Change Your Image
richardtroiano
Reviews
Black Legion (1937)
Appropriate Theme for Today
One of the great Humphrey Bogart's early starring features shines a light on the dangers of a mob mentality using hatred against others because of perceived differences. Despite the obvious qualifications over him a man whose is foreign born but every bit an American (Just like than anyone else) is put upon by an organization called Black Legion-a hate group that is against immigrants. They go under the guise of protecting "Americans." Somehow, the parallels between this 1937 movie and today were too close and it is sad that we have not progressed further. Very well-played especially by Bogart and Ann Sheridan
House of Bamboo (1955)
Bamboo House in Tokyo
How many bullets did Robert Ryan have in that hand gun?
The final shootout was anticlimactic. It seemed like a letdown
I felt very sorry for Griff that ruthless killer getting it when he was innocent. Funny, huh?
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956)
The Dumbest Plot Without a Doubt
I know in a lot of film noirs you need to suspend your belief along the way and just relax and go with the intricacies of the plot but this was ridiculous. And I am not even talking about the final twist at the end that some reviewers have thought terrible. Even director Fritz Lang walked off the picture because of the ending.
I was put off by the set-up. Let's falsify evidence at a murder scene to make it look like another person did it only to get him convicted so you can proof he was innocent all along. All in the name of deriding capital punishment for justice.
By the way, in doing this you are also letting the teal murder get away with it. Or maybe because the victim was just a stripper it does not really matter? Poor script. Direction and acting by usually solid talent was subpar as well
Werewolf of London (1935)
Not Double Dynamite
God-Awful
The situation is typical but this movie short on length SEEMS as least twice as long as it is. It carried the stiff upper lip lip bit way too far. Kenneth More is pleasant but dull. Jayne Mansfield is one note physically and talent wise.
Henry Hull's character is the most interesting even though he is a bit unscrupulous. The gags are predictable and slow in developing. The pace is not swift. Overall, a disappointment.
Social Suicide (2015)
Retro Shakespeare
The best part of this is that the actors playing the star-crossed lovers of Franco Zeffirelli's passionate screen Romeo and Juliet from the sixties appear as julia's Mother and father
Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, good idea for a film as well
Monk: Mr. Monk and the Bad Girlfriend (2007)
Mr monk and bad gf
This episode should have been longer (such as a two parter) or not done at all
Monk's conclusion that it was Linda based on the flower was too contrived
Great idea though
If it was a two part story the dynamics could have been played out better
Nice work by Captain Stottlemeyer