Garrett Davis

Fri / 10-11-24 /) Here's Screen legend Janet Leigh ( A year before she filmed "Psycho,") barely dressed, in a run down motel ( This X in a border town in Mexico.) being pursued by psychopaths. ( Type-casting ???,,,) The filming here is INSANE !!!; The script BRILLIANT !!!! The Acting the stuff dreams are made of. My opinion this is one of the greatest Film-noir's of all-X. ( But that's only my opinion.) Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxccxxxxxxxxxxxxccxccxxxxxcxxccccxxxccxccxxccccccccxxcccccc

10-9-24 Tues) // Spike Lee takes a slightly different route here than he'd explored in his earlier Movie's. Italian's, & an Italian sub-culture of "Benson Hurst N.Y. take over a large part of the stage ostensibly a tale of an interracial affair ( Wesley Snipes & Annabelle Sciorra) the film primarily relays the particular's of this enclave, it's locals, & a spiraling out of control counter story of "Flipper," Purifys brother "Gator," ( Samuel Jackson) a 1990's George Floyd type, on a one way ticket to Palokaville. // The film doesn't concentrate on combustible antagonizing, fiery subjects as in "Do the Right thing." The transactions here are relatively minor when lined up along "Thing," "Flipper," & "Angie Tucci," ( Sciorra) agree to exchange certain properties, Angies exoticism & available sexual privilege's, "Flipper," his experience, hypergamy, exoticism, grooming capacity & elevated stature over "Angie." This is not a love Story. "Flipper" possess' a certain degree of Authoritative control & power over "Angie" despite the racial makeup, in my humble opinion this story concerns more of a power dynamic than a true interracial narrative. Probably any pretty,younger willing woman ( any race) could have crossed "Flippers" path & you'd have ended up with similar results. He was miffed that he didn't get a Blk one. Race loyalty or thang preference ??? The fact that Angie's cheating with a married man with a child ( White or Blk, & she has a nice guy boyfriend.) doesn't seem to phase her one iota. The acting is PHENOMENAL (!!!) Writing, excellent but skewed, but Spikes bottom -line seems to be that Flipped been better off,,,, cheating,,,,,,,with a,,, Black Woman,,,????,,,,// The 2nd. Hr is GRIPPING !!! POWERFUL!! Lee saves his best stuff here.Theres genius here.

9-10-24 // Tues // Ah, the day's when cheating on your mate came with lush Orchestra's & expensive gowns, & turtle-neck's by Givenchy ( ,,,,,to go to the Supermarket,,,,,) Welcome to 1959-60 Kid's. Put on your "Captain Video Space traveler outfit cause IT'S TO DA' MOON !!! You get a lot of Classic car's here, Architecture, look's, fashion, bottom-line of that far-ago era. In 2002 Todd Haynes made a very nice retro-film about just such particular's, " Far from Heaven," ( except he introduced racial & gay elements) there's no racial context in this one but Kim Novak's hubby ( Margaret Bryant) comes across as pretty 1960 "lavender" coded to me. ) ( We'll call him, "Roscoe ".) Kirk Douglas is as rugged & vigor cheating on his wife & kid's here as he is as Spartacus slicing up Roman's into bite-sized pieces. 1960 Kim Novak has the laid-back sex appeal that was unique in the 1950's ( with Bombshells like Marilyn Monroe, & Jayne Mansfield pretty much putting all of it out there on Front street. Although, I believe Novak eventually, went topless on screen long after Mansfield & Monroe were pushing up daisies.) // As the film progresses, Kirkys dimple nearly explodes as he learns that "Maggie," ( Novak) had sex with another dude-O before she began having sex with him. Forgetting,,,(???) that he's a participant in an affair,,,??? KIRK !!!! /// This is a Great 1950's Soap Opera, sucks you into the World presented, Excellent Star's of yore, well written & directed this Movie Movie's like nobody's business. // There's a scene where Barbara Rush is showering & she leaves her front door unlocked as intruder Walter Mattau enters for unsolicited recreation.( Kim Novak express' an unlocked door grape earlier in the film.) "Psycho," was released in 1960,,Did Mz.Rush not attend a matinee ???,,,) ( by the by,,,the "Great," Architects finished product looks like a Cannes Bath House by way of toilet.) Snuggle up, get some coffee or coco, hang out in your slippers, & enjoy this wonderful old ( basically forgotten) Romantic Old Hollywooder.

Tues/ 9-5-24 // 8PM// I always took, "Birdman," as kind of an update of those old Classic "Hollywood on Hollywood" film's ( here ostensibly, "Broadway," we had those film's, too, "All about Eve," "A Double Life,") A "Showbiz on Showbiz" deal-o. However, I've been listening to YouTubers,of the denomination of "The Manosphere", & realizing that maybe, "Birdman," doesn't just encompass a once huge actor's downfall & becoming a parody of himself while his World crumble's around him, but is "Riggan Thomson," ( Michael Keaton) a warning on the coming age of the ( (attempted,") obsoletion of Heterosexual men in Western Society,,,??? ) that there's more going on here than an engaging romp ??? Did Di. / Writer Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu pull one over on Woke Hollywood," back in 2014 ,,,,???? ( This film won " Best Picture," D.I. Cinematography, it swept the Oscar's that year. ( I'm thinking the Academy took the film as just a jab at Super-hero franchises, mental decline, ACTING (!!!!) Social Media ( in the form of a hideous daughter played by Emma Stone.) & paid little attention to the broader implications. ( From his released statements, maybe star Michael Keaton is more than a little "out in the dark," also ,,,????) /// The scene where Riggan gets caught in his underwear in the rain in the middle of a crowded Times Square at Midnight, this is fall out of your chair hilarious, while simultaneously being bleak, & unstartling. This scene has to feature THE GREATEST SCENE OF EMASCULATION," Since Kunta Kintes foot was cut off in "Roots," True seeing a guy ( or gal) walking around in their skivvies ( or nude) In traffic in any major Metropolitan Blue city, isn't exactly Earth-shaking in 2024, but the absoluteness of Riggan ( Keaton's )downfall clearly denotes tragedy. Post Mortem/ Maybe, film's have been emasculated also ( Particularly, "Super-Hero," film's.) A commentary on 2024 from 10 Year's ago,,,???? The last 20 of the film increasingly has Riggan being seduced & hurtling towards,,, The End,,,,. ( Yea, I can't resist a pun )

Sabb/ 8-31-24 // 1:54PM// In general in "Trading Places," U get a comical ( antidotical) break-down of race relation's in the U.S. via 1983 dynamic's. There's Nothing ground breaking here, but the film is very forthright, & bare to the bone. ( & UUHH,,, effortlessly Funny AS*) Louis Winthrop ( Dan Aykrod) is a snotty, investment broker, with ( at least) an 80 K. a year job ( nothing to sneeze at in 1984. I assume hefty commission's come along with the job.) an uptown high porcelain doll for a playmate, & a Mansion with ( Assumed ) staff, although, we only see Denholm Eliot. ( Not bad for a 30 (???) year old any generation.) his counter-part "Billy Ray Valentine," ( Eddie Murphy) is disadvantaged, of color, & apparently one of the Free World's worst ever con-men & congenital liar's. "The Dukes " ( Don Ameche & Ralph Bellamy ) are lord's of the market. So, much so, that they can manipulate, & play fast & loose not just with the Market's, but with Billy rays, & Louis Winthrops very existence. There is a hidden existential trait laden in the premise of "Trading Places," slacker humor, as the "Dukes," appear to be ( perhaps) dark spiritual, entities maybe, beyond just evil, Old, " rich, & powerful Patriarchal," geezer's. They seem to possess mysterious ( "Illuminati,",,??? "Free Mason's"??? ) power's over the trajectory of those about them. In terms of contemporary culture "Billy Ray," gets a DEI makeover similar to say Kamala Harris, via the unseen ( White, Old, mysterious, unspoken )White donor elite. ( HUH,,,WHAT,,???!!!) Only, ( miraculously) Billie Ray ACTUALLY HAS MARKET SKILL'S,,, It's just a comedy, sure,,,but,,,is it,,,??! Whatever, D.I. John Landis, & the script maybe alluding to, the film is ( Importantly) HILARIOUS 😆😆😂😂, goofy, a real 198o's infusion of that decades early SNL, sensibility, ( Frat- "National Lampoon" humor) & I always stop/ pause motion on Jamie Lee Curtis's big,,,( UUHHH,,,) moment.

8-19-24 // Mon// 6:32Pm // A lot of film fan's feel ill-will towards this Movie, personally, I think it's the very best in the serie's. It's delicious to look at, as fantastical as the film is, the situation's seem feasible.Vanessa Lee Chester weight'd down the film's momentum in the early DEI scene's in which she's featured. ( Spielberg, U're lousy with Blk actor's, & Blk representation. "The Color Burple," anyone ??? U probably, aided in irreparable damage in Blk male/ Blk female relationships that reverberate in the Blk community to this day. Stick to fantasy, & War, hombre.) /// 20 year's earlier Spielberg began the Modern Summer Blk-Bluster with "Jaw's" ( the film legit frightened some beach-goer's from going in the water that summer.) here, he does not miss a step. No one can touch Spielberg here !!! This Summer Adventure Movie stuff for Spielberg is like Suspense for Hitchcock, or the Western for John Ford. Other director's can't quite match the mastery. ( Not for an extended period, anyways.) Also, prop's to Julianne Moore. She's makeup free throughout the film, & radiant. ( Like Grace Kelly in "The Country Girl." A true beauties elegance shine's regardless.) // The scene where Ian Malcom ( Jeff Goldblum) & Julianne Moore are trapped in the Medical van, as a Dino rampages outside is A TOUR-DE-FORCE OF ACTION FILM-MAKING !!!! It places U the audience member squarely in that assaulted van, Dino breath reeking down your pore's !!!! An outstanding set-piece crowned to the nth !!! /// Basically , Jeff Goldblum, Jeff Goldblums all over the place, GRISLY DEATH'S stack up, and a Dino eat's it way through Lajolla, Sin Diego. (Sweet.) ( My V.A. hospital is there.) A Summer Movie done as Summer film's ought to be released. A Popcorn and Soda Pop Masterpiece.

2/24/24/ Sabb/ 5:52PM/ I'm a HUMONGOUS CARY GRANT FILM FAN, but if he's in garbage, I call garbage. "I was a male war bride," ( which the critc's love to death,,I wonder why,,,???? ) "Mr. Lucky," ( Sorry, it Stinks. ) (" An Affair to Remember.") ( Ickkyy, & dull.) (" Every girl should have one") ( Yawn fest.) (" The Grass is greener.") ( "A touch of Mink.") ( Worthless.) , this film is far from that list of dog's. Actually, Personally, I love 💕💕 this Movie !!!! The film does present Cary Grant in a knife fight,,,,????,,,,,EEERRRR,,,,,,,,so, out the bat he isn't playing the Cary Grant character. ( Rare.) But this is a fine return to Action-Movie filming for the man after a near 20 yr absence. ( Grant even gets a larger kill-count than John Wayne,,,, of course, Napoleon's Army come across as far less than genuis') Amazingly, Sophia Loren didn't even speak English when this was filmed, she's entirely convincing as being at home in the language. Sinatra also, doesn't portray his usual Sinatra character, & Stanley Kramer directing an Historical War Film,,,,??? Odd. Bottom-line, if U like "Star Wars," U'll like this. Napoleon's Army are like Storm-Teooper's ( they can't fight their way out of a wet paper bag.), U've got Napoleon's "Evil Empire" to contend with., The assault on a "Death Star" (. A fortress, here ) the mechanism ( the device ) needed to thwart the overpowering opp. I'm serious, if you're a "Star Wars," fan ( the original George Lucas 1977, "Star Wars.") I really see no reason on Earth that this film wouldn't thoroughly entertain U. And, Bella, to Mz. Sophia Loren. U were a Goddess to me when I was a pup, U remain so for an Old dog.

2/20/24/ Tues/ "Never rat on anyone, & always keep your mouth shut." These are considered two entirely separate entities in the mind of Jimmy (" The Gent") Burke. ( Robert DeNiro) Martin Scorsese effectively demonstrate's the power, & fear tatic's of the Mafia in the films initial 25 min's. On the surface the gang come across as "Ring a ding, ding" Rat Pack era, shriner's or something, the comradrie is similar, only, these men are vicious, bottom-feeder mobster's in reality. In fact, these guy's remind me of my father, & his cronies from the 1960's ( My dad wasn't a mobster, A factory foreman actually, but he & his group of flunkies were "Lodge," type's.) My families Blk, but there's always been plentiful "Ring-a-ding, ding" go for it, to go 'round for everyone. ( Motown/ Staxs Records, version) in the "Godfather," we witness the 1930's W.B/ Cagney/ Edward G. Robinson/ kefauver hearing's, confirmed in film, (only far more graphically, & W/ 1970's "R" rating sensibilities.) Here, the loyalty, even code of honor of this specific genre goes out the window with the bathwater. There is no honor here,,,& loyalty,,??? U can be shot btwn the eyes for having a ketchup stain on your clip-on tie. ( Close your mouth when U eat for the luv'a,,,,) Alas, the end of spaghetti with marnera sauce, hullo, egg noodles with ketchup.

2/19/24/ PRESIDENTS DAY 2024/ Mon/ The beauty of the Coen Bros. at their best is that they have the uncanny ability to take the viewer into a terrifying scene, & place us squarely into the situation of facing the screen killer Mano-e-Mano. As U observe, the murderer feels as if he's standing mere feet away from you. Another wonder, & detail of their best work is that that psychopath on the screen could easily in realX, break into your house tonight Richard Ramirez style & go all Satan's Temple upside your head while U were beginning to doze off to sleep. Or it could happen at a fender-bender, or an encounter at a fast-food restaurant, POOF In the blink of an eye, your gone. Chigurh ( Javier Badem) is one such killer. Chigurh kills primarily for money, but solo for his pleasure is far from off the table. One of the films stand out scenes ( for me) has Chigurh creepily egging a gas station attendant ( Gene Jones) with nonsenseical queries that ultimately end in Chigurh slaying Jones, randomly. ( Or not) Jones can't even guess how close he came to losing his life,,,,over the flip of a coin,,,,,( The Joker in "The Dark Knight" has a Similar psychopathic disposition.) The Coens master this type of warped ultra reality that's no more than two feet away from where you, the viewer are sitting. ( Remember the psycho that randomly shot up a Movie theater during an airing of "The Dark Knight rises." ??? Same vibe. Lywelen Moss ( Josh Brolin) , & Carla Jean ( Kelly McDonald ) aren't exactly the root & cheer for protagonist type's either. For one lywelen is a theif, he runs across a crime scene with a dying man, & he leaves the man alone dying for hours. Carla Jean isn't much better as she never bothers to report the money or the crime. Were basically in a Morales cess-pool & the price for all involved will prove to be quite high indeed.

2/16/24/ 2:10PM/ A lot of people think that "The Odd Couple," was the first pairing of Walter Matthau & Jack Lemon,,,NAWWWWWW, It was this Wonderful satire made 2 ( ???) Year's earlier. Matthau plays an awful lot like Cary Grants "Walter Burns," from 1940's "His Girl Friday," here. ( Matthau, indeed plays Burns in Billy Wilders 1974 Production of "The Front Page," the original source of "His Girl Friday.") I think this turn made a household name of Matthau after about 10 yrs toiling around Hollywood in bit parts & supporting roles for the lead's. And, man does he go for the gusto !!! Still, he sync's with Jack Lemon. The two become a team instantly. Jack Lemon was a Da Vinci at playing outright simp's, & boy does he ravel in simp glory here. He obtains triple Platinum medal's from the Simp's Olympic's. This Film also ( FINALLY) gives D.I. Wilder a comeback vehicle worthy of 1959's "The Apartment."( + We get Sig Ruman reprising ( Basically) his Dr. role From "Nothing Sacred," with Fredrich March & Carole Lombard.) The budding interracial friendship between Lemmon & Ron Rich ( Boom Boom) is touching ( not quite up there with Ving Rhames giving Lemmon his Golden Globe Award in 1998, but it'll do till something better comes along.) Judi West ( "Sandy") quiet (Karen)-racism towards "Boom Boom" adds a deft touch. ( Billy Wilder & Co-Script-Writer I.A. L Diamond, softly calling out the "subtle," racism instead of Virtue-signaling you to death with it as in a Modern day Movie.) ( I do have to admit that "Boom Boom" does seem servile towards White people, & antagonistic towards fellow Blk's. The Judy Pace scene isn't really explained, though it seems to suggest that Pace reminds him of Sandy ( who he immediately abhors,,,,, for taking his place with his White Buddy, "Harry",,,,,,,??? It isn't really explained.) I kinda sorta give Wilder a pass here, as he was a German immigrant, Immigrated as an adult, & probably had very limited exchange with Blk people ( outside of service contact) during the 1930's-60's.)+ Wilder 1960's regular Cliff Osmond. A Classic Movie. Another "All-X Best Movie "you probably never heard of before.