Thursday, December 19, 2024

2024 Catch Up Capsule Reviews Part 3 : DADDIO, ARGYLE, ALIEN ROMULUS, TRANSFORMERS ONE, GHOSTLIGHT, MY NAME IS ALFRED HITCHCOCK and THE COMMANDANT'S SHADOW

 


DADDIO
A woman and her cab driver talk on the way from Kennedy Airport into midtown Manhattan. Well written and well acted film that is a solid little footnote that will entertain.


ARGYLE
Woman who writes spy novel affects real world spies. Over the top and silly action film that echoes ROMANCING THE STONE.  In no way high art but damn is it entertaining.


ALIEN ROMULUS
An attempt to restart the ALIEN franchise via a film that takes place between ALIEN and ALIENS. If you take it on it's own terms  it's a pretty good action film, though the finale with it's connection to the PROMETHEUS prequels may end up causing you to change your mind. I think the prequels don't work so I think the end of the film disappoints.


TRANSFORMERS ONE
A really good animated Transformers film that is a lot of fun. The film is set in the early days of Optimus Prime and features great performances and set pieces. Recommended.


GHOSTLIGHT
A construction worker who is unable to come to terms with the death of his son, ends up in a production of ROMEO AND JULIET. I know several people who were devastated by this film. I never warmed to it. It's not that it's bad but more too convoluted for my tastes.


MY NAME IS ALFRED HITCHCOCK
a look at the films of Hitchcock as if he were telling his story. This is a good film that suffers because it is coming out around the same time as the excellent POWELL AND PRESSBERGER and MERCHANT IVORY docs. I wish I had seen it in a void. I will have to revisit it.


Commandant's Shadow
Excellent HBO documentary about the descendants of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss meeting the people that Hoss had tortured. It’s a sobering look at the pain and suffering down generational lines as well as the path toward a reconciliation.

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