Tag: drama

End of Watch (2012)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

If you hate cops, skip this one.

I hate bad cops.

I love RoboCop (1987).

These guys aren’t as cool as RoboCop.

This is movie is pretty damned good in spite of that flaw.

End of Watch does veer from crazy violence to Hollywood-style drama cheese, but it’s ok. Overall this is a solid action/drama. I even laughed a few times. Also, Ugly Betty and Hopper from Stranger Things are in it briefly, and they’re both awesome.

Available on Blu-ray from Universal.

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Jacob’s Ladder (1990)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

“Your mother and I saw this advance movie screening last night. It was WEIRD. Here’s a shirt.” Yeah, I first heard about this one from my conservative parents. I saw it not long after and absolutely loved it. Jacob’s Ladder is negative as hell, with a fractured narrative, but is also beautifully constructed and acted. If you have never seen this before, get ready for a dark ride.

Damn I wish I still had that shirt.

Blu-ray available from Lion’s Gate.

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The King (2019)

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Streaming on Netflix | imdb | trailer

Here’s a damn good historical drama based on Henry V. It’s got all the top quality elements in place: production design, cinematography, soundtrack, and performers. The film also features knights in full armor doing battle in graphic detail. I don’t recall anything else I’ve seen using period accurate (to my layman’s eye) outfits in combat like this. The movie is a bit on the long side, but don’t let that deter you. I didn’t fast forward even once.

Not available on Blu-ray.

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13 Assassins (2010)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is easily the best recent samurai film, and it’s also one of my top choices among Takashi Miike’s output. 13 Assassins is fast-paced, well made, and features awesome performances. No, it doesn’t have many of the transgressive aspects that this director is known for, but I barely noticed. This film kicks major ass from start to finish.

Available on Blu-ray from Magnolia.

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Black Book (2006)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Who would have thought that the man behind RoboCop and Showgirls would go on to make an excellent fact-based World War II movie? Not me. I’ve been a fan of most of Paul Verhoeven’s output, but I was still absolutely floored at how good this movie is. I give it my highest recommendation.

Available on Blu-ray from Sony Pictures.

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Angela’s Ashes (1999)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Here’s a sad, funny, and excellent drama based on Frank McCourt’s autobiography. I liked the film so much that I read the book. I didn’t think less of the movie after reading it either. To me that’s the sign of a solid adaptation.

Blu-ray is coming out May 26th from Paramount.

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Mother (2009)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Years before Parasite, Bong Joon Ho first got my attention with this very good thriller. Out of all of the director’s work, this is the standout aside from his Oscar winner. Lead actress Hye-ja Kim is absolutely spot-on.

Available on Blu-ray from Magnolia.

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The Night of the Hunter (1955)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

I’ll watch Robert Mitchum in anything, but this is one of his very best roles. He plays a con artist “priest,” and man is he despicable. I would love to recommend more good classic films like this here on Anomalous Cinema, but it seems pre-‘60s movies are not often available in 1080p HD. This one is, and it looks great. Note: Luckily things have improved for older streaming movies since I first posted this in 2020.

Available on Blu-ray from Criterion Collection.

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The Ninth Configuration (1980)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | no trailer available

The Exorcist book author William Peter Blatty only directed two movies, but both this, and The Exorcist III, are weird little gems. Well, I think weird doesn’t quite cover The Ninth Configuration. Totally unhinged would be closer to the mark. This is about a military insane asylum, but it takes a little patience to get to where the film goes truly mad. It’s worth the wait, as it has one of the more memorable hallucination sequences I’ve ever seen. Fans of Joe Spinell will enjoy his moments in the film as well. His character wasn’t in the book or script, so his dialog is all improvised. RIP Joe.

Available on Blu-ray from Hen’s Tooth Video.

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Beasts of No Nation (2015)

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Streaming on Netflix | imdb | trailer

Beasts of No Nation is an excellent drama about a West African boy who is made into a child soldier. The movie is brutal, but tells an important story. Here’s one interesting bit of trivia, at one point in the film the colors all shift to ultra-violet. This was a reference to visual artist Richard Mosse’s series “The Enclave.” I got to see his stunning multi-screen video installation at the Portland Museum of Art in 2014.

Available on Blu-ray from Criterion.

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