RIP: Herbert Lom 1917 - 2012

The Untouchable

French writer and director Benoît Jacquot delivered an uneven character study with this drama. After a young woman finds out that her father might be an Indian her mother met on a trip to India, she starts an emotional journey to find the father she never knew. There are several problems with the film, specially the script that throws ideas without examining them which are too far fetched to be credible in anyway. Isild Le Besco is clearly miscast in the lead which adds to the problems of the script. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Seventh Heaven

French writer and director Benoît Jacquot's domestic drama examines a couple's marriage from each point of view. After a married woman on the verge of psychological breakdown finds treatment through hypnosis, it leads to her personal and behavioral changes which threatens her marriage when her husband is not pleased with the changes. Jacquot takes a marriage as the battlefield between the sexes where each sex prefers their partners differently. While the wife is clearly showing signs of her troubled psyche, the husband seems to be happy with her. However when she awakens and takes charge of her life, the husband feels threatened and becomes aggressive. Sandrine Kiberlain and Vincent Lindon star with solid performances. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Fright Night

Director Craig Gillespie's third feature is a remake of the 1985 comedy with an updated take. A teenager tries to find a way to get rid of a vampire next door with the help of Vegas show man. Gillespie and his team deliver an entertaining film that doesn't take itself seriously while taking on the vampire genre with plenty of charm and humor. Anton Yelchin stars with stellar support of Colin Farrell, David Tennant, Toni Collette and Imogen Poots. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Man on a Ledge

Danish director Asger Leth made his Hollywood debut with this thriller. A man with an elaborate plan fakes a suicide in order to prove himself innocent from a crime he's accused off. While certain elements and sequences are entertaining, the story is too far-fetched to be credible in anyway which blends several genres that derails it ultimately. Sam Worthington stars along with Elizabeth Banks and Jamie Bell amongst others. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

The Master

Writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson returns with another riveting character study and exploration of the human soul. A psychologically damaged war veteran finds stability and guidance with a charismatic leader of a cult and his family. Anderson continues where he left off with his masterpiece "There Will Be Blood" to deliver another original film that's all his own and places him among the best. Where in the previous he explored power and greed, Anderson explores the benefits and dangers of organized religion. While it hints at Scientology, it goes beyond cult into the bigger picture. Joaquin Phoenix returns with a tour-de-force performance that's easily his best to date. The stellar supporting cast includes Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams with equally riveting performances. The film shot in glorious 70mm features pitch perfect production design and art direction along with another haunting score by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood which top notch like every department of this impressive film. 1001 Films' coverage of current releases.

The Deep Blue Sea

British writer and director Terence Davies returned with another terrific drama with this old fashioned film reminiscent of "Brief Encounter" and "The End of the Affair." A married woman's love affair with a dashing pilot has tragic consequences for all involved. Davies adapted the play by Terence Rattigan and stays true to it time and place which shows its timelessness. The always reliable Rachel Weisz stars with another terrific performance while newcomer Tom Hiddleston holds his own as the leading man. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Police, Adjective

Romanian writer and director Corneliu Porumboiu turned to drama for his second feature. An undercover police officer investigating a teenager accused of drug dealing finds himself conflicted with his conscience and his duties. Porumboiu takes the cop genre in a new direction by showing a new side without any action sequences or shootings. He shows the tedious side of the job along with the bureaucracy involved which is closer to reality than what you see in Hollywood movies. Dragos Bucur gives a compelling performance in the lead while Vlad Ivanov shines in another scene stealing cameo. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Bel Ami

British directing duo Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod made their feature debut with this lavish adaptation of the novel by Guy de Maupassant. An impoverished soldier becomes a social climber with the help of three wealthy and influential women when they take him under their wings. Donnellan and Ormerod assembled an impressive cast and crew for their debut which succeeds for the most part but that's the problem with the medium which doesn't have the luxury of a novel. Robert Pattinson stars as the title character with a solid performance but it's his fame that might attract the wrong audience which will be disappointed by the adult material. The stellar supporting cast includes a never better Uma Thurman and Christina Ricci along with the terrific veterans such as Kristin Scott Thomas and Colm Meany. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

No Direction Home: Bob Dylan

Legendary director Martin Scorsese took on the life of another legend with this definitive documentary about Bob Dylan. A chronicle of Dylan's rise from a folk singer and protest singer to a rock legend. Scorsese establishes a clear timeline of the musical scene before Dylan's arrival and his influences with rare footage and interviews of Dylan and his contemporaries including Joan Baez and many others that gives the film perspective on a legendary career. There's plenty of great music from Dylan and others as well as a time capsule of bygone era. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Albatross

British director Niall MacCormick made his feature debut with this coming of age drama. A free spirited girl befriends an academic driven girl and seduces her way into her family leading to betrayal and self-discovery. There's nothing new in this story but MacCormick and his cast and crew made a decent film about characters with heavy burdens that affects their lives. Felicity Jones and Jessica Brown Findlay star with effective performances along with solid support of Sebastian Koch and Julia Ormond. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Elles

Polish writer and director Malgorzata Szumowska made a provocative film about prostitution with this drama. A journalist's investigation of university students turned prostitutes has a profound effect on her core values which threatens her marriage. Szumowska's controversial take on the world's oldest profession may divide audiences and critic but she found a powerful ally in her star, Juliette Binoche, who brings her usual gravitas to the role. The supporting cast includes Anaïs Demoustier, Joanna Kulig and Louis-Do de Lencquesaing. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Perfect Sense

British director David Mackenzie reunited with his "Young Adam" star, Ewan McGregor for this Sci-Fi romantic drama. A chef and a scientist fall in love while the end of the world seems near when people start loosing their sensory perceptions. The story by Kim Fupz Aakeson spins a romantic twist on a much lighter note to José Saramago's "Blindness" with a similar mysterious illness wrecked chaos to humanity and the world. Mackenzie's saving grace are his leads, McGregor and Eva Green who make the implausible story work. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Kes

British master Ken Loach's second film features all of his key trademarks that allowed him an illustrious career making him, one of the best of the British auteurs. A young boy abused by virtually everybody in his small town finds a falcon which brings a brief happiness into his daily life. Loach made a career of portraying the working class with his profound films, always used actual locations and mostly non-professional actors which is all at display in this heartbreaking film. Based on the novel by Barry Hines who also helped the adaptation along with Loach. The film also marked the beginning of Chris Menges, the celebrated British cinematographer. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Michael

Austrian casting director Markus Schleinzer made his writing and directing debut with this disturbing character study about the banality of evil. A young man who leads an apparently normal life to the outside world is actually a pedophile holding a young boy hostage in his basement. Schleinzer has made a horror film that's based on reality which is more disturbing and frightening than any traditional horror films can be. The fact the pedophile could be your neighbor or co-worker is what Schleinzer attempts to show that evil is far closer than we are comfortable with. While the story is set in Europe, it could be anywhere in the world and current as the Jaycee Dugard case proved. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Elvis & Anabelle

Writer and director Will Geiger's second feature is conventional love story with a twist that succeeds mostly because of its leads. After a beauty pageant awakes in a morgue, she discovers a new path in life including falling in love with the young mortician. While the story of boy meets girl from different sides of the tracks has many variations, Geiger scored with Max Minghella and Blake Lively in the leads who bring charm and chemistry that makes this romantic drama work. The supporting cast includes Joe Mantegna and Mary Steenburgen amongst others. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

The Turin Horse

Hungarian auteur Béla Tarr delivered his last film with this bleak study of human existence. Inspired by a true incident involving the nervous breakdown of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche who threw himself on an abused horse in Turin. The film follows the horse and its owners who are not far from animals themselves as they struggle in their daily existence in an unforgiving land and time. Tarr philosophical approach shows humanity on the edge of poverty can bring out the worst, specially in places of extreme poverty. While the film is hard to watch, it stays true to its artistic merit and refuses to tone it down. In this case film is art and not entertainment but a medium to explore a serious subject. The stark black and white cinematography by Fred Kelemen is haunting and breathtaking. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

London Boulevard

American writer William Monahan made his directing debut with this overcooked British crime drama. An ex-con becomes the body guard of a reclusive actress with whom he falls in love but his past catches up with him. While Monahan proved himself as a writer (The Departed, Body of Lies), his directing is less impressive where he tried to put several films into one. However his name got him a stellar cast and crew which saves the film from a total disaster it could have been. Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley star with the solid support of David Thewlis, Ben Chaplin, Ray Winstone and Eddie Marsan. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Killer Elite

Irish director Gary McKendry made his feature debut with this impressive action thriller. A former special agent is forced out of retirement to save his mentor which puts him on the path of another agent leading to a dangerous game. Inspired by the book by Ranulph Fiennes, writer Matt Sherring and McKendry created an original thriller that's character driven with plenty of action. The solid cast includes Jason Statham and Clive Owen in the leads along with Robert DeNiro in the supporting cast. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

The Women of the 6th Floor

French writer and director Philippe Le Guay made a winning film out of cultural stereotypes in this period comedy. A French couple's life takes a dramatic turn when they hire a Spanish maid with hilarious consequences. Le Guay and his talented cast and crew hit all the right notes with plenty of charm and smile which for an entertaining ride. The stellar cast includes Fabrice Luchini, Natalia Verbeke, Sandrine Kiberlain and Carmen Maura amongst others. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Rampart

Writer turned director Oren Moverman returned with this gritty cop drama in his sophomore effort. A corrupt cop tries for survival in the streets of Los Angeles while his personal and professional life is unraveling. While Moverman and co-writer James Ellroy try their best, it's not enough to bring new life into a tired genre that has been explored in much better films. Woody Harrelson stars with a solid but predictable performance along with Sigourney Weaver, Ned Beatty and Robin Wright amongst others in the supporting roles. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

The Mirror

Russian master Andrey Tarkovskiy delivered his most personal film with this stunning film. A man reflects on his life where past and present come together seamlessly. Tarkovskiy's enigmatic film is personal yet its themes are universal based on memory and simple images of staggering beauty. Since it stays away from traditional narrative, its puzzling structure remains fresh and open to interpretation. The film marked a turning point for the revered filmmaker whose style of film making changed to more abstract form. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child

Director Tamra Davis made the definite documentary on the artist that goes beyond the superficial treatments of previous films. The rise and fall of a brilliant artist whose life was tragically cut short. Davis' personal connection to the artist includes a rare interview with him that she never exploited which became the core of the film. It provides insight to his personality and gives the documentary a personal touch. While nobody doubted Basquiat's brilliance, he was misunderstood and misused that paved his way to tragedy. Davis' interview with the key figures from personal and professional circles makes for fascinating character study and a powerful film. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Dust

Veteran German documentary filmmaker Hartmut Bitomsky took on the various forms of dust in the fascinating film. The tiny particles surrounds us our entire lives but there's more it than the eyes meet as the resilient particles comes in various forms and shapes around the world. Bitomsky clear-eyed and clinical approach allows for broader perspective on a daily nuisance to most humans. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Norwegian Wood

Vietnamese writer and director Tran Anh Hung's fifth feature took him to Japan for the adaptation of the beloved novel by Haruki Murakami. A man reflects on his teenage years in the 60's where a tragedy brings him his first love with the girl-friend of his best friend that marked him for life. Hung's first foray into adaptation proves a perilous one which he barely succeeds giving the novel's intricate story line and characters. The film captures the agony of first love that will resonate with many regardless of its time and location. Beautifully filmed with a solid cast that includes Ken'ichi Matsuyama and Rinko Kikuchi in the leads. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

The Hunter

Australian director Daniel Nettheim made his international debut with this haunting existential thriller based on the acclaimed novel by Julia Leigh. A mysterious bio tech company sends a professional hunter to the Tasmanian wilderness for a rare tiger believed to be extinct. Nettheim hits all the right notes to build the tension before its climax which relies heavily on mood rather than action. Willem Dafoe stars with another terrific performance along with solid support from Frances O'Connor and Sam Neill and newcomer Morgana Davies. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.