Billy Liar (1963) **

It's well made with some fine visuals, good performances, but the story makes no sense and neither do the lead characters. Maybe a comment on the incomprehensibility of British young men and women in 1962?

Thor: Ragnarok (2017) **

Comic book flick times 10 but it has good actors who are interesting to watch.

Safety Last! (1923) **

Amusing silent flick showcases some exceptional camera and stunt work.

The Burglar (1957) **

For the first half this is a nifty noir with some novel twists and visuals to the usual genre trappings but it runs out of steam and eventually succumbs.

Lola (1961) **

Similar in sensibility to Umbrellas without the sung dialogue. Confident and stylish for a first feature.

Wanda (1970) **

Cinema verité style character study of aimless woman. Shoestring budget but good use of non-actors and location. The real actors are very good. Bleak, unforgiving.

Chimes at Midnight (1965) ***

Further evidence of Orson's directorial prowess. Could have been trimmed a bit but it builds to a moving conclusion.

The Double Hour (2009) **

It's well acted and produced, but a few too many twists and you stop caring.

So Dark the Night (1946) **

B level noir suffers from mediocre production and a twist that's not all that surprising.

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) ****

Innovative, original musical, still influential. Kudos to director Demy for sticking the ending.

The Shooting (1966) **

Good try at an existential Western features good performances (especially Mr. Oates), well photographed, but the script falls apart.

Logan's Run (1976) **

Cheesy, campy attempt at the cynical sci-fi so prevalent at the time. Doesn't hold up well.

I Married a Witch (1942) *

Ham fisted attempt at screwball comedy is nearly unwatchable. Relies heavily on the charisma and chemistry of the stars of which there are neither.

The Truth About Woody Allen (Part I) | This Mortal Coil

I know these details get real boring, real fast. But once you study it, you see how even the custody decision has been misrepresented by the Farrows and their followers. Granted, none of this suggests that Woody falling in love with Soon-Yi was a smart move, but, you know, it happened, and the fall-out was massive, but they remain together and have raised two normal, healthy kids. As for Mia, out of her ten adopted kids, two are permanently estranged, and three are dead — two from suicide, and the third died in poverty. Mia also has one brother who committed suicide, and another brother who’s in prison for multiple counts of child molestation. The dysfunction in that family runs very deep, and has nothing to do with Woody and Soon-Yi.

Living in Oblivion (1995) **

Amusing movie about making movies and all the perils therein. Almost makes it to something more.

Rosebud (1975) **

Anti-terrorist procedural starts off great and the attention to detail is at first compelling but soon starts to bog down the picture. Finally it becomes a pro-Israel propaganda piece. Unfortunate since Mr. O'Toole and Ms. Huppert (so young!) are fun to watch.

The Fantasticks (1995) **

This is a very well made rendition of the long running off broadway musical. Unfortunately the songs (except for the finale of course) are quite forgettable and the story is paper thin. It's still beautifully shot and imaginatively directed.