THE DANMAN CAN

"Tonight I wouldn't mind dancing with Abe Lincoln himself!" "Fiddle dee dee!" "Sir, you are no gentleman!" "And you, Miss, are no lady." Victor Fleming Films Ranked

"It's an original ball for an original guy. It's the Marty Supreme one, not the Marty Normal Ball!"

Christiane F. (1981) is a harrowing experience—a movie that I had been meaning to watch for decades and one I won't soon forget. An early sequence of kids causing hijinks set to David Bowie 's " 'Heroes' " provides a brief moment of ebullience before the downward spiral and serves as a joyful reminder of youth. That iconic scene, along with the Bowie concert footage, is sublime, and I wish there was more of that before the depression sets in. But the realism of the film, along with the excellent filmmaking and naturalistic performances, is impossible to deny. I just don't know if this is a picture I could rewatch very often.

I met a horse the other day I liked the horse It made me feel less scared about dying Martin McDonagh Feature Films Ranked

" And we will know him then for what he was and is—a Prince—our own black shining Prince!—who didn’t hesitate to die, because he loved us so. ” Spike Lee Joints Ranked

Surreal. Transgressive. Hilarious. (Would not recommend to almost anyone.) Takashi Miike Films Ranked

"I'm not saying you're wrong, but I don't know if you're right." Bertrand Tavernier 's Coup De Torchon (Clean Slate) (1981) is a brilliant adaptation of Jim Thompson 's 1964 novel Pop. 1280   featuring a perfect performance by Phillipe Noiret . CDT  transports the book's American Southern setting to French West Africa to comment on the violence, colonialism, and racism prevalent in the film's fictional small town, just prior to World War II, through the lens of the psychopathic lead character. Jim Thompson Film Adaptations Ranked

They must, and they do.

Safe   (1995),  Todd Haynes ' sophomore feature film, elicits  Kubrick ian calm to present the story of Carol—a bored, rich housewife with a detached and somewhat insensitive husband living in L.A.—who develops an inexplicable environmental illness that crumbles her fragile stability and eventually leads to her moving into a cult-like desert community called Wrenwood for treatment. There are other films that deal in similar themes, but  Safe  does well to avoid feeling too familiar, thanks in large part to  Julianne Moore 's perfectly understated and brilliant performance, Haynes' appropriately flat direction, and  Ed Tomney 's moody ambient score—all of these elements really sell the level of disconnect. The production design, costumes, cinematography, and songs do an excellent job of capturing the late '80s, as well. *SPOILERS* Toward the end of the film, as she struggles to comment on her condition, Carol's sad attempt at giving a birthday speech to...

Maniac   (2012) is one of the few horror remakes that justifies its existence by finding that perfect blend of homage whilst carving its own path. At times,  Elijah Wood 's narration and heavy breathing/grunting is a bit too theatrical, but the inventive and well-handled POV technique, the incredibly gruesome effects (courtesy of  KNB ), and the excellent synth score by  Robin Coudert  (as Rob) more than make up for it. Working largely from  Joe Spinell 's story from the original  1980 film  [ review ] but substituting Spinell's sweaty, greasy, overweight Frank for a more slim, affable Norman Bates type,  Maniac  ups the gore—including many brutal scalpings—and trades the grime of late '70s NYC for the glamour and sheen of L.A. There are plenty of references to  William Lustig 's (who gave his blessing and served as a producer) original film, but this is no carbon copy. The characters are slightly more fleshed out (pardon the pun) ...