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1958's The Blob was a lot more fun (even the extras were smiling) than the 1988 remake, with special effects and more gore added... The Last Man on Earth (1964) was based on Richard Matheson's novel, I Am Legend and got a mention in the trailer of 1971 remake, The Omega Man and finally used it's original title in the 2007 remake, I Am Legend

Invaders From Mars (1986). the 1953 original is better.

What's not to like about Karl Marx's head coming out of the mist vomiting guns?

I hope you're kidding, (and it wasn't funny even if you were) that's one of the weirdest posts yet!

1.. Woody Allen- Hannah and Her Sisters 2. Roger Corman - Pit and The Pendulum 3. Andre de Toth - Crime Wave and House of Wax. Pitfall 4. Blake Edwards - Pink Panther, Days of Wine and Roses, Breakfast at Tiffany's 5. David Fincher - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 6. Samuel Fuller - Pick Up On South Street, Forty Guns, Naked Kiss 7. Mervin Leroy - Random Harvest, Anthony Adverse, Home Before Dark ( this was the most difficult one, so many more films I love he directed 8. Penny Marshall - Awakenings 9. Norman Z McLeod - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, It's A Gift 10. Ronald Neame - The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

Your above line which I highlighted here Sepia could be or probably is one of the very factors which make classic movies, "classic". The idea that in many regards the better movies ever made and regardless what era they might have been made in, will usually contain timeless examples of the human condition and then explore them. (...and I have to say that I always feel somewhat sorry for anyone who for whatever reason are unable to either see those timeless examples in the movies they might watch, or worse still, refuse to watch because of their preconceived notions of them being "dated" and/or only watch movies to be "entertained" and resist those that are or might be thought-provoking)

Incendiary Blonde (1945) Next: Blithe Spirit

Oh yeah? *Crosses her big arms over her big chest* Come here and say that to me, punk. *Prepares to carve "Big Flora was here" into Thompson's forehead*

So far this month (switching between modern and classic and back again)

Our Man In Havana 1959 next: Jeanne Crain, Ann Southern and Linda Darnell

TRON came back as TRON LEGACY as part of Disney remaking everything it owns GODZILLA has been remade a lot PLANET OF THE APES was recently remade (I'm counting reboot "sequels" because they are just remakes)

LOIS next: Farrow, Kirshner and Sara

On Dangerous Ground (1951) Next- The Set Up (1949) Robert Ryan double bill

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977 & 1996) The Time Machine (1960 & 2002)

1949

The winner of TCM Challenge #44 will be awarded this very cool repro poster from the first Film Noir Film Festival and each challenge participant will receive a TCM/classic film-lover-appropriate Thank You gift for being part of Challenge #44. Thank you all for all of your time, effort and amazing creativity!!

Last night I watched GODS LITTLE ACRE '58, a movie based on Southern writer Erskine Caldwell. I was attracted to it for the cast/crew: Directed by Anthony Mann, starring Robert Ryan, Aldo Ray, Jack Lord, Vic Morrow, Buddy Hackett. "Introducing Tina Louise"? The only Tina Louise I knew of was Ginger from Gilligan's Island... and was shocked when I recognized this was the same woman. I just couldn't imagine what this story would be about, but figured it was going to be pretty gritty & sexist which it was in spades. The first half of the story was kind of frustrating & tedious while introducing the charactors & the situation. Robert Ryan's charactor, idiotically named TyTy is the patriarch of a farm family of 5 mostly grown kids. One daughter & one son have left home but live nearby. TyTy chases his dream there's a treasure buried on the farm and spends his days digging huge holes in the land looking for it. The only business in town is a huge textile mill (linen?) that is closed, putting everyone out of work. Aldo Ray is the husband of one of TyTy's daughters and can't accept the Mill's closing, or his marriage so is drunk a lot of the time. Most of the story is the dynamics of all the quirky charactors, mostly unlikeable, pretty much like most Southern novels of the era. Incredible power house performances of ALL involved is what really makes this film. Robert Ryan is mesmerizing in his portrayal outshining anyone sharing the frame. As the story unfolds, Ryan's role recedes and each actor gets a chance to show their talents. Most outstanding was smoldering Tina Louise expressing dignity, empathy and nuanced emotions instead of just "being beautiful". Unknown to me, Fay Spain was also a standout as a lusty manipulative youngest daughter, played just perfectly, teasing & joyous. I love Aldo Ray and his performance was really intense, but he played the big dumb lug he always plays. Although I saw his name in the credits, I did not recognize 20 year old Michael Landon as "The Albino" charactor, what an amazing long career he had! Buddy Hackett is well, Buddy Hackett but it's revelatory to see him in a dramatic role. The second half of the story, IS the story and I won't tell you how it unfolds. There is one very very illogical scene (at the climax) that truly ruins believability but is ironically hilarious because it alludes to "climax". Although it tries to sell itself as salacious, it's really not. If you liked TOBACCO ROAD '41 and other gritty tales of quirky Southerners...here's another one made worthy by the talent involved. Fay Spain enjoying a cold bath- Yes, this is Michael Landon. He just couldn't get rid of his pompadour, even when wigged- One of the funniest scenes is after digging, the boys convince their Dad to "go into town" for some carousing- without changing clothes or washing up!

Thursday, March 4/5 Letterbox reframed 3:30 a.m. The Four Feathers (1939). Zoltan Korda extravaganza.

THE CORPSE CAME C.O.D.

The Rat Pack was oh so cool!

Harrison Next: Chiles, Lane, Maxwell

To Sir with Love Next: Frank Morgan, Margaret Hamilton & Walter Pidgeon

FANNY 1961

Nuyen, France

Meara, Anne

Lazenby, George

At least you have Charlotte Rampling to wait the Covid out with.

1. Woody Allen - Zelig (1983) 2. Roger Corman - A Bucket of Blood (1959) 3. Andre DeToth - Slattery's Hurricane (1949) 4. Blake Edwards - Victor Victoria (1982) 5. David Fincher - Gone Girl (2014) 6. Sam Fuller - Merrill's Marauders (1962) 7. Mervyn LeRoy - Mister Roberts (1955) 8. Penny Marshall - The Preacher's Wife (1996) 9. Norman Z McLeod - My Favorite Spy (1951) 10. Ronald Neame - Gambit (1966)

Just watched PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (1974) when I was a teenager in the 1990s, this showed up quite a bit on Cinemax, I did not particularly like it, but it was an impactful film and I remembered much of it over the years. It gets some bonus points for working FAUST in to the standard LEROUX story remodeled as a GLAM ROCK FABLE and adding a supernatural element as well... I guess one can only wonder what the result would have been had they cast someone besides PAUL WILLIAMS In what is more or less the lead role as the chief antagonist and villain who is supposed to be sexually irresistable, Intimidating, charismatic, diabolical and threatening. PAUL WILLIAMS Looks at all times in this film like Truman Capote dressing up as Martina Navratilova for Halloween and is about as intimidating as Audrey Hepburn. the music is not memorable either. When BEEF dies, a very special light goes out in this movie.

VALERIE next: James, Tyne and Tim

Mae West. Next: starred several times with David Niven

The Harder They Fall (1956) Next: Dangerously They Live (1941)

Y'need to cut down on the little symbols and be more discriminate in your choices in them. But I take it you're not familiar with Ms. Barr. So---- (if they don't mess with it) Sepiatone

JOHNNY O'CLOCK

Man of the West 1958 next: Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster and Richard Widmark.

BELL BOOK AND CANDLE (1958) Next: Jack Lord, Julie London and Gary Cooper

Strangers On A Train 1951 next: Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon and James Stewart.

The Patty Duke Show

Maureen O'Hara Next: Born in South America

Zelda, played by Ann Sheridan in "Naughty and Nice"

BLONDIE Parallel Lines

Schedule for February 13-19, 2022 The Essentials: Valley of the Dolls (1967) TCM Imports: Indochine (1992) & The Truth (2019) TCM Underground: Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) & Soapdish (1991) Silent Sunday: A Kiss for Cinderella (1925) Noir Alley: The File on Thelma Jordon (1949) Challenge #1: A Legacy of Bs: Universal in the 30s Challenge #2: Noir: Bad Guys & Femme Fatales Challenge #3: Bob's Picks: 20th Century Fox's Golden Age Challenge #4: Romances for Valentine's Day [Holidays] Challenge #5: Guest Programmer: Trudy Kockenlocker from The Miracle of Morgan's Creek Breakdown: 1920s 6 1930s 22 1940s 15 1950s 18 1960s 10 1970s 12 1980s 3 1990s 3 2000s 0 2010s 1 Premieres: 1. A Girl with Ideas (1937) 2. The Day of the Locust (1975) 3. Nob Hill (1945) 4. Junior Miss (1945) 5. City Across the River (1949) 6. A Woman's Vengeance (1948) 7. Mr and Mrs Bridge (1990) 8. The Glass Menagerie (1987) 9. This Happy Feeling (1958) 10. Jennie Gerhardt (1933) 11. Bolero (1934) 12. The Royal Family of Broadway (1930) Exempt Premieres: 1. Ladies Must Love (1933) 2. Don't Bet on Love (1933) 3. Moonlight and Pretzels (1933) 4. A Kiss for Cinderella (1925) 5. Indochine (1992) 6. The Truth (2019) 7. September Affair (1950) 8. Centennial Summer (1946) 9. When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948) 10. The 13th Letter (1951) 11. Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe (1945) 12. The Saxon Charm (1948) 13. Undercover Girl (1950) 14. Diplomatic Courier (1952) 15. Yanks (1979) 16. She's Having a Baby (1988) 17.Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) 18. Soapdish (1991) 19. No Man of Her Own (1950) Sunday, February 13, 2022 A Legacy of Bs: Universal in the 30s (Challenge #1) 6 AM Love Before Breakfast (1936) Carole Lombard & Preston Foster D Walter Lang Universal 65 min p/s 7:15 AM Ladies Must Love (1933) June Knight & Sally O'Neil D EA Dupont Universal 70 min B-Movie Exempt Premiere #1 8:30 AM Don't Bet on Love (1933) Lew Ayres & Ginger Rogers D Murray Roth Universal 62 min B-Movie Exempt Premiere #2 9:45 AM The Old Dark House (1932) Boris Karloff & Charles Laughton D James Whale Universal 75 min p/s 11 AM Waterloo Bridge (1931) Mae Clarke & Kent Douglass D James Whale Universal 72 min p/s 12:15 PM Moonlight and Pretzels (1933) Roger Pryor & Mary Brian 😧D Karl Freund Universal 83 min B-Movie Exempt Premiere#3 1:45 PM The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Boris Karloff & Elsa Lancaster D James Whale Universal 75 min p/s 3:15 PM You Can't Cheat an Honest Man (1939) WC Fields & Edgar Bergen D William Marshall Universal 75 min p/s 4:45 PM A Girl With Ideas (1937) Wendy Barrie & Walter Pidgeon D S Sylvan Simon Universal 70 min Premiere #1 6 PM The Black Cat (1934) Bela Lugosi & Boris Karloff D Edgar Ulmer Universal 65 min p/s _----------- 7:30 PM MGM Parade ------------ The Dark Side of Hollywood 8 PM Sunset Boulevard (1950) Gloria Swanson & William Holden D Billy Wilder Paramount 110 min p/s 10 PM The Day of the Locust (1975) William Atherson & Karen Black D John Schlesinger Paramount 144 min Premiere #2 ------------ Silent Sunday 12:30 AM A Kiss for Cinderella (1925) Betty Bronson & Esther Ralston D Herbert Brenon Paramount 108 min Silent Exempt Premiere ---------- TCM Imports 2:30 AM Indochine (1992) Catherine Deneuve & Linh Dan Pham D Regis Wargnier Sony Pictures Classics 165 min Imports Exempt Premiere #1 5:30 AM The Truth (2019) Catherine Deneuve & Juliette Binoche D Hirozaku Kor-Eda IFC 108 min Imports Exempt Premiere #2 Monday, February 14, 2022 Romances for Valentine's Day (Challenge #4: Holidays) 7: 30 AM Love Letters (1945) Jennifer Jones & Joseph Cotten D William Dieterle Paramount 101 min p/s 9:15 AM September Affair (1950) Joan Fontaine & Joseph Cotten D William Dieterle Paramount 104 min 2006-Exempt Premiere #1 11 AM The Rose Tattoo (1955) Anna Magnani & Burt Lancaster D Daniel Mann Paramount 117 min p/s 1 PM Love with the Proper Stranger (1963) Natalie Wood & Steve McQueen D Richard Mulligan 100 min p/s 2:45 PM The Sterile Cuckoo (1969) Liza Minnelli & Wendall Burton D Alan J Pakula Paramount 107 min p/s 4:45 PM She Done Him Wrong (1933) Mae West & Cary Grant D Lowell Sherman Paramount 66 min 6 PM Centennial Summer (1946) Jeanne Crain & Cornel Wilde D Otto Preminger 20th Century Fox 102 min 2006-Exempt Premiere #2 --------- Bob's Picks: 20th Century Fox's Golden Age (Challenge #3) 8 PM Cluny Brown (1946) Jennifer Jones & Charles Boyer D Ernst Lubitsch 20th Century Fox 100 min p/s 9:45 PM When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948) Dan Dailey & Betty Grable D Walter Lang 20th Century Fox 98 min Bob-Exempt Premiere #1 11:30 PM The 13th Letter (1951) Linda Darnell & Charles Boyer D Otto Preminger 20th Century Fox 88 min Bob-Exempt Premiere #2 1 AM Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe (1945) Betty Grable & Dick Haymes D George Seaton 20th Century Fox 106 min Bob-Exempt Premiere #3 3 AM Nob Hill (1945) Joan Bennett & George Raft D Henry Hathaway 20th Century Fox 95 min Premiere #3 4:45 AM Junior Miss (1945) Peggy Ann Garner & Allyn Joslyn D George Seaton 20th Century Fox 94 min Premiere #4 Tuesday, February 15, 2022 Noir: Bad Guys & Femme Fatales (Challenge #2) 6:30 AM The Saxon Charm (1948) Robert Montgomery & Susan Hayward D Claude Binyon UI 88 min Bad Guys Exempt Premiere #1 8 AM Leave Her to Heaven (1945) Gene Tierney & Cornel Wilde D John M Stahl 20th Century Fox 111 min p/s 10 AM Undercover Girl (1950) Alexis Smith & Richard Egan D Joseph Pevney UI 83 min Bad Guys Exempt Premiere #2 11:30 AM Diplomatic Courier (1952) Tyrone Power & Patricia Neal D Henry Hathaway 20th Century Fox 97 min Bad Guys Exempt Premiere #3 1:15 PM Laura (1944) Dana Andrews & Gene Tierney D Otto Preminger 20th Century Fox 88 min p/s 2:45 PM City Across the River (1949) Steven McNally & Thelma Ritter D Maxwell Shane UI 91 min Premiere #5 4:30 PM The House on 92nd Street (1945) William Eythe & Signe Hasso D Henry Hathaway 20th Century Fox 89 min p/s 6:15 PM A Woman's Vengeance (1948) Charles Boyer & Ann Blyth D Zoltan Korda UI 96 min Premiere #6 -------- Star of the Month: Joanne Woodward 8 PM The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972) Joanne Woodward & Nell Potts D Paul Newman 20th Century Fox 100 min p/s 9:45 PM Mr and Mrs Bridge (1990) Joanne Woodward & Paul Newman D James Ivory Miramax/Cineplex Odeon 124 min Premiere #7 12 AM Summer Wishes Winter Dreams (1973) Joanne Woodward & Martin Balsam D Gilbert Cates Columbia 93 min p/s 1:45 AM The Glass Menagerie (1987) Joanne Woodward & John Malkovich D Paul Newman Cineplex Odeon 134 min Premiere #8 4 AM The Fugitive Kind (1960) Marlon Brando & Anna Magnani D Sidney Lumet UA 121 min p/s Wednesday, February 16, 2022 Ross Hunter Productions 6:15 AM Madame X (1966) Lana Turner & Constance Bennett D David Lowell Rich Universal 100 min p/s 8 AM This Happy Feeling (1958) Debbie Reynolds & John Saxon D Blake Edwards UI 92 min Premiere #9 9:45 AM Imitation of Life (1959) Lana Turner & Juanita Moore D Douglas Sirk UI 125 min p/s 12 PM Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) Julie Andrews & Mary Tyler Moore D George Roy Hill Universal 152 min p/s 2:45 PM All I Desire (1953) Barbara Stanwyck & Richard Carlson 😧 Douglas Sirk UI 79 min p/s 4:15 PM The Chalk Garden (1964) Deborah Kerr & Hayley Mills D Ronald Neame Universal 105 min p/s 6 PM Back Street (1961) Susan Hayward & John Gavin D David Miller UI 107 min p/s ------------ TCM Spotlight: VistaVision: The Best Widescreen 8 PM The Five Pennies (1959) Danny Kaye & Barbara Bel Geddes D Melville Shavelson Paramount 117 min p/s 10 PM Lucy Gallant (1955) Jane Wyman & Charlton Heston D Robert Parrish 104 min p/s 12 AM Fear Strikes Out (1957) Anthony Perkins & Karl Malden D Richard Mulligan Paramount 100 min p/s 1:45 AM Lil Abner (1959) Peter Palmer & Leslie Parrish D Melvin Frank Paramount 113 min p/s 3:45 AM The Rainmaker (1956) Katharine Hepburn & Burt Lancaster D Joseph Anthony Paramount 121 min p/s Thursday February 17, 2022 Paramount in the 70s 6 AM Nashville (1975) Ronee Blakeley & Lily Tomlin D Robert Altman Paramount 159 min p/s 8:45 AM Harold and Maude (1971) Bud Cort & Ruth Gordon D Hal Ashby Paramount 90 min p/s 10:15 AM A New Leaf (1971) Walter Matthau & Elaine May D Elaine May Paramount 102 min p/s 12 PM Paper Moon (1973) Tatum O'Neal & Ryan O'Neal D Peter Bogdanovich Paramount 102 min p/s 1:45 PM Death on the Nile (1978) Peter Ustinov & Angela Lansbury D John Guillerman Paramount 140 min p/s 4:15 PM The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) Robert Mitchum & Peter Boyle D Peter Yates Paramount 102 min p/s 6 PM The Conversation (1974) Gene Hackman & John Cazale D Francis Ford Coppola Paramount 113min p/s ---------- Guest Programmer: Trudy Kockenlocker from The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (Challenge #5) 8 PM Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) Eddie Bracken & Ella Raines D Preston Sturges Paramount 101 min p/s 9:45 PM The Parent Trap (1961) Hayley Mills & Maureen O'Hara D David Swift Disney 124 min p/s 12 AM Theodora Goes Wild (1936) Irene Dunne & Melvyn Douglas D Richard Boleslawski Columbia 94 min p/s 1:45 AM Yanks (1979)Lisa Eichhorn & Richard Gere D John Schlesinger Universal/UA 139 min 1944 Exempt Premiere #1 4:15 AM She's Having a Baby (1988) Kevin Bacon & Elizabeth McGovern D John Hughes Paramount 106 min 1944 Exempt Premiere #2 Friday, February 18, 2022 Pre-Code Parade 6:15 AM Trouble in Paradise (1932) Miriam Hopkins & Kay Francis D Ernst Lubitsch Paramount 83 min p/s 7:45 AM Song of Songs (1933) Marlene Dietrich & Brian Aherne D Rouben Mamouillian Paramount 90 min p/s 9:15 AM Jennie Gerhardt (1933) Sylvia Sidney & HB Warner D Marion Gering Paramount 85 min Premiere #10 10:45 AM One Hour With You (1932) Maurice Chevalier & Jeanette McDonald D Ernst Lubitsch Paramount 80 min p/s 12:15 PM Bolero (1934) George Raft & Carole Lombard D Wesley Ruggles Paramount 83 min Premiere #11 1:45 PM Duck Soup (1933) Marx Brothers & Margaret Dumont D Lowell Sherman Paramount 68 min p/s 3 PM The Royal Family of Broadway (1930) Fredric March & Ina Clare D George Cukor Paramount 82 min Premiere #12 4:30 PM Shanghai Express (1932) Marlene Dietrich & Anna May Wong D Josef Von Sternberg 80 min p/s 6 PM The Love Parade (1929) Maurice Chevalier & Jeanette McDonald D Ernst Lubitsch Paramount 110 min p/s -------- The Sounds of Silence 8 PM The Covered Wagon (1923) J Warren Kerrigan & Lois Wilson D James Cruze Paramount 97 min p/d 9:45 PM The Love Light (1921) Mary Pickford &Edward Phillips D Frances Marion UA 79 min p\d 11:15 PM The Affairs of Anatol (1921) Wallace Reid & Gloria Swanson D Cecil B DeMille Paramount 94 min p/d 1 AM Nurse Marjorie (1920) Mary Miles Minter & Arthur Hoyt D William Desmond Taylor Paramount 88 min p/d ----- TCM Underground : Whoopi Goldberg 2:30 AM Jumpin Jack Flash (1986) Whoopi Goldberg & Jonathan Pryce D Penny Marshall 20th Century Fox 106 min Underground -Exempt Premiere #1 4:15 AM Soapdish (1991) Sally Field & Kevin Kline D Michael Hoffman Paramount 98 min Underground -Exempt Premiere #2 Saturday, February 19, 2022 Land of Musicals 6 AM Darling Lili (1970) Julie Andrews & Rock Hudson D Blake Edwards Paramount 136 min p/s 8:30 AM Flower Drum Song (1961) Miyoshi Umeki & Nancy Kwan D Henry Koster UI 133 min p/s 10:45 AM There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) Ethel Merman & Dan Dailey D Walter Lang 20th Century Fox 117 min p/s 12:45 PM Carousel (1956) Gordon MacRae & Shirley Jones D Henry King 20th Century Fox 128 min p/s 2 PM The King and I (1956) Deborah Kerr & Yul Brynner D Walter Lang 20th Century Fox 133 min p/s 4:15 PM 100 Men and a Girl (1937) Deanna Durbin & Leopold Stokowski D Henry Koster Universal 84 min p/s 5:45 PM On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970) Barbra Streisand & Yves Monsand D Vincente Minnelli Paramount 129 min p/s The Essentials: Potboiler To Screen 8 PM Valley of the Dolls (1967) Barbara Parkins & Patty Duke D Mark Robson 20th Century Fox 123 min p/s 10:15 PM Peyton Place (1957) Diane Varsi & Lana Turner D Mark Robson 20th Century Fox 157 min p/s Noir Alley 1 AM No Man of Her Own (1950) Barbara Stanwyck & John Lund D Mitchell Leisen Paramount 98 min Noir-Exempt Premiere 2:50 AM Traveltalks 9 min ---------- Hope & Goddard 3 AM The Ghost Breakers (1940) Bob Hope & Paulette Goddard D George Marshall Paramount 85 min p/s 4:30 AM The Cat and the Canary (1939) Bob Hope & Paulette Goddard D Elliott Nugent Paramount 74 min p/s 4:50 AM Traveltalks 9 min

I've seen enough new films from 2019 since our last poll of that year to change my top ten significantly. The top two films are new. 2019 My top FF films of 2019 of the 20 that I have seen are …. 1. The Rifleman (2019) Dzintars Dreibergs, Latvia The true story of a Latvian teenager who enlists to fight the Germans in WWI. I thought this was one of the best new films about that war. 2. Les Miserables (2019) Ladj Ly, France Multi-award winning thriller about a police unit that, through fault of their own becomes embroiled with ethnic gangs. Really well done. 3. The Cave (2019) Feras Fayyad, Syria 4. Parasite (2019) Joon-ho Bong, South Korea 5. Bacurau (2019) Kleber Mendonca Filho, Juliano Dornelles, Brazil 6. The Endless Trench (2019) Altor Arregi, Jon Garano, Jose Mari Goenaga It is 1936, Spain and the fascists are shooting villagers suspected of being Republicans. One escapes and his wife hides him in a small compartment behind a wall. As we know the fascists won the civil war and it was a very long time before Franco left power. Antonio de la Torre and Belen Cuesta are excellent as the couple. Recommended. 7. The Traitor (2019) Marco Bellocchio, Italy This film won the Best Picture, Actor and Supporting Actor awards in Italy. It is the story of Tommaso Buscetta who turned state’s evidence against the Costa Nostra in Siciily. It is appropriately brutal and very well done. My only complaint was it was difficult to keep track of the many characters because more often than not, they had very little set-up. The music score is fabulous. 8. Collective (2019) Alexander Nanau, Romania A documentary that unwinds the deep systemic corruption in the entire Romanian health system. Recommended 9. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019) Chiwetel Eijofor, UK [the majority of this is in Malawian with subtitles] 10. So Long, My Son (2019) Xiaoshuai Wang, China Pain and Glory (2019) Pedro Almodovar, Spain Song Without a Name (2019) Melina Leon, Peru A young native Peruvian gives birth at a clinic then when she recovers her baby and the entire clinic have disappeared. La Llorona (2019) Jayro Bustamante, Guatemala Decent film about an aged war criminal and his family as they endure house arrest. I won’t give away any more. There are a couple of really well done set pieces including one where the General is being transported in an ambulance. The Farewell (2019) Lulu Wang, USA The Best Years of a Life (2019) Claude Lelouch, France Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) Celine Sciamma, France System Crasher (2019) Nora Fingscheidt, Germany There is nothing wrong with this film but it is a difficult watch. It is about a young girl who is prone to severe tantrums and bouts of mean violence. Her mother cannot handle her and she is too young to be segregated and committed. It practically swept the German Film Awards. I’m No Longer Here (2019) Fernando Frias, Mexico and I’ve also seen … About Endlessness (2019) Roy Anderson, Sweden Though I didn’t care for it much I did find it very interesting and enjoyed the art direction and the bits of humour. And it wasn’t endless running at just an hour and a quarter. I Lost My Body (2019) Jeremy Clapin, France Family Romance, LLC (2019) Werner Herzog, Japan Ishii Yuichi runs a company where its employees can be hired to impersonate other people. He begins to question its morality when he is hired to impersonate the missing father of a young girl and she becomes attached to him. Sounds Interesting. Believe me, it is not. The way that it is all handled makes it seem too preposterous and IMO this takes the cake as Werner Herzog’s worst film.

And thank you, Det. Jim, for another of these fun lists. The eclectic mix of directors is part of the fun.

1. Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris (2011) 2. Roger Corman - A Bucket of Blood (1959) 3. Andre DeToth - House of Wax (1953) 4. Blake Edwards - Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) 5. David Fincher - Se7en (1995) 6. Sam Fuller - Pickup on South Street (1953) 7. Mervyn LeRoy - Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) 8. Penny Marshall - Big (1988) 9. Norman Z. McLeod - Horse Feathers (1932) 10. Ronald Neame - The Chalk Garden (1964)

yes, he plays the driving instructor and it is, possibly, the funniest scene in the whole movie.