Reel Reviews

Strangers On A Train -- At first blush this film seems dated, and a little obvious, and perhaps even a little clumsy. Then things get rolling, and the clever plot, artful direction, and healthy doses of wit begin to show as the the stakes grow more imperative, until finally you're left guessing about how it's going to end (not to mention whether or not the protagonist deserves to get out of his mess). In fact, this movie may be the epitome of why today's audience should show plenty of patience when it indulges a taste for yesteryear. There's a lot of good stuff out there, and once you get past the hurdle of outdated references and sensibilities, you can immerse yourself in the clever goings on that paved the way for today's finest works. Give it a shot sometime.

Reel Reviews

The Postman Always Rings Twice -- He's a dirtbag. She's a cunt. They're both stupid. Her husband's an old drunken fool. What could possibly go wrong? This is one of the oddest movies I've ever watched. It wasn't exactly unengaging, but it's hard to know what to make of a film where the sleazy lawyer character is the one you root for the most. At least Lana Turner was fairly easy on the eyes. Not only were the characters all anti-heroes, but little of the story made much sense. I stayed with it for all of its length--though I was tempted to bail after the second or third false climax--but didn't feel particularly rewarded for the effort. This may be a "film buffs only" project; the rest can probably do without.