Blast of Silence (1961) ****

Bleak, brutal Christmas-noir has style to burn with crisp b/w shots of gritty, early 60's NYC and a taut sparse script. Director/writer/star Allen Baron (looking for all the world like a poor man's George C.) hits on all 3 cylinders.

Denny Laine, of Paul McCartney's Wings and Moody Blues, Dies at 79

Denny Laine, the British singer-guitarist best known for his work with Paul McCartney & Wings and the Moody Blues, has died after a long battle with interstitial lung disease, according to a social media post from his wife. He was 79.

Remember the Night (1939) **

If you can get past the heavy dose of cornpone, you can enjoy watching Fred and Babs who work so well together and seem to bring out the best in each other.

Priscilla (2023) **

It has Sofia's impeccable soundtrack choices but nearly every interior scene is shot with a glaring backlight, distorting the image so you can't see the actors faces. Disappointing.

Mr. Soft Touch (1949) **

Tonally uneven Christmas-noir is watchable thanks to a surprisingly good Glenn Ford.

The Cockleshell Heroes (1955) *

One dimensional characters in a by-the-numbers Hollywood-style WWII actioner on a suicide mission that never really makes sense.

Moss Rose (1947) **

Hollywood's idea of a Brit noir is watchable thanks to the odd casting and the nice b/w photography. Just don't expect any believable accents even from the real Brits!

The Razor's Edge (1984) **

Superbly produced with exceptional location shooting but Bill Murray in 1983 was just not up to the task. To be fair, Ty Power wasn't either. Theresa Russell is terrific.

Track 29 (1988) *

You have to work way too hard to stay involved and that's no good even with the lovely Ms. Russell and Nic Roeg's way with a camera.

Every Man for Himself and God Against All by Werner Herzog: Books

I’d rather die than go to an analyst, because it’s my view that something fundamentally wrong happens there. If you harshly light every last corner of a house, the house will be uninhabitable. It’s like that with your soul; if you light it up, shadows and darkness and all, people will become “uninhabitable.” I am convinced that it’s psychoanalysis—along with quite a few other mistakes—that has made the twentieth century so terrible. As far as I’m concerned, the twentieth century, in its entirety, was a mistake.

A Study in Scarlet (1933) **

I liked Reg Owen as Holmes and Ms. Wong is always a welcome treat. Decent mystery.

Lady from Chungking (1942) **

Nifty script and the great Ms. Wong elevate this WWII propaganda flick which might have been something special with a little more care and effort.

Daughter of the Dragon (1931) *

Third rate production wastes two legendary Asian actors.

Baby Face (1933) **

Babs Stanwyck takes Nietsche to heart and nearly wins it all, but in the end sees the light and opts for love. Just like in real life.

The Divorcee (1930) **

Hollywood morality play (barely connected to reality in other words) is watchable with an above average performance by Ms. Shearer.

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) **

Despite superbly cast supporting players and the usual top notch production there is a huge glaring problem named Leo. He just cannot pull it off for a minute.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) **

Fred March is quite good here, as well as Ms. Hopkins, but the "experimental" direction is extremely annoying save for the transformation scenes which are well done.

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) ****

Superb production design, a terrific trio of leads and striking visuals make for an interesting riff on the vampire genre. Perhaps Herzog's best film.

The Lodger (1944) **

Jack The Ripper tale elevated by the marvelous Mr. Cregar.

Corridor of Mirrors (1948) ***

Handsomely produced Brit melo with an above average and offbeat screenplay, excellently played by the lovely Ms. Romney.

Jigsaw (1962) **

Brit police procedural is a slow burn but worth the wait. A little disappointed with the photography.

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) *

Only Ms. Balk survives with her professional reputation intact from this misguided remake of a much better film.

Patricia Highsmith: Notebooks: 10/29/1949

On the insane: they are only trying to find a reality. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to find a reality in existence. The greatest philosophers have never found a satisfactory reality, or its explanation. Going under gas, for instance, the world is quite different, more overwhelmingly convincing than the so-called normal world, as to its reality. There is really no reality, perhaps, only writing a system of expedient behavior, action and reaction, by which people have come to live. That is, most people, who live like this for the same reason most peas fall into the center compartment when dropped from a central point above.

No One Ever Said It: On the Long History of “Ye Olde” in English

But that’s not to say it has no roots in the past. Once there was a letter called thorn that made a “th” sound. It looked like this: þ. Over the centuries, þ was written increasingly like the letter y with some scribes using them interchangeably. Early printers even substituted y for þ, so the word “þe” (the) ended up looking like “ye.” Eventually þ fell out of use, but people continued using “ye” to abbreviate the word “the” in print during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries and in handwriting until the nineteenth century. English speakers’ memory of the origin of “ye” faded over time, until people began reading the word anew, pronouncing it wrong, and eventually creating the habit in English of saying “ye” to sound old.

The Drum (1938) **

Colorful actioner takes a bit to get going but has a rousing second half. Sabu steals it.

All in a Night's Work (1961) *

Dino tries hard and we have peak Shirley but even allowing for the typical old Hollywood rom-com tropes, this script is just too much to take.

The Years Between (1946) **

The great Ms. Robson is in it, but not enough, and it takes forever to get Mike Redgrave in the picture.

The Oxford Murders (2008) *

Abysmal cinematography and overall weak production. Too bad because Leonor Watling is stunning.

Dark City (1998) **

Literally a noir, borrows heavily from the Coens, Lynch, Gilliam and German expressionism, is a bit too long and unfortunately influenced too many cinematographers with its darkness. Nice role for Riff-Raff, but Kiefer does a terrible Peter Lorre imitation.

Hangover Square (1945) ***

Bizarre noir about a fugue state homicidal pyromaniac who happens to be a devoted and gifted composer. Complications ensue. Terrific score and terrific performance by Laird Cregar.

The Hughes-Nixon-Lansky Connection

President Nixon’s immediate answer to news of the Watergate burglary arrests was simple: The CIA, he told Haldeman (as recorded by the White House tapes) would close off the investigation because **if it gets out that this is ail involved, the Cuba thing would be a fiasco — it would make the CIA look bad — and it is likely to blow the whole Bay of Pigs thing...” Watergate, the Bay of Pigs, indeed a change of government in the Bahamas and a paint company going into real estate and gambling ail were woven together, all rooted in a World War II alliance.

Ivy (1947) **

Impeccably produced star vehicle for the lovely Ms. Fontaine. Nicely shot.

Remorques (1941) **

So-so melo à la française with a hot pair of leads.

Maigret Sets A Trap (1958) ***

Best adaptation of the venerable French inspector thanks to the great Jean Gabin and a no-nonsense directorial approach.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023) ***

A sort of Budapest Dispatch, jam packed with detail and some amazing performances.

The Admirable Crichton (1957) ***

Well done social satire thanks to a witty script and taut direction. Ms. Howes helps immensely as does a nice turn by Ken Moore.

Night Ambush (1957) *

The Archers try hard but this is a tedious WWII procedural. The South of France stands in admirably for Crete.

Get to Know Your Rabbit (1972) **

Incredible cast acts the heck out of a pretty lame screenplay and makes this watchable and often amusing.

The Mirror Crack'd (1980) *

Glacially paced so each guest star can have the same screen time ruins the picture and a nice turn by the lovely Ms. Novak.

Scream of Fear (1961) ***

Brilliantly directed and photographed, this Brit-noir on the French Riviera features a lovely Ms. Strasberg and a Chris Lee with a passable French accent.

Sherlock Holmes: Incident at Victoria Falls (1992) **

Way too long, but nicely paced take on Holmes. Not the best photography and there's too many single closeups but the cast tries their best and it's a decent script.

Suspiria (1977) *

The promise of the first 30 minutes or so turns into tedium the rest of the way despite the lurid scenes.

The Bank Shot (1974) **

Wasted opportunity given the cast and the script. The director couldn't stop veering wildly into cartoon territory.

So Long at the Fair (1950) **

Gets a little repetitious in the middle, but nice little mystery story with appealing leads.

Curacao (1993) *

A better director might have made something of this lifeless espionage thriller. Gorgeous Curaçao location shots.

Bottoms (2023) **

A bevy of fine young character actors propels this queer POV fable of high school life. Too bad it looks like it was shot with a flip phone.

swissmiss | 50 Short Rules for a Better Life (From the Stoics)

Focus on what you can control.
You control how you respond to things.
Ask yourself, “Is this essential?”
Meditate on your mortality every day.
Value time more than money/possessions.
You are the product of your habits.
Remember you have the power to have no opinion.
Own the morning.
Put yourself up for review (Interrogate yourself).
Don’t suffer imagined troubles.
Try to see the good in people.
Never be overheard complaining…even to yourself.
Two ears, one mouth…for a reason (Zeno)
There is always something you can do.
Don’t compare yourself to others.
Live as if you’ve died and come back (every minute is bonus time).
“The best revenge is not to be like that.” Marcus Aurelius
Be strict with yourself and tolerant with others.
Put every impression, emotion, to the test before acting on it.
Learn something from everyone.
Focus on process, not outcomes.
Define what success means to you.
Find a way to love everything that happens (Amor fati).
Seek out challenges.
Don’t follow the mob.
Grab the “smooth handle.”
Every person is an opportunity for kindness (Seneca)
Say no (a lot).
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Find one thing that makes you wiser every day.
What’s bad for the hive is bad for the bee (Marcus Aurelius)
Don’t judge other people.
Study the lives of the greats.
Forgive, forgive, forgive.
Make a little progress each day.
Journal.
Prepare for life’s inevitable setbacks (premeditatio malorum)
Look for the poetry in ordinary things.
To do wrong to one, is to do wrong to yourself. (sympatheia)
Always choose “Alive Time.”
Associate only with people that make you better.
If someone offends you, realize you are complicit in taking offense.
Fate behaves as she pleases…do not forget this.
Possessions are yours only in trust.
Don’t make your problems worse by bemoaning them.
Accept success without arrogance, handle failure with indifference.
Courage. Temperance. Justice. Wisdom. (Always).
The obstacle is the way.
Ego is the enemy.
Stillness is the key.

Ginger Snaps (2000) **

A terrific first hour slows to a crawl in the next 50 minutes and loses the plot. A well photographed and produced horror flick could have been something more.

It Always Rains on Sunday (1947) **

Slice of post-war East End London life meets noir thriller. Above average Ealing effort.

The Last Run (1971) ***

Nicely shot road trip + mob + car chase + character study doesn't quite mesh completely but George C. makes it enjoyable.

The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1986) **

All star cast and decent production, but this just isn't a very compelling tale.

Model Shop (1969) ***

A day in the life of a lost young man who loves L.A. but has 'Nam looming ahead. Honest slice of '60's life in SoCal when gasoline was 31 cents per gallon.

Brainstorm (1965) **

The script is pretty hokey but the performers are good and watchable.

MK Ultra (2022) *

Being based on a true story does not mean it's worth seeing. Takes sordid to a new level.

Sahara (1943) ***

Nifty actioner condenses WWII (Hollywood style) down to its essentials with a solid Bogie in control.

A Study in Terror (1965) **

Watchable, thanks to Mr. Neville and some decent photography. Interestingly, it doesn't have anything of a '65 vibe to it.

The Naked Dawn (1955) **

Art Kennedy does a good job in brown face as a Mexican Robin Hood type in a low budget but effective morality play.

3-Iron (2004) ***

Enigmatic fable about a golfer who wants to be a ghost and seems to succeed? Interesting cinematic koan.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982) **

Stellar cast and a good looking production.

Catchfire (1990) **

Goofy hitman-with-a-heart-of-gold flick fails to figure out a consistent tone. All star cast including Ms. Foster who was never photographed better. Disappointing but interesting.

Curse of the Demon (1957) **

Tourneur was right: it would have been best not to show the demon. Despite that he made a well paced decent little horror flick.

The Deadly Affair (1967) **

Superbly photographed and a top notch cast marred by curiously prosaic direction.

The Happy Thieves (1961) *

It's a good script but the direction is way off course. Should have been a tight heist flick instead of a not funny comedy.

Insignificance (1985) **

Interesting historical fiction with a few thought provoking bits of dialogue. Doesn't always work.

Cold Heaven (1991) **

Nic Roeg tries the faith based route with some success since he's a skilled director and smart enough to cast the terrific Ms. Russell.

The Haunted Palace (1963) *

It's nicely produced and photographed but the story takes way too long to get going and isn't very compelling. Watchable.

Heart of Stone (2023) *

Lame spy v. spy actioner has a few nifty set pieces but is mostly forgettable.

The Premature Burial (1962) **

Lushly photographed creepy tale of obsessive, though not unfounded, fear and its consequences.

A Quiet Place in the Country (1968) *

It's watchable because the leads are two of the most attractive people on the planet at the time and decent actors, but the story is incoherent.

Dance with a Stranger (1985) **

It's a well made film, and I understand it is based on real facts, but it feels contrived and illogical.

The Visitor (1979) *

Probably the greatest cast of a truly awful film. A handful of decent scenes, but the rest is ineptly directed.

Nothing But the Night (1973) *

Boffo finale fails to redeem the 85 minutes of tedium which precedes it. Terrible waste of Chris Lee and Pete Cushing who are playing the good guys for once.

White Noise (2022) **

Unsuccessful attempt at surrealism is nevertheless watchable with a few nifty scenes and an appealing cast.

Lost in Translation (2003) ****

Superb cinematic exploration of ennui, dislocation and melancholy. A triumph for Sofia, Scarlett and Bill.

Rancho Notorious (1952) **

You gotta suspend a lot of disbelief, but it's rewarded with an entertaining Hollywood Western with star power and sure handed direction.

The Barefoot Contessa (1954) *

It's a great screenplay...to read. Joe Mank is too in love with his words to make it into a decent picture however. Waste of a good cast and a great cinematographer.

The Spanish Gardener (1956) **

At least the Brits cast as Spaniards don't even bother affecting an accent in this heavy handed melodrama. The kid steals the picture.

Barbie (2023) ***

Entertaining fluff with exceptional design and cinematography doesn't quite hit the ambitious heights it aspires to.

Jeannie (1941) **

Brit romcom about a sheltered Scots lass traveling to (a curiously Nazi free) Vienna to hear the Blue Danube. Charmingly done.

Pool of London (1951) **

Stalwart supporting actors get their chance to lead in this Brit-noir about a heist gone wrong. Nicely done.

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959) **

The oft-told tale gets the Hammer treatment with its trademark lush photography and penny pinching but effective production design. Pete Cushing is an admirable Holmes. Nice to see Chris Lee play a romantic lead for a change.

Puppet on a Chain (1970) **

Gritty, groovy '70's Amsterdam and a nifty speedboat chase are the highlights of this mostly tedious narc procedural.

The Pajama Game (1957) **

Most of the songs presage the execrable work of Sparks except for "Hey There" and the legit show stopper "Steam Heat" which is worth the price of admission.

Noam Chomsky on Language, Left Libertarianism, and Progress | Conversations with Tyler

Like all organisms, we have innate capacities. There’s something about our genetic endowment that determines that the embryo grows arms not wings, and there’s something about the genetic endowment that says that a newborn infant can instantly pick out parts of the noise that surrounds it and say to itself, “Those parts are language. I’m going to” — not consciously, of course; it’s all totally reflexive — “These parts are language. I’m going to pursue a course of maturation, a well-determined course of maturation, which means that by about two or three years old, I’ve basically absorbed the fundamentals of language.” Now, you can take the smartest chimpanzee or the dogs under my desk — they can listen to this noise forever. They have no idea there’s anything there but noise. Well, that’s a fundamental property of humans built in. It’s the reason why you and I can be having this discussion now, but a troop of chimpanzees can’t be.

Zardoz (1974) ****

Imagination, talent and conviction are evident in this crazy dystopian fable. Beautifully shot and designed.

One-Eyed Jacks (1961) **

Lushly photographed with some wonderful scenery but it's about an hour too much for a western melodrama.

The Day After Trinity (1981) ***

Thought provoking and disturbing doc about the making of the first atomic bomb and the immediate aftermath. Too many extreme closeups.

Asteroid City (2023) ***

Return to form for Wes after the last hyperkinetic misfire, stumbles at the end rather awkwardly.

Kubrick by Kubrick (2020) ***

Enjoyable visualization of interviews the great director gave to French critic Michel Ciment.

Pendulum (1969) ***

Solid cops and lawyers procedural with plenty of quirky detail, excellently shot and a brisk pace. Always nice to see Ms. Seberg.

The Sunday Woman (1975) **

It's a bit too long and the whodunnit is kind of muddled, but it's a watchable time capsule of 1970's Italy and if nothing else, Jackie Bisset looks marvelous.

Time Bandits (1981) ***

Made for kids but adults can also appreciate. Well produced and shot it looks lavish and colorful. Subtly subversive.

21 Days Together (1940) **

The 72 minute runtime seems interminable, but Larry and Viv are watchable.

The Innocent (2022) *

It's competently made but nothing compelling about the story or characters to maintain interest.

Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972) **

Terrific art deco sets, well composed and shot scenes, Vinny Price tearing up the screen without moving his lips and the lovely Ms.Kemp in dazzling costumes. Forget logic for a while and enjoy.

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) **

Burstyn is great and the flick is well made but the characters are not likable which mitigates the payoff some.

Morgan (2016) *

It's not that this update of Frankenstein by way of Ex Machina is awful, it's just that it squanders such an elite cast on a half baked script which has nothing to say.

The Story of Adele H (1975) **

Even with a strong performance from the lovely Ms. Adjani, this tale of a young woman obsessed grows tiresome even at a runtime of 90 minutes.

The Train (1964) **

Talky actioner is more of a spy procedural with too much detail. Some great train wrecks.

My Dinner with Andre (1981) **

Interesting experiment that largely succeeds. Could have been trimmed a bit in the middle third.