Movies Watched -- The Iceman (2013)

105 minute running time so they could have shaved five minutes off. Mob movie (you know, Ray Liotta, Robert Davi) about a Polish-American hit man in the 1960s/70s/80s played by 6’ 3” Michael Shannon, who always does a good psychopath. Nona Horowitz plays his wife and I’ve always loved her. It’s a well made movie, good production values, but it’s depressing … deeply depressing, nothing glamorous about it, no humor to leaven the violence. For some reason I hesitate to give it a green rating, but it’s a solid yellow (consider) for sure.

Rex liked it, but bungles some of the details (forex not stock market, Schwimmer the courier killer) as usual.

Doesn’t kill women or children

Movies Watched -- D.O.A. (1950)

83 minute running time so the perfect length, but this was a convoluted story, and ultimately dumb. I guess it’s “classic noir,” but I wasn’t thrilled. Best part was seeing the old Bradbury building. Give it a miss.

A correct review.

Luminous poisoning

Baby's Born to Run

Love the sound … Pacific Northwest hipster central (casting). Major bonus points for the clarinetist.

http://KEXP.ORG presents Mega Bog performing "Diary Of Fight (It Was Long, Long, Long)" live in the KEXP studio. Recorded August 19, 2015. Host: DJ Sharlese Audio Engineer: Kevin Suggs Cameras: Jim Beckmann, Scott Holpainen & Justin Wilmore Editor: Justin Wilmore http://kexp.org

Movies Watched -- Player 5150 (2008)

91 minute running time, so the perfect length, but this was a badly made, low-budget movie … dumb story, bad acting, so-so production values. Supposedly about a day trader with a gambling addiction (something I’m familiar with), but the guy was a stockbroker or “investment advisor" as they’re now called, not a day trader. And he was a sports bettor, something I know nothing about. Bad movie, waste of time, only stick with the best.

Trying to get back to even

Movies Watched -- Seconds (1966)

107 minute running time so could have trimmed seven minutes, but this one was a mind-bender, a real thrill ride, I enjoyed it. Boring banker “re-born” as Rock Hudson, groovy Malibu artist, not a bad start. Mid-60s so heavy dose of anti-materialism, anti-conformity, anti-authority … the trouble with squares. Guy who made Mad Men definitely a fan of this movie. I don’t know why I haven’t heard of it before, it must be a well-known classic. Recommended.

We get along.

Movies Watched -- Island of Lost Souls (1933)

71 minute running time, so the perfect length for a 1930s movie. Really interesting one … I enjoyed it and can recommend it. Victorian anti-vivisectionists … Darwin, and good old attempted rape.

Still.

Movies Watched -- In A Lonely Place (1950)

93 minute running time so the perfect length. Yet another weird Nicholas Ray movie, sort of a send-up of Hollywood movie culture, I guess … Gloria Grahame (below) was married to Ray at the time. Like most of Ray’s other movies, this one is hard to characterize … it’s not film noir, and not a conventional drama. Strange guy making strange pictures. Yellow rating.

I like his face.

Movies Watched -- Children of Men (2006)

109 minute running time so about 10 minutes too long … vision of a post-pandemic world … stars Clive Owen and his cleft chin … no new births for 18 years, life on earth slowly dying out. Clive and his chin have to get pregnant girl to safety on some ship at sea … it wasn’t terrible, very violent though leavened by humor … it might even get a vaunted green rating once I review all the movies from 2006. Tentatively a yellow rating.

I’m scared.

Movies Watched -- The Deep End (2001)

99 minute running time so the perfect length, but this was a dumb movie…. Trying to get her gay son out of trouble, but just digging the hole deeper … it turns out the Eastern European gangster has a heart of gold… Tilda Swinton always comes across as a weirdo, her facial expressions are always a little off (which made her so good in Michael Clayton) … sex-tape blackmail, how quaint. This movie is nearly 20 years old! Name-checks Wesleyan and even gets the town right on the kid’s mailer … but he can’t play trumpet. The movie is no good, you can give it a miss.

I want you to stay away from my son.

Movies Watched -- Joe (2014)

117 minute running time so they could have trimmed 17 minutes off, but I liked this one … really good. A lot of people think Nic Coppola is a terrible actor, but it isn’t true, in the right role he can be near perfect. Rural Texas white trash tale, but well done … I don’t know why I didn’t hear about this one before now. Green rating, recommended.

Made by the same guy who did “George Washington,” which I wasn’t thrilled with. The misery and poverty and hopelessness works in “Joe” because it’s ultimately a story about redemption (and a boy’s courage), which wasn’t the case with “George Washington.”

Resigned to his fate…. “Your family's all you got.“