A few reviews

[Zaharoff]

Last Exorcism - 2010 - 5/10



Rural Southern horror, better than anticipated.
Small time exorcist tries to release possessed girl, living among her disturbed family.
Atmospheric score. Welcome misdirection here and there.
Creative use of miniscule budget and limited sets.
Dark, moody flick, reminding me of rotten growth in the dank corner of the swamp.

[Zaharoff]

Copie Conforme - 2010 - 7/10
AKA - Certified Copy



Confusing, talky French movie set in Tuscany.
A couple meet at a book lecture, then go on a small road trip.
Inside a coffee shop, all points of reference shift.
Dense film, packed with mysteries and revelations.
Questions whether a copy is equal to an original, or superior, are debated.
Deliberately composed to be misleading - for example - does the couple know each other?
Is a sham relationship better than a failing one?
In French, English and Italian.
Juliette Binoche stars. Gorgeous scenery.

[Zaharoff]

Beware Of Mr Baker - 2010 - 7/10



Biography of Ginger Baker, devil of the drums.
Interviews with Bruce & Clapton from Cream, Winwood from Blind Faith, and lots of modern era drummers, who were influenced by him.
Tons of clips as well as animated sequences.
Baker was a troubled child and a reckless force of nature. Three of his four wives speak on camera (though wife #4 seems less than comfortable).
Drug addictions, zero financial sense, and rootless ways keep him skirting near the edge of poverty.
What saves him is his drum kit. At any age, he can still pound harder, and with more soul and understanding than almost any.
Even in his 70's, Baker is a right piece of work, opening the film by giving his interviewer a bloody nose by smacking him with his cane.
Great moment. Do not go gentle into that good night.

[Zaharoff]

Toten Augen von London - 1961 - 6/10
AKA - The Dead Eyes Of London

Atmospheric mystery / creeper with a dark Noir look.
Scotland Yard has its hands full as a serial killer targets elderly rich men.
The main suspect is one “Blind Jack,” a massive bear of a man with a satisfied smile.



And yes, Jack is blind! The film, by the way, is a German production as is the language.
The story plods occasionally, and there are budget constraints, but this is a good krimi film.
Police procedural. The inspector works through blackmailers, prostitutes, crooks, liars, killers.
A lot of inventive camera work and visual surprises maintain interest throughout.
Watch for young Kinski as shady operator.

[Zaharoff]

La Cérémonie - 1995 - 7/10



Disturbing psychological thriller based on Ruth Rendell novel.
Distracted wife interviews maid applicant, explains duties, gives a tour of the house.
Does or does not run background check.
The maid, it is revealed, has one glaring shortcoming, which gnaws at her more than anything.
Maid falls under the influence of busybody mail clerk,
and the two females bond over resentments, secrets, worries, and grudges.
Tension is tightened throughout until the last reel.
One of Claude Chabrol’s more accessible films.
Huppert and Bonnaire pitch perfect as amoral pair.

[Zaharoff]

The Town That Loves Books - Arts At Hay - 2014 - 6/10



Documentary on the biggest book fair in Britain, in small Hay-on-Wye.
Dealers, publishers, authors, celebrities, fan-fiction, fans, rain rain rain.
Doc is hopeful one frame, worrisome the next.
On one hand it is reassuring to see people buying and taking an interest in books.
On the other, publishing houses are dwindling, and it is harder for new writers, save celebrity authors.
Thanks to self publishing, anyone can be an author! Though no one may buy your book.
I watched this with avid book types - they were in a happy place.

[Zaharoff]

MOZU S01: Cries Of The Night - 2014 - 7/10
AKA - Mozu no Sakebu Yoru // 百舌の叫ぶ夜



Furious J-drama, steeped in Noir. Endless cigarettes, rain soaked nights, mysteries, terrific villains.
You prefer comedy, romance, superheroes, or teens, this ain’t it.
MOZU translates as shrike, as in the bird that impales its victims on spikes or barbs.
In this case, the hitman and his trusty icepick.
While police investigate a terrorist bombing, they trespass into another agency’s pursuit of a corporate assassin.
Conspiracies surface, business and political treachery vie with flawed enforcement.
Twists abound, and several characters step deeper into doomed territory.
Scant light in MOZU. Good choice if you are the black-hearted type.
γνῶθι σεαυτόν

A note about subs -

The most readily available subs are .ass files which some units cannot decipher.
I converted to .srt, removed overlapping titles which would not display, overhauled the syntax and grammar, Westernized the dialogue, and streamlined the length.
From “I intend to definitely be helping you,” to “I will help you.”
My .srt is on addic7ed = Download MOZU subtitles in English and other languages - Addic7ed.com
Credit Miharu-Rush for original subtitles, and permission to convert.

[Zaharoff]

MOZU S02 - Wings Of Phantasia - 2014 - 7/10
AKA -Maboroshi no Tsubasa // 幻の翼



After the sheer carnage that was MOZU S01, one might assume few characters survived for a second season.
This launched weeks after the first ended, so S02 was always in the cards.
The three leads returned and picked up unresolved stories and loose ends.
More talky than S01, a pace below the pedal-to-the-metal action of that season.
Nevertheless, investigators probe deeper into conspiracy and family skeletons.
Absent family members are followed, as well as the truth of the dungeon of Omelas.
As with the first season, the sound design is outstanding. From dark ambient to musique concrète.
Also, lest Shrike fans lost heart, the icepick abides.

A note about subs

As with S01, the most readily available subs are .ass files which some units cannot decipher.
As before, I converted this series to .srt, removed overlapping titles which would not display, overhauled the syntax and grammar, Westernized the dialogue, and streamlined the length.
My .srt is on addic7ed = Download MOZU subtitles in English and other languages - Addic7ed.com
Credit Miharu-Rush for original subtitles, and permission to convert.

[Kevin]

Quote Originally Posted by Zaharoff

Beware Of Mr Baker - 2010 - 7/10 Biography of Ginger Baker, devil of the drums. Interviews with Bruce & Clapton from Cream, Winwood from Blind Faith, and lots of modern era drummers, who were influenced by him. Tons of clips as well as animated sequences. Baker was a troubled child and a reckless force of nature. Three of his four wives speak on camera (though wife #4 seems less than comfortable). Drug addictions, zero financial sense, and rootless ways keep him skirting near the edge of poverty. What saves him is his drum kit. At any age, he can still pound harder, and with more soul and understanding than almost any. Even in his 70s, Baker is a right piece of work, opening the film by giving his interviewer a bloody nose by smacking him with his cane. Great moment. Do not go gentle into that good night.

He lived just south of me when I was in Colorado. We frequented the same record store. He had a bad rep with the record store owner. Like you say, the drums saved him. If it wasn't for that, he would have died anonymously in an alley after pissing off the wrong guy.

[Zaharoff]

A Hard Days Night - 1964 - 9/10



Classic film capturing the Beatles during their meteoric, giddying ascent.
Funny, witty, irreverent, featuring fab songs, gear clothes, posh clubs ...
The lads would continue to grow in fame and importance, but there is something especially exciting about this period, when they were streaking to heights unknown.
So many of my young friends and colleagues assumed the Fab Four were Sgt Pepper or The White Album.
No so. The early period was essential, and terrific fun.
The final 12 minutes or so, the concert, Richard Lester somehow, brilliantly, capture lightning in a bottle.
Sheer exuberance, and a tonic.