SHOTS: Kihachi Okamoto's The Sword of Doom.

Kihachi Okamoto's samurai classic Sword of Doom has both a complete psychopathic murderer for a main character and also features stylish and evocative black and white cinematography.

The Sword of Doom is a stylish swordplay classic that features an incredible performance by Tatsuya Nakadai as well as some truly Iconic Imagery.

Two of the many amazing stonefaced shots of Tatsuya Nakadai.

The films shocking freeze frame conclusion will not fail to stir.

Catch Up

Double Indemnity

Stylish as hell and filled with badass performances.

Pic is enough said.

5/5

The Signal

An offbeat horror mashup that succeeds more than it fails

3/5

Be Kind Rewind

Gondry is consistently going downhill but I still like him. If he keeps up his next movie will be a mess.

3/5

Lucky Number Slevin

2/5

Blah Blah Blah it reminded me of smokin aces in its attempts to be cool.

Talia Lugacy's Descent

Talia Lugacy's Descent is basically a mess with an occasionally impressive performance from  personal favorite Rosario Dawson. The film is an attempt at taking a commonly tale of female revenge and legitimizing it by attempting to place it in a more real world situation. In the end though cheesy genre tropes find there way back in and force to the film to be more of a  schlocky shocker. 

My first and biggest problem with the film was its failed attempts at creating a style, it felt like a sad imitation of influences biggest to my eyes was Gus Van Sants Elephant. If I have to watch another 9 minute dark night club dance scene in the next year I'm going to vomit. I think this is the kind of film that every cinephile secretly fears making. 

The films supposed dramatic punch is definitely shocking but has no real impact. The films final attempt at poignancy feels undeveloped and amateurish(it reminds me of the Magnificent Seven's holding on to The Seven Samurai's "the farmers have won we have lost"). 

The only redeeming feature of this film is Rosario Dawson's occasionally impressive performance. Its a very raw and bare persona to take on and she does it with a severe intensity but only in a few scenes across the whole film. To director Lugacy's credit she captures Dawson in some impressively long close ups that a bit gut-wrenching to watch(in a good way).

A good way to look at this film is to remember that stupid ass change is Peter Parkers personality in Spiderman-3. Comb his hair to the side and give him a black suit and he is soooo saddd, this film is the same thing but with college rape/revenge.

As a side note: If this lame fucking guy with his fratish mop cut can get Rosario Dawson to go on dates with him jesus christ who can't.

2/5

George A Romero's Diary of the Dead

Diary of the Dead is a return to form for legend Romero, gone is the cheesy mainstream feel of Land and back is the cheesy angsty feel of olde. Its shot docu style best I've seen so far and actually uses the camera mans filming as part of the story instead of just a storytelling method. Ends with a nihilistic bang that I dug hard.

4/5 

Blood of Heroes

It's a goddamn postapocalyptic inspirational sports film starring Rutger Hauer, Joan Chen, and a young D'nofrio. Nough said.

3/5

Paul Schrader's Hardcore/ Richard Fleischer's The Vikings

Paul Schrader's Hardcore is George C. Scott as a old time religioney father searching for his daughter caught up in the LA porn underground. Its directed by Schrader therefore its got some really stylish scenes and tight characterizations. The high point for me was an enraged George C. Scott brawling with a lowlife through a thinly divided porn dungeon, smashing through walls all the way out onto the steep san francisco streets. Schrader lets the camera glide down the hills as Scott tosses this guy around screaming at him, it's fantastic. Schraders masterful camera movement is always a joy and George C. Scotts is always at the top of his game. A great piece of cinema.  

4/5

The Vikings is a late 50's epic filled with some cheesyness(to many people looking up and yelling ODIIIINNNNNN!!!!!)but a decent story over all. Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis are half brother vikings who both want to get with Janet Leigh the princess of wales etc etc vikings. The concluding fight scene high in a castle tower is classic, it shows how much shooting a cool place can make a decent scene and amazing one.

3/5

Joygasm

JONNNNNESSSSSSSSSSS!

Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

This film upon finishing the book and rewatching the film has inched itself closer to becoming one of my favorite films if not the tip top. It features some of the most awe inspiring cinematography and nothing short of stunning acting as well as the fact that it is one 
of the most somber films I've ever seen(which I freaking love). Typically I love to share all of the films I really like with other people and enjoy that other people like them too. With this film though I could honestly give a rats ass if anyone else likes it.