Layer Cake (2004) The story of mid-level gangster XXXX (Daniel Craig) is a twisted, cautionary tale about the difficult life of a modern criminal. It’s a grittier Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) or Snatch (2000). This makes perfect sense when you learn director Mathew Vaughn produced the earlier films. Life often refuses to… Continue reading I like my cake in layers
I am not the angel on the true moon
Moon (2009) Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is on a three-year mission to the moon where he and a robot named GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey) will mine helium-3 for use in fusion energy production. After an unexpected accident, Sam discovers he’s a clone used by Lunar Industries to save labor costs. At the end of his… Continue reading I am not the angel on the true moon
The scary old man labored to getaway
Labor Day (2013) Escaped convict Frank Chambers (Josh Brolin) takes refuge in the home of single mom Adele Wheeler (Kate Winslet), holding her and her son Henry hostage as he recovers from his injuries. Frank is inevitably caught, but not before teaching Henry how to cook and falling in love with Adele, a horrible mother… Continue reading The scary old man labored to getaway
The King was born in a manger sans the alluring cross
Allures (1961) This trippy combination of sounds and images by Jordan Belson was preserved in the National Film Registry in 2011. Most people will never see it, and their lives will be no less fulfilling. Sans Soleil (1983) This avante garde documentary by Chris Marker explores the creation and maintenance of cultural memory with an essay… Continue reading The King was born in a manger sans the alluring cross
Jeanne Dielman rising
Scorpio Rising (1964) Kenneth Anger may be one of America’s preeminent independent filmmakers, but this film is little more than an elaborate home movie with a nifty soundtrack, including songs from Ricky Nelson, Elvis, Ray Charles, and Bobby Vinton. Some might argue this plotless, meandering look at Scorpio as he tinkers with his motorcycle has… Continue reading Jeanne Dielman rising
The counselor should be ashamed of what he did in Vegas
The Counselor (2013) An anonymous lawyer (Michael Fassbender) goes into business with drug dealer Reiner (Javier Bardem) only to find he’s taken on more than he can handle, endangering his life and the life of his fiancee, Laura (Penelope Cruz). Malinka (Cameron Diaz), Reiner’s girlfriend is a master criminal planning to double cross him. Westray (Brad… Continue reading The counselor should be ashamed of what he did in Vegas
Elmo holds a grudge
The Raid 2 (2014) Immediately after the events of The Raid (2011), Rama reluctantly agrees to join an undercover task force. To earn the trust of Bangun, a local crime lord, he goes undercover in prison to befriend his son, Uco, and takes a position with Bangun’s organization after his release. When a slighted Uco… Continue reading Elmo holds a grudge
Like alpha papa, like son
Collateral (2004) Vincent (Tom Cruise) offers Los Angeles cab driver Max Durocher (Jamie Foxx) $600 to drive him around for the entire night, but soon, Max realizes Vincent is an assassin and is using him to shuttle between his five targets for the evening. For the rest of the movie, Vincent attempts to complete his… Continue reading Like alpha papa, like son
The Lucky Lady took a machine with her to the sun
My Fair Lady (1964) To test his theory that speech patterns are one of the primary drivers of success, phonetics professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) trains flower seller Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn). His experiment is ultimately successful: Eliza passes as a genuine member of upper crust society. However, her new position leads to unhappiness and… Continue reading The Lucky Lady took a machine with her to the sun
Get off my little plane
My Little Chickadee (1940) The thin plot about a masked coach-robbing bandit is merely an excuse to bring two aging vaudeville stars, W.C. Fields and Mae West, together for the first time on the big screen. I like the idea of W.C. Fields; a witty misanthrope who says what everyone else is too polite to… Continue reading Get off my little plane