Films: February 8 - 14

Chaos Walking (2021)

Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)

Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

King Kong (1976) 

King Kong Lives (1984)

Dressed To Kill (1980)

Looker (1981) /// 

Chaos Walking (2021) Potential of future world where thoughts are visualized through colorful auras and fragmentary voices remains intriguing, until rudimentary Western chase plot unravels with crash-landed Daisy Ridley on run with questioning Tom Holland. More like extended setup for next story.

Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) Weary Danny Glover has days until retirement so of course unhinged Mel Gibson will find trouble. No nonsense Rene Russo adds spark as principled internal affairs officer and production provides easy comedy and slick action. Plot and threat remain disposable.

Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) Pretense at character development and narrative cohesion jettisoned for domestic comedy and dual pregnancies interrupted by impressive, excessive action. Assassin Jet Li provides menace, Chris Rock and Joe Pesci deliver laughs. Few surprises as Mel Gibson and Danny Glover go through the motions.

King Kong (1976) Suffused with John Barry's gorgeous score, a lighter, more knowing tone moves story from monster horror to sentimental adventure with eco warrior Jeff Bridges, aspiring actress Jessica Lange and oil exec Charles Grodin exploring mysterious island. Breezy diversion.

King Kong Lives (1984) Batty mishmash of monster fury & family emotion sees hunt for titular ape & lady friend mirrored by frantic scientist Linda Hamilton & bland adventurer Brian Kerwin. Dynamic John Scott score shines. Effects & production flail without cohesive sense of tone.

Dressed To Kill (1980) Giddy, sensationalist narrative strands allied to controlled, encompassing visual style sees frustrated Angie Dickinson's murder throw son Keith Gordon and unknowing witness Nancy Allen within killer's shadow. Shady Michael Caine looms, lyrical Pino Donaggio score heightens scares.

Looker (1981) Intriguing ideas on societal concepts of beauty and consumerist manipulation entwined with futuristic technology undone by muddled style and confused storytelling. Suspicious plastic surgeon Albert Finney and model Susan Dey infiltrate shifty James Coburn’s mysterious corporation with diminishing suspense.

Films: February 1 -7

The Far Country (1954)

Contagion (2011)

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Disturbia (2007)

Blow Out (1981)

Black Sunday (1977)

Dracula (1978) ///

The Far Country (1954) Crafted with rugged sense of place and character against dangerously epic backdrop of Canadian Rockies, jaded James Stewart finally faces corrupt John McIntire during wilds of the Gold Rush. Designing Ruth Romain provides dark temptation. Thematically exciting and supremely entertaining.

Contagion (2011) Dark, engrossing tale of global fear provoked by a killer pandemic maintains detached thrills of society breakdown and paranoia driven by cool, precise visuals. Paced with authority, confusion of government control and conspiracy theory provide edgy, bruising drama for fine cast.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) Energized by Matthew Broderick's considerable and mischievous charm, a celebration of Chicago and playing truant, with a wickedly appealing cast delivering on seductively humorous script. Slickly produced teen fantasies even manage to sell the sentimental wrap.

Disturbia (2007) Despite generally amiable cast and slick production details, slavish reconditioning of better suspense tales fails to deliver on tension, while action sequences substitute narrative momentum. Whining Shia LaBeouf spots killer neighbor David Morse. Sarah Roemer is the girl next door.

Blow Out (1981) Framed and designed with intoxicating skill, conflation of US political assassination with noir thriller sees repentant John Travolta uncover conspiracy involving reluctant escort Nancy Allen. Despite bleakly apposite ending, a playful, striking view of filmmaking sleight of hand.

Black Sunday (1977) Intense, urgent terrorist thriller with vengeful Marthe Keller planning attack on Super Bowl crowd through disturbed Goodyear blimp pilot Bruce Dern. Grim Robert Shaw is the Mossad agent uncovering plot, though characters remain subjugated to intelligent,  storytelling. 

Dracula (1978) Dashing Frank Langella is a ferociously romantic vampire, shipwrecked in Whitby and establishing a bloody confrontation with hysterical Laurence Olivier's Van Helsing. Lush production provides expansive settings for lurid set pieces and bracing John Williams score.