ctosangel-2 Reviews

The Gun Hawk (1963)

A rare fascinating western

[6/10 · 4 June 2002]

Under a B western outward appearance this rare movie shows some interesting qualities. You would think of a B western if you consider the cast (Rory Calhoun, Rod Cameron, Ruta Lee) but that is not totally exact. This Gun Hawk ("El gavilán pistolero" in Spain) has got influence of many good genre works (the topic of a gunslinger who wants retire himself is a classical). The inexorable fate plays his cards never mind the human desire does. The movie es correctly made, the color photography with bright painted rooms, like in a theatrical decor, announcing the upcoming death, an the credit ballad music inspired at the cowboys song telling a story (Marcucci and Faith "A Searcher for Love") are excellent too. It has got some comedy notes, a bite out of the blue. I will said at last the village, Sanctuary, keeps similitude with a Spanish place, Guadalest, near Alicante at Mediterranean sea.

Barbarella (1968)

Sixties enjoyable science-fiction movie

[5/10 · 23 May 2002]

This is one of the most popular films play in Europe by Jane Fonda during her sixties love affair with French director Roger Vadim. The movie could be a pioneering work of science-fiction films that would came later. In fact, it was in some ways. The original story is based on a galactic Jean-Claude Forest comic, so the idea was really bright, the set was good and expensive -even a bite kitsch-, custume were designed by fashion men Paco Rabanne and the casting results very adequate. Fonda was by this time at her best moment with her body almost adolescent, her baby doll face, knavish model Anita Pallenberg and tall boy John Phillip Law. But Vadim work, pretentious and clumsy for many cinematographic critics, cut down the hope. Watched today this ´Barbarella´ is out of date even still enjoyable, candid and excessively puritan, and that is curious as they tried to got a erotic product as well.

Twilight for the Gods (1958)

A long way to Honolulu

[6/10 · 21 May 2002]

Twilight for the Gods coul have been a good tittle for a good movie. But is just stay in a good -and incomprehensible- tittle. By another side I sorry confess I did not read author this best seller at all. May be the novel where was based the film was a excellent book but in my opinion the film is a bite long for usual spectators. May be the old sailing ship was too old and the Captain too alcoholic. Any way there are a handful of masochistic traveller gathered round this Captain who insist in travel in spite of the poor appearance. The apathetic and long hear Captain David Bell is Rock Hudson. Miss Charlotte King (an elegant, curved and glorious Cyd Charisse) is quite all right but the rest of the passage is not very interesting to do a trip by the sea with them. That is why the navigation results some long. I personally thank indeed Miss King presence with her cloudy past. The little dog is funny too. Even it likes Cyd Charisse. It means it was a really clever dog. I give 6 (but only for Cyd Charisse).

Walk on the Wild Side (1962)

Do not miss the credits!

[6/10 · 18 May 2002]

The famous -and may be best- Saul Bass tittle credits, appropriate Elmer Berstein musical score, a excellent black and white photography and a good casting are not reasons enough to give to this melodramatic history more than a six over ten. Jane Fonda second movie picture would have been a something solid portrait from Depression Era, but it is not. They said that Blake Edwards directed some sequences but I do not know such ones he did. Do not miss the credits!

The Others (2001)

The Kidman' moment

[7/10 · 2 December 2001]

Why some people get shocked by Nicole Kidman' performance at this film? It is really unaccountable. Are your eyes wide shut?

Excepting Dead Calm, where she was demanded to show some centimeters of her splendid anatomy -and never it was too much at the movie- Hawaian born girl demonstrates to cinema and theater spectators her gifts like entire actress. She did it at Batman Forever, To Die For, The Portrait of a Lady and, of course, Eyes Wide Shut, between others solids works.

I didn't watch Arthur Schnitzler' play The Blue Room (La ronde) but people who did, said she deserved to win the Golden Globe to Best Actress. She made representations to Londoners and New Yorkers till exhaustion -she got a laryngitis- of five different roles.

Being making Los otros in a wet location at Palacio de los Hornillos, Spain, she felt the effects of a injury in a knee after the efforts in a Can-Can dancing-girl part at Moulin Rouge previously interpreted. She flown to L.A., USA, to be cured and came back again to Spanish set till the end of shot.

And all that only a very professional actress is capable of doing for. So don't' be so surprised by her actuation at this film. Many spectators, the wisdom ones, were seen this moment -the Kidman moment- would came. And here is it.

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999)

A classic, illustrious and frequented story

[3/10 · 26 November 2001]

Messenger... French born director got tricks enough to make a good movie: a lot of money, a good casting (including Besson' Ukrainian wife top model Milla Jovovich), good decor and natural locations, costumes, sound, special and visual effects, stunts, location managers and a large crew (the film is a big joint production with participation of two countries and many people). This movie, called in Spain "Juana de Arco de Luc Besson", has got a good photography in color too. But let me said just one thing. There was excessive and illustrious cinematographic preceding about the Orleans´Maid. It is inevitable for cinema fans remind previous versions (the Dreyer one, Fleming, Bresson, Preminger...). It was not easy to get a product of similar quality because they are masterpieces written with gold letters at Story of Cinema. The results of this ambitious movie are, in my opinion, nearer of Dutch Paul Verhoeven' Los Señores del Acero filmed in Spain in 1985 than Danish Carl T. Dreyer' La passion de Jeanne D'Arc (1928).

Arabian Nights (1942)

Maria Montez and Sabu in splendid technicolor

[17 November 2001]

I do not understand why the video movie pack shows John Hall when really movie 80% begin to Maria Montez and 20% to Sabu. The story (Boardman and Hogan), an inoffensive comedy in the orientalism way from the 40', the same that decorates and costumes. Very caracterist in that Hollywood era. Splendid technicolor and adequate music from Frank Skinner.

The Nutty Professor (1963)

Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Lewis. What a explosive mixture!

[8/10 · 10 November 2001]

Only the talented and great Jerry Lewis (may be the best one after Charles Chaplin) could made a so extraordinary, hilarious and audacious adaptation of classic Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. I would said it is one of the most honest cinematographic versions about Robert L. Stevenson classic, even translated to the sixties. That is why this film should have be watching absolutely by everybody, be showed at primary and secondary schools, every kind of universities and of course at all cinemas of the world from time to time. It is, as someone sensible already told, fairly Jerry Lewis best film, his masterpiece, because it is one-and-only. It is Lewis greatest performance, the top of his funniest gangs indeed. Stella Stevens is unforgettable and all the casting is irreproachable under Lewis direction. The American "patsy" make jokes of packaging, arrogant and authoritarian people. And value the unaffectedness, spontaneity and industry. Something that is worth while. At last his experiences with the color are very achieved.

Corazón de papel (1982)

Underworld Press Heart

[5/10 · 1 November 2001]

Interesting but failed attempt to touch the 1982 Spanish world press heart. It was a well meaning movie from a honest director, but excessive claims fall it down.

Filmed in authentic stage, particularly in a press agency documentation department dominated by a library rat female, between real workers.

This film had the opportunity to talk about simple journalist making his jobs with recommended ones (los enchufados) in a hate, jealousy and authoritarianism underworld' hideout but did not do it.

It would be an interesting denunciation (even today would be interesting because the actual situation in such press agencies, with trade union members working only for themselves, keeps on the same).

But this film, theoretically serviceable, wanted treat another different and difficult things involving politics and inopportune and far topics. So the results were not completely satisfactory.

Today heart press in Spain is so important that a handful of magazines (including some national newspapers) and statal and privates TV chains does can exist without these ridiculous stories. A real pity.

The Matrix (1999)

Awful mixture

[1/10 · 29 October 2001]

Something sad happened with this film. The Hollywood Academy give it some Oscar (special effects, I think). So young people newcomer to cinema world thought it must be a good picture. They did not know that not all the winning Oscar movies deserve it. It is a deceitful, spurious and incredibly pretentious film. Because one thing is Cinema and another thing are computers. If you want to said something in cinema' way you must use cinematography ways. Cinematography language has got his own implements. It is a very old discovery (more than 100 years old) and it was marching on and growing up with hard work, effort, wisdom and -many times- talent. Never with computers. The film responsible commit in my opinion a unforgivable lack os respect. It seen they does not know authors like Griffith, Chaplin, Stroheim, Sternberg, Welles, Dreyer, Ford, Hawks, Walsh, Curtiz, Lang, Reed, Renoir, Buñuel, Kurosawa, Wilder... All of them (and some more) made films with his own effort. Not with computers. That is why the film is not sci-fi nor comic nor martial arts catalogue. Let me said you this movie is a awful mixture of all that and of course nothing of value. Zero.

Pennies from Heaven (1981)

Herbert Ross masterpiece

[7/10 · 12 October 2001]

As cinema fans must already know, Pennies From Heaven director Herbert Ross died past October 10th. Ross was a movie craftsman and sometimes shows glimmering of intelligence. And this film was one of this glimmering. "Pennies..." is a depressive story (from famous and possibly depressed D. Potter) about a married couple who make love too much few during the Depression Era. It is may be the ineffable Steve Martin best performance on the screen. Bernadette Peters and Jessica Harper play well roles of Eileen, the music teacher, and Joan, the very moderate wife, respectively. The movie is a nostalgic aestheticist recreation of the Depression Era's end and a careful of Edward Hopper´s paintings translation´s work. Musical numbers and old songs accompany this interesting task. "Pennies..." was show at Spanish cinemas much delayed and with not noise at all. Even now, when film maker died few days ago, no one between Madrid´ cinematographic journalist knows that Pennies From Heaven is the Herbert Ross masterpiece.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Critics fault

[8/10 · 7 October 2001]

I did not like very much this movie when I saw it first time. It was too much studio work and cinematographer critics and writers exaggerate about the movie importance. Stanley Kubrick talent always has been unquestionable and everybody in the sixties was a fan of The Killing, Paths of Glory (banned for years in some countries), Spartacus, Lolita or Dr. Strangelove (later I knew Killer´Kiss). But it looks that 2001 was out of the blue and signify not a continuity at director work. People know actually Kubrick has got no continuity at all at his screen history because each movie was a new search. But excessive praise from critics often produced a effect in the opposite direction at spectator mind. Perhaps it happened with master Kubrick. Now I value more 2001 than first time I saw it. Critics fault.

The Bounty Hunter (1954)

Modest but estimable western

[7/10 · 6 October 2001]

Born Hungarian André De Toth directed seven B series western between years 1951 and 1955 (B series films in Europe means that it were made with few money and in a short time). This Bounty Hunter was one of them. It is a solid, without ups and downs, and very estimable western. This modest film deserves all the respect, admiration and gratitude possibles. An even in our times, when toughness is missing in service of computers special effects. The film has got craft agility, is very well build and adequately played by specialist stony face Randolph Scott (Boetticher's lonesome rider). We meet efficacious Ernest Borgnine in a supporting role. Western lovers will enjoy this film.

Vice Squad (1953)

Call girls in old fifties

[6/10 · 29 September 2001]

Veteran TV series director and producer (The Rifleman, Law of the Plainsman, Gunsmoke...) Arnold Laven give to the USA fifties cinema story the first movie showing clearly a call girls house activity and that is why this picture will remain in the spectator mind. The madam is a mature Paulette Goddard at may be one of his best roles on the screen. Edward G. Robinson plays with his usual professionalism police officer Captain Barnaby. Good supporting actors, including Italian born Lee Van Cleef much before meet Sergio Leone and his famous spaghetti-western series.

Dream of Light (1992)

Difficult but interesting documentary

[8/10 · 26 July 2001]

Film documentary about Spanish painter Antonio Lopez artistic creation process. It is a rare, difficult ant very interesting movie. It takes some time for the spectator to came in. When you get it you will capable of enjoy the film and the painter, his friends, wife and way of painting. You will love the sun and the quince too. And I am sure you finally will become a Lopez and director Victor Erice fan.

But El sol del membrillo is not at all a commercial movie. This original film won one of the awards at Cannes Festival of Cinema. Erice was lucky to direct this picture. Because the only think that impede him make more often movies is find an adequate producer. And he did it hear. He made three movies in 20 years. Something similar that occurs with Terrence Malick.

Erice is the Spanish pair of masterpieces fortunate author El espíritu de la colmena (1973) and El Sur (1983). His work way, so distant of current fashions, and his thoroughly were the Spanish Academy of Cinema causes to prefer send to the Oscar Award'1983 another easier movie El Sur instead. At last the Oscar to the best foreign film went to Bergman' Fanny and Alexander.

El Sur (1983)

Erice second triumph

[10/10 · 24 July 2001]

El Sur is Victor Erice consecutive second triumph as a excellent and meticulous director after a ten years period of cinema inactivity that he spend doing television commercials spots to get some money. Based on Adelaida Garcia Morales homonym tale, the film is a cadenced story about a little girl who we see growing up in the screen. Estrella (Sonsoles Aranguren at 8 and Iciar Bollain at 15) reminds the relationship with her strange father, a blue republican medicine doctor in a northern little and still village of Spain at the fifties. The picture was show with success at 1983 Cannes Festival of Cinema but, made off current cinema fashions, did not won the Academy Oscar to Best Foreign Film. I think it deserved to receive the prize. In spite of disagreements with the movie producer (the original picture must to be very much longer) Erice got a delightful, evocative and unique piece of wok with a quite and maintained rhythm and wonderful outside and interior photography. Any way El Sur is the most personal and powerful Spanish film ever made.

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)

Demythologizing Sherlock Holmes

[8/10 · 23 July 2001]

Written in collaboration with I.A.L. Diamond -as usual- born Austrian Billy Wilder demythologize Sir Arthur Conan Doyle superpopular character and got a clever and enjoyable film. The Holmes described by Wilder is not very fan of women and use to give him a cocaine jab when he has not any detective case to work. Shot in British landscapes, particularly in the Scottish tourist castles route (I like to see again picturesque Eilean Donan one in Loch Duich), the film keeps suitable police ambient -you would can qualify it as a police comedy-, discuss at ironical way about topics like Nessie Monster and even makes a portrait of the Queen Victoria with ease of manner. Brilliant, interesting and amusing.

Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968)

One measured Dracula film

[7/10 · 21 July 2001]

This is one of Dracula best films from the sixties golden age made by the British Hammer. Directed by specialist Terence Fisher advanced pupil Freddie Francis, it has got all the vampires movies commonplaces. But pretty well managed. Here is great Christopher Lee in a play that he knew for many years. And here is one of the best of his brides too, rosy Veronica Carlson. She is a English girl but looks a Swedish one. Everything is perfectly measured at this picture. Even the blood amount.

The Spirit of the Beehive (1973)

Masterpiece

[10/10 · 19 July 2001]

One of the the most intimate and personal movies about the Spanish postwar. Plenty of sensitivity, poetry and beauty, the film won justly the most important award at San Sebastian Festival of Cinema. It was the young Victor Erice first triumph all across the world. Supreme effort in photography, good actors (mainly the little ones), very adequate landscape from Castile and achieved and mysterious atmosphere. Excellent. Masterpiece.

The Lawless Breed (1952)

A Walsh minor but right western

[7/10 · 19 July 2001]

Chronologically situated between The World in his Arms and Blackbeard the Pirate, and a year after the fine adventure Distant Drums (1951), this is a Raoul Walsh minor but right western, play by soft Rock Hudson and beautiful Julie Adams. Correct, ascetic, vivacious -like the majority of Walsh movies- it tell us the lawless John W. Hardin story based on his autobiography. A entertaining film with no problems or pomp. Nimble. It has got efficacious supporting actors.

Palmetto (1998)

In "film noir" way

[6/10 · 16 July 2001]

A German director for a film written by classic James Hadley Chase (The Grissom Gang, 1971). Recreated a quite achieved atmosphere from "film noir". There is a excellent and curved Elisabeth Shue who remind me some of the best vamp at the cinema story. Note her attempt of remaking Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard (1949). Curious and well-meaning picture.

The Long Gray Line (1955)

Even making propaganda, Ford was a master

[8/10 · 14 July 2001]

That is a propaganda movie (about the historic military academy of West Point), but even making propaganda Ford, with her caracteristic way of understanding the Army, the life and dead, and his unfergottable sense of humour, was just a master. And he was capable of doing moving to the spectators. Much better that you was thinking before see the film. There where hear goods actors too, even the handsome fellow Tyrone Power. Maureen O'Hara always was fine under the John Ford orders and hear too. The film is superior to others propagandistic ones made by this time. And may be one of the best.

Little Bird (1997)

Won the award Paoa from Viña del Mar in 1998

[22 February 2001]

This film, made in Murcia (southeast of Spain) won the award Paoa in the International Festival of Cinema from Viña del Mar (Chile) in October'98, "for the sensitivity ant depth, the mood and the warm of the creation", said the jury. This jury unanimous decision was a surprise and deception between Alejandro Amenabar Spanish fans, who were awaiting the award for the "modern" Open Yours Eyes (a kind of Matrix with less money than the Wachowski's film).

The Light Across the Street (1955)

Something crazy

[3/10 · 22 February 2001]

A lorry driver, Georges Marceau, suffers an accident and a medicine doctor recommends him sexual abstention. But he marries Olivia (Bebé) and becomes angry, jealous... and killer. It is really a crazy thing indeed because Georges was got very close the best medicine to be cured... It pretends to look like a current event but Bebé was not used to be always in the middle. Crazy, yes.

The Third Man (1949)

Excellent! Better than the book

[10/10 · 2 February 2001]

Much better than the Graham Greene book, this historic film has improved the original and passing by has become one of the cinema best movie pictures in all the world. History, atmosphere, photography, interpretation... All in this fabulous picture is very good indeed and each time is better. For ever ten!