Spetters was the film Paul Verhoeven made after the worldwide success of his Soldier of Orange. It sparked the beginning of a career of controversy that still continues, including his most recent film, Elle. It was also the penultimate film (The Fourth Man would be the last) that he would make in his native Holland for decades, as he … Continue reading Blu-Ray Review – Spetters
Betrayed was Costa-Gavras's first fully American film: he made Missing previously with Hollywood money, but it was set in Chile and shot in Mexico, while Betrayed was set and shot in the good old US of A. It was written by Joe Eszterhas, who had already made his name as one of the highest-paid screenwriters … Continue reading Blu-Ray Review – Betrayed
Despite being heavily influenced by Hollywood films, almost none of the French New Wave directors of the '60s jumped over the Altantic and make films there. François Truffaut almost made Bonnie & Clyde; Jean-Luc Godard was also offered it, but turned it down. Jacques Demy is the only one to actually make a "Hollywood" film … Continue reading Blu-Ray Review – Model Shop
In his “Trailers From Hell” for Secret Ceremony, Larry Karaszewski describes the films Elizabeth Taylor did from the late '60s onwards as almost their own genre—and he is onto something there. She was becoming increasingly bloated, as the booze and prescription drugs started to take their hold. She would end up being the first celebrity to openly … Continue reading Blu-Ray Review – Secret Ceremony
This is the fourth Hammer box set Indicator has released: four different Hammer films, mostly from the early ‘60s. The only ‘50s entrant is The Revenge of Frankenstein, which was the sequel to Curse of Frankenstein (unfortunately owned by Icon, so Indicator can’t license it). The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (a.k.a. House of Fright), … Continue reading Blu-Ray Review – Hammer Volume Four: Faces of Fear
