Duel

Dennis Weaver plays the character David Mann(pun intended) a salesman who is traveling on a lonely two lane highway when he encounters a trucker with a case of road rage.  The opening sequence when he is talking to his wife and having an argument on why he wasn't bold enough to confront a drunk person who hit on her foreshadows the plot.  Throughout the movie we try to figure out the identity of the trucker or just a brief glimpse of what he looks like to no avail.  The infamous diner scene creates a mood of paranoia when he realises the trucker has stopped at the same destination.  There are many scenes that make you wonder if the antagonist is really that  bad at all.... when he saves a group of school children while they mock the protagonist who is acting hysterically.  I found out after watching this film that it is one of Steven Spielberg's first films and it's amazing how he created such a Tour-De-Force movie with such a low budget.

Irreversible

This is yet another film that intrigues the viewer by showing sequences in reverse order.  It begins by showing a fiance trying to locate the person resposible for raping and killing his girlfriend.  It's film not for the faint of heart though.... it has many violent scenes including one of the longest rape scenes in film history.  On the other hand, it's a wonderfully shot film with many twists and turns and as it gradually resolves to the beginning we learn more details.  It doesn't deserve the repuatation as a film to avoid simply because of the violence because the story line is brilliant and almost too realistic.  It can make the viewer feel very uncomfortable at times but it's still a wonderful work of art.

Memento

When I saw this film in the theatre for the first time in the 90s I was hooked at the opening sequence.  It shows the main character apparently giving his wife's supposed killer vigilante justice.  The film is being shown in reverse and the movie unwinds much the same way.  After awhile you realize that it is broken into black-and-white and color sequences and further broken down into reverse sequences.  It can be confusing trying to piece things together to determine if he actually did find his wife's killer or whether he is being set up.  He also suffers from a form of amnesia where he cannot remember things for more than a couple of minutes which is why he writes down details and keeps important fact tattooed on his body.  It's a great film to watch a couple of times to reanalyze the characters and try to form a coherent sequence of events to piece back into order.  I am amazed at how many different interpretations there are on this film... the viewer must decide for themselves whether or not justice was served once you reach the end(beginning of the film).

The Room

When I first watched this movie I have to admit I didn't know what I was experiencing.  I had heard it was a cult favorite... and found myself talking about it for a couple of days trying to make sense out of it.  The second and third viewing had me even more mesmerized.  Do yourself a favor and just watch it but don't blame me if you never get those two hours back.  Don't get me wrong... it's bad... I mean really bad but so bad it's rather good.  If you're a person who likes a good storyline, character development, good acting and a plot it's probably not for you.  You might even have nightmares for a few days trying to get Johnny's accent and weird persona out of your head.  This film is perfect with a group of friends... you won't stop laughing at how bad it is.  You've been warned......

Searching For Sugarman

When I first watched this documentary, I didn't know what to expect.  The mystery surrounding the disapearance of the film's subject, the singer known as Rodriguez, lead many people to speculation of many theories.  Once an iconic performer due to bootlegs of his albums to South Africa, he was virtually unknown in the United States where he recorded and performed.  As the film progresses it's easy to get sucked in as the mystery unravels.  When it is revealed that he is alive and well we finally meet the person for who he really is..... a down-to-earth gracious and humble human being.  Rodriguez exudes the word cool and the film's climatic ending results in a sold out performance to many of the fans he never knew.

The Fall

What can I say about this film to be one ofmy favorites?  Is it the wonderful cinematography of the director Tarsem or the sweet demeanor of the child actor Catincu Untiru who plays Alexandra?  After seeing Tarsem Singh's photography in The Cell(a horrible film) starring J. Low, I was inspired to see what he would create in his next film.  The film was shot in several locations throughout the world and emulates the imaginary tale from the film's protagonist, a stunt-man who is left paralyzed after a Fall.  He wins over the affection of another young patient who he spins an epic tale to procure enough morphine to off himself(spoiler alert).  His fantastic imagination includes several characters including Charles Darwin and friends shot in beautiful locations throughout the world as Hadrian's Villa and the Taj Mahal. When it was released it became a sleeper which is a shame.  Just as any good movie is a form of excapism this world of imagination created by the lead character is a wonderful story.This film is incredible in vision and scope although many people have never heard of it.... enjoy.