THE DANMAN CAN

40 years has passed since Francis Ford Coppola unleashed what many consider to be his masterpiece, Apocalypse Now  (1979). Despite monumental obstacles in the form of severe weather, postponements resulting in the film taking years to make, budgetary and casting problems (including Marlon Brando arriving overweight and unprepared), improvisation on the part of Coppola in order to get a film that worked,  Martin Sheen suffering a nervous breakdown and near-fatal heart attack, and Coppola himself almost being driven as mad as his character Kurtz (all of which is documented in the superb Hearts Of Darkness: A Filmmaker's  Apocalypse (1991)), Coppola did create a masterpiece. Apocalypse Now  is a film that rewards the viewer every time. There's always something new to appreciate or some aspect to be further enriched upon each viewing. Whether it's the incredible cinematography by Vittorio Storaro (the orchestration that must have gone into some shots is mind boggl...

Ready Or Not (2019) is a cool little horror flick in which its main character must survive a night with her new groom's fucked up family. It doesn't necessarily tread any new ground, as much as it just adds some twists to familiar territory ( The Most Dangerous Game  (1932) being the most obvious reference). The characters are archetypal and a bit tropey, but the cast handle the material well. RON  offers up a nice plate of blood, black humor, and outlandish fun.

Popcorn   (1991) is a decent little horror flick that has earned itself a cult following, but it never truly delivers on any level.   Predating the trend of metafiction prevalent in ‘90s horror films such as New Nightmare  (1994) ( review ) and Scream (1996) ( review ), Popcorn  offers an appealing premise for film nerds and cinema lovers, but its goofy execution, while initially fun, wears thin as the film progresses. Popcorn blends   Phantom Of The Opera   style   antics with  William Castle  style gags against the backdrop of film students presenting an all-night Horrorthon at a theater set to be torn down in a few weeks. The film focuses (sort of) on Maggie ( Jill Schoelen , who coincidentally starred in the 1989 version of Phantom Of The Opera  with Robert Englund , two years prior), one of said students, who has been having nightmares eerily similar to a surreal short film that the group discover and which is possibly...

Stand By Me  (1986) stands the test of time as a poignant, accurate, but never sappy film depicting how it feels to be a sensitive teenage boy on the verge of junior high. The wonderful young cast brilliantly portray four boys's 2-day journey across fields, woods and train tracks in search of a dead body. They sing songs, they playfully insult each other (and each others's mothers), they eat junk food, they open up to each other, and, finally, they lose their innocence. Stand By Me  is that near perfect blend of nostalgia that hits you in the heart without necessarily causing the tears to flow—a film for the ages. Rob Reiner Feature Films Ranked Stephen King Feature & Television Film Adaptations Ranked

I forget why I bought it (in 1995 or '96, I think), but a promotional copy of Phaseshifter  (1993)—still a favorite of mine—was my introduction to Redd Kross . I still have yet to hear their comeback album, 2012's Researching The Blues , which reunited the Neurotica  (1987) lineup, because until earlier this year—I'm ashamed to say—I wasn't familiar with that latter album or Born Innocent  (1982) or Third Eye (1990) (which I'm now in love with). But I did have another RK LP, Show World  (1997) (on cassette!), along with the soundtrack to Desperate Teenage Lovedolls  (1984) (re-released on CD in 1997). So I was about half familiar with RK. Their newest album,  Beyond The Door  (2019), continues their tradition of blending 70s glam/rock with punk and bubblegum pop to serve up a fresh plate of tasty tunes. They don't mess with their formula or add too much studio trickery, choosing instead to rip through the tracks with ease. BTD  is rock so...

Spike Lee 's Do The Right Thing (1989) remains, 30 years on, an unconventional, electric, and brilliant film. (Sadly) it also remains relevant in its portrayal of racial relations and tensions. Through the microcosm of a single block in a Brooklyn neighborhood populated by an eclectic (and superbly monikered) array of characters (played to perfection by the wonderful cast), Lee portrays how quickly relationships can deteriorate and turn to violent conflict over one scorching summer day. There really is no other film like DTRT , thanks in part to—among many contributing factors—the top notch acting, vibrant costume design by Ruth E. Brown , the beautiful and vivid golden hues of Ernest Dickerson 's cinematography, and—of course—that unforgettable Public Enemy   song . Spike Lee Joints Ranked My Criterion Top 10 [Vol. 5]  

Ingmar Bergman spent much of his career making films brimming with (brilliant) dialogue. While The Silence (1963) isn't quite silent there are indeed very few vocal exchanges. It's a film that relies heavily on its images, its erotically charged nature and its dreamlike impressionism (something Bergman would explore even further in Persona (1966)). The Silence  concerns the unusual and volatile relationship between two sisters (one sensual and emotionally detached, one intellectual and seriously ill) plus the son of the first, as they travel by train, eventually staying in a hotel in a small undisclosed city where war is imminent. While it's certainly tame by today's standards, the film's frank depictions of sex and frequent nudity were highly controversial in its day and oddly enough—though being cut in many countries—caused the film to be financially successful, based on its reputation. You can find my  Ingmar Bergman Feature Films Ranked  list  here . ...

A southern fried  Ocean's   with hints of  Out Of Sight  (1998).  Logan Lucky   (2017) is so much damn fun. The best  Elmore Leonard -esque film made since he passed. You can find my Steven Soderbergh Feature Films Ranked list here . You can find my  Top 20 Directors  list  here .

Denis Villeneuve 's Sicario  (2015) is a politically-charged crime drama that manages to tackle complex issues with little in the way of conventional action, character background or development, and yet never feels lacking, thanks to Taylor Sheridan 's taut script. The blurred allegiances and dark subject matter ring true to Villeneuve's style, Roger Deakins ' cinematography is marvelous, and the performances are all grounded in reality. You can find my Denis Villeneuve Feature Films Ranked list here .

When I first saw Dog Soldiers (2002), when it was released on DVD, I loved it. Neil Marshall 's debut felt like a shot in the arm for those that appreciated the low budget quality of the early films of Sam Raimi and Peter Jackson . Also, I was 22 at the time, so I fit the prime demographic that a film like that is aimed at—rabid young male gorehounds. Unlike those aforementioned directors' debuts,  The Evil Dead (1981) ( review ) and Bad Taste (1987), respectively, DS  hasn't aged quite as well. Dog Soldiers  has a certain frenetic energy that is admirable, particularly on that first viewing. But now that I've seen it probably a half dozen times, I just find the dizzying camerawork and the number of cuts tiresome and particularly fatiguing on my eyes. There is plenty of bloodletting and I enjoy the practical, handmade aspect of the f/x. Obvious callouts to the  The Howling (1981) ( review ) and  An   American Werewolf In London (1981) ( review...