Best films among those with lousy ratings
Some of these films are Kitsch, but they are entertaining, to say the least.
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- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsFrank SilveraKenneth HarpPaul MazurskyFour soldiers trapped behind enemy lines must confront their fears and desires.Let me try to unravel the ultimate message. Live so that you neither FEAR death nor DESIRE it. You're lucky that whatever FEAR you have inside yourself, your DESIRE to win is always stronger.
Why has "Fear and Desire" received such harsh criticism over the last 70 years? This may be a consequence of (i) Kubrick's own boycott of any and all screenings of the film, or (ii) the very influence of critical opinions, or even, of course, (iii) the inevitable comparisons with the director's other films. Regardless of this, however, it is good cinema, practiced by a newcomer full of ideas and, in every way, far ahead of its time. Is it really be a bad movie in any sense of the word? Not quite. It has pathos, offers an atmosphere of suspense, a certain air of bizarreness, an entire sequence edited à la Russe, stunning visuals and a predominantly atonal soundtrack, authored by Gerald Fried (the same musician who would later compose the soundtracks for Paths of Glory and other masterpieces). One of the great insights of critic Jose Lino Grunewald was to diagnose, in the mid-1950s, the influence on Kubrick from (then practically unknown) Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman. (Kubrick would later confirm this influence) I do not know whether, as early as 1952, the American director knew any work by the Scandinavian director. "Fear and Desire" suggests so, although this is unlikely. May I call attention to one detail? The same actor plays both an officer who kills an enemy officer and vice-versa - am I exaggerating or being obvious if I interpret the one as a "Persona" of the other? - DirectorDaniel AlfredsonStarsAnthony HopkinsJulia StilesRay LiottaAn ex-logger comes to the aid of a woman who returns to her hometown in the Pacific Northwest and finds herself harassed and stalked by a former cop turned crime lord.I enjoyed it. Hopkins is number one as far as soft spoken scary guys are concerned. He does deliver. The rhythm is well paced and engrossing. I don't understand so many negative reactions. In a few points the dialog is weak but a dark somber lighting does add to the suspense.
- DirectorVeit HarlanStarsFerdinand MarianKristina SöderbaumHeinrich GeorgeInfamous anti-Semitic Nazi propaganda historical drama about Duke Karl Alexander of Württemberg and his treasurer Süß Oppenheimer.The story of Oppenhiem comes from a novel written by a Jew, Wilhelm Hauff. Need I say more? Those (like myself) who are against anti-semitism are agog! This is nonsense. The movie is entertaining and the acting superior. Politically-correct critics must examine it farther & with better judgment, as far as cinema's concerned.
- DirectorLiv UllmannStarsElisabeth MathesonBjørn SkagestadSverre Anker OusdalKristin is the daughter of a prominent landowner in medieval Norway. She grows up in total harmony with the ideals of the time: strong family ties, social pride and devout Christianity. She accepts the fact that her father has arranged for her to marry the son of another landowner. Kristin's beauty and purity create violent emotions around her. There are envy and attempted rape, murder and revenge. She seeks refuge from the world in a convent, awaiting the time for her marriage. Here the passion of her life strikes, the knight Erlend Nikulaussonn. He, an accomplished seducer, also falls hopelessly in love. They have to cross not only convent walls to meet, but social boundaries as well. Their love cannot be kept secret, and suddenly the innocent Kristin is the centre of a scandal. Her fiance withdraws from their engagement, her father rages, and Erlend's former mistress tries to poison her. The affair grows into a political issue, and finally some of the country's most dignified leaders persuade Lavrans to give in. The lovers win each other, but it is in front of a charred altar in a burnt down church, and their happiness has a double edge.This is about medieval spirituality in both paganism and christendom. The production is lavish, and the scope epic. I haven't read Sigrid Undset's book., though, and I'm afraid I won't.
- DirectorIrving LernerStarsChristopher KnightFrank GorshinVenetia StevensonA young man tries to escape the South Side of 1920s Chicago.It's a relentlessly naturalistic portrait. Studs' qualities are crushed by the Chicago youth's limited social and economic environment. His swaggering and vicious comrades, his narrow family, and his educational and religious background lead him to a life of futile dissipation. Christopher Knight portrays the protagonist in this Irish-based, coming-of-age melodrama. He's far from a good actor. Apart from that there's a stirring, early Jerry Goldsmith music score.
- DirectorJohn FrankenheimerRichard StanleyStarsDavid ThewlisMarlon BrandoVal KilmerAfter being rescued and brought to an island, a man discovers that its inhabitants are experimental animals being turned into strange-looking humans, all of it the work of a visionary doctor.The Island might have been great in our times of gene splicing, DNA research and moral, ethical and practical questions. Frankenheimer attempted to update H G Wells and up to a point did yield kinda delirious dramaturgy. But the best films baed on Wells are still
Both War of the Worlds versions (2005) (1953)
Time machine (1960)
Invisble man (1933)
Island of lost souls (1932).
This picture, anyway, is as good as or even superior to
Things to come (1936)
The passionate friends (1949)
and
Half a sixpence (1967) - DirectorBernard L. KowalskiStarsAlex CordBritt EklandPatrick O'NealA rich, jet-setting playboy has a secret life: he's a professional hitman for the mob . When he decides it's time to retire, he finds his former employers don't like the idea of someone who knows so much not being under their control anymore, and decide to eliminate him.
- DirectorIrvin KershnerStarsSteven MarloLuana PattenTom SeldenGripping melodrama about newlyweds involved with a psychopathic killer who holds them captive.
- DirectorLuciano MouraStarsAna BairdInês CardosoPedro Cardoso
- DirectorJ. Lee ThompsonStarsAnthony QuinnJacqueline BissetRaf ValloneA fictionalized account of the Greek shipping magnate, Onassis, and his meeting and subsequent marriage to the widow of assassinated U.S. president, Jacqueline Kennedy.I feel that Anthony Quinn never got enough recognition for his work in the film industry. Onassis and Zozo Sapountzaki - A beautiful dance . And the 5th century b.C. temple of Poseidon makes a splendid backdrop!