The Rabbit Hole USA

I am going to start writing brief movie reviews for this blog. We are not stocking DVD’s here – yet. We are waiting until we acquire a decent selection of good used movies. The problem with selling used DVD’s is that there seems to be a tendency for some to bring in the cheap movies found in the aisles around the Wal-Mart electronics department. There are around 110 years of cinema,  so that really won’t do for a very interesting selection. We prefer to wait until the section can be done right.

We will review a very eclectic selection here, sometimes it will be the great cinema classics, other times it will be kung-fu, international, B-movie sci-fi, horror, etc. By the time I know about something, I used to assume everyone else already knew about it. After working in a store like The Rabbit Hole I have discovered that is not always the case, so we won’t just cover the new stuff.

In March, the 45th edition of the definitive International Film Guide will be released. We will be sure to review some international films in future posts to celebrate. Or if your tastes run in a slightly different direction, we are currently stocking The B List:

The Hidden

Part of me enjoyed this movie just because I found it funny that someone thought it was a good idea. I’m glad they did. And, oh my, is it ever an 80′s movie.

There is a parasitic alien that takes possession of people, via a pretty gross process. Suddenly law abiding, decent people go on murderous rampages, steal Ferraris, rob banks and most egregious of all, annoy everyone by listening to really loud, 80′s hard rock.

These nonsensical crime sprees stump the police, and in walks an FBI agent intent to work with our hero cop to solve these crime sprees. The FBI agent is played by Kyle MacLachlan (from Blue Velvet and the FBI agent from Twin Peaks.), and something seems just a bit off about him also. I won’t reveal more.

Decent police procedural ensues. Complicating the plot is a senator who is coming to town to announce his presidency intentions. Could our parasitic alien be attempting to take over the world by jumping to him? Of course.

Things I learned from this movie: it was customary in the ’80′s to do lines of cocaine with your car salesman just prior to signing for your new red Ferrari, to you know, sweeten the deal; that it was common to covet those ridiculous cars; and a lot of “hard rock” apparently popular in the 80′s was very unpleasant and it is just like a parasitic alien to really dig it.

Highly recommended if you like sci-fi and/or movies from the ’80′s. The Hidden could have been campy and a real hack job, but is much better than I expected. I am surprised I only learned about its existence a few weeks ago. Directed by the same guy as Nightmare on Elm Street 2.

His Girl Friday

May be one of the 100 greatest movies ever made. Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell star in this wisecracking romantic comedy. Genuinely funny stuff and a great satire on journalism. The pacing is perfect. Only the most cynical and jaded could fail to delight in this film. Directed by Howard Hawks, who also brought us that other great comedy Bringing Up Baby.

You can watch this movie for free right here! You can watch it right in your browser, or if you have the technical expertise, download it and burn it to dvd. It is out of copyright, therefore perfectly legal.

The Third Man

I had already seen this film about three times, but just now got around to watching the remastered Criterion DVD. Fantastic film noir shot in Vienna right after WWII. The black and white cinematography is stunning, capturing the damaged and bombed city beautifully. Written by Graham Greene.

American Holly Martins, played by Joseph Cotten, arrives in Vienna promised a job by his friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles), only to discover that Harry has died in a car accident. Holly is a fish out of water in the corrupt city as he investigates the death, and digs himself into deep trouble, falls in love and otherwise embarrasses himself. He finds out a lot more about Harry than he imagined.

Through out the movie there is the lovely Third Man Theme as played on the zither:

District b13

If you like your social commentary with kicks to the head, punches and free running then this movie may do it for you. Obviously inspired by the riots in Paris’ outlying neighborhoods. Getting to a bomb in time to defuse is the excuse for the action and frenetic pacing.  Another action movie taking its cue from the amazing Tony Jaa. Not much to set it apart from many other action movies, but still fun – if you like that sort of thing.