Jennifer's Body (2009) ***

Highly enjoyable, with wit to spare and a couple of terrific leads.

Divine Intervention (2002) **

Episodic look at life under occupation and its effects is a mixture of comedy, satire and fantasy, not all successful but heartfelt and sad. Well made.

Fever Dream (2021) *

Another film apparently uninterested in looking like a film and content to be flatly photographed with lots of closeups. Some psycho-thriller aspirations but so dull to look at.

Little Murders (1971) ***

Satire is very difficult to pull off in movies but this one is so well made, well written and audacious it succeeds (mostly). One of the blackest comedies ever put on film, it admirably pushes through on its premise and pulls no punches at the finale. Nicely shot by the great Mr. Willis.

Man on a Swing (1974) **

Risky move to film a police procedural of an unsolved case ends up being unsatisfying but there's much to admire from the emphasis on realism to the offbeat casting to the groovy early '70's vibe.

The Many Saints of Newark (2021) ***

Plays like an extended episode of the series, which is a very good thing. Vera Farmiga is terrific and almost unrecognizable. Well made and enjoyable.

After Life (1998) ****

If you could choose your last memory what would it be? A touching, human film.

Schrader on 'Master Gardener,' With Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver - Variety

Schrader commented that “audiovisual entertainment is just fine.” He added, “We have more than we ever had, more than we could ever absorb.” However, theatrical revenue will continue to decline, he claimed. “I am happy to end my career riding that broken-down horse into the sunset. But I have no illusions about the nature of that horse,” he said, also opening up about his struggles. “The biggest mistake you can make is casting. If you miscast a movie, there is nothing you can do. You are just fucked. The other one is getting involved with people who don’t respect you. That has gotten worse because there is more and more money coming from people who don’t like or even watch movies. Every director, male or female, is an alpha creature, so part of you says: ‘Give me a chair, a whip, I will go into that cage full of lions.’ Well. Sometimes, the lions win.”

The Spanish Prisoner (1997) ****

It's thrilling when from the opening sequence you know you are in the hands of a director in total control. Mamet is firing on all cylinders in this signature style con game flick.

Barcelona (1994) ****

Whit Stillman is like Wes Anderson without the baroque art direction. As Martha would say "That's A Good Thing".

The Europeans (1979) **

Another well made Merchant-Ivory flick but it fails to engage. Lovely to look at.

Crooked House (2017) *

Annoyingly photographed like a modern police procedural (dimly AND overly backlit), tries to make this simple Christie tale seem more complex than necessary.

Eye of the Devil (1966) *

Seriously un-thrilling thriller wastes a superstar cast and fine b/w cinematography.

Heat and Dust (1983) **

Well made late British Raj flick is too long and doesn't succeed in expressing the character nuances necessary to make the tale relevant. Still, nice to look at.

The Power (1968) **

Goofy sci-fi "thriller" has lots of movie-logic moments and interesting shots of late 60's SoCal. Good cast and well made on a shoestring.

I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007) ***

Delightful blend of rom-com and movie/tv insider satire is sharply written, deftly directed and the cast is terrific. Killer soundtrack too.

Quartet (1981) **

Well produced period piece is nice to look at but confusingly underwritten and directed.

Intermezzo (1939) **

Ms. Bergman is luminous in this well shot soaper, better than the original even with the burden of Leslie.

The End of the Affair (1955) **

The lovely Ms. Kerr was never lovelier, Pete Cushing is fine in support, but the dud Van Johnson sticks out like a sore thumb. He's not a bad actor, it's just when he's on screen you keep wondering "Why is he a romantic lead again?"

After Hours (1985) ***

Stellar cast and tight, inventive direction enliven this comic urban nightmare.