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Author Archives: Ross Birks
The Swimmer (1968)
The Swimmer is a dreamy and sinister-edged existential voyage through late-60s suburbia. A pretty remarkable movie for it’s time and not just because Burt Lancaster’s entire wardrobe for 95 minutes is a sole pair of swimming trunks. John Cheever, the … Continue reading
Play Misty for Me (1971)
Eastwood’s directorial debut! A fucking cool thriller that sees Eastwood play a jazz DJ who gets targeted by a psychotic Jessica Walter after he gives her the cold shoulder following a one-night-stand. Watching Play Misty for Me makes you wonder … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews
Tagged Clint Eastwood, Jessica Walter, Play Misty for Me
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Melancholia (2011)
Women cry. Men are douchebags. The world ends. Just another day in Lars von Trier-ville. Undoubtedly one of my biggest cinematic heroes, I will blindly follow von Trier wherever he ventures yet no matter how many times I see Melancholia … Continue reading
Charade (1963)
“I’m beginning to think women make the best spies!” What a blast. Charade is often billed as the best Hitchcock movie the master of suspense never made but that is to do a disservice to the great Stanley Donen. This … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews
Tagged Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Charade, James Coburn, Stanley Donen, Walter Matthau
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Hitch-Hike (1977)
What happens when you put Krug Stillo, the original Django and a Bond girl in a car together? Hitch Hike that’s what! This barmy thriller has all the trappings of any 70s grindhouse movie but the nutball performances are lots … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews
Tagged Corinne Clery, David Hess, Ennio Morricone, Franco Nero, Hitch-Hike
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Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
Nicholas Meyer returns to save the Star Trek franchise for the second time. After the depressingly generic Final Frontier I found The Undiscovered Country to be a thrilling return to form. This one shares heady themes and Shakespearean overtones with … Continue reading
In the Line of Fire (1993)
Watching In the Line of Fire in 2016 had me thinking what acclaimed thrillers of today will hold up in twenty years. This movie was critically acclaimed and even received multiple Oscar noms but now feels incredibly dated and hampered … Continue reading
Irreversible (2002)
I haven’t seen Irreversible in close to a decade yet it still managed to be even more of a punishing experience upon rewatch. Noe’s helter skelter camerawork might be the most nauseating in film history and when all is said … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Rewatch
Tagged Gaspar Noe, Irreversible, Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassell
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Deep Red (1975)
I love what Deep Red represents in Argento’s filmography. After shooting three gialli practically back-to-back he tried to branch out into new territory with The Five Days of Milan but a box-office and critical battering sent the filmmaker back with … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews, Rewatch
Tagged dario argento, David Hemmings, Deep Red, Profondo Rosso
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"This Film Should Be Played Loud" 