tarzan among the apes

The Fall Of The Roman Empire

A movie for our times.

Let them bite you.

The Very Best Men: The Daring Early Years of the CIA by Evan Thomas

Spies aren’t supposed to be enthusiastic idealists, brimming with optimism. Ah, but this is 1950’s America, when everything is possible…and no story ends as happy as it begins.

Poor Joe, tired of writing pulps, he just wants a job.  But who can resist the Chesire cat–especially when he has the girl?

A fantastic release from Criterion, chock full of documentaries, including a 1968 BBC Omnibus programme on writer Graham Greene, who refuses to show his smile on camera.

Both have buckets of blood and are about girls with strange telekinetic powers, but Carrie [Blu-ray] speaks about what it is to grow up in the Darwinian world of female adolescence, while  The Fury lollygags it way through pure 70’s bioplasmic mumbo-jumbo to one of the great anatomical explosions of all time.

vs.

From the book, George Lucas’s Blockbusting:

1. The French Connection, 1971.  Why? While trailing the crooks in cold, cold New York, Gene Hackman makes sure to get his daily nutrition of pizza.  A favorite scene in a film full of favorites.

2. Vertigo, 1958.  Why? Is Kim Novak real?  Or is she a phantasy?  One of the greatest romantic movies is also Hitchcock’s greatest horror film.

3. Double Indemnity, 1944.  Why? Dangerous liaisons in well-stocked grocery stores show just how little has changed since 1944.

For the rest of my selections, check out the official website!