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1. The White Darkness (2002)- Low budget auteur Richard Stanley's 'documentary' about voodoo doctors. I put a ton of his available in the queue a year ago and it's just now coming around. I was underwhelmed by Stanley's "Hardware" but recognize his cult status.

2. Rewind This! (2013)- Doc about VHS movies that got some pretty healthy talk a few years back from old fogies like myself who remember wandering the aisles of video stores in their childhood.

3. The Color of Time (2010)- Hmm, maybe because it stars Mila Kunis this one is here.

4. Oliver Twist (2005)- One of only two Polanski films I haven't seen.... the other being his obscure "What?" from 1972 that I'll be watching around the same time as this one. His take on the Dickens classic.

5. Plus One (2011)- Greek director Denis Iliadis did the remake to "Last House On the Left" a few years back and while his films reek of street-level 'degeneraism' (see his 2004 film "Hardcore"), I have to see everything available by a filmmaker when I get it in my head to do so.

6. Les Cousins (1958)- Early Chabrol that I feel like I've seen, yet somehow I don't remember a thing about. Time to rectify.

7. The Trip To Italy (2014)- Michael Winterbottom's follow-up to the immensely entertaining "The Trip".

8. Four Sons (1928)- Continuing on my appreciation of every John Ford film available. Check back sometime in 2017, probably, for a long post since he made about 500 films.

9. The Cut (2015)- Fatih Akin burst onto my radar when I saw his 2004 masterpiece "Head-On", but each film has been concurrently underwhelming for me. Perhaps this one will change my perception.

10.  H-Man (1958)- From the imdb description:  While investigating the mysterious disappearance of a low-level drug runner, Tokyo police discover that a race of radioactive flesh-eating creatures are emerging from the sewers and attacking civilians. Set in the criminal underground of 1950s-era Tokyo, this effort from B-movie maven Ishiro Honda is an obscure precursor to sci-fi noirs like Jean-Luc Godard's Alphaville and Ridley Scott's Blade Runner.

I doubt this is still contemporaneous with the advent and growth of streaming, but I still love holding a DVd disc in my hand. So, the next 10 titles in my queue:


1. J.W. Coop (1971)- Continuing my intensive 70's viewing with Cliff Robertson starring (and directing) about a rodeo rider trying to regain his career.

2. Beyond Outrage (2012)- Underwhelmed by Kitano's oblique and glacial gangster-fest "Outrage", this sequel promises more of the same. As a Kitano completist, I need to see it.

3. The Best Offer (2013)- What happened to director Giuseppe Tornatore? Huge success with "Cinema Paradiso" and helped launch the career of Monica Bellucci with "Malena", yet his films rarely get US distribution. This one, seemingly a thriller about a recluse (Geoffrey Rush) rediscovering his passion with an enigmatic client (per the Netflix description), never made it on my radar.

4. Tim's Vermeer (2013)- Documentary that got quite a bit of buzz last year.

5. Two In the Wave (2010)- Documentary double feature about the nouvelle vague, following Truffaut and Godard. Right up my alley.

6. Memphis (2013)- I remember this ending up on quite a few best of lists in its respective year. Film about a singer wandering about the titular city.

7. Stranger By the Lake (2013)- Alaine Guiraudie's highly respected but risque experimental tale about a murder around a lake frequented by homosexuals.

8. A Grin Without a Cat (1977)- Chris Marker's essay about power struggles in the 60's and 70's. Marker is a highly intellectual filmmaker whose work sometimes goes right over my head. This film, originally released in the late 70's then removed and restored by Marker himself, is often regarded as one of his most influential films.

9. Marketa Lazarova (1967)- One of those Criterion releases that has one scratching their head. I'd honestly never heard of it before, but that's the outright joy Criterion often exposes in cinema. Described as a "poetic and stirring depiction of a feud between two rival clans".

10. Life Is Hot in Cracktown (2009)- Another film that has me shaking my head (like the Criterion above) but for wholly different reasons. I have no idea why its in my queue, but I see it stars Shannyn Sossamon. I went through a phase of loving her a couple years back so I can only guess this is residual affection for her. Hey, she plays a crack addict. Can't be THAT bad.

1. Holy Motors (2012)- Leos Carax's much acclaimed film played here in Dallas uneventfully for about a week before exiting, and I'm just now catching up with it
2. Los Bastardos (2011)- Filmmaker Amat Escalante made some waves earlier this year when his film "Heli" played at the Cannes Film Fest. This one, his debut, sounds like it mines the same tough territory of drug dealers and lowlifes in Mexico. 
3. Geronimo An American Legend (1993)- Walter Hill's tale of the Apache warrior who fought against the American army. I think I added this one when I was going through a Gene Hackman phase a while back... and just to mention Nicholas Roeg's "Eureka" is pretty darn good Hackman.
4. Rocco and His Brothers (1960)- Saw this years ago when I was a fledgling film enthusiast on a Blockbuster VHS copy, but I was blown away by it. Oft cited as one of Scorsese's favorite films, Visconti's epic tale of one Italian family and their divisions over time should be essential viewing. 
5. The Bay (2012)- Wait. Barry Levinson doing a found footage horror film? Maybe I'll begin my October horror-thon early!
6. Cannibal Holocaust (1980)- With the talk of Eli Roth re-imagining the cannibal horror film, I decided to see schlock master Ruggero Deodato's original video nasty for the first time. 
7. The Central Park Five (2012)- Documentary about the trial of five men arrested and convicted in 1989 for the rape of a woman in Central Park. Nothing like a hotly contested court case to make a thrilling documentary.
8. The Green Berets (1968)- John Wayne. Veitnam. Nuff said.
9. Son of Gascogne (1995)- A favorite of critic Andrew Sarris back in the day. From the Neflix description: "In this romantic comedy, lanky tour guide Harvey (Gregoire Colin) is told by a stranger that he strongly resembles legendary 1960s French new wave filmmaker Gascogne; before long, he's assumed to be Gascogne's son. Harvey quickly becomes the toast of Paris, hobnobbing with directors and Gascogne groupies. But his newfound "fame" may derail his relationship with Dinara (Dinara Droukarova), the film-buff interpreter on the tour.
10. Next five are Alejandro Jodorwosky films. Let the madness begin.

This is a bit outdated since a third of my viewing has shifted to streaming, but there are still plenty of titles not available through that avenue. The next 10 titles (disc) in my queue:

 1. Eyes Without A Face- After being able to track down a few of Georges Franju's lesser known and unavailable films, it's kind of glaring that I've never seen the one film of his that IS available. Looking forward to this one.
2. George Harrison Material World- Scorsese's documentary on Beatle George Harrison received genuinely good reviews. I'm not a huge Beatle nut, but I'm always up for a trip with Scorsese at the helm.
3. Helsinki Napoli- Really just watching this for the cameo by director Sam fuller, yet Finnish neo-noir can always be interesting.
4. 'Round Midnight- This is the first film in a list by French director Bertrand Tavernier that I'm watching. This film, about the destructive nature of jazz musicians in the 30's, is generally regarded as one of his best films.
5. Let Joy Reign Supreme- Debut from director Tavernier.
6. Satatango (3 discs)- Ok, I've tried this a couple times in the past. Here's hoping Bela Tarr's epic, spine-cringing black and white moodier hits the right spot this time. I understand the best way to watch this one is just allow the visuals and sound to wash over you.
7. Littlerock- From the Netflix description: "this evocative drama examines culture shock, the universal yearning for connection and the impact of history on ordinary people in the tale of Atsuko and Rintaro, Japanese siblings who come to California to visit a WW2 ear internment camp."
8. Cinema Verite- Well received HBO drama receating the first American reality TV show in the 70's. Starring Tim Robbins and Diane Lane.
9. Marooned- John Sturges late 60's drama about astronauts stranded in space.
10. Sawdust and Tinsel- One of the few Ingmar Bergman films that no one really discusses. It sounds intriguing, following the sexual digressions and betrayals of a circus clown!

Been a while for this! Interspersed among the bevy of older titles in my current queue sits a handful of 2012 films I missed. This is my favorite time of year... everyone is coming out with their best of lists and I myself am scurrying to catch up and watch a flurry of movies for my own favorites of the year. So, the next ten titles in my queue:

1. The Turin Horse (2012)- Bela Tarr's cinematic sensibility hasn't quite caught on with my tastes yet, but his latest film has landed resoundingly on so many critics lists (and some of the ones I respect I most) that I feel its worth a shot.

2. Mr. Arkadin (1962)- Orson Welles' Cold War thriller sound intriguing, yet its one of his films that I never hear mentioned. Why?

3. Winter In Wartime (2009)- Described in Netflix as "This sumptuously photographed drama focuses on 14-year-old Michiel as he wrestles with family loyalties, painful choices between safety and courage, and the harsh realities of the last, desperate winter of World War II."

4. David and Lisa (1962)- One of the early efforts from hugely under appreciated director Frank Perry about an emotionally damaged couple becoming attracted to each other.

5. The Housemaid (2011)- "A wealthy family's new maid, Eun-yi (Do-yeon Jeon), attracts the attention of Hoon (Jung-Jae Lee), the man of the house, and a fiery affair develops between them. But although Hoon signs Eun-yi's checks, he's not the one controlling the relationship. One secret leads to another, until Eun-yi threatens to destroy the entire family. This update of the 1960 chiller was an Official Selection of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival."

6. Unforgiveable (2012)- Latest subtle thriller from Andre Techine that has crept on several critics year end lists.

7. Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962)- Rewatch of this terrific existential British drama.

8. Nenette et Boni (1996)- I guess this was released on DVD recently with little fanfare. It's one of the few Claire Denis films I haven't seen and plan on remedying that soon.

9. Bigger Than Life (1956)- After I finish up my current appreciation of director Shohei Imamura (post coming soon), filmmaker Nick Ray is the next director whose total career I'll jump into.

10. Burst City (1982)- More craziness from Sogo Ishii.

1. The Son of No One (2011)- I'm a big Dito Montiel fan, but the talk about this Al Pacino-Channing Tatum drama has been middling. After his "A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints" from a few years back, I'll give director Montiel the benefit of the doubt every time.
2. Burnt By the Sun (1994)- This film has been out there for ages, received some major recognition during the early 90's and won an Oscar as best foreign picture, but I've never seen it. The recent Film Comment article on Alexei German has my wet my appetite for Russian cinema I've missed- which is alot.
3. Fear and Trembling (2003)- My look into the films of Alain Corneau continues with this film. "In search of a new beginning, Amélie (Sylvie Testud) moves from Belgium back to her early-childhood home of Japan, where she starts working full time for a large corporation. But life as a foreigner proves difficult to navigate -- and Eastern office etiquette is nothing like what she's used to. French director Alain Corneau helms this Tokyo-based dramedy adapted from the autobiographical novel by Amélie Nothomb." From Netflix description.
4. Around A Small Mountain (2009)- One of the very few Rivette films actually available on DVD, this recent release from him charts the romance between a man (the always wonderful Sergio Castellitto) and a circus owner (Jane Birkin).
5. The Hills Run Red (1966)- Quasi spaghetti western starring Henry Silva and Dan Duryea as soldiers caught up in a heist. The director, Carlo Lizzani, is an extremely prolific and underrated creater of some terrific 70's Italian cinema.
6. The Image (1975)- Apologies that I don't remember where, but several blogs I've been reading lately have posted about director Radley Metzger and his sexploitation canon. This will be my introduction to his work. Fingers crossed!
7. War Horse (2011)- Yea, missed this one last year. I hope it doesn't reek of the sappiness I gleaned from its trailer.
8. Dark Waters (1993)- I go through phases of genre watching, and last October I added a ton of French horror flicks to the list, and with the constant re-arranging and shuffling of titles, this one got missed. Plot is as follows: "After her father's death, Elizabeth (Louise Salter) visits a desolate island to discover why he left his money to a secretive order of nuns. Though the foreboding Mother Superior (Mariya Kapnist) tries to send her away, Elizabeth soon discovers that the convent is actually a prison, built to confine a terrible aquatic demon that can be controlled only if the shattered pieces of an ancient stone amulet are kept apart."
9. Fear Me Not (2007)- Danish thriller about a man (Ulrich Thomson0 struggling with the after effects of an experimental drug. Director Kristin Levring comes from the vonTrier dogma school of filmmaking (does anyone even remember this now, besides us movie board affecianados who argued about this style from 1998-2001??).
10. Solaris (1972)- Re watch of the Tarkovsy classic.

First, a new year's "intention" since "resolution" is such a definitive term... and can you already hear me trying to slide out of these "intentions" if I don't follow through this year?

1. Post more, plain and simple
2. See more new releases.. a "cinema passport" card- which allows me free access to a majority of theaters around the area throughout 2012- should definitely help these intentions
3. Hit a film festival this year, whether it be SXSW, Dallas AFI or Fantastic Fest in Austin. It's been much too long since my last one, and a helluva lot of fun.

Now, the next ten titles in my Netflix queue:

1. Winter Light- Ingmar Bergman that I've somehow managed to miss seeing over the years.
2. Ironweed- Last year, I went through a Jack Nicholson phase, and this 1987 film about an out of work baseball player during the Depression, finally rose to the top of the queue.
3. Higher Ground- The lovely Vera Farmiga's directorial debut that came and went quickly in 2011 saw a Blu-Ray release last week and I quickly moved it close to the top. Not only do I find her breathtakingly beautiful, but I hear the film is a well-meaning debut.
4. Shock- I've seen pretty much all Mario Bava available on DVD, and this late 70's film about "a family that moves into a home with a shocking secret, their lives become a nightmare of homicidal hallucinations as their young son begins to communicate with the spirits of the dead. Remodeled in madness and painted in blood, they soon discover that domestic bliss can be murder...when home is where the horror is."..... popped up within Netflix recently.
5. Triage- Danis Tanovic (of Bosnian "No Man's Land" fame) directs this thriller which stars too good looking people (Colin Farrell and Paz Vega) dealing with post traumatic stress syndrome. Should be interesting, maybe....
6. Banana Peel- From the description: "Con artist Michel Thibault (a supercool Jean-Paul Belmondo) and a beautiful woman (Jeanne Moreau) lead a gang of crafty criminals in a scheme to relieve greedy millionaire Raymond Lachard (Gert Fröbe) of some of his riches. Set largely across the gorgeous backdrop of the French Riviera, Banana Peel is a breezy early work from director Marcel Ophüls, who later directed the Holocaust documentary The Sorrow and the Pity." Belmondo, breezy French con movie, Ophuls.... I'm there!
7. Police Story- Never seen this trend setting Jackie Chan actioner. Now is the time.
8. Pale Flower- "Director Masahiro Shinoda's high-octane romp finds former jailbird Muraki (Ryo Ikebe) meeting the sultry Saeko (Mariko Kaga) soon after being released from the Big House. But the hard-bitten Muraki hasn't turned over a new leaf, and before you can say "prison reform," he and Saeko are tearing Tokyo apart." Read about this one on a Sonic Youth forum that I sometimes post on... a board full of obscure titles, Japanese hardcore stuff and slasher flicks. The jury is out, but the limited number of Shinoda films on DVD usually means a cult find.
9. Septien- Filmmaker and writer Michael Tully's independent film about a man returning home to his oddball family. I admire his writing, so here's hoping his filmmaking skills are elegant as well.
10. New World- Just listen to this synopsis: "A boy growing up in a French village befriends an American soldier who's stationed at a nearby Army base. The G.I. (James Gandolfini) makes a big impression on the young boy and introduces him to fun, freedom, music and the opposite sex. When the boy follows his dream of becoming a drummer and falls in love with a young American girl (Alicia Silverstone), he's faced with a tough decision." I found my way into this through a search for French filmmaker Alain Corneau's works and it just sounds intriguing.

1. Strange Circus (2004)- Filmmaker Shion Sono is someone I'm very interested in since his cult following on the festival circuit with films like "Love Exposure" and "Cold Fish".... both of which I'm told are punishing, extreme works. After loving "Suicide Club" and feeling mixed about "Noriko's Dinner Table", I'm not sure what to expect of this film about family incest and sexual abuse.
2. Hobo With a Shotgun (2011)- I've had this in my queue before, removed it, then put it back in. I'm so over the faux-70's grindhouse aesthetic of Tarantino, Rodriguez et al and this looks like more of the uninspired same. Open mind though!
3. Suburbia (1984)- Penelope Spheeris' mfictional mid-80's look at the Los Angeles punk rock scene and the ensuing ennui.
4. Prince of Darkness (1987)- One of my very favorite John Carpenter films and a bit of a warm up for the upcoming October viewing schedule full of blood, death, zombies and Lucifer himself.
5. Drama/Mex (2006)- Another filmmaker recently thrust into the festival spotlight is Gerardo Naranjo. Being a huge fan of his previous film "I'm Gonna Explode", I'm finally going back to explore this earlier work which sounds more subdued.
6. A Screaming Man (2010)- This African film is described as follows from Netflix: "Adam (Youssouf Djaoro) was a security guard at a posh Chad hotel until its new owners replaced him with his son (Dioucounda Koma). In this nation torn apart by civil war, citizens are called upon to help. But Adam only has one thing to give, forcing him to make a devastating choice. Emile Abossolo M'bo and Djénéba Koné co-star in this powerful drama, winner of the Jury Prize at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival."
7. Exte: Hair Extensions (2006)- More Shion Sono.
8. The Magician (1958)- I'm guessing this early Ingmar Bergman slipped onto Blu-Ray with little fanfare. Regrettable, I've seen so few of Bergman's smaller films so I'm looking forward to this Max von Sydow starring effort.
9. Your Highness (2011)- Skipped this medieval stoner comedy on release this year....
10. The Human Factor (1975)- No itsamadmadblog list would be complete without one cheesy 70's flick on it, so here it is. "When terrorists kill his beloved family, NATO computer expert John Kinsdale (George Kennedy) fights back by using his technical know-how to track them down and make them pay. Trying their best to keep Kinsdale from dispensing vigilante justice are his friends (John Mills and Rita Tushingham), a U.S. military commander (Arthur Franz) and a police inspector (Raf Vallone). But when an ordinary man is pushed over the edge, reason falls on deaf ears." And its directed by the great Edward Dmytryk!

1. The Prowler (1981)- Cheapie 80's horror film newly released to DVD, featured in one of Tarantino's film fest events, and starring Lawrence Tierney whom Tarantino would later use to gruff excellence in his own film.
2. The Lost Honor of Katarina Blum (1975)- Volker Schlondorff's tale of a woman whose love affair with a suspected terrorist sends her life into chaos. This is one of those movies I'm sure I saw back in the day, yet can't remember.
3. A Woman, A Gun, and A Noodle Shop (2009)- Zhang Yimou's remake or re-imagining of the Coen Brothers deliciously great debut "Blood Simple" has been floating in my queue for about a year now so I moved it closer to the top. The word of mouth has been mixed and Yimou is a director I used to ardently admire, but kinda cooled on lately through his mediocre efforts ("Riding Alone For Thousands of Miles, "Happy Times" etc). We'll see on this one.
4. The Great Gatsby (1974)- Robert Redford in the great novels adaptation to the screen.
5. A Call Girl (2010)- "This insightful, allegorical drama follows Aleksandra (Nina Ivanisin), a student, as she travels from a small town to the big city. A cynical and callous young woman, Aleksandra uses the move to transform herself into a well-paid call girl. Her self-imposed isolation and guilt-free life end, however, when a politician client dies. As the police pursue her, Aleksandra must figure out how to finish growing up without losing her soul." From the Neflix description.
6. A Summer In Genoa (2009)- Pretty sad when a Michael Winterbottom film is relegated to the the DTV pile, but apparently this one was. One of my very favorite directors working today. And starring Colin FIrth, Katherine Keener and Hope Davis!
7. How To Kill a Judge (1972)- More Euro crime, this time about a film director (Franco Nero) inciting violence from the mob to, well, kill a local judge.
8. The Illustrated Man (1969)- Curious title that I came across while surfing selections. "Rod Steiger plays the titular character -- a man covered with tattoos -- in this adaptation of Ray Bradbury's tale. When a young drifter (Robert Drivas) encounters "the illustrated man," he can't take his eyes off the pictures on the man's torso. But staring at the designs takes the drifter smack-dab into the middle of the pictures -- in one instance, stranded on Venus, in another, on an African veldt and in the third, on the eve of Armageddon."
9. Breaking Bad Season 3 (2010)- Yet another reason television has become one of the best creative outlets.
10. Harakari (1962)- "Winner of the Cannes Special Jury Prize, Masaki Kobayashi's drama centers on samurai Hanshiro Tsugumo (Tatsuya Nakadai), who arrives at a lavish manor and asks to commit hara-kiri on the grounds. But the vengeful warrior is harboring a secret. A new political climate finds the once-powerful samurais wandering the country begging estate owners to allow them to commit suicide on their properties, when what they really want is a handout."

1. Goliath- Micro indie auteur David Zellner's story about a man who finds his life coming apart. I wasn't a fan of Zellner's previous film "Dear Pillow", but this film did win some great word of mouth at the '08 Sundance Film Festival.
2. Everything's Fine- Robert DeNiro received some subtle praise for this film about a man who tries to visit and reconnect with his children. This one kinda got lost in the shuffle. I meant to watch it towards the end of 2009, then never did, then it just ended up in the middle of my queue.
3. Backtrack- One of the few films I added after the death of Dennis Hopper and the only film he directed that I've yet to see. I'm not holding out much anticipation, though, as I see the dreaded "Alan Smithee" is also attached to the thing. But damn that cast- Jodie Foster, John Turturro, Dean Stockwell....
4. Joy House- Rene Clement's mood 60's crime romance about a gangster hiding out in a mansion, falling for two different ladies... one of them Jane Fonda. Part of the Alain Delon box set released early last year.
5. Night Train To Munich- Directed by Carol Reed.... Nazis... World War 2 intrigue. I'm already hooked.
6. Femme Fatale- Giving this one a re watch. Definitely the high point for DePalma since the late 90's. I haven't seen it since watching it on opening night and wonder if it holds up.
7. Murder ala Mode/The Moving Finger- Early DePalma movie that looks to be packaged as one of those cheap "drive in" spectacular box sets... and very surprised to see such an oddity from DePalma represented on DVD. The other film, titled "The Moving Finger" sounds more intriguing though: "A rare beatnik artifact of the early 1960s, one of only a few such films made before the hippies took over Hollywood. Low budget and in b&w, it's set in Greenwich Village, with what seems like a mostly improvised script. It begins as a late film noir crime tale involving a bank robbery where only one of a group of thieves escapes with his life, as well as $90,000 in loot. Injured and on the run, he hides in a local tour bus and is soon taken in by a group of bohemians who shoot him full of morphine to ease his pain and let him sleep it off on a mattress. Mason is the head beatnik. There's also the owner of both an upstairs coffeehouse and garret, where these beatniks hang out. They, in turn, bring the tourist trade in. Although the robbery is supposed to be the main focus of the plot, it quickly turns into more of a character study featuring these rebellious bon vivants and their odd lifestyle..." Written by Richard Santoro
8. The American Friend- I'm about to go on a Wim Wenders bender. Recently, a friend gave me bootleg copies of two Wenders films that have always eluded me- "Kings of the Road" and "Alice In the Cities". Can't wait to dig into those two as well as revisiting this late 70's German New Wave masterpiece that blends American crime, comedy and film noir into a trance-inducing thing of beauty.
9. The Deep- I feel I've seen this one, but upon looking over the filmography of Peter Yates after his recent death, it was one of the few I didn't have rated. Nazi gold, deep sea diving, Jacqueline Bisset.... and all on Blu Ray as well!
10. The Sender- This is one of those shots in the dark that can either yield a tremendous experience or another early 80's trash horror flick. I added it last year during the month of October and just continued to shift movies over it. Recently, while thumbing through an old copy of Film Comment, I noticed the film listed on several "Ten Best" lists in that issue from '82. The story: "When a young man (Zeljko Ivanek) attempts suicide and fails, he's rewarded with a long-term stay in a mental hospital, where he begins exhibiting even stranger behavior. A staff psychiatrist (Kathryn Harrold) seems to be the only one willing to believe that the new patient is telepathically controlling the minds of the doctors and patients around him. But just how is he able to unleash his darkest nightmares upon them?"

Thoughts on any of these titles or ones I should add, please drop a comment.

1. In Vanda's Room- The artist of note who seemed to blaze out of art house obscurity over the past 3-4 years is Portuguese filmmaker Pedro Costa, and thanks to a 3 disc boxset, some of his work is finally available. This film, made in 2000, runs at 3 hours and is described as a portrait of the slums around Lisbon and its drug addled inhabitants. I've heard so much about Costa, I'm looking forward to judging his work on my own.
2. Tallhotblonde- Barbet Schroeder's documentary about cyberspace and crime sounds intriguing. Along with the recent "Catfish" and Ondi Timoner's highly absorbing cyber doc "We Live In Public", I think we're beginning to see a new wave of films that have embraced the myths and invisible dangers of this ubiquitous thing we call the Internet.
3. Altered States- I've kind of been on a Ken Russell kick lately, finally getting the opportunity to see "The Devils". While I'm not a complete convert to his maniacal sense of narrative and out of control zooms/pans, I'll give this early 80's film a chance.
4. Taxidermia- I get the feeling Gyrogy Palfi's absurdist black comedy will make for a grotesque double feature with the previous Russell film. "This black comedy spanning three generations of men serves as an absurdist journey through the history of Hungary, from World War II through the communist era to the present. In postwar Hungary, a depraved hospital orderly spawns an outrageously obese son, Kalman (Gergely Trócsányi), who in turn goes on to raise his own progeny, a skinny boy (Marc Bischoff) freakishly obsessed with taxidermy."
5. Ossos- Second Pedro Costa film.
6. Veronika Voss- I've seen most of Fassbinder's films, yet this tale about a faded German film star's downfall with drugs and old age slipped by me. Fassbinder is very hit or miss for me. I'm guessing this is just as broad as Frank Perry's "Mommie Dearest", but we'll see. This is also one of those films that's been floating back and forth in my queue for well over 3 years.
7. Town Without Pity- Slowly but surely, some 'lost' Joseph Losey films have been making their way onto DVD, and this is surely one. "An alcoholic, David Graham (Michael Redgrave), finds the strength within himself to attempt to surmount his problems so he can rescue his son from the death penalty. But he's haunted every step of the way by his nemesis, Robert Stanford (Leo McKern)." Also on tap in the next couple weeks is Losey's "The Prowler" and if you haven't seen it, "These Are the Damned" made its way onto a double disc and it's a very disconcerting film about radioactive children.
8. Detective Story- Ok, Takashi Miike really is one of the most prolific filmmakers today. I know people say that about this person or that person alot, but I mean it. Netflix recently added some 15 more titles of his. This guy makes 3-4 films a year. "Detective Story" is described as a murder thriller in which a P.I. and a businessman search for a serial killer who collects the organs of his victims. Yes, I added all 15 titles to my queue and will continue to work my way through his varied (and at times sickening) output.
9. Britannia Hospital- I know next to nothing about this '82 film except its directed by the under appreciated Lindsay Anderson.
10. One From the Heart- Probably the most mainstream film on this list, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and deemed a clolossal failure in the early 80's. I've never seen it.

1. Cria Cuervos- Carlos Saura's tale of a young child dealing with the loss of her parents. There's not much Saura available on DVD, and the ones that are ("Tango" and "Carmen") don't play much to my sensibilities. I have heard great things about this film, though.
2. Kingdom of Heaven- I saw Ridley Scott's film in theaters, but it left little impression on me. Since upgrading to Blu Ray last year and hearing the terrific things about this extended director's cut version which seems to flesh out some of the material more, I've decided to give it another try.
3. Nip Tuck Season 6 Part 2- A soap opera of the highest order. I've been hooked since episode one on FX years ago, so why stop now even though the show has gotten more and more preposterous every season.
4. Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies- Early documentary from comedy director Todd Philips (yes, "Road Trip") about the cult status of punk underground singer GG Allin. Can't say I've heard any of their music, but I'm always open to fascinating subjects.
5. Young Torless- "Based on a heart-wrenching novel by writer Robert Musil, this film, directed by Volker Schlondorff and winner of the International Critics Prize at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival, explores what happens when a young man named Thomas Törless (Mathieu Carrière), enrolled at a boarding school in the Austro-Hungarian Empire before the war, does nothing to save a boy (Marian Seidowsky) from constant torture by his classmates." From the Netflix description.
6. Moon In the Gutter- French director Jean Jacques Beineix's cult classic finally got its DVD release earlier this year. While the only Beineix film I've managed to see has been "Diva", I love this type of exposure to a filmmaker previously hidden away. Three other films by Beineix are in the queue as well.
7. Billy Jack- "Billy Jack" on Blu-ray. Believe it. Friends highly recommend this as ass-kicking 70's greatness.
8. Is Paris Burning?- International war film by French director Rene Clement described as "Jean-Paul Belmondo heads the star-studded cast (which includes Charles Boyer, Kirk Douglas and Alain Delon) in this drama directed by Rene Clement and co-written by, among many others, Francis Ford Coppola and Gore Vidal. Although World War II is nearly over, the Germans wage one last effort at destruction in Paris. But the French Resistance won't let them win -- not when Allied victory is so close at hand." Sounds great, but the two star rating on Netflix has me a bit worried?
9. The Messenger- Iraq drama from last Oscar season starring Woody Harrelson that I'm just now catching up with.
10. Robokill Beneath Club Layla- Just look at that title. Do I really need to explain? Ok, it stars director Kiyoshi Kurosawa and is described as the following: When a nightclub opens in Tokyo 45 years after World War II, the clientele have no idea the site once housed a hush-hush military lab. But the secret is about to emerge as a defective generator reactivates half-man, half-machine superwarrior Mikadroid, long thought destroyed by America's firebombing of the city. Next thing you know, disco patrons are turning up dead as the cyborg prowls the cellar in this sci-fi classic starring Yoriko Douguchi.

1. The Exiles- Rescued from obscurity thanks to its clips used as part of Thom Anderson's wonderful documentary "Los Angeles Plays Itself", Kent Mackenzie's 1961 film details a slice of life in the Bunker Hill section for a family of Native Americans.
2. Lake Tahoe- I really admire the Film Movement label. Not everything I've seen is terrific, but their micro-budget predilections and sometimes challenging subject matter are a cut above other indie production companies. "Lake Tahoe" is described as an odd journey for a youth after a violent car accident.
3. 35 Shots of Rhum- Claire Denis' latest received a lot of buzz last year. Her work is hit or miss with me, but always worth seeking out.
4. Harvard Beats Yale 29-29- Documentary about a 1968 football game between... well Harvard and Yale. I love odd little sports commentaries like this.
5. The Big Sleep- 70's remake of the classic Humphrey Bogart noir starring an equally iconic actor, Robert Mitchum, and helmed by authentic 70's workmanlike director Michael Winner. I'm sure I've caught this on cable before, but it's due for another view.
6. Silent Movie- One of the only Mel Brooks comedies I've yet to see.
7. Coup de Grace- Netflix descrption: "A young Russian woman (Magarethe von Trotta) becomes involved with a sexually repressed Prussian soldier. When the soldier refuses her, she spirals into a psychosexual depression and begins sleeping with numerous men while championing the cause of Bolshevik revolutionaries in the days immediately following the fall of the Czar." Directed by Volker Schlondorff.
8. Eyes of a Stranger- Cheap sounding thriller.... no other excuse than that. Oh, and it features a young Jennifer Jason Leigh!
9. The Betrayal- A slew of documentaries on the horizon, for some reason, but this Oscar nominated film by cinematographer Ellen Kuras charts the nasty business of war in Veitnam.
10. Underworld USA- A second viewing of the great Sam Fuller crime thriller recently released on DVD.

1. Night of the Creeps- 80's cult horror film that has a HUGE following, as evident by the Blu Ray's "very long wait". I've only really heard about this film, and I have no idea what to expect. Director Fred Dekker did go on to direct "The Monster Squad", so I imagine great 80's fun is to be had.
2. Frozen Land- Finnish drama about a single incident that ripples through a town and affects the inhabitants. This 2008 film ranked pretty high on several Film Comment contributors' respective "best of' lists.
3. Family Guy: Something.... Dark- The original "Star Wars" rip-off by Seth McFarland and company was so perfectly hilarious, I look forward to more of the same.
4. White Lightnin'- From the Netflix description: One of the best Burt Reynolds "rednecks and cars" movies, White Lightning serves up some great auto chases through a sweaty, dirt-poor Southern atmosphere. Reynolds is a good ol' boy who runs moonshine and squares off against his nemesis, a sheriff (Ned Beatty) who has as little regard for the law as Burt does. A must-see for 1970s film buffs or action fans." Directed by Joseph Sargent, whose "Colossus; The Forbin Project" was such great cheesy fun, "White Lightnin" sounds like more of the same.
5. Grand Slam- This late 60's Italian heist film starring an eclectic cast including Edward G. Robinson, Klaus Kinksi, Janet Leigh and Robert Hoffman just sounds infectious. On never knows what they may get with Italian knock offs like this, but I'm definitely willing to give it a try.
6. Solo con tu Pareja- Alfonso Cuaron's debut film, it's described as a moral comedy when a young man is falsly identified with a terminal disease and he falls in love with a nurse.
7. Service- Filipino director Brillante Mendoza received some notoriety last year when Roger Ebert critically panned his film "Kinatay". Other critics hailed it. This being my first Kinatay film, I'm open to any merits. I can't say the film's synopsis raises my hopes though: "While the Pineda family matriarch, Nanay Flor (Gina Pareño), brings suit against her bigamist husband, the rest of her brood struggle with their own demons as they operate a run-down porno theater in the Philippines in director Brillante Mendoza's drama. The goings-on include one son (Coco Martin) dealing with a boil on his butt as another pair of siblings contemplates incest, all amid the seedy sexual shenanigans of the theater's clientele."
8. Homicide- I saw David Mamet's early 90's film on VHS back in the day and was floored (as usual) by his mastery of dialogue and tone. I may move this one up to the top soon. It recently made it's Criterion DVD debut.
9. Blood and Wine- Yes, the 1996 Jack Nicholson slow-burn noir that is another re watch.
10. I Am Cuba- Landmark Cuban film from the 60's whose technical prowess has been mimicked by P.T. Anderson (the long take of a woman getting up, walking into a pool and then following her underwater in "Boogie Nights") and scores of other filmmakers. No reason why I've never seen it.

First, anyone else think it's kinda cheap for Netflix to charge $4 more a month for Blu Ray releases?

1. A Tale of Sorrow- Just like Takashi Miike, Sejun Suzuki films are continually released on DVD with little fanfare. Maybe it's because both of these guys deal prolifically in demented sex, surreal ideas and maniacal colors. This film from 1977 is a "cat-and-mouse tale that traces model and pro golfer Reiko's (Yoko Shiraki) encounters with the dark side of celebrity after she wins her first tournament, lands a TV gig and acquires a bizarre stalker -- her nutty neighbor, Mrs. Semba. The crazed woman is privy to a dangerous secret and forces Reiko to submit to a series of increasingly violent demands. Little does she know that Reiko will fight when provoked."
2. The Insect Woman- I'm very excited to see this film from Shohei Imamura that was put out in a triple pack of previously unreleased films.
3. I Can No Longer Hear the Guitar- French filmmaker Philip Garrel has his admirers. While I did like his poetic, three hour black and white meditation on the '68 student protests "Regular Lovers" (which featured two or three exquisite long takes), some of the other things I've seen from him border on the tedious. This film from 1991 again deals with his ongoing theme of burgeoning and lost one-time love (said to be rock singer Nico).
4. Edge of Darkness- Already halfway through this BBC mini series, this has been remade as a Mel Gibson thriller releasing early next year. With a wonderful, stone cold performance by Bob Peck and an amusing turn from Joe Don Baker, "Edge of Darkness" is a convoluted trip through nuclear politics, British spooks and hit men that has kept me guessing. This goes to show that the BBC were way ahead of their time in the mid 80's with stellar original television programming.
5. Three Brothers- Franceso Rosi's early 80's Italian classic has been cited as an influence on Scorsese and Coppola.
6. Scott Walker; 20th Century Man- This documentary has been floundering on my list for over a year now, so I recently moved it up. I know very little about musician Scott Walker, but the raves attributed to this film a couple years ago has me very interested.
7. Une Femme Marie- I think I've seen this mid 60's Godard film, but can't be sure. Still, this is way before his radical (and alienating) period, so by all means I'll probably adore it.
8. Local Hero- For whatever reason, Bill Forsyth is a filmmaker lauded by so many movie fans and one that I've yet to experience. "Local Hero" is spoken of very highly as a tiny miracle of a movie.
9. The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes- I had no idea Billy Wilder made in film in 1970 that shows Holmes as a cocaine addicted, sexual deviant. Sure to be bolstered by the upcoming Holmes film with Downey Jr, I'm very curious to check out this oddity.
10. The Hit - I'm sure I've seen Stephen Frears breakout hit starring Terence Stamp, yet I can't remember a thing abut it. Time for a revisit, since it's recently gotten the Criterion treatment.

Arriving at my door soon (and foreign heavy this time around):

1. It's All About Love- Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterburg's futuristic tale starring Joaquin Phoenix and Claire Danes. No idea on this one, but it sounds promising.
2. Fuzz- One of the more entertaining nicknames for our good 'ol boys in blue, "Fuzz" stars Burt Reynolds. It reads like pure 70's schlock- Reynolds trying to stop Yul Brenner from blowing up the city- and right up my alley.
3. Maitresse- Barbat Schroeder's early 70's film with Gerard Depardieu. You know, Scroeder has never really been on my radar, but looking over his films, there are lots of interesting titles there. I hope to see more in the future.
4. A Secret- French director Claude Miller's drama about "a boy in post-World War II Paris who stumbles upon a mysterious toy in the attic, exposing his family's secret dark past and how it survived Nazi atrocities."
5. Sukiyaki Western Django- The ever prodigious Takashi Miike's weird sounding western (?) from a couple years ago. I expect insane things.
6. In July- Directed by one of my favorite modern filmmakers, Fatih Akin, I don't know how I missed this film made right before his stunning 2006 film, "Head-On". "In July" promises more of Akin's free-floating, star crossed lover theme as a professor and street vendor cross paths and fall in love.
7. Songs From the Second Floor- I gave this film a shot a few years ago, and couldn't make it through it. Swedish filmmaker Roy Andersson is being lauded in many circles, so I thought maybe the time was right for a revisit.
8. Smiley's People (3 discs)- My appetite for spy films is insatiable, so while searching through endless user lists and recommendations on Netflix, I came upon this early 80's TV series starring Alec Guiness as a spy brought out of retirement to catch a criminal (Patrick Stewart). Based on a John Le Carre novel. If you've seen it, I'd love to hear your thoughts. British mini-series are hit and miss... some dry beyond belief and some terrific.
9. Danton- Andrzej Wadja's 80's epic about the life of two French Revolution fighters and the aftermath. I recently saw Wadja's "Katyn", which proves the old master hasn't lost it (including a stunning final ten minutes) and his 1960 film "Ashes and Diamonds" still reigns as one of my first and most influential introductions to foreign cinema. Plus, its Criterion.
10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban- Ok, full disclosure. Until a month or so ago, I'd never cared to see any of these films. Then I caught the first one on TV and found it to be immensely entertaining commercial fare. Part Two, with giant spiders and all, proved to be even darker and more mature. I hear this one is even darker. I really need to get over my bias for "children" movies like this and Pixar stuff (which I've only seen the Toy Story movies). I think I may be missing some really good stuff.

It's been a while since I've given your inquiring minds a look at my queue. Here we go:

1. Mad Dog Morgan- 70's Dennis Hopper film that doesn't sound too distinctive. MGM HD channel played this last month and I missed it. Hopper stars in a plot described as such: "ruthless bounty hunter scour Australia's harsh outback for infamous outlaw Mad Dog Morgan (Dennis Hopper) in this thriller based on the life of the Irishman who immigrated during the 1800s gold rush. Morgan is caught for stealing horses and endures years of torture behind bars. He continues his outlaw ways after his release, and soon he's wanted … dead or alive." Early 70's coked-up Hopper in a western? I'm there.
2. The Whistle Blower- Found this one while scouring that lovable feature in Netflix where members can create lists. Starring Michael Caine, it involves spy stuff and skulduggery. Made in the late 80's, this very well may be a made-for-TV movie, but Caine rarely disappoints. Plus, it's spy stuff!
3. Liliom- On going look at every Fritz Lang film I can. There'll be a humongous post in the future as I track down every available film.
4. F.I.S.T.- Sylvester Stallone as a labor leader? Sounds like gritty 70's fun.
5. Manhunter- With all my gushing over Michael Mann's latest, I decided to go back and re-watch this one. I've only seen this twice for some reason. I vividly remember a scene in a darkened kitchen with Tom Noonan. I look forward to re-discovering this one.
6. Before I Forget- Jacque Nolot writes, stars and directs in this French film from 2008 that has more than its share of supporters.
7. Dov'e le Liberte?- I don't know when they were released on DVD, but two of Roberto Rosselini's later pictures popped up as a recommendation recently. "Escape By Night" was a terrific film about three escaped POW's seeking refuge in an Italian town. "Dov'e le Liberte": "After serving a two-decade sentence for murdering his wife's lover, barber Salvatore (Totò) gets out of prison early for good behavior. But he soon finds that the outside world has changed so much that prison starts to look appealing by comparison. Before long, Salvatore starts hatching a plan to bust back into the slammer in this humor-filled dramatic gem from Italian master director Roberto Rossellini." A definite must see.
8. Torn Curtain- Hitchcock. Newman. Spy stuff. Say no more.
9. Cypher- Whatever happened to director Vincent Natali? After the smash cult success of "Cube"in 1998, he sorta fell off the map. IMDB shows several projects in development, though. This one, from 2005, stars Jeremy Northam involved in some sci-fi corporate espionage.
10. Stranded- Documentary about the Uruguayan rugby team who crash landed in the Andes and resorted to some, um, awful things to stay alive.

With quite a few days worth of vacation and travel coming up, the movies coming to me will experience a delay. Nonetheless, the next ten titles:

1. Tough Guys Don't Dance- One of writer Norman Mailer's directing gigs starring Ryan O' Neal and Isabella Rossellini. I can't say I've seen any of Mailer's directorial efforts.
2. Sunday Bloody Sunday- John Schlesinger's sexual chess game starring Peter Finch and Glenda Jackson.
3. Spiders- Thanks to some ongoing discussion at The Listening Ear blog about Fritz Lang, I've decide to delve into his work. I've seen the highpoints ("M", Fury") but, sadly, long overdue for everything else he's done. Time to remedy that. Starting towards the beginning, this film from 1919 is "the earliest surviving film of Metropolis director Fritz Lang. The Spiders represents the first two chapters of a planned four-part serial (the final two parts were never made). Armed with a secret map, adventurer Kai Hoog (Carl de Vogt as a silent version of Indiana Jones) battles gangsters and femme fatales to find an Incan treasure. The film, which co-stars Lil Dagover (Cabinet of Dr. Caligari), was thought lost until its 1978 restoration."
4. Chinese Coffee- This is real oddity. Directed by Al Pacino and essentially a two-actor character study (with Jerry Orbach), I've never heard of it. I admired Pacino's other directorial work "Looking For Richard" so it's worth a shot.
5. Blind Mountain- Lang Yi's other "blind" film named "Blind Shaft" was an engrossing side of Chinese life about down and out mine shaft workers. This one is described as "The promise of a good-paying job lures a young Chinese woman into a horrifying predicament in this drama. College student Bai Xuemei (Lu Huang) awakens in a remote village to find she's been sold into a marriage that is slavery in disguise. Her resistance to the repulsive "husband" and his family only results in beatings and rape. With hope running out and allies few, Bai undertakes one final dramatic stand against her oppressors." Li obviously trades in depression!
6. Night Shift- Ron Howard is very hit and miss with me. I really love some things (The Missing", "Parenthood", "Gung Ho" and "The Paper") and then a total "meh" shades so much of his other work ("Frost/Nixon", "A Beautiful Mind", "Ed TV"), but this is early 80's Howard with Michael Keaton. As a kid, I think I watched "Night Shift" on late night TV, but does that really count if it doesn't stick with you?
7. The Testament of Dr. Mabuse- Second Fritz Lang film.
8. Wrong Is Right- This is one of those films you find when searching through an actor's name on Netflix. This one stars Sean Connery and it's described as the following: "Sean Connery (burlesquing his own super-cool image) is a globetrotting television correspondent who uncovers a terrorist plot to sell a nuclear bomb to a Middle Eastern country. The plan has a ripple effect all the way up to the U.S. president, his prime political opponent and a swaggering general who's too cocky for his -- and his country's -- own good. Directed by Richard Brooks, the movie co-stars Rosalind Cash and Robert Conrad."
9. Spies- Third Fritz lang film from late 20's about a banker trying to overthrow the government and the couple trying to stop him.
10. Four Flies on Gray Velvet- Recently released Dario Argento film. I'll watch anything he does.

Just like an Ipod shuffle....

1. The Apartment- Mid 90's French thriller starring Vincent Cassell and Monica Belluci (yum). Not sure why this title is left in the queue, but I went through a French thriller phase a couple months ago and just forgot about this one.
2. Alexandra's Project- I'm not a fan of the films I've seen from Australian director Rolf de Heer ("Bad Boy Bubby" is truly horrendous), but this one sounds like an interesting piece of aggressive cinema ala Michael Haneke: "Steve (Gary Sweet) arrives home from work anxious to celebrate his birthday with his wife, Alexandra (Helen Buday), and their children. But no body's home, and it isn't a surprise party, or is it? Steve inserts a videotape titled "Play Me" into the VCR and is greeted by birthday wishes from Alexandra and the kids, and then treated to a striptease by his wife. But as the camera pulls back, Steve sees a gun pointed at Alexandra's head."
3. Bad Dreams- 80's horror movie. This is one that was recommended from a friend. Sounds like gory, cheesy fun.
4. $ (Dollars)- 70's comedy caper released on DVD for the first time late last year. Goldie Hawn and Warren Beatty... directed by Richard Brooks. I can remember seeing the VHS cover over and over as a kid.
5. The Ninth Configuration- A title that popped up as a recommendation for me on Netflix. I think I started this long ago and didn't finish it. Regardless, the plot synopsis sounds intriguing and it's directed by William Peter Blatty who's always good for a mind-screw.
6. Zero Focus- Early 60's Japanese obscura from director Yoshitaro Nomura (writer of "Sword of Fury"). The film tells the tale of a woman whose secret causes "disastrous consequences" for those around her. Based on some of the titles in Nomura's oeuvre (such as "Villages of Eight Gravestones" and "The Demon") I look forward to this psychological thriller and introducing myself to his work.
7. Gold Told Me To- "B" movie horror from Larry Cohen about murderous rampages from ordinary citizens who say "Gold told me to" upon their dying confession. I admit, I'm not the most up-to-date on Cohen's films besides "The Stuff" which scarred me as a kid.
8. My Name Is Bruce- Recent Bruce Campbell comedy that has received middling reviews. As an unabashed fan of Campbell and his unique acting delivery, I can't pass this one up. I'm going in with little expectations though.
9. Moscow Elegy- And here begins my look at the films of Russian director Alexandre Sokurov. I've seen "Mother and Son" and "Russian Ark" and wasn't bowled over, yet there's recently been a huge slew of his documentaries released onto DVD by the unique Facets company. This one is a documentary on Tarkovsky. If anyone has any thoughts on other Sokurov films, I'd love to hear them.
10. Six In Paris- Another one of those chic omnibus films pairing the cinematic visions of Rohmer, Godard and others. Released in the mid-60's, I stumbled across this title while looking at something else. If this was recently released, why not more fuss? Or is it that bad?

I apologize for light posting this week. It's been a busy one. I've got some reviews I've been meaning to bang out (especially one on "Let the Right One In"), so hopefully next week provides the opportunity. In the meantime, next 10 titles in my queue:

1. Expect the Unexpected- Late 90's Patrick Yau film about a group of Hong Kong thieves whose bank robbery goes "horribly awry". I remember quite a bit of art house buzz about this.
2. The Free Will- German film released earlier this year about a rapist released back onto the streets. The subject matter sounds harsh, and everything I've read about this paints it as a rather unpleasant viewing experience. Time to see for myself.
3. Bang the Drum Slowly- Yes, the DeNiro I'm-dying-male-baseball-weepie from the 70's Never seen it.
4. The Boost- 80's film starring James Woods as a drug addict. Directed by the workmanlike Harold Becker whose made his share of watchable adult dramas.
5. Ace In the Hole- Classic Kirk Douglas film about a journalist fanning the flames of a mining accident in New Mexico. Directed by Billy Wilder. I know I've seen this film on TCM years ago, but its due for a re-visit.
6. Bashing- Masahuro Kobayashi's 2005 film about: "a woman released after being kidnapped and held hostage in Iraq, Japanese aid worker Yuko (Fusako Urabe) faces a hostile reception back home in this drama based on true events. Feeling that she's shamed the country, strangers consider her a pariah. Even her family members, friends and former co-workers show no sympathy, greeting her with awkwardness or jeers. The film received a nomination for the Palme d'Or at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival."
7. The Power of Nightmares- (3 discs) British documentarian Adam Curtis's highly acclaimed '06 series about the relationship between fear in the media and politics. I had no idea this thing was out there on DVD. As respected as it was by so many people, one would have thought lefties would be clamoring to the hills about it.
8. A Boy and His Dog- The great L.Q. Jones directs this cult classic about the apocalypse.
9. Classe Tour Resquis- Claude Santet's 60's crime drama about two hoods bonding on the lam. I'm a sucker for most any French crime film.
10. Knightriders- Another one that seems to have been slipped onto DVD without much fanfare. This is the early 80's George Romero flick about a group of touring Renaissance fair jousters? Yes, it is true. Sounds like campy fun.