Funeral in Berlin (60s) - 7/10. Not as good as I remembered, but better than many in the spy genre. I just re-read The Ipcress File and enjoyed it so much I wanted more Len Deighton but didn't want to watch the film of the book (which essentially betrays the source to a great degree--although I still enjoy it). So I settled for the follow-up film adaptation which, IIRC, follows its original better. Nobody does sarcasm better than Deighton, and in the books you get a stinger a page--a ratio not observed in the adaptations.
Sonatine (1993) - 9/10. My second-favorite Yakuza film, now out on Blu in Japan with an excellent transfer. Kitano seems to be going for a Jarmusch-meets-McDonagh thing, only no one knew who McDonagh was in 1993. Still, this would make an excellent double bill with In Bruges.
Wind River (2017) Modern Western, A veteran tracker (Jeremy Renner) with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service helps the FBI (Elizabeth Olsen) to investigate the murder of a young Native American woman on the Wind River Reservation. Directed by Taylor Sheridan. With Graham Greene, Kelsey Asbille, Tantoo Cardinal, Apesanahkwat, Tokala Black Elk. Beautiful cinematography. 8/10
just watched this, ageee with the score. Excellent. What’s your favorite yakuza film?
Cartel (long version) 7/10First viewing. Very good and original for a movie about the cartels. Terrific by the book yet modern yet classy yet audacious yet noirish yet colorful cinematography. It's Ridley Scott's most Fincheresque side. Unfortunately, the dialogues aren't as smart and cool as they sound. Top notch performances all over the place, although Cameron Diaz is probably miscasted.
Are you talking about The Counselor? Because I can't find anything about The Cartel.
Pale Flower.
It's one of my favorite 5-7 movies of all time - you need to see it asap.
Yes I am! Sorry I didn't realize the film had a different title in English. The Counselor is a much better title than the French one.
The four I've seen that he directed ("Toi, le venin", "Les salauds vont en enfer", "Le goût de la violence" and of course "Cemetery without Crosses") are all really great. As a director, he was and still is ridiculously underrated.