A zoom-heavy camera, sadistic villains, greed, bad dubbing, and Ennio Morricone doing another great score (under alias Leo Nichols again)—yes, indeed- this is a Sergio Corbucci film Starts with an impressively shot montage of a

Kurosawa’s fifth film, a 20th century contemporary story starring Ozu’s go-to actress Setuko Hara (Late Spring, Early Summer,Tokyo Story)- I wasn’t aware she had worked with Kurosawa and this predates the Ozu collaborationsA film about

Soderbergh knows how to do the sprawling ensemble film- Traffic his first (and best) foray in 2000 and the Ocean’s films that followedAlso a disaster film (which were also ensemble films) like the 1970’s Airport,

A dialogue-heavy 59 minute work from the great master Kurosawa—the discussions about war and morals is fascinating- and he keeps it lively with some great shots around the circle of men (seven traveling warriors of

Not As strong as the first film but still a solid effortMore close-ups here- not a strength—I think Kurosawa is better when letting the figures operate in space More close-ups here- not a strength—I think

I’ve seen a few spots where this is ranked as Kurosawa’s weakest film in his body of work and I don’t see it- in his debut here I think there is plenty of promiseA nice

The third film in the Proletariat trilogy with Shadows in Paradise in 1986 and Ariel in 1988-- Kati Outinen (a staple in Kaurismäki films) as the lead- Iris- the title characterBrisk—68 minutes- again I see

A fringe recommendation- no better than the 30th best film of 1989 but there’s enough here I think to archive it and revisit itTo make clear that Kaurismäki is an acolyte of Jarmusch (though they’re

Kaurismäki’s fourth film—clocks in at 72 minutes which is a trend with him- very short- almost like the old silent films or some of Woody’s workBlue collar like almost all of his work—the title here

Finnish auteur Aki Kaurismäki’s third feature but the first I can findBlue collar protagonist in a comically harsh world—blending dry laughter and bitter realismThe routine of a garbage man to jazz music to start—the two