THE VISTORS (1972) War buddies invade a house A disturbing statement on the Vietnam War repeating itself at home A late Elia Kazan film. Shot more like a filmmaker's early indie A frayed wire Steve Railsback. A James Wood lead debut However, a Maltin BOMB "Deplorable"

THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1939) Generally amiable musical comedy version of the Dumas classic Frequent swordplay Don Ameche stars and the Ritz Brothers? Were they a thing? "...apart from being very funny...the most exhilarating musketeer movie yet made..." - Leslie Halliwell

HARDLY WORKING (1980) Jerry Lewis fucks up every job he gets An incredible comedy in the sense I was laughing along with a few gags and laughing harder at the lame ones "I was absolutely stunned by the vast stupidity of this film" "...wretched...dismal" Ebert zero stars

PENITENTIARY II (1982) Too Sweet is back. He wants to settle scores in and out of the ring Wild tonal swings. From nasty exploitation to sex comedy Unwieldy, but memorable early 80s aura Mr. T warming up for Clubber Lang "Atrocious, disappointing sequel" Maltin BOMB

Many reasons why this is my favorite Christie adaptation It gets the all-star cast style and panache stuff But Lumet digs deeper and brings out a moving story about the arc of justice

Really looking forward to watching and sharing these movies with y'all

UFORIA (1985) Faith healers and UFO believers Fred Ward, Cindy Williams, and Harry Dean drive this enjoyable quirky human comedy Director John Binder opts for a more relaxed visual style. Doesn't match freak with freak "a series of delights and small treasures" Ebert ****

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT (1940) *Viewing 3 Joel McCrea disappears sometimes. I thought it was a weakness, but now I see Hitch uncovering a feeling of systemic intrigue and conspiracy Great setpieces "Tremendously entertaining film" Maltin ****

THE JAZZ SINGER (1980) A bit of Richard Fleischer magic. Could've used a bit more 😆 Things I never thought I'd see: Neil Diamond and Laurence Olivier acting together Neil Diamond with his shirt off Neil Diamond in blackface A "mothballed sudser" Maltin BOMB

You know my January viewing topic I just discovered...that I'll be watching....👇(albeit a 2nd time, but not since original broadcast)

LIFE WITH FATHER (1947) Foundational sitcom premise: no nonsense and slightly dim dad/common sense mom William Powell Oscar-nominated The main dramatic conflict involves a grown man refusing to be baptized. Kinda square, but I laughed 🤷‍♂️ "Utterly delightful" Maltin ****

No one is truly alone with movies still to watch #MerryChristmas

THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST (1988) *Viewing 5 I was struck more this time by Jesus' compulsion to fulfill his own calling Perhaps a working out of the artist's dilemma. And Scorsese's "I cannot think of another film on a religious subject that has challenged me more fully" Ebert ****

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2009) A Zemeckis film Carrey doing an Alastair Sim impression The animation can be best described (this from LB) as a cutscene from a PS4 game 😆 Nevertheless, the story still resonates Ole' Roger saw it in 3-D and called it "an exhilarating visual experience" Ebert ****

THE GREY ZONE (2001) Disturbing Holocaust film. Based on the true story of Jewish prisoners helping Nazis in exchange for more time to live Director Tim Blake Nelson uses an effective blend of fly-on-the-wall realism and heightened drama An impossible situation Ebert ****

WALKER (1987) You wanna talk historical inaccuracy. Helicopters in the 19th century?? 🤦‍♂️😆 My third viewing. Always enjoyed. Alex Cox in his bag. Punk rock history The rare Maltin BOMB and Ebert zero stars "A self-indulgent mess" - Maltin A "poverty of imagination" - Ebert

Is figgy pudding actually any good?

"Always riveting in spite of its mammoth length" Maltin ****

THE MEMORY OF JUSTICE (1976) Another Marcel Ophüls masterwork The Nuremberg trials, mainly, with parallels to Vietnam and Algeria Evil? Justice? Moral responsibility? All relevant questions in 2025 1 Sight & Sound vote, Critic Brigitte Mayr Austria

Prepping for next month's viewing month Bringing in the new year by going back in time I'm going back to the 2012 Sight & Sound list Will be watching movies from that list...but only the ones that didn't make the cut (for whatever reason) for the 2022 list Excited for this one

THE BALLOONATIC (1923) When hot air balloons, canoes, and bears get in the way of romance Buster strings together some good gags I don't get tired of 'em How much balloon makes one a balloonatic? These are the essential questions Keaton asks Ebert ****

COLD TURKEY (1971) Only feature film directed by Norman Lear (and co-writer) Not as savage as NETWORK, but this quit smoking satire has some good jabs And the last shot is absolutely brilliant Great cast. Van Dyke, Newhart, et al "What we need are mean comedies" Ebert ****

EDGE OF THE CITY (1957) Dockworkers. Murder. I was getting On the Waterfront vibes But Martin Ritt understands corruption and the thorniness of standing up to it Taut, riveting drama Cassavetes, Poitier, Warner, and Ruby Dee 👌 "Masterfully acted by all" Maltin ****

SLEUTH (2007) Remake or reinvention of the '72 classic Caine and Law Harold Pinter script. Full of his themes. Menace. Games. Male-ness Not sure if it all comes together 🤷‍♂️ Maltin feels the film is drained of entertainment and "unbelievably bad" BOMB

GREEN FOR DANGER (1946) *Viewing 3 Halliwell turned me on to this gem Wartime hospital murder mystery A great Alastair Sim Love the creepy atmosphere and the wit "An unimportant picture, yes, but perfectly done" - Leslie Halliwell

OLYMPIA (1938) *Viewing 2 Riefenstahl creates propaganda and many sports filming techniques we see today Always good to see Jesse Owens stick it to the monsters "truly eyepopping cinematography, camera movement, and editing" Maltin ****

PETE SEEGER: THE POWER OF SONG (2007) Bit of a partisan doc...but it's ok, man Seeger's commitment to peace and racial equality has always had my respect And then there's the music... "I don’t know if Pete Seeger believes in saints, but I believe he is one" Ebert ****

Victorian London. In my imagination right now

THE HAUNTED HOUSE (1921) Buster Keaton goes Scooby Doo mode Criminals in disguise in a "haunted house" A great recurring gag with stairs that turn into a slide Ebert ****

THREE SISTERS (1970) Winter and Chekhov go together There is a bleakness to this play that gives it a certain power for me Olivier's staging for actors and camera engaged me as well A "brilliant rendering" of this Chekhov work Maltin ****

Started Oliver Twist audiobook My descent into Vic lit begins...

THE PAPER CHASE (1973) A comfort film, for whatever reason. Seen it close to double digits Libraries. Study groups. Teachers like Kingsfield. Kinda my jam Early 70s Tim Bottoms had some riz Appreciated more the John Williams score (well, the classical excerpts) and Gordon Willis Ebert ****

Rob Reiner films in the 2022 Sight & Sound poll: This is Spinal Tap - 8 votes Stand by Me - 7 votes When Harry Met Sally - 6 votes A Few Good Men - 1 vote Strong showing

ROMANCE & CIGARETTES (2005) Written and directed by John Turturro Story of a marriage. Characters bursting into song Unique. Reminded me a bit of Cassavetes. The off-kilter rhythms of life "a film that breaks out of Hollywood jail with audacious originality...and anarchic liberty" Ebert ****

HAIL! HAIL! ROCK 'N' ROLL (1987) A legend. A thorny character. A genius. An enigma But as Keith Richards says...the more you know someone, the less you know them Can apply to Chuck Berry...or anyone, really My foot is sore from 2 hours of toe tapping Ebert ****

THE GONG SHOW MOVIE (1980) Unless you know the show, you might be completely lost Chuck Barris is having an existential crisis Essentially, a behind-the-scenes thing with flights of absurdity. An ego trip, but an absolute curio "...belongs in the trash bin" Maltin BOMB

BLOODLINE (1979) "Unbearable adaptation" Maltin BOMB I mean...all-star cast. Audrey. Gazzara. Mason. The Goldfinger guy Sidney Sheldon can write good trash. This one has murder, boardroom intrigue, and snuff films But director Terence Young has such a torpid touch here

A TALE OF TWO CITIES (1935) It was the best of movies. It was the worst of movies Sorry, I couldn't resist 😆 I got easily swept up in the scope and emotion. Colman superb. Rathbone had me lmfao "Tremendous cast in a truly lavish production" Maltin ****

THE GOLDEN AGE OF COMEDY (1957) A compilation of clips from silent stars in the early days of movies Many I hadn't seen The narrator talks a lot Makes me want to watch the originals. But without this narrator Maltin ****

THE BLACKSMITH (1922) Another delightful Keaton short Much hijinks in the stable. Horses and large magnets. Even a train gag or two Ebert ****

@bobfreelander.bsky.social @elrickane.bsky.social @purecinemapod.bsky.social Thought of you guys immediately. Felt like the Pure Cinema Pod vibe

DERBY (1970) Talk about a time capsule! Doc about professional roller derby But becomes about something else With the personal lives of the skaters, their struggles, we see life as a roller derby "...one of the most engaging movies I have seen in a long time" Ebert ****

REMBRANDT (1936) A stellar Charles Laughton plays the legendary Dutch painter Less a biography. More about the important moments that shaped his unique approach to art "...it maintains a tremendous impact and is a revelation in set design" - Leslie Halliwell

ANASTASIA (1956) Lavish ballroom film starring Ingrid Bergman (won Oscar) Interesting commentary on acting, as Bergman "pretends" to be Russian royalty Also, a cynical film about grifting and using people "Inspired casting makes this film exceptional" Maltin ****

OH, MR. PORTER! (1937) "...works beautifully from beginning to end" - Leslie Halliwell Not terribly familiar with the comic stylings of Will Hay This is a madcap story on a train. Feels very British. Great accents. Jokes that probably went over my head. But I caught a few

PRINCE OF THE CITY (1981) I've seen this movie close to double digits My favorite Lumet? Excited to watch a BR transfer One of the great NY films Ebert **** This "is a very good movie and, like some of its characters, it wants to break your heart. Maybe it will" It does

99 AND 44/100% DEAD (1974) A Maltin BOMB "Idiotic, poorly made gangster melodrama" "The pits" Tell us how you really feel? 😆 This Frankenheimer crime curio is stuck between quirky and hard-hitting Unsure what mode it lives in. But for me...interesting for that reason

THE PLAY HOUSE (1921) Buster's dreams usher in a series of scenes at a stage theatre Not as cohesive as other Buster shorts I've watched Still, a few good gags Ebert ****

As a side quest this winter, I'm also watching Breaking Bad for the first time