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Entries Tagged as 'Gangsters and hoodlums'

Forget It Jake

August 7th, 2010 · 2 Comments

Roman Polanski was born August 18, 1933 in Paris. The sordid details of his flight from the United States in 1978 have often overshadowed discussion of the director’s work, which at the age of 77, includes one of the best films of 2010. Is he a world class filmmaker? In the month of August, I [...]

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Tags: Famous line · Father/daughter relationship · Femme fatale · Forensic evidence · Gangsters and hoodlums · Interrogation · Murder mystery · Paranoia · Prostitute

Only Swords Can Settle Things Now

July 25th, 2010 · 2 Comments

In the month of July, I take a look at films released in my very favorite film stock and aspect ratio: black & white in anamorphic. Unless they’re being financed with credit cards, movies are rarely shot like this anymore because they’re impossible to sell to television. Yet these dreams sneak onto Turner Classic Movies [...]

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Tags: Black comedy · Crooked officer · Gangsters and hoodlums · Interrogation · Prostitute · Small town · Sword fight

Four Innocent and Two Guilty People Murdered

July 10th, 2010 · 3 Comments

In the month of July, I take a look at films released in my very favorite film stock and aspect ratio: black & white in anamorphic. Unless they’re being financed with credit cards, movies are rarely shot like this anymore because they’re impossible to sell to television. Yet these dreams sneak onto Turner Classic Movies [...]

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Tags: Based on book · Dreams and visions · Father/son relationship · Forensic evidence · Gangsters and hoodlums · Interrogation · Murder mystery · Psycho killer · Psychoanalysis · Road trip · Small town · Train

Big Brother, On or Off?

June 22nd, 2010 · 3 Comments

In the month of June, Joe Valdez “takes over” programming of the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles with a series of double features on his favorite film themes.
Here’s Part 2 of a bill featuring high tech conspiracies in L.A.

Blue Thunder (1983)
Directed by John Badham
Written by Dan O’Bannon & Don Jakoby and Dean Riesner [...]

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Tags: Crooked officer · Dreams and visions · Forensic evidence · Gangsters and hoodlums · Man vs. machine · Master and pupil · Midlife crisis · Military · No opening credits · Shootout · Train