Den of Thieves – 2018 Gudegast
Director Christian Gudagast clearly worships at the altar of Michael Mann and Heat – haha- at least half the reviews mention it (what are the other half watching?)Gerard Butler is really strong in the lead—drunk,
The Assassin – 2015 Hsiao-Hsien Hou
Two elements make this one of 2015’s best films--- the wall-art photography exterior establishing shots (this is actually new for HHH after 3+ decades of making films) and the interior use of silk curtains to
Stargate – 1994 Emmerich
I’m not the world’s biggest admirer of Roland Emmerich (I think this is the only film in the archives) but I think this one is worthy of a fringe recommendation and entry to the archives
Cape Fear – 1991 Scorsese
It was no secret at the time that this was a “one for them” project in a deal he made with Spielberg’s Amblin/Universal after more passionate projects like The Last Temptation of Christ and Goodfellas
Goodfellas – 1990 Scorsese
One of Scorsese’s three finest films (spending too much time arguing between this Raging Bull, and Taxi Driver isn’t fruitful) which puts it up there all-time with any film (it is my current #22 film
The 103rd Best Director of All-Time: Bob Fosse
Fosse. Quality (and consistency) over quantity is the case for Fosse. He only directed 5 films (between 1969-1983) and all are in the archives, 3 in the top 100 of their respective decade (the 3
The Last Temptation of Christ – 1988 Scorsese
Seeing it here (probably for the 5th time) for the first time in the immediate wake of Scorsese’s previous oeuvre is to see the connective tissue between with the Catholic guilt that pervades so much
The 102nd Best Director of All-Time: John Huston
Huston. Huston’s strength is his depth of filmography. He’s a style-minus director so he needs that filmography to compete on this list. When Bogart gems like Key Largo and Beat the Devil are a director’s 8th and 9th best film
Rambo: First Blood Part II – 1985 George Cosmatos
It’s a different film than 1982’s First Blood- this is more like a straight revenge (simple, over the top) 1980’s action B-movie. First Blood is trying to say something and strikes a more specific mood---
Flight of the Red Balloon – 2007 Hsiao-Hsien Hou
So Café Lumiere (from 2003, one of HHH’s strongest efforts) was an outward homage to Ozu while still staying true to Hou’s voice and brand as an auteur himself--- this is much the same with
The Man in the Moon – 1991 Mulligan
A very solid film—a recommend that won’t touch the top 10-20 of 1991 but is a tender coming of age drama with the debut performance of a 15 year old Reese Witherspoon (who apparently landed
Around the World in 80 Days – 1956 Michael Anderson
Famous for winning best picture at the Academy Awards (it doesn’t make the top 10 of the year in any yet let alone in a year with The Searchers, Written on the Wind, A Man