Last Embrace (1979) ***

Early Jon Demme hommage to Hitch has enough quirks and surprises to survive the narrative flaws. Strong work from Roy Scheider and the criminally underused (and sadly gone too soon) Janet Margolin.

The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) **

Interesting doomsday flick is played straight to its benefit. Ed Judd looks (and acts) like a poor man's Dick Burton, and the lovely Janet Munro lends much needed charm.

The Reckless Moment (1949) **

Fairly successful noir thriller as the protagonist chain smokes her way through a gauntlet of problems. The great James Mason takes the fall.

Destination Moon (1950) **

Trying to be the 2001 of 1950, this earnest space procedural is light on actual physics but was influential in many respects. Well produced by the great George Pal.

Our Man in Havana (1959) **

It's a top of the line production and its pedigree is impeccable but nearly everbody is miscast. Genteel spy spoof never really takes off.

Rushmore (1998) ****

Anderson's best film, made before he abandoned the idea of portraying human beings and switched to moving dioramas.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) *

Completely forgettable. At least it is lit well. Ms. Blunt steals the picture and I realize that may be damning with faint praise.

The Elephant Man (1980) ****

Despite being a "work for hire" this is unmistakably a David Lynch picture. Superb cast, the great Freddie Francis manning the cameras, all aspects of the production top notch. Shows the gamut of human behavior from the horrible to the sublime. Might be Lynch's most hopeful picture.