zelig (1983)

"And to the, to the gentleman who's appendix I took out, I...I'm, I don't know what to say, if it's any consolation I... I may still have it somewhere around the house."
Leonard Zelig (Woody Allen), is a human chameleon, in this psuedo-documentary about a man who becomes a celebrity due to his ability to look and act like whoever he is around. Dr Fletcher (Mia Farrow) tries to unravel the complexities of Zeligs life and why he does what he does.
A great comedy, with state of the art editing, that places Zelig at the heart of world events.

seconds (1966)

"I had to find out where I went wrong."
A secret organization offers wealthy people a second chance at life, using plastic sugery to alter their looks and staging their 'death' before giving them a new life. Arthur Hamilton (John Randolph) is one such person. Convinced to take the plunge, Arthur becomes Tony Wilson (Rock Hudson), but has difficulty in adjusting to his new life...
Paranoia and fear wind their way through this intriguing drama and shows that life is more complex than you think.

perfect friday (1970)

"I must be absolutely your most troublesome customer Mr Graham."
A manager of a London bank (Stanley Baker), has devised a way to rob his branch of £200,000. Then he gets involved with Lady Dorset (Ursula Andress), and his need for money drives him to involve her and her untrustworthy husband (David Warner) in his plans.
Tense and suspenseful bank robbery flick, that has its moments, including some Andress nude scenes.

the outlaw josey wales (1976)

"Not a hard man to track. Leaves dead men wherever he goes."
Southern farmer Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood) seeks revenge when his house is burned down and his family murdered. He hooks up with some confederate guerilla fighters who refuse to acknowledge the south has lost the civil war. But things arn't that simple and can the outlaw Josey Wales ends up on the run ending up in the Indian nation, and picking up an old native American, Lone Watie (Chief Dan George) along the way.
A fine ensemble cast and Eastwood doing what he does best, be laconic, produces a fine western.

a night to remember (1958)

"Abandon ship! Every man for himself!"
The first and last fateful voyage of the 'unsinkable' Titanic. This puts a human perspective on the tragic events by introducing the viewer to some of the passengers and crew.
Stands the test of time and gives light to some of the practices that doomed some passengers before the lifeboats were even launched. Fine performances all round including David McCallum, Kenneth More and Hon.or Blackman.

the music lovers (1970)

"She'll ruin you!"
The interesting life story of Tchaikovsky (Richard Chamberlain), and how it affected his music. Russell posets that Tchaikovsky was homosexual, who had the misfortune of marrying Nina (Glenda Jackson), a nymphomaniac.
Russell brings an over the top dramatic style to the life for the classical composer, adding fun to the dramatic events.

morgan: a suitable case for treatment (1966)

"You're the only thing in the real world that lived up to my best fantasies."
A dreamer, Morgan (David Warner) becomes increasingly erratic and his obsession with Communism and Gorilla's become ever more apparent. His unconventional behavior brings a divorce from his wife, Leonie (Vanessa Redgrave), and eventually a trip to the mental hospital.
A comedy that never quite takes off, though has some memorable moments.

man bites dog (1992)

aka C'est arrivé près de chez vous.
"Once I buried two Arabs in a wall over there... Facing Mecca, of course."
A camera crew follows serial killer Ben (Benoît Poelvoorde), as he gives them his views on life, whilst randomly killing people. As he charms the crew they slowly start to become involved in his crimes.
An extremely black film that looks at the implication of the media and the audience detachment from horrendous events. As we and the crew start to identify or at least laugh along with the protagonist, we are made to realise the point. We are just as implicit in the actions taking place as the people acting them. A dark, comic and ultimately ugly film full of contradictions.

the lavender hill mob (1951)

"By Jove, Holland, it's a good job we're both honest men."
The meek and mild bank clerk Henry Holland (Alec Guinness) hits on a plan for his retirement. To steal a shipment of gold bars and smuggle them out of the country disguised as souvenir Eiffel's Towers. To do so he enlists a team (including Stanley Holloway, Sid James and Alfie Bass), to hi-jack the bullion van, and then melt down the booty. Every plan has a flaw, and just when they think they've got away with it the unconceivable happens...
Ealing on a roll here, following its previous comedy hits with another comedy gem, with this caper movie.

the ice storm (1997)

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours."
The suburban lives of two Connecticut families in the turmoil of thanksgiving 1973. The Hood's are a family in crisis with father Benjamin (Kevin Kline) having an affair with Janey Carver (Sigourney Weaver), who is a lot more casual about it than he is. Meanwhile their children are lost amidst the coming storm, metaphorically.
Stella cast of young talent (Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci and Elijah Wood), and a beautifully laid back script allows the events to slowly unfold.

ilsa: she wolf of the ss (1975)

"Call yourself men? I see no manhood between your legs."
Ilsa (Dyanne Thorne) runs Nazi prison camp, Medical Camp 9, conducting experiments into pain tolerance by day and raping the prisoners by night, as she searches for sexual satisfaction. But none can give it to her (pardon the pun), until she meets American GI Wolfe (Gregory Knoph).
A fine example of exploitation cinema, with torture, mayhem and warped sadistic sexual thrills its only reason for existance. So bad was this film, that the Ilsa character came back for three more attempts at revolting us in different prison scenario's.

the incredible shrinking man (1957)

"I was continuing to shrink, to become... what?"
Whilst at sea Scott Carey's (Grant Williams) boat drifts into a strange mist, that covers his body in a metallic residue. It doesn't enter his head that this is strange until a few weeks later he notices that he seems to be losing weight, and a doctor confirms his is growing shorter, something that the scientists seem powerless to stop and he continues to shrink...
A classic 50's sci-fi, full of pathos, action and well conceived set pieces.

finders keepers, looser weepers (1968)

"Just make sure that Lockwood is out of commission at closing time."
The everyday goings on at a Sunset Strip topless go-go bar. Paul (Paul Lockwood) the manager has to slate his thirst at a local brothel as his wife is sexually repressed, but whilst unconscious his club is being robbed, and his main act having quit, his wife decides the show must go on and has a go herself, impressing the barman if no one else!
Another Meyer morality play, where everyone gets their comeuppance, but not one of his best, with little to recommend it.

ex drummer (2007)

"Shut your kisser!"
In a dead-end town three disabled loosers band together and look for a drummer. Dries (Dries Van Hegen), a writer decides to take the job due to his disability - an inability to play the drums! With internal disputes, drug abuse, mental and marital problems, rape, and child neglect add to the pressure on the band members. Can the band hold it together?
A one of a kind extremely black comedy, that you either love, hate, or just confuses the hell out of you. Here is something that will offend at least one of your sensibilities. Is this entertainment? I think I enjoyed it, but then again...

eden lake (2008)

"Follow the blood!"
A nice professional couple Stephen (Michael Fassbender) and Jenny (Kelly Reilly), decide to spend the weekend at
Eden Lake, somewhere that Stephen remembers fondly from his childhood. However since then the place has been taken over by young hoodies, and whilst camping at the lake shore, they are disturbed by a gang lead by Brett (Jack O'Connell). From here on the couple are increasingly hassled by the gang, the situation escalating rapidly...
One of those infuriating horror's that make me shout at the screen, when people do plainly stupid things, like hide
in the protagonists bedroom rather than just leave the area! If you can get over such dumbness, then this is an effective horror, due to its believability. Me at the first signs of trouble I would have found somewhere nicer to stay, rather than toughing it out. We are supposed to get angry at the Chavs for ruining the perfect couple's weekend. Me I'm angry at all of them, but especially the young couple, who at the first sign of trouble should have left and gone somewhere nicer. But no, Stephen decides to confront the gang - even after finding out the parents are no better!

passport to pimlico (1949)

"Blimey, I'm a foreigner."
Pimlico like the rest of Britain is suffering from the austerity of the post-war period. A way out is found with the discovery of a parchment that proves Pimlico is in fact part of Burgundy, France. The inhabitants thus become an independent state, the statutes of Britain now null and void, ending rationing amongst other disliked laws, but beware what you wish for...
A beautifully crafted comedy, poking fun at British institutions and its people with its gentle satire.

kind hearts and coronets (1949)

"It is so difficult to make a neat job of killing people with whom one is not on friendly terms."
A distant relative of the D'Ascoyne family, Louis Mazzini (Dennis Price) snaps having been shunned by the family
due to his father's low status. He sets on a campaign of revenge, and achieve his goal of becoming the next Duke. All that stops him are the eight successors in his way...
A fine cast (including Joan Greenwood, Alec Guinness and Valerie Hobson), run through this gentle comedy with aplomb.

mystery men (1999)

"Invisible Boy. I think its time that you were seen."
In Champion City there exists a superhero, Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear), who is so good that all the supervillans are in prison. With his popularity falling he hits on the idea of getting Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush) released, knowing he will take up crime again. Giving Amazing the chance to defeat Frankenstein again and regain his popularity. Unfortunately Frankenstein is ahead of the game and captures Amazing. Champion City's only chance are the Mystery Men, a super team of not so super heroes, who are prone to get things wrong...
A fine example of a spoof adventure, with some fine comic turns from Paul Reubens, Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo amongst others including Tom Waits!!!

porridge (1979)

aka Doing Time.
"Beware of him. He's known as the butcher of Slade Prison."
Fletch (Ronnie Barker) and Godber (Richard Beckinsale) continue their spell of stir at Slade Prison. This time though inadvertently getting caught up in an escape attempt and having to try and break back into prison before they are missed!
As with other TV adaptions this is weaker than the TV show, but still has its moments, providing a solid 90 minutes of entertainment.

sinbad and the eye of the tiger (1977)

"Kassim will never be caliph."
Sinbad (Patrick Wayne) wants to marry Princess Farah (Jane Seymour), but she will not say yes until her brother can give his consent, unfortunately Prince Kassim (Damien Thomas) has been turned into a Baboon by Queen Zenobia (Margaret Whiting). So Sinbad sets off to find a cure, closely followed by Zenobia, who is determined to stop him.
Run of the mill adventure, and the weakest of the trio of Harryhausen Sinbad's, enlivened only by Ray Harryhausen's genius at stop motion.

the good die young (1954)

"That's my money you're hanging on to, and I want it blast it."
Four men come to a cross roads in life for various reasons. One, Miles Ravenscourt (Laurence Harvey), a playboy whose source of money has cut him off, comes up with a scheme to rob a bank. To do so he corrupts the other three. Mike Morgan (Stanley Baker) is an ex-boxer trying to get used to life out of the ring, and minus a hand. Joe Halsey (Richard Basehart) is an American struggling to take his wife (Joan Collins) away from a domineering mother. Finally we have Eddie Blaine (John Ireland) an American air force sergeant on furlow, whose actress wife (Gloria Grahame) prefers to go out with her co-star, than her husband.
A strong cast and more than a touch of the kitchen-sink makes this a fascinating drama as it slowly works through to its inevitable end.