THE DANMAN CAN

A critical and commercial failure,  Francis Ford Coppola 's One From The Heart  (1981) has enjoyed a bit of a reevaluation and is now considered, by some, to be one of his best films. A first time viewing for me, I decided to watch the Reprise version, which is shorter than the theatrical cut. I'm not quite sure why the film has a reputation for being bad because I loved it. It's technically innovative, visually breathtaking, earnest, sexy, and impressively choreographed (plus it has some of the coolest opening titles ever). Telling the story of a Las Vegas couple ( Teri Garr , Frederic Forrest ) on the rocks, both seeking new thrills in the form of possible new partners ( Raul Julia , Nastassja Kinski ), OFTH  features some of the most gorgeous imagery ever set to celluloid (courtesy of cinematographer  Vittorio Storaro  and production designer Dean Tavoularis ). An ambitious revisionist musical (with songs by the singular Tom Waits ), OFTH  is domestic drama as heightened

Without ever being gratuitous,  Paul Schrader 's Affliction (1997) is one the bleakest, most downbeat explorations of toxic masculinity and alcoholism ever put to film. Strong performances across the board, intentionally bland cinematography (set in a fictional town in snowy northern New Hampshire), and a moody, ominous score by Michael Brook  create a chilling portrait of tragedy. Paul Schrader Feature Films Ranked

Kind Hearts And Coronets  (1949), perhaps the best of the  Ealing comedies , is a misanthropic romp, full of gallows humor, wonderful performances, and economic writing/direction by  Robert Hamer. Dennis Price  plays our antihero, Louis Mazzini, who casually murders the members of the D'Ascoyne family, in order to inherit the title of duke (robbed of him due to his mother marrying below her social class). The eight D'Ascoyne family members that Louis murders are all famously (and splendidly) brought to life by  Alec Guinness . Price gives a delightfully dry performance and it's hard not to root him on, even though Louis himself is a bit of a cad. Along with his gleeful murder spree, our protagonist carries on an affair with a married woman, Sibella (deliciously played by  Joan Greenwood )—every bit the equal of the plotting and vengeful Louis. Although not necessarily a film of the laugh out loud variety,  Kind Hearts And Coronets  is a classic of British comedy, a bleak ye

Takes the last joke from  Shaun Of The Dead   (2004) ( review ) and makes it into a feature film (as my friend Jon put it), but does so as a really pleasing satire of  Douglas Sirk ian melodrama and 1950s sci-fi. I'm a sucker for exaggerated '50s nostalgia (when it’s done well) and Fido (2006) successfully fuses this aesthetic (via vivid pastels) with the "zom com" to create a satisfying film. It doesn't necessarily offer any surprises, but it's a funny and entertaining treat, bolstered by a top notch cast of character actors ( Carrie-Anne Moss , swoon ).

A quintessential "old dark house" story, Paul Leni ’s The Cat And The Canary (1927) is a delightful blend of gothic scares and physical humor. An early Universal horror film, this highly influential silent German Expressionist work features great performances, wonderful sets, brisk pacing, exciting action, and fun intertitles.