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 I also chipped in a list of favorite films of the genre and a couple of unpublished recommendations.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.
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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.
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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.
If you are a fan of Anomalous Cinema, please consider supporting this site by donating any amount (even $1.00 is appreciated) via Venmo @vergeoflight / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.
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.
If you are a fan of Anomalous Cinema, please consider supporting this site by donating any amount (even $1.00 is appreciated) via Venmo @vergeoflight / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.
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.
If you are a fan of Anomalous Cinema, please consider supporting this site by donating any amount (even $1.00 is appreciated) via Venmo @vergeoflight / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.
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.
If you are a fan of Anomalous Cinema, please consider supporting this site by donating any amount (even $1.00 is appreciated) via Venmo @vergeoflight / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.
First of all, in a couple of weeks it will be the FIFTH anniversary of Anomalous Cinema! I’m happy I’ve been able to keep this going for so long, I hope that I’ve turned you on to some good viewing during those years.
Anyhow, I just paid the latest domain name and hosting bills and would appreciate it if you could donate a little something to offset those costs.
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If you cannot afford to donate, please be so kind as to tell your friends about this site.
This is a short but excellent documentary filmed during The Iraq War. It is extremely graphic right from the start, so if you are squeamish you will want to stay far away. The filmmakers managed to make a very honest and objective film, that avoids bullshit politics, and just tells the story of a frontline hospital and the people in it. There are moments that are legitimately poetic here too. I give Baghdad ER a 10/10.
Not available on Blu-ray.
If you are a fan of Anomalous Cinema, please consider supporting this site by donating any amount (even $1.00 is appreciated) via Venmo @vergeoflight / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.
Julie Wardh moves back to Austria and starts getting stalked by a razor ripper. Sounds like stereotypical slasher fare, but this is one of my tippity top favorite giallo films, and one of the very best by Sergio Martino. The Strange Vice… stars the dynamic duo of Edwige Fenech and George Hilton who were also paired up in All the Colors of the Dark (1972), and The Case of the Bloody Iris (1972). This fantastic movie has many twists and turns, plus one of my most beloved sneaky tricks ever in a thriller film (you will know it when it is revealed). I am pretty picky about giallo cinema, especially as I get older, but this one I still rank a 10 out of 10.
If you are a fan of Anomalous Cinema, please consider supporting this site by donating any amount (even $1.00 is appreciated) via Venmo @vergeoflight / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.
This is the first adaptation of one of my all-time favorite books, “Catch-22” (yes, the commonly used phrase originates from the novel). It is a case where the movie is not as good as the book, however it is still damn good on it’s own (much like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest). One of the original ad taglines sums up Catch-22 nicely – “The anti-war satire of epic proportions.” The cast is amazing. It seems as if anyone who was well known in 1970 is in the film. Alan Arkin is awesome as our “hero” Yossarian. I also highly recommend the 2019 Hulu mini-series starring Christopher Abbott (Possessor, etc) in the same role. Make sure to keep an ear open for a prominent Neurosis sample used on their classic “Souls at Zero” album.
Not available on domestic Blu-ray.
If you are a fan of Anomalous Cinema, please consider supporting this site by donating any amount (even $1.00 is appreciated) via Venmo @vergeoflight / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.
Anomalous Cinema 