Vacancy (2007)

Why aren't more thrillers 1)modest; 2)smart; 3)short?

They should teach this movie and Red Eye in film school.

The Good Shepherd (2006)

Robert DeNiro directed this fictionalized version of the career of James Angleton, the mastermind of the Bay of Pigs, played in the film by Matt Damon.

In look and in structure, DeNiro seems to have fashioned the film after "The Godfather Part Two", and it suffers only in comparison to that masterpiece.

Too short at three hours long.

Recommended.

Ace In The Hole (1950)

Kirk Douglas plays a former big-city reporter doing time at the Albuquerque daily when he stumbles on his ticket back to New Yawk: a man trapped by a cave-in at a roadside attraction.

Douglas manipulates the situation – even undermines the rescue operation – for his own glory.

Written and directed by Billy Wilder, and possibly darker than Double Indemnity or Sunset Boulevard.

Recommended.

Strummer, Movies

Today's New York Times' review of the new Joe Strummer documentary by Julien Temple reminded me that I have yet to see Alex Cox's Straight To Hell (above) co-starring the Clash and Elvis Costello and I forget who-all.

Anyone ever seen it?