‘Keep Watching the Skies!’

OK, OK, I promise that I am not going to do every genre of film, up to and including 10 Best Films Involving Otters, but such was the pleasing reaction to my previous list, 10 Best Horror Films, I decided that there was still room to include an appreciation of the genre that is (unless, of course, you count comedy) the nearest to the macabre, namely one that frequently produces films, such as Alien (1979) and John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982), that can safely be labelled as ‘crossovers’. Fair enough? It might just be me, but I think that this list may produce a few more squabbles than its predecessor. Over to you, Gentle Reader(s)…

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On the side of the resisters

It’s men – not the veil – that are the women’s main concern in life. Or, if this weren’t a film from a predominantly Muslim country, their main cross to bear. The women are the guests on Hebba’s TV talk show, and they run the gamut of Egyptian society, from meek murderesses to mighty media stars. The men in their lives, whether ministers or minions, are uniformly trouble for the women. That’s Scheherazade Tell Me A Story (2009) in a nutshell.

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Hail to The King, baby

Don Coscarelli, the director who brought us The Beastmaster (1982) and Phantasm (1979) is not a name that would immediately leap to mind should someone mention ‘cult classic’. Phantasm, while original and oddly engaging in its time, was hardly a cult classic. Popular, yes – and certainly better than a lot of the dross around at the end of the 70s – but I wonder how many fans of the original Phantasm have watched what is probably, nay, certainly Coscarelli’s best feature to date?

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Action!

I have seen the best film ever made. The only problem is that this wasn’t it. It is, however, an action movie that tries quite hard to make you believe it’s a spoof of an action movie – but I certainly don’t mean that in a bad way. Yes, there certainly will be people out there who will enjoy picking holes in this movie; the cheesey dialogue, the seemingly endless supply of bullets and grenades available to our heroes, a plot so thin you can see daylight through it and an array of über-macho blokes doing what the Americans so fittingly describe as ‘blowing shit up’. Did I like it? Yeah, of course I did.

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The horror, the horror…

Missed me? Been away for a little while, thought it was only fair to allow Picturenose’s other fair contributors (well, Colin) to have a sojourn in the spotlight. Anyway, Colin’s recent excellent post, 10 Great Final Bows, put me in mind of a list of my own that I have been meaning to do for some time. Regular visitors to this site will be aware that horror is my favourite kind of film and, I hope, will also know that I have, after many, many years of subjecting myself to numerous examples of what passes for the genre, developed a certain sophistication in my appreciation of things that slither by moonlight. So, in reverse order, and to set the record straight once and for all (or, of course, until another example comes along that will neccesitate a rejig), here are the ten films that for me define what horror should be all about – your disagreements, hurrahs and personal favourites that are not on the list are of course more than welcome.

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Tight, bright

Thanks to our new friendship with distributor Paradiso Films, we’ll be bringing you even more movie reviews. The first from them is one that hasn’t been hyped much, but is still worth a look - Hunter Prey (2009). Be sure to check out Paradiso’s web site too.

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Some actors just seem to fizzle out, whereas others go with a huge bang. Here’s my personal top ten of actors who finished at the top of their game. It’s in no particular order, and you are welcome to let me know who should have been included and what a crappy film reviewer I must be, etc.

John Wayne – The Shootist (1976)

Probably one of Wayne’s best works. Partially mirroring his own plight, he plays JB Books, a man diagnosed with terminal cancer (although it’s not known for sure whether Wayne knew that he had cancer when the film was made). A gunslinger, famed and feared for killing tens of men, he takes a room in Carson City to live out his last few weeks. He realizes that his natural end will be painful and seeks a way to minimize the pain and die with honour. An amazing performance, a superb cast and more than a touch of the Samurai about his code. A must see.

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More than blood ties

Three intersecting stories brought together under the themes of love, adoption and motherhood are at the core of Mother and Child (2009), the latest film from Rodrigo García (Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (1999)).

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What lies beneath

Based on an original story by director Luca Guadagnino (Melissa P. (2005)) and co-produced by star Tilda Swinton, Io sono l’amore (I Am Love) (2009) is far more than just another family drama.

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Become who you are

Director Yann Samuell’s L’âge de raison (2010) is characteristic of his sweet-yet-tearful Love Me If You Dare (2003), namely French cinema at its best.

With a splendid cast, led by Sophie Marceau, the movie goes deep into your soul, searching for your inner child. That’s right, the one who reminds you of your childhood dreams.

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