, Thriller
Feast your eyes on Vidor’s stylish direction, Rudolph Mate lush black-and-white cinematography the Jean Louis gowns and, of course, Rita Hayworth as Gilda.
Read Moreby Patrick | Oct 6, 2022 | 30s | 40s, Apple TV+, Classic Film Noir, Drama, Film Noir, Hitchcock, My Favorites, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, TV / Streaming, YouTube
The term “MacGuffin” originated by Angus MacPhail for film, adopted by Alfred Hitchcock, and later extended to a similar device in other fiction. The MacGuffin here is the Uranium in the cellar.
Read Moreby Patrick | Sep 1, 2022 | 30s | 40s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Drama, Film Noir, Film Reviews, Genres, Historic Events, Hitchcock, My Favorites, Queer Film/TV, Thriller, TV / Streaming, YouTube
The story, which is based on the Leopold and Loeb case is irresistible. Granger and Dall are perfection and Jimmy Stewart is also amazing.
Read Moreby Patrick | Jan 23, 2022 | 30s | 40s, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Comedy, Drama, Film Reviews, Masterpieces, My Favorites, Queer Film/TV, Thriller
In “Kind Hearts and Coronets”: Alec Guinness has fun playing all eight (or nine) of the unfortunate D’Ascoynes, including Lady Agatha D’Ascoyne. The photograph shows Dennis Price with Joan Greenwood who plays that little minx Sibella.
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