No Tears for the Dead (2014)

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Here’s another very good South Korean crime film. It’s got all the elements that you’d expect: tons of action, a very complicated story, extremely bad bad guys, and slick production values. This one leans a lot on drama, but that’s fine. It kept reminding me of Léon: The Professional, which is a good thing. Like Luc Besson’s film, the drama serves a purpose, and the action is impressive.

Blu-ray available from CJ Entertainment.

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The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)

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I was not the least bit interested in this movie when it originally came out. Then last year I listened to a podcast where the writer Jon Ronson was interviewed, and this book / screenplay were mentioned. Ronson is a super smart and amusing guy, so I figured the movie would actually be worth watching after all. I got around to watching it the other day and found Goats very entertaining. It does suffer from some moments of big-budget movie cheese, but I wasn’t too bothered. The story is based on fact, but the movie is all whacky comedy, so I’d recommend watching it with a couple of drinks or whatever you’re into.

Available on Blu-ray from Starz / Anchor Bay.

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Dead Ringers (1988)

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I can’t believe it took me over 80 posts to recommend a David Cronenberg film. After all he’s one of my favorite directors, and is STILL making good movies. Dead Ringers is an excellent, more mature thriller than say, Scanners. It does feel a bit slower than the director’s earlier films but that’s ok. It makes up for that flaw with one of my favorite minor movie character names of all time, Anders Wolleck. He’s played by an actor you might recognize. Also, keep an eye out for Jill Hennessy (City on a Hill, Law and Order, ugh… Crossing Jordan) and her real-life twin sister.

I also highly recommend you check out the recent Dead Ringers series on Amazon Prime. Very different, but great.

Blu-ray available from Shout Factory.

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Dirty Harry (1971)

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This is such a well known movie I hesitated recommending it. I’m going to go ahead and tell you about Dirty Harry because I seriously love this film, and I think there’s many younger people that have never seen it.

Here’s two fun facts: this film was a major influence on all the Italian police action (Poliziotteschi) films after it, and was inspired by the Zodiac murders which were still ongoing at the time of it’s release. This killer is called The Scorpio, and is flawlessly played by Andrew Robinson (Hellraiser 1 & 2, Star Trek DS9). Robinson is so unhinged and despicable in this film it still blows my mind. Get ready for a grim, violent, blast of a movie, with beautiful cinematography and kick ass music by Lalo Schifrin. I’m green with envy for any of you that will be seeing this for the first time.

Update 8.23.24 – I am currently reading Quentin Tarantino’s book “Cinema Speculation” in which he calls Dirty Harry “a powerhouse work of art.” I fully agree.

Available on Blu-ray from Warner Home Video.

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The Beach Bum (2019)

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I wish someone was showing an HD version of Julien Donkey-Boy, but this will do in the meantime. Harmony Korine sells enough paintings to never have to make a film again. That means he made this his way, and couldn’t care less what we think. I respect that. This movie is dumb, but I laughed a lot. Harmony was smart enough to hire a kick ass cinematographer, so while I was laughing I was marveling at the saturated colors and composition. Yep. I liked The Beach Bum.

Available on Blu-ray from Universal.

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Believer (2018)

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This is a good, super-convoluted, South Korean crime thriller. It’s a bit slow at times, but it’s also sporadically crazy-violent. I found it entertaining, so there’s a good chance you will too.

Blu-ray available from Well Go.

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That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)

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Buñuel’s final directorial effort is a beautiful, infuriating, and confusing movie. The film is far more Art than entertainment, but it still manages to be funny at times too. It’s also one of my favorites among this director’s work.

Available on Blu-ray from Lion’s Gate.

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Sergio (2009)

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Here’s a sad but informative doc about the life and death of UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello. I was skeptical of the importance of this man at first, but it becomes clear quickly that he was trying to make the world a better place. Sergio was murdered in a bombing in Iraq, and the filmmakers do not shy away from the disturbing details. Netflix produced a dramatization of this story, it did not get good reviews, so I am going to stick with this very good documentary.

Not available on Blu-ray.

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The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)

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Roger Corman made several, very loose Poe adaptations starring Vincent Price. They are almost all good to excellent. I personally don’t care for The Raven or Tales of Terror, but check out all the others. This one is special because it was written by Richard Matheson (the novel I Am Legend is essential reading) and co-stars Barbara Steele. It’s very melodramatic, but has held up well for me after multiple viewings. To quote Don Nicholas Medina… “You are about to enter Hell, Bartolome, HELL!… The netherworld. The infernal region, The Abode of the Damned… The place of torment. Pandemonium. Abbadon. Tophet. Gehenna. Naraka. THE PIT!… And the pendulum.”

Available on import Blu-ray from Arrow.

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