drama – Page 3 – Anomalous Cinema

Clearcut (1991)

October 11, 2024January 17, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Graham Greene stars as an Indigenous activist seeking to teach a lesson to the head of a logging company. I only saw this movie for the first time recently and what a pleasant surprise it was. Clearcut is an original mix of horror and thriller, and is satisfying throughout the run time. Going in knowing as little as little as possible will give you the best viewing experience. It would be best to not even watch the trailer.

Available on Blu-ray from Severin Films.

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American Gangster (2007)

September 27, 2024January 1, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Frank Lucas was a NYC gangster that one journalist called a real-life Superfly. This was the last Ridley Scott film I truly enjoyed, and he did a solid job of making Lucas’ story into a fast-paced entertaining experience. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe are both excellent in this, and the cast is packed with many familiar faces. This isn’t quite as good as DePalma’s Scarface, but it’s a dark and violent crime film that delivers the goods.

Available on Blu-ray from Universal.

Man Bites Dog (1992)

August 23, 2024November 21, 2024 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

When it comes to disturbing fiction films, this one is often mentioned along with Salò, A Clockwork Orange, and Irreversible. I try to avoid obvious recommendations, but it just occurred to me that Man Bites Dog has never been available on Blu-ray. It came out on VHS shortly after the theatrical run. Then Criterion did a laser disc and DVD many years ago, but that’s it. Those of you who saw this in the past really need to check it out in full HD. Then there’s those of you who have just never experienced one of the most unique independent films ever made. All you need to know is this: Benoît is a very charming but egomaniacal serial killer, and you are watching a documentary about him unfold ala This is Spinal Tap. What you get is a weird mix of funny and horrific from start to finish. It has ALL the triggers minus animal abuse, so you should avoid this if you are sensitive about pretty much anything. I made the mistake of taking a date to see this in the theater back in 1993. It did NOT go well. Yes, it’s extreme. It also looks fantastic and the lead performance by Benoît Poelvoorde is a personal favorite. If you are a fan of the most edgy kind of cinema, this is essential viewing.

Not available on Blu-ray.

The Reflecting Skin (1990)

August 16, 2024November 14, 2024 vergeoflightLeave a comment

Just-Watch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

A boy lives in early 1950s rural Idaho where reality is very strange, and mysterious deaths are occurring. When I first heard the COIL song “Omlagus Garfungiloops” I was baffled by the sample “You’ve been exploding frogs again?” A friend informed me it was from the movie The Reflecting Skin. I knew I needed to see this. I finally was able to rent a copy a year or so later and was 100% not disappointed. I have watched this one multiple times over the years. I never get sick of it. This movie is darkly surreal, beautiful, horrific, funny at times, and features very good performances. That includes an early appearance of Viggo Mortensen, who I’ve been a big fan of ever since. There are moments where you see the limits of the budget, but they take little away from this unique indie masterpiece.

BONUS: You can watch director Philip Ridley’s bizarre short film The Universe of Dermott Finn (1988) here on YouTube. Check out an article about Ridley’s multi-faceted career here.

Not available on domestic Blu-ray.

Cross of Iron (1977)

July 19, 2024October 22, 2024 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is Sam Peckinpah’s tale of a good rebellious nazi against a bad medal-hungry nazi. Yes, our protagonist, played by James Coburn, is no Oscar Schindler or John Rabe, but he despises Hitler’s war. Clearly this is NOT Saving Private Ryan. There are plenty of flaws, yet this is still one of Peckipah’s best films. Is it day? Is it evening? Continuity is for whimps! Was that shot out of focus? Them’s fightin’ words. Cross of Iron features impressive looking locations in some scenes, particularly the industrial complex at around the 1:15 mark. I find it amazing that this long, violent, weird movie was a success in it’s day. I say it is absolutely worth watching in our modern age as well. Please watch all of the closing credits.

Available on Blu-ray from Henstooth.

Zulu (1964)

June 28, 2024October 3, 2024 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is a weird one to recommend to people nowadays, but this website ain’t called Conventional Cinema. It is based on the 1879 Battle of Rorke’s Drift between British soldiers and the Zulu nation. Should the English Empire have been in South Africa? Should a movie about white “heroes” vs native tribal Africans be taken seriously in contemporary society? If you automatically are saying “no” to both questions then you should skip this movie. Anyone with a brain knows that imperialism is evil and that racism is stupid. I look at this like other historical war movies where the people we’re supposed to be rooting for are mostly white soldiers, and the “bad guys” are Vietnamese, Afghani, Somali, etc. The racial aspect is disgusting, but in the case of Zulu at least, these are soldiers who are not gung-ho nationalists. They are just trying to help their cohorts and themselves survive. With all that in mind, I believe this is a fantastic, and seriously epic war film. Keep your ears open for the samples that Dead Can Dance used on their song “The Fatal Impact.”

Not available on domestic Blu-ray.

When Trumpets Fade (1998)

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 vergeoflightLeave a comment

Streaming on Max | imdb | trailer

Here’s a surprisingly good WWII movie made for HBO in response to Saving Private Ryan. A low-ranking burnout is ashamed of his conduct in action but gets promoted anyway and goes on to lead a dangerous mission. You will probably recognize many actors in this movie. It’s more fun if I don’t list them. When Trumpets Fade is not action packed, but it’s a proper length, never dull, and dark as hell.

Not available on Blu-ray.

The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

May 31, 2024May 5, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer (fan-made – sorry)

Two guys on a fishing trip make the mistake of picking up a hitching psychopath. If you’re an old person like myself you’ll recognize the psycho as William Talman, who played DA Hamilton Berger on the old Perry Mason TV series. Even if you have no clue what any of that last sentence meant you might very well enjoy this grim film noir. I only saw it for the first time recently and was throughly entertained. This was directed by the multi-talented Ida Lupino who also helmed the classic Twilight Zone episode The Masks (1964). She was also the lead actress in the episode The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine (1959). Ida must have had to put up with a ton of bullshit during her career, but I for one am glad she did.

Available on Blu-ray from Kino Classics.

American Splendor (2003)

May 24, 2024September 13, 2024 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is a very good dramatization / sorta-documentary combo based on the comic series “American Splendor” by Harvey Pekar. He’s essentially a grumpy loser, but somehow his perspective on an average American life is consistently amusing. The best part of this film is the choice of Paul Giamatti to play Pekar. The guy who plays Robert Crumb nails it too. If you enjoyed Ghost World, this will be right up your alley. It’s often not laugh out loud funny, but that’s not really the point. I’d call American Splendor a throughly entertaining look at lovable weirdos. However, if you’ve had enough of straight white men, you better skip this one.

Not available on Blu-ray.

Cisco Pike (1971)

May 17, 2024August 15, 2024 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Kris Kristofferson plays a musician and former drug dealer who gets forced by a bad cop (Gene Hackman) to try and sell a bunch o’ stuff in one weekend. My first experience with this was when I saw a 35mm print a few years ago, and I really enjoyed it. Cisco Pike is packed with gritty and goofy early ‘70s counter culture stuff, and so many choice actors from that era too. If you grew up anywhere near that time you’ll be pointing at the screen every few minutes. Don’t go expecting non-stop action and you’ll probably like, dig this flick.

Available on Blu-ray from Powerhouse Films.