Tag: crime

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

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Streaming on HBO Max | imdb | trailer

This one was new to me up until just recently, and I was very pleasantly surprised. If you think the title says it all you are dead wrong. This is a complex plot for a ‘30s movie and, amazingly enough, it’s based on a true story. I just suggest you just check it out if you don’t mind watching an old black and white film. I gave I Am a Fugitive… a 9 out of 10.

Not available on Blu-ray.

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Birds of Passage (2018)

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Streaming on Amazon Prime | imdb | trailer

From the same director duo as the previously recommended Embrace of the Serpent comes another top notch and innovative film. An indigenous Wayuu family in remote Columbia deals with the clash of their traditional life and the high profit drug market. This movie pretty much blew my mind right out of the gate. I found it to be a very satisfying mix of crime drama and art film. It does have a few minor flaws, and is on the long side, but if you give this a pass for those reasons I believe you’ll be missing something special. The world needs more films like Birds of Passage.

Not available on domestic Blu-ray.

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The Whistleblower (2010)

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Streaming on Hulu, Kanopy, and Amazon Prime | imdb | trailer

I had forgotten about this movie until just now, but it’s nice to dust off unusual films when I can. The Whistleblower fits perfectly in that category as it is a pretty nasty movie, but also deals with a serious subject, and pulls it off effectively. This is based on the real life Kathryn Bolkovac, who uncovered a sex trafficking scandal in post-war Bosnia. Critics didn’t like it very much because of the handling of the heavy subject matter, but I give it a thumbs up. Rachel Weisz is great as per usual, and if you haven’t seen her mini-series version of Dead Ringers I also highly recommend that as well (just make sure you see the OG first).

Available on Blu-ray from 20th Century Fox.

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Mystery Street (1950)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

A skeleton is found on the beach and a local detective is out to solve the mystery behind it. Ricardo Montalban was best known as Mr. Roarke from Fantasy Island and Khan from Star Trek, but here we get to watch him as the lead in a very good film noir. You also get to see the always enjoyable Elsa Lanchester (The Bride of Frankenstein) in a solid mid-career role. Mystery Street is a bit more morbid than your average crime film of the time. The inclusion of a Harvard professor using forensic techniques reminded me of a giallo film. This was directed by John Sturges who went on to make many classic films including The Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape. All these ingredients make for a very entertaining mid-century dose of Anomalous Cinema.

Available on Blu-ray from Warner Archives.

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Argentina, 1985 (2022)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is a historical drama about the trial of the men responsible for Argentina’s “Dirty War.” Between 1974 and 1983 over 20,000 people considered part of the opposition to the military dictatorship were disappeared. Lead actor Ricardo Darín (The Secret in their Eyes, Nine Queens) is excellent as the chief prosecutor, but all the performances are top notch. Argentina, 1985 is simply a fantastic and riveting courtroom drama that deserved its win of the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Chalk this up to another movie that shined a light on a mostly overlooked chapter of world history.

Not available on Blu-ray.

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Intruder in the Dust (1949)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

A rebellious African American man in a small town is accused of murder. The odds are stacked against him, but his innocence is defended in a very risky way. This is an intense, and surprisingly complicated, story for a film made in the ‘40s. Intruder in the Dust is never dull, well acted, and the perfect length, so if you’re not allergic to pre-1960s cinema, give it a watch.

Available on Blu-ray from Warner Archives.

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The Accountant (2016)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

My older brother just reminded me of this movie. This will be Chris’ indirect guest recommendation. I gotta give him credit for not only turning me on to classics like The Road Warrior, Apocalypse Now!, and all the early Clint Eastwood movies, but he actually took me to see Conan the Barbarian (1982) in the theater. I was nine years old. No worries, I turned out fine in the end. What is best in life? Seeing a stone cold classic film in its original run. Back to the topic at hand… The Accountant is a solid, somewhat daring, riff on an adult action movie. Affleck is good in this AND you get J.K. Simmons and Jon Bernthal. That’s really all you need to know.

Update 5.29.26 – I just watched Accountant 2 and it totally sucks. Don’t waste your time.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Warner.

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The Secret Agent (2025)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Kleber Mendonça Filho does it again. I thoroughly enjoyed his last two films, Bacurau and Pictures of Ghosts, so I’m thinking we can keep expecting good things from this writer-director. His latest feature is essentially a crime thriller, but there’s some very funny, and very surreal moments as well. I think that combo may just be Filho’s super power. The film also manages to illustrate just how corrupt and dangerous things were in mid-1970s Brazil. Wagner Moura is great in the lead role, as you’d expect, but you also get treated to a powerful little dose of Udo Kier (RIP). The only issue I have with The Secret Agent is its length. I suppose it was necessary to tell the story, and it really never felt boring, so I’ll shut up now.

Not available on Blu-ray.

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Night of the Juggler (1980)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

NOTE: This is an update of a recommendation from January, 2024.

An ex-cop’s daughter is kidnapped by a psycho in dirty old New York City. This is loosely adapted from a novel of the same name. I was lucky enough to see a 35mm screening of Quentin Tarantino’s print of this obscure action movie a few years ago. Up until the recent 4k restoration this was only ever officially released on VHS. James Brolin is great, and his nemesis, Cliff Gorman, is a recognizable bad guy in many ‘70s movies and TV series. When I saw this at Portland’s Hollywood Theatre, the programmer extraordinaire, Dan Halsted, wisely said that the real star of the film is New York City at its gritty peak. Times Square porno shops, dive bars, and grindhouse theaters feature prominently. Do not miss Night of the Juggler. It is a blast from start to finish.

Available on 4k UHD / Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.

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Out of the Past (1947)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | no original trailer available

Jeff runs a small town gas station and has led a quiet existence for three years. Then his old life as a private detective catches up to him and one of my favorite film noir stories begins to unfold. This is a real gem of ‘40s cinema. You have the always excellent Robert Mitchum in the lead role, Kirk Douglas as the bad guy, and Jacques Tourneur in the director’s chair. Tourneur also made one of my top ‘50s horror films Curse of the Demon, as well as the recommended Nightfall, The Leopard Man and a 1964 episode of The Twilight Zone, Night Call, among many other highly regarded movies. In my book this might just be the single film noir that stands above them all. If you were going to watch one movie in this style, Out of the Past would be an excellent choice.

Available on Blu-ray from Warner Archives.

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 or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.