Movie Recommendations, Rants and Ruminations
The true crime limited series Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer tells a story of a public justifiably terrorized by profound evil, but it is elevated by one genuinely good guy. In a five-and-a-half month 1985 crime spree, the serial killer nicknamed the Night Stalker inflicted unspeakable atrocities, mostly in a swath of … Read more
Actor John Saxon, was versatile, intense and prolific – the handsome, swarthy, character actor you would come to recognize in his 200+ screen appearances, mostly on TV. In 1976 ALONE, Saxon appeared on The Rockford Files, The Bionic Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man, Starsky and Hutch and Wonder Woman, acted in seven movies. and … Read more
Here’s a new set of shelter-in-place recommendations to stream or watch on TV. ON VIDEO The surprising fierceness underlying Mr. Rogers’ gentle affect is the subject of the emotionally satisfying fictional narrative A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and the even better biodoc Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Streaming Won’t You Be My Neighbor? is … Read more
It’s time for the Oscars, and The Movie Gourmet will be rooting for Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood and Parasite, which lead my Best Movies of 2019. I’ll be rooting for Adam Driver (actor), Brad Pitt (supporting actor), Laura Dern (supporting actress), Bong Joon Ho or Quentin Tarantino (director and original screenplay) and Taika Waititi … Read more
The compelling and affecting Short Term 12 is set in a foster care facility unit named Short Term 12; since the kids can live there for years, it seems pretty long-term to me. These are kids who have suffered abuse and neglect and who act out with disruptive and dangerous behaviors. Runaways, assaults and suicide … Read more
The 1958 film noir The Lineup plays this Saturday, July 30, on Turner Classic Movies. The villains and the final chase scene are unforgettable, as are the movie’s iconic San Francisco locations. It’s one of my Overlooked Noirs. Two gangsters are smuggling heroin into San Francisco, hidden in the bags of unsuspecting cruise ship passengers. … Read more
The villains and the final chase scene in The Lineup (1958) are unforgettable, as are the movie’s iconic San Francisco locations. Two gangsters are smuggling heroin into San Francisco, hidden in the bags of unsuspecting cruise ship passengers. When a shipment isn’t where it’s supposed to be (in a girl’s doll), the gangsters take the … Read more
I recommend the totally unpredictable and well-crafted drama Take Me to the River, a very strong feature debut for writer-director Matt Sobel, a San Jose native. Thriller meets thinker in Eye in the Sky, a parable from modern drone warfare starring Helen Mirren and with a wonderful final performance from the late Alan Rickman. My … Read more
How does a film get listed on my Best Movies of 2015? Essentially, I look for two very personal reactions: 1) I am thrilled by the experience of watching the film (or feel another strong visceral reaction) and 2) I am still thinking about the movie for days afterward. A few days ago I saw … Read more
This blog exists because I’m an evangelist for outstanding films that may be overlooked by people who will appreciate them. You don’t need ME to tell you that The Big Short, Creed, Spotlight and The Martian are good movies. What’s important to me is that you don’t miss the less well-known gems: The unforgettable coming … Read more