Pierrot le Fou (1965)

Medium: Film
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Country: France
Released: 1965
First Consumed: June 28, 2012
Format: Blu-ray
Rating: 6.5/10

Criterion Collection #421

The Criterion Collection description of this film describes it as Godard's final "frolic." That's works as well as any word to describe Pierrot le Fou. Despite its consumerist and political satire, it's never more than a beautifully shot playful romp through Southern France with two pretty people.

Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Medium: Film
Director: Otto Preminger
Country: United States
Released: 1950
First Consumed: June 28, 2012
Format: Netflix Instant via PS3
Rating: 8.0/10

It's not Laura, but it's a damn fine gritty noir. Dana Andrews in his best performance I've seen. Otto Preminger in complete control of his style. This is the stuff.

Giant (1956)

Giant

Medium: Film
Director: George Stevens
Country: United States
Released: 1956
First Consumed: June 28, 2012
Format: Netflix Instant via PS3
Rating: 7.0/10

While George Stevens' Giant serves well as a clinic on how to make a film beautiful, and features three fantastic performances from Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean, it's far from a perfect film.

It's 201 minutes, and feels it. And a lot of those minutes are spent hammering its themes. Racism and a woman's place in the first half of the 1900s. Both these themes end satisfyingly with the arc of Rock hudson's rich, rancher character, but they feel exhausting toward the middle of the film as shepherded by Taylor's character. Taylor gives a good, big performance, but I wasn't in love with the character.

James Dean, whose co-lead performance is more like a string of glorified cameos, is the films savior. When everyone else goes big, he goes small. He mumbles and drinks his way through the film, and it's an absolute delight.

Dune (1984)

Dune

Medium: Film
Director: David Lynch
Country: United States
Released: 1984
First Consumed: June 27, 2012
Format: Blu-ray
Rating: 4.5/10

Apart from the visualization of the personal shields, this was a visually stunning film. That is the only good thing I have to say about it.

I'm quite sure I wouldn't have understood what was happening if I had not just read the book. And that's weird, since the vast majority of the dialogue is given over to awkward exposition. I felt like it was all exposition and weird whispery voice-over. And Patrick Stewart with long hair.

I need to read up on this film's production history. I bet it's interesting. Did Lynch really intend to have all the strange voice-over? Or both of the expository introductions? Really, two introductions?

Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold (1964)

Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold 

Medium: Film
Director: Kazuo Ikehiro
Country: Japan
Released: 1964
First Consumed: June 13, 2012
Format: Hulu Streaming via PS3
Rating: 7.5/10

Director Kazuo Ikehiro makes the most visually striking Zatoichi film yet. It begins with a beautiful opening credits sequence of Zatoichi fighting henchmen against a black background, and it features the most lush photography throughout that we've seen so far. 

Chest of Gold also gives us another new plot set-up for the series. Instead of saving a town or taking down some wrong-doer, our hero is mistaken for a thief and must clear his name. The initial set-up is a bit awkward-- Zatoichi ends up sitting on the titular chest by accident after the thieves have lost it down a hill -- but the rest of the film is a tightly plotted action caper.