"One of the greatest epic films ever made" - Martin Scorsese
I could not agree more with Mr. Scorsese. El Cid has everything going for it - impressive sets, lavish costumes, stirring music, and thousands of extras - except a strong script. The film repeats the same misstep made by Spartacus the year before by portraying, in this instance, El Cid as a saintly, almost flawless military figure, whereas Rodrigo Díaz was in reality closer to an anti-hero. Rather than…
Sebastiane feels like the right film to watch on what might be the coldest day of the year: male nude bodies glistening under a Mediterranean sun.
I bought the BFI Blu-ray some time ago largely for the film’s historical importance, with no real expectation that I’d enjoy it on its own terms. And yet the old phrase “they don’t make them like that anymore”, which is usually reserved for biblical Hollywood epics like Ben-Hur, feels just as apt in the…
There is an early scene in the classic war film Zulu where a looming power struggle between the British officers played by Stanley Baker and Michael Caine dissolves, as both men, despite their evident differences, come to recognize each other’s competence. Even so, Caine’s character cannot resist invoking (the burden of) his heritage, when he presents himself as the descendant of a long line of career officers who fought at Quebec and Waterloo.
A similar, though more bitter dynamic lies…
Yes, Singapore is a rather shameless mixture of Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon. Not only does the always reliable Fred MacMurray play his role ‘Bogart style’, but even the supporting cast replacements are like that Seinfeld storyline where the characters cast themselves in their own sitcom. And yes, the big plot ‘twist’ is also utterly ridiculous. Still, the chaotic post-WWII Singapore setting gives the film a surprisingly refreshing noir backdrop. The extremely brief running time, even for ‘noir standards’, also helps in making this a simple yet entertaining movie experience.
The greatest achievement of Black Narcissus is that not for a second do you even consider that the film was entirely shot in Pinewood Studios
