April Film Highlights

Though must readth the 50 Word Film Reviews blog.

Akira (1988) Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama, Taro Ishida, Mizuho Suzuki. Dir: Katsuhiro Otomo.

After an inexplicable accident, a biker in future Tokyo is taken by the military for experimenatation. Few films work so hard to blow your mind – if the cosmic existentialism doesn’t do it, the explosive sound and intense visceral action will. So relentless it’s hard to endure, Akira is truly unforgettable.

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Day of Wrath (1943) Thorkild Roose, Lisbeth Movin, Sigrid Neiiendam, Preben Lerdorff Rye, Albert Hoeberg. Dir: Carl Theodor Dreyer.

A woman falls for her elderly husband’s son while starting to suspect she maybe a witch. Atmospheric, complex movie, which suggests the notion of witchcraft comes from sexual repression and men’s fear of desire. Gently paced, broodingly intense, and shot with a simple, subtle elegance, this is masterful individual filmmaking.

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The Omega Man (1971) Charlton Heston, Anthony Zerbe, Paul Koslo, Rosalind Cash, Eric Laneuville. Dir: Boris Sagal.

After a plague wipes out humanity, one healthy man remains, persecuted by a cult of diseased fanatics. A lone man hunted scenario ought to create a feeling of discomfort and suspense, but the emotional content is undermined by gung-ho direction and exciteable scoring. It’s action packed, but that’s counterproductive to the concept.

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Vampyr (1932) Julian West, Maurice Schutz, Rena Mandel, Jan Hieronimko, Sybille Schmitz, Rena Mandel. Dir: Carl Theodor Dreyer.

A wanderer meets a man who predicts his own death and whose daughter is a vampire’s victim. Brilliant ghostly fantasy, soaked in startling gothic imagery. Dreyer develops an unsettling dream like atmosphere rather than a coherent narrative – just turn out the lights and experience a nightmare unlike any other.

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Son of Kong (1933) Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack, Frank Reicher, John Marston, Victor Wong. Dir: Ernest B. Schoedsack.

Denham and crew sail away from prosecution, but return to Kong’s island to seek treasure. In cinemas 9 months after Kong and it shows. The humans weren’t that interesting before, and aren’t interesting enough to carry this for the long trip back. And who wants a cuddly Kong? Forgettable nonsense.

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Headhunters (2011) Aksel Hennie, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Synnøve Macody Lund, Julie Ølgaard, Eivind Sander. Dir: Morten Tyldum.

An executive recruiter and art thief accidentally picks a very dangerous target. Gripping non-gloomy Scandinavian thriller that mixes suspense with black humour and takes a satisfying swipe at the amoral corporate class. Ingenious set-pieces excite, although a tendency to be too gruesome jars, and the ending breaches credulity. Very satisfying.

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Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Bradford Dillman, Natalie Trundy, Eric Braeden, Sal Mineo, Ricardo Montalbán. Dir: Don Taylor.

The ape scientists escape their world’s destruction and travel back to 20th century earth. The Apes films were always humorous, but here it over-indulges, detracting from its dark themes – two societies facing their failings, unable to prevent their destruction. Reduced budget prevents thrills, though the ending’s as devastating as ever.

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Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948) Joan Fontaine, Louis Jourdan, Mady Christians, Marcel Journet. Dir: Max Ophüls.

A rogue receives a letter from a woman he barely remembers, but whose life he transformed. Hankies on standby; this weepie keeps its melodrama in check with elegant brush-strokes and by not sugar-coating the cruel tragedy at its centre – a life spent chasing a false fantasy. Hollywood at its best.

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