“Devil in a Blue Dress,” September 20, 1995, VHS. OK, but predictable black detective story from Walter Mosley tales. Very atmospheric about LA and race in 1946, and Denzel Washington is very good, but the film is too stylized and pat for its own good.
Theremin
“Theremin,” September 17, 1995 (1993), VHS. Interesting and strangely ahistorical look at the inventor of the theremin, the first electronic instrument. Interviews with Moog and Brian Wilson, sci-fi folks (the eerie sounding instrument in most sci-fi), people who play the thing. Very odd about Russian/Soviet spying and kidnapping, yet gigantic gaps exist in the film…
The Brothers McMullen
“The Brothers McMullen,” September 15, 1995, VHS. Good, small film from Edward Burns (who also costars) about three Irish-American brothers on LI today. Nice look at family life. Not great but well worth seeing.
Beyond Rangoon
“Beyond Rangoon,” September 10, 1995, VHS. Burma and the struggle against dictatorship. Ahn Sang Soo Chi’s work is featured. Well meaning, but Suzanne Arquette walks through her part like a stoned zombie. Her acting is not impressive, although the story (based on fact) is. It grips you despite her bad acting and the sometimes clunky…
Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart
“Dim Sum,” September 5, 1995 (1985), VHS. Older Chinese-American film from Wayne Wang about family and assimilation. Good, if a bit slow. The acting is not the best, but the plot and cultural views are the things to watch.
Unstrung Heroes
“Unstrung Heroes,” August 30, 1995, VHS. A very good, funny, sad movie about a very strange family. Based on the book of the same name, it chronicles one real Jewish family in LA through the mother’s cancer, the uncles’ mental problems, the post-McCarthy period of anticommunism, and crazy science. Lots of fun and very good…
Crumb
“Crumb,” August 25, 1995 (1994), VHS, Brilliant, scary look at the artist R Crumb and his wacko family and background. It looks at our culture in the 1960s and 70s through him. A fascinating movie that should be seen.
Babe
“Babe,” August 25, 1995, VHS. A sweet children’s film about a most wonderful pig on a farm. Charlottes’ Web in a new voice. Why it was nominated for an Oscar I’ll never know, but it’s a nice little film.
Spanking the Monkey
“Spanking the Monkey,” August 20, 1995 (1994), VHS. A very dark, supposed comedy from David Russell, this film looks at incest, identity, and dysfunctional families. Yikes, it’s a weird movie. I did not find it funny at all. Interesting in a creepy and, to me, troubling way. I don’t understand how this kind of film…
Calendar
“Calendar,” August 15, 1995 (1993), VHS. A superb movie from Atom Etgoyan, the brilliant Armenian-Canadian filmmaker. This is a relatively short film about love, national and personal identity, assimilation, language, history, time, religion, obsession, and sex. It is a must see to find out how a skilled director can use the personal to get at…
Chariots of Fire
“Chariots of Fire,” September 17 2006 (1981), DVD. Very fine, inspirational film we watched with B4 although she seemed bored by the whole thing. Wonderfully acted and inspiring story of the British athletes of the 1920 Olympics, and especially the evangelist and the Jewish sprinter. Remarkable Vangelis soundtrack. Worth seeing regularly.