Li'l Duce's Reviews Palace

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Perfect Prey (1998) I started watching this because I saw Bruce Dern playing a cop. But his role is modest. The plot is hackneyed as can be, not an element of originality rescuing from the usual serial killer trivialities. Kelly McGillis is a JL Curtis look-alike but not as sexy. A couple of scenes though are good: the first face to face with the killer and the interview in the prison. 4\10

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Le Professionel (1981) Audiard-Belmondo-Morricone: you'd think they could cook something good together but, as we know, only the Maestro delivered. Actually "Chi mai"  works better without the images, on its own, because the movie sucks. Yet they had all the chances to make a good job, bu they were uncertain whether to make a comedic or a serious action movie so you never know where it's at. A pity because the women look very good (the lezzie inquisitor though it's moronic) , the car chase is fine and the finale, at last, hits the right mood. I'll try to read the novel. 5\10 

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Fantomas (1932) At IMDb there are 4 generally good reviews of this one. Can't see why. It is without suspense, ridiculous when it attempts to it and constantly boring. 3\10

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Becky Sharp (1935) First "three tone technicolor" feature, judging from the french dvd release I watched I'd have guessed it was a colourized version of a b&w movie. Still it's a good movie for other reasons. The fast moving plot, based on a theatrical piece derived from Thackeray's novel (I read it long time ago and remebered nothing of it, though T. is probably my favourite victorian novelist) and the quite unusual (for Hollywood) basic amorality of the main character, overplayed by Miriam Hopkins  in most scenes (but she's good-looking so I forgive her). 7\10

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http://archive.org/details/BeckySharp1935

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Hannibal Rising (2007) A run-of-the-mill sequel which adds little to what former episodes delivered better. 6\10

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Razzia sur la Chnouf (1955) Police thriller set in drug scene of Paris. Which I don't believe was anything like that:  too many drugged people to be credible. And then all those mthods of dealing: too elaborate, probably it was more simple. There's an opium den like one could believe existed 20 years before, not in 1955. But there's also a gang bang of Lila Kedrova with a horde of black people (nothing graphic, of course)! The plot is not memorable but the movie is worth at least watching considering that Magali Noel is attractive (I presume she had nose surgery in the following years) and Bozzuffi sports some hair. 7\10

I've just read the novel (I'm on a kind of argot binge) and confirm that the movie follows closely the novel. Le Breton didn't want to risk what could have happened with his first novel (as explained by Dassin's interview on youtube I linked talking about it). 

[drinkanddestroy]

Hannibal Rising (2007) A run-of-the-mill sequel which adds little to what former episodes delivered better. 6\10

I didn't like this.

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The Boston Strangler (1968) Excellent thriller, making excellent use of multipanel screen. What doesn't persuade me completely is the cast. Yeah. Fonda is wasted: the role is too small for him. Curtis has been praised for it, still, I'm not 100% sure he's here as good as in Sweet Smell of Success.  His closing his eyes when murdering is too banal. Still the movie grips you from start to end. 9\10

[drinkanddestroy]

The Boston Strangler (1968) Excellent thriller, making excellent use of multipanel screen. What doesn't persuade me completely is the cast. Yeah. Fonda is wasted: the role is too small for him. Curtis has been praised for it, still, I'm not 100% sure he's here as good as in Sweet Smell of Success.  His closing his eyes when murdering is too banal. Still the movie grips you from start to end. 9\10

I couldn't make it all the way through this.

The multipanel screen annoyed the hell out of me. Was there just for the sake of being there. Like in The Thomas Crown Affair with Steve McQueen.

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I couldn't make it all the way through this.

The multipanel screen annoyed the hell out of me. Was there just for the sake of being there. Like in The Thomas Crown Affair with Steve McQueen.

If I remember well, in TCA the use was more for the hell of it. Here is more creative. As explained in the dvd featurette, the director wanted to create the impression of the entire city in turmoil. Or see also the scene where a victim is ironing while in the other panel Curtis is little by little getting to her: when they finally get into contact the screen becomes one again.

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Sweet Smell of Success (1957) I agree with former reviewers on other boards that the finale doesn't work. They weren't able to come up with a final twist like the brilliant one they devised for the cigarette girl hustle. A pity. So it is just 9\10. Strange that cigar hasn't reviewed this one as it has nighttime NYC at the center. This should have been the template on which modelling the Mike Hammer movies.

[cigar joe]

Sweet Smell of Success (1957) I agree with former reviewers on other boards that the finale doesn't work. They weren't able to come up with a final twist like the brilliant one they devised for the cigarette girl hustle. A pity. So it is just 9\10. Strange that cigar hasn't reviewed this one as it has nighttime NYC at the center. This should have been the template on which modelling the Mike Hammer movies.

There are quite a few that we were leaving open for other reviewers, so as not to dominate the thread.

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The Age of Cosimo de Medici (1972) This is Rossellini's didacticism at work. You may be interested in some of the informations he gives on that era and the great characters who peopled it but it is still doubtful whether a book on the subject couldn't do a better work than this as, cinematically, there is little another good director couldn't have done. 7\10 Unfortunately the italian double dvd doesn't include the third part of the miniseries (probably released separately).

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The Conspirator (2010) A small but good courtroom drama about Mary Surratt, accused of being an accomplice of Lincoln's murderer. I could have done without the flashbacks and made it shorter, but it is worth a 7\10.