THE DANMAN CAN

"Now are you happy?" "Delirious." Neil Jordan 's The Crying Game (1992) is a complex, sensitive, and moving film concerning identity, conflict, and kindness, with wonderful performances, beautiful cinematography, and a moody score. Neil Jordan Feature Films Ranked

"Whoa now. The world's a pretty big place." "Made up of stupid little people." Much of what makes Gilda (1946) great (both the film and the character) and much of its legacy lives on the sex appeal of the bombshell-defined Rita Hayworth . The film is a very good noir as well—utilizing solid direction, lush cinematography, gorgeous gowns, and it's got the crime element, hard-biting humor, plus a ruthless love triangle—but it wouldn't be half of what it is without that particular "femme fatale" (though she isn't really). As well, there is an interesting (and uncommon, for the time) gay subtext running throughout this story of repressed desires, power dynamics, and the potent emotion that is hatred. To riff on the infamous introductory scene of the titular character, I don't know about "decent," but Gilda is definitely dazzling. Film Noir Feature Films Ranked

Emilie Blichfeldt 's The Ugly Stepsister (2025) is a deliciously bent version of Cinderella , full of grotesqueries (via wonderful practical effects), lush cinematography, exquisite costume and production design, and an excellent score (whose anachronistic qualities I actually quite like; on that note, you gotta love a random Busby Berkeley -style sequence).  Disturbing yet beautiful, tragic yet hilarious, TUS is a visual feast, a subversive stab at the patriarchy (without being too on the nose; IYKYK), and an impressive feature film debut, with a fearless, committed performance by Lea Myren . A truly grim fairy tale. Recommended for fans of  The Substance  (2024) [ review ],  Pearl   (2022) [ review ] ,  Excision  (2012) [ review ],  Audition   (1999) [ review ], and  The Company Of Wolves  (1984) [ review ].

"I love you. I loved you the moment I saw you. I'm mad about you. My little shoplifter. My sweet little pickpocket. My darling." Ernst Lubitsch Feature Films Ranked

"Here's my card. Johnny Tremaine's the name. Making rock stars is this man's game. You know, I think I see real talent. I almost even see Led Zep. You know, I think I could do for you girls what God did for mankind."

The 1960s really was one the best decades of film.  Lee Marvin  as Walker is easily one of the most badass characters in any film. The dreamy psychedelic sequences, the jazzy  Schifrin -like score by  Johnny Mandel , the great supporting roles ( Keenan Wynn ,  Carroll O'Connor ,  Michael Strong ,  John Vernon ), the style, the time shifts/jump cuts, the economy of  John Boorman 's filmmaking (only his sophomore film!)—there is so much to savor here.  Point Blank   (1967) was a huge influence on  Steven Soderbergh 's   The Limey   (1999) [ review ] (another favorite film) and was remade, as a lesser but still great film called  Payback   (1999), both based on  Donald E. Westlake 's (writing as Richard Stark) novel  The Hunter   (1962). John Boorman Feature Films Ranked

Akira Kurosawa 's ninth solo feature film and third collaboration with  Toshirō Mifune , Stray Dog (1949), is a solid noir police procedure. The film drags a bit in the first half (the pursuit in the second half is more exciting) and sits in the bottom quarter of my Kurosawa rankings, but it's got strong performances (the actors convey the sense of heat quite well) and striking camerawork Akira Kurosawa Films Ranked Top 20 Directors Film Noir Feature Films Ranked

Siege (aka Self Defense ) (1983) is a taut and lean, mean and downbeat thriller. A simple and singular picture with a gritty realism and an eerie synth score, Siege is a cool little Canadian genre gem. Recommended for fans of Assault On Precinct 13 (1976) [ review ], Vigilante (1982) [ review ], and Green Room (2015) [ review ].

 Marking its centennial this year, The General remains an impressive and amusing action comedy and Buster Keaton 's defining film.

Jean Rollin 's The Grapes Of Death (1978) is a dreamy, gory, and haunting infection flick with gorgeous locations and some of the better performances of any of Rollin's films. Jean Rollin Feature Films Ranked

I'd seen  Lucio Fulci 's Demonia (1990) before, more than 20 years ago, but I didn't remember much about it. I can see why—other than a few memorable gore scenes (one in particular is quite gnarly), the film is slow-moving and mostly mediocre. With more care put into the production, this one could have been great, but, as it is, it's clumsy, the acting isn't great, and the score is chintzy. Lucio Fulci Feature Films Ranked

"Well, she's...something a little strange."

"What are you doing?" "I'm looking at my wife." Jonathan Glazer Feature Films Ranked

It's one of my least favorite  Martin Scorsese  films, but Boxcar Bertha (1972) offers more than your average exploitation movie. As per the assignment from Roger Corman , the requisite boxes are checked for this low budget  Bonnie And Clyde   (1967) knockoff: violence, nudity, outlaws. However—though it is a bit rough around the edges—in the hands of Scorsese, there's an energy, visual style, and depth to the main quartet of characters (along with a downbeat ending) that brings the material up a notch. Martin Scorsese Feature Films Ranked Top 20 Directors

"I guess when we get born, we just all have to take our chances." Elia Kazan 's Splendor In The Grass (1961) plays like a teen-centric cross between  Tennessee Williams  (somehow even hornier) and John Steinbeck . This was a rewatch, but SITG is one of those films that still manages to be shocking and moving. The melodrama is turned up to 11 and the performances are electric. Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty  (in his feature debut) are impossibly attractive and impassioned, Kazan's direction is air tight and assured, and Boris Kaufman 's cinematography is evocative and engaging. Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower; We will grieve not, rather find Strength in what remains behind Elia Kazan Feature Films Ranked

It's hard to believe that  Salem's Lot  (1979) was only the second adaptation of a  Stephen King  story. It's also hard to believe that I somehow only managed to watch it for the first time in 2018. King had only written six books by the time that  SL  started filming, so it makes sense (and I say  only  six because he's been incredibly prolific over the course of his career). It's just I sometimes forget that "King Fever" didn't truly ramp up until the '80s (with three feature films based on his works released in 1983 alone). Speaking of the '80s, just six months after  Lot  aired,  Stanley Kubrick 's vastly superior  The Shining   (1980) [ review ] was unleashed—still one of the best King adaptations (and I don't care what the man himself thinks about it). Salem's Lot  aired as a miniseries on CBS over two nights, totaling just over 3 hours in runtime. There was also a theatrical cut (released in Europe and air...

 "This is what I call a timely interruption! Though what'll come of it, the devil himself only knows!" Michael Curtiz Feature Films Ranked