Billy Jack (1971) Billy Jack first appeared to little fanfare in Born Losers (1967), but erupted into the national consciousness in this schizophrenic film, defending a group of hippies from a corrupt local government. Billy responds to slight injustices with inappropriate levels of violence which is then met with more deplorable violence, culminating in the son of the… Continue reading Justice for all
Author: Tenkmovies
The sorrowful vampyre is obsessed with blood
The Sorrow and the Pity (1969) Marcel Ophuls (son of French director Max Ophuls) documents the collaboration between French government officials and Nazis during World War II, exploring what people will compromise in order to survive and how a nation responds to an existential crisis. He interviews members of the French resistance as well as… Continue reading The sorrowful vampyre is obsessed with blood
Prophecy is just an illusion
The Illusionist (2006) When Eisenheim (Ed Norton) was young, he fell in love with a duchess well above his social class. After years traveling the world perfecting his craft as a magician, he returns to Vienna to pursue the same duchess (Jessica Biel), who’s now engaged to the Crown Prince Leopold. The film becomes a battle of wills… Continue reading Prophecy is just an illusion
The fabulous pillow
Pillow Talk (1959) Jan Morrow (Doris Day), a strong, independent women, lives next door to misogynistic Brad Allen (Rock Hudson) whose womanizing monopolizes the party line in their building, repulsing Morrow while charming her older housekeeper Alma (Thelma Ritter). Through a series of contrived circumstances, Allen and Morrow fall in love. Day and Ritter earned Oscar nominations,… Continue reading The fabulous pillow
The bridge goes over the canyon and leads to a tree
The Learning Tree (1969) Even keeled Newt reluctantly follows his conscience and gives evidence proving Booker killed a man, destroying his friendship with Marcus, Booker’s son, and leading to a violent confrontation in a racist, rural Kansas town. This film about the black experience during the Great Depression is a better film than Gordon Parks… Continue reading The bridge goes over the canyon and leads to a tree
Prideful Stoker by the lake
Pride & Prejudice (2005) After early supporting roles as Queen Amidala’s decoy in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) and second fiddle to Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, Keira Knightley proved a more than capable leading lady as Elizabeth Bennet. Director Joe Wright was obviously impressed with her work… Continue reading Prideful Stoker by the lake
Roid rage and winning
Pain & Gain (2013) Untalented and not very bright, Daniel Lugo (Mark Walhberg), Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson), and Noel Doorbal (Anthony Mackie) are so enamored with the promise of the American Dream and its associated wealth, they will do anything to achieve their goals. Walberg and Mackie are great, but the star of the film is Dwayne Johnson.… Continue reading Roid rage and winning
Flying in a trance
Fur of Flying (2010) As is the case with other recent efforts involving Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, this 3D, CGI short feels flat compared to the original Chuck Jones films. It’s too brief and feels like going through the motions. It’s okay as nostalgia, or a gateway to introduce children to the Looney Tunes oeuvre, but it’s… Continue reading Flying in a trance
The rabid fear of the coolest guy is bigger than grand
The Cooler (2003) To pay off an old gambling debt, Bernie Lootz (William H. Macey) works for Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin), the old school head of the Shangri-La casino, as a “cooler,” a gambler so unlucky he causes everyone around him to lose. After he pays off his debt, Bernie plans to leave Vegas. To… Continue reading The rabid fear of the coolest guy is bigger than grand
I’m throwing a celebration for my friend Beau
Festen (1998) A family gathers for a weekend celebration of Helge’s sixtieth birthday. At dinner, one of his sons, Christian, alleges Helge repeatedly raped him and his sister Linda when they were younger. Tormented by dreams their father would molest her again, Linda committed suicide just before the events of the film. In 1995, hoping… Continue reading I’m throwing a celebration for my friend Beau