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The Last Circus (2010)

February 7, 2025May 16, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Natalia is a trapeze artist who is caught between two mentally disturbed clowns. Who better to handle this whacky premise than Spanish maniac director Álex de la Iglesia? Well, he’s actually a very level headed man, but damn if he doesn’t make some weirdly delightful movies. This is not as great as his debut feature Accione Mutante (which is available on a beautiful 4k / Blu-ray from Severin). Don’t let that discourage you. This is one hour and forty-seven minute ride on a crazy, funny, violent, and weird as fuck rollercoaster. If you enjoy this film, I also recommend The Day of the Beast (1995), Perdita Durango (1997), Dying of Laughter (1999), Common Wealth (2000), Eight Hundred Bullets (2002), Ferpect Crime (2004), The Baby’s Room (2006), The Oxford Murders (2008 – previously featured here), and As Luck Would Have It (2011). Álex de la Iglesia deals in many genres, but keep an open mind and there’s a lot to appreciate in his filmography.

Available on Blu-ray from Magnolia.

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Manhunter (1986)

January 31, 2025May 8, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Years before The Silence of the Lambs came out, Michael Mann directed this stylish adaptation of Thomas Harris’ book “Red Dragon.” Here is one of those movies that I think many people have missed or overlooked in recent years. I have been a fan since first seeing it as a teenager. I loved Mann’s Miami Vice and Crime Story series at the time. I almost recommended this years ago, but the streaming services always cropped the beautiful cinemascope aspect ratio to 16:9. You need to see this in the extra wide 2.35:1 or it loses a lot of it’s charm. The headline here is, this is a kick ass crime thriller that is dripping with ‘80s style, and loaded with awesome actors. It is easily Tom Noonan’s best role. Yes, Manhunter is a little different than the book. If you want a closer adaptation, watch Red Dragon (2002). I didn’t care for it as much, but it’s worth seeing. The thing that sets this version apart is the awesome soundtrack and score. I own it on vinyl, and still listen to an extended music blog version regularly. The Shriekback song “This Big Hush” is the standout. It’s a damn shame they didn’t record an entire album like that. There are definitely some cheesy bits in this film, it was 1986 after all, so don’t expect perfection. Just experience it with your psychoactive substance of choice, and try to enjoy the trip.

Only a crappy Blu-ray is available domestically as part of a “Hannibal Lecter” set.

Lakota Nation vs. United States (2022)

January 24, 2025May 1, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is an excellent documentary on the Lakota Indians fight to reclaim The Black Hills. I was reasonably aware of this struggle, but still learned a lot here. The way the movie is constructed is really quite an achievement. Beautiful footage, poetic narration, and seriously detailed history, all combine for a moving experience. This is information that EVERY American should learn.

Not available on Blu-ray.

Frank (2014)

January 17, 2025May 1, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

I decided to watch this because I am a fan of co-writer Jon Ronson, who was also behind The Men Who Stare at Goats. Of course I like the idea of Michael Fassbender working behind a mask for an entire movie too. This is all very loosely based on the true story of Ronson playing keyboards in Chris Sieveys, aka Frank Sidebottoms, backing band. I was in weird music groups for 25+ years, so some of that aspect of the film rings a bit false, but I still enjoyed watching it. If you’d like to see something Anomalous, give Frank a try.

Blu-ray available from Magnolia.

Skree Zine – Noir Issue

January 13, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

I have a long discussion with my friend Corey about Film Noir in the latest issue of Skree Zine. I also chipped in a list of favorite films of the genre and a couple of unpublished recommendations. This is a real print publication that will make you feel like it’s the ‘90s zine heyday all over again.

For more info, or to order go to: http://www.thegrumpus.com/shop/skree-zine-the-noir-issue

The Imitation Game (2014)

January 10, 2025April 9, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

I really try to avoid Oscar winners here, but this one is pretty damned Anomalous, so I’m giving it a pass. This is the dramatized version of Alan Turing’s battle to crack the Nazi Enigma code, as well as events that occurred after WW2. The man was a genius on an epic level, and his complicated story is well handled in this film. As usual with historical movies, there are several factual errors, but none that are unforgivable. I am just happy Turing’s tale has been told in a way that reached a large audience. I avoided watching The Imitation Game for years because it is a PG-13 drama. That was a mistake, as I definitely appreciated seeing it recently, and I hope that you will give it a try.

Available on Blu-ray from Starz / Anchor Bay.

Foxy Brown (1974)

January 3, 2025April 4, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer (maybe skip this as it is full of spoilers)

Jack Hill directed this Pam Grier follow up to Coffy (it was going to be a sequel titled Burn Coffy Burn), and while is isn’t quite as good, it is a hell of a lot of fun. There is so much ridiculous ’70s cheese packed into 92 minutes you won’t believe it. The opening credits alone are jaw dropping. All there is to know is that Foxy is getting revenge by posing as a hooker to infiltrate the gang that killed her boyfriend. That means you get to see all the naughty stuff, and much ass kicking, while being treated to tons of quotable dialogue like this: “You pink-ass corrupt honky judge, take your little wet noodle outta here and if you see a man anywhere send him in because I do need a MAN!” Just turn off your higher brain functions and get ready to be entertained, sucka.

Not available on domestic Blu-ray.

A Prophet (2009)

December 20, 2024March 27, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

A French orphan of North African descent works his way to the top of the immigrant crime world. Noel Murray from The A.V. Club wisely compared this movie to Goodfellas. Yes, that is a very tall order, but A Prophet definitely impressed me when I first saw it. I rated the film a 10/10 back then, and I am looking forward to watching it again very soon.

The domestic Blu-ray is currently out of print.

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)

December 6, 2024March 6, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

I don’t play video games anymore, but as a kid growing up in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s I sure as hell did. Many hours of my young life were burned up playing stand up video games in the mall or the 7-11 near my house. I’m not exactly proud of this, but it does bring back fuzzy memories. Anyhow, this is a fantastic documentary about folks that compete on vintage arcade games. The director has managed to make King of Kong far more entertaining than it has any right to be. It helps that our “hero” is a charming nerd, and his nemesis is a weirdo egomaniac that is straight out of an ‘80s teen movie. They battle over the title of The King of Donkey Kong, and it is a ton of fun to watch. You get some good background on the arcade game craze too. If you want even more related history, you should also check out the doc Chasing Ghosts: Beyond the Arcade.

Not available on Blu-ray.

Psycho II (1983)

November 28, 2024January 1, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

I’m sure everyone thought it was crazy to make a sequel twenty two years after the iconic original film. By all measures they should have been right, except this movie is a blast. It does not feature the amazing cinematography or meticulous plotting of Hitchcock, but by early ‘80s horror standards Psycho II has it all. I recall being pleasantly surprised by this on VHS back in the early 2000s, and then had the privilege of seeing a 35 mm print a few years ago. Dan Halsted, who is the amazing programmer for Portland’s Hollywood Theater, introduced the film and had the extremely hot take that it is better than the original. I can’t quite bring myself to agree, but this is an excellent horror film. I would have paid to watch Anthony Perkins read a Denny’s menu out loud, so to see him give his all for a Psycho reboot is a no brainer in my book. Mr. Perkins went on to direct the third installment in 1986, and it’s honestly not bad. Give that one a watch later on, but keep your expectations a notch lower.

Available on Blu-ray from Shout Factory.