Ciné-Pop

‘Saving Private Perez’ Review: This Mexican Narco-Comedy is Loads of Fun

Director Joe Wright exhibits several complex shooting sequences in “Hanna” that result in a compelling mix of artful tension. The scenes in which Hanna is essentially a rat tunneling her way out of a secret underground installation are reminiscent of German expressionist films like “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” with its usage of light, shadow, and odd shapes. The suspenseful tunnel sequence is also like Orson Welles’ Harry Lime being chased by everyone in “The Third Man.” There are even some Hitchcockian shots that resemble “Vertigo.” (Read more of this review)

Though there have been several attempts to recapture the magic of “Casablanca,” in film, TV and even in novel form, none have been able to match the original chemistry between Bogart and Bergman. Modern viewers may find the film corny, some can’t stand it (usually before actually watching it), but “Casablanca” is like a snow globe, a complete, perfect little world preserved in glass. All someone needs to do is turn it over and see the splendor. (Read more of this Review)

Better Off Dead, 1985. Lane Meyer (John Cusack) is obsessed with his girlfriend Beth (Amanda Wyss). Beth dumps him for the captain of the ski team, Roy Stalin (Aaron Dozier). Also, a scary newspaper boy relentlessly chases Lane shouting, “I want my two dollars!” and two Asian guys, one who learned how to speak English Howard Cosell-style, challenge him to impromptu car races he never wins. Feeling like the whole world is against him, Lane loses it and thinks at this point he’s better off dead. What follows are a number of humorously depicted botched suicide attempts.(Read More of this Review)