Tag Archives: movies

Some Oscar Counterprogramming

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: I was thinking of writing up a snarky take on the Academy Award nominations, but then decided I didn’t really want to participate in that even as a joke. (I believe the official Uncouth Reflections editorial … Continue reading →

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“Since You Went Away,” a Culture’s Dreams, and the Agee-DOS Dosado

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: “Since You Went Away” doesn’t have a great reputation among filmbuffs, and it’s not hard to see why: it’s broad, sentimental, and downright propagandistic in its treatment of small-town American life (at nearly three hours, it’s also looooonnnngggg). … Continue reading →

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Not My Favorite Horse Racing Movie

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: Dead Cert (Tony Richardson, 1974) Something the Brits do pretty well: take their decent-to-classic mystery novels and turn them into solid-to-great TV programmes and movies. It’s rare to come across one that doesn’t have at least … Continue reading →

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Fear of Movies

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: Two new movies, both good, by any reasonable objective standard, in that they seem to successfully achieve what they set out to achieve. But one betrays a fear of commitment, a fear of failure, while the … Continue reading →

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Lesser Dante is still Dante

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: The Hole (Joe Dante, 2009) I watched this in 2D off of Netflix streaming, but it seems like it would have been a fun thing to see in 3D at the movies. Flattened out, it’s enjoyable enough, … Continue reading →

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End of the Road (Aram Avakian, 1970)

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: My list of “Films that Belong to an American New Wave that Didn’t Really Exist” includes De Palma’s Greetings and Hi, Mom!; Norman Mailer’s Maidstone; Robert Downey, Sr.’s oeuvre; Shadows, Faces, and Opening Night; Robert Kramer’s Milestones; Mickey One, The Connection, Dusty and Sweets McGee, The Swimmer, and David Holzman’s … Continue reading →

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Two Sports Movies From The 1970’s

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: One’s a masterpiece, one’s an interesting-if-not-exactly-good little movie. First the masterpiece:  Slap Shot (George Roy Hill, 1977) A vulgar, American comedy from one of the 70’s most underrated filmmakers. (Considering the “classic” status of Butch Cassidy and … Continue reading →

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“Mysterious Mamberano”

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: “Mysterious Mamberano” is one of several adventure documentaries available on Netflix Instant made by a Slovakian filmmaker named Pavol Barabas. I’ve watched and enjoyed them all. This time Barabas and a couple of buddies set out to … Continue reading →

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“Thomas Graal’s Best Film”

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Swedish film pioneer Mauritz Stiller is known mainly for his connection to Greta Garbo; it was he who brought her to MGM. But in the 1910s and early ’20s he was a major force in movies, perhaps … Continue reading →

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Douglas Fairbanks and “When the Clouds Roll By”

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: This Douglas Fairbanks project, the first directing effort of Victor Fleming, stands at the nexus of a number of popular art traditions. It dates from 1919, a year prior to Fairbanks’ swashbuckling debut in “The Mark … Continue reading →

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