Bob la Flambeur (1955)

Bob is a gentlemen gambler deciding to return to a life of crime when he loses all of his money in a horse race.  With a charming sense of humor and clever twists in the plot  Jean-Pierre Melville crafts a film noir that’s not like any American Film Noir produced.   There’s a lightness mixed in that one never takes serious.   Grade: B+

The American (2010)

I found this captivating thriller about a jaded, gun designer for the bad guys looking for redemption a refreshing work of character design.  George Clooney pushes himself into a new range, an intensely simply man struggling for meaning in his life and hoping for change.  Some probably would say that it's a slow film, but I found it paced just right, moving with purpose.  True, it could have had a better fight at the end of the film, but still I loved the last image.  Worth seeing as long as the viewer understands that it’s more about tension and tone than action and explosives.  Grade: A-

Revanche (2008)

An Austrian film directed by Götz Spielmann that follows the story of an ex-con wanting to runaway with his prostitute girlfriend to Spain only for the destiny of a police officer to intervene.  What results is pure cinematic poetry as the audience is confronted with the very roots of revenge and redemption.   These are great characters written and performed with subtly and depth of which most films lack.  I appreciated the elegant pacing Spielmann gave the film and loved how many surprises cropped up in a story so natural.  Recommend for people who enjoy quiet films with complex character driven plots.  Avoid if you're expecting a fast pace shoot'em up with lots of violence.  Grade: A-. 

The Runaways (2010)

An entertaining rock bio on the band the Runaways that follows the typical formula but without feeling trite.  With dead-on performances from Dakota Fanning, as Cherry Curry, and Kristen Stewart, as Joanne Jett, the film focus on these two artists relationship and on how fame breaks one down and the other seems destined by the rock gods.  The narrative's pacing does loose some steam in the last twenty minutes but thankfully the last scene saves the picture from falling off the rails.   I also felt the film makers slipped a bit on walking that thin line of accurately showing their drug use while trying to not glamorizing it.  They did show that drugs destroy people but I felt they could have hammered it home a little more.  The after effects of drug addiction is never fun even if it is part of the Rock'n'roll scene.  Overall a story worthy of a movie.  If anything watching it for the soundtrack is a bitchin' time.  Grade: B+.

The Band Wagon (1953)

Even in his '50s Fred Astaire made it look so easy.  Effortlessly he plays Tony Hunter, washed up has-been who is talked into a new show by some friends, a husband and wife writing duo.  They bring on actor and director Jeff Cordova to produce who hires on Astaire's leading dance partner Gabriella Gerard played wonderfully by Cyd Charisse.  This backstage film is directed by Vincente Minnelli who captures a sense of magic in a plot that's pretty simple.  Some times the acting is a little showy and unnatural but this didn't bother me because it fit with the characterization of the show.  Really what makes this such fine musical is the music and the dancing.   I especially loved the dance numbers between Astaire and Charisse (I watched them twice).  The Triplets number was another favorite of mine because it's so damn funny to watch.   What surprised me was how effective the ending was; it really wowed me.  Basically if you like musicals you'll love this one.  Just jump on the Band Wagon and go with it, it's a real joy.  Grade: A.

Spoiler:  A little bit more on the ending.  What was so great about it was that it completes a circle from the very beginning of the movie where Fred Astaire leaves the train depot singing about how great it is that he's on his own and by himself (which is sung just off enough for the audience to know he's lying).  Then at the end of the film he's in his dressing room singing the same song, certain that he is forever going to be alone when he is greeted by the entire company outside his dressing room.  Then Gaby tells him in a wonderful symbolic way that she loves him and wants to be with him.   The shot cuts to Astaire's tearful happy reaction that melted my heart.   What a great moment. 

The Edge of Love (2008)

For the life of me I can't figure out what went wrong with this film.  It's like a stew with all the best ingredients cooked perfectly that ends up tasting really really bland.   Solid performances, beautiful cinematography, and an interesting subject: this film should have been incredible.  But it's not.  I found it painfully slow.  It felt like it never was going to end.  There were a few good scenes but mostly the plot meanders about without direction.   It's never really clear what any of the characters want.  I still don't know who loved who.  Who was I supposed to root for?  I thought Dylan Thomas was a prick.  His wife was interesting but weak.  Vera, Dylan's first love, was a big mystery.  Cillian Murphy's character was only in the film for about fifteen minutes.  I'd only recommend this film for people who love romantic WWII films with lots of melodrama.   Everyone else should avoid this misfire of a film.  Grade: C.

Exam (2010)

This entertaining film directed by Stuart Hazeldine is a quality executed example of single-setting drama, a sort of science-fiction thriller in the spirit of 12 Angry Men.   8 candidates, looking to get hired for a mysterious position, enter a room to take an exam.   They're given instructions and 80 minutes to figure out the answer to a question.  Yet what is the question?   They don't know because when they flip their papers over they discover their papers blank.   I enjoyed watching smart people try to unravel a mystery in a logical manner.  The acting from a bunch of unknowns is excellent and I was impressed at how the film makers, with lighting and camera angles, made such a simple set work without feeling like a play.  If you enjoy clever thrillers this is one to try out.  Grade: B+.