In the Soup

"In the Soup" is offbeat indie film making at its best. The film that offers a unique and humorous look at the struggles of an aspiring filmmaker. We follow Aldolpho (Steve Buscemi), a struggling and broke would-be writer-director with a massive, unfilmable, and horribly artistic screenplay (his Tarkovsky poster is an early clue). His life is a chaotic mix of poverty, unrequited love, unemployment and the pursuit of ridiculously artistic dreams. Surrounding him is a colorful cast of characters, including a small-time gangster, mysterious neighbors, singing landlords and a host of eccentric supporting players.

One of the film's standout features is its black and white cinematography, which gives it a timeless and gritty feel. There are shades of "Down by Law" and "Stranger than Paradise", and in fact Jim Jarmusch appears the film in a small role along with the always enjoyable Carol Kane.

"In the Soup" is an understated film that rewards attention. It's a quirky, character-driven piece for those that appreciate independent cinema and offbeat humor. Steve Buscemi's performance is particularly noteworthy, showcasing his comedic and dramatic range. The man is a national treasure.

This absurd film about absurd film making is a treat for people that love film. Is the film ever completed? Who knows...

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Flower

 

Submarine Command

"Submarine Command" is a war film starring William Holden. It tells the story of Ken White, first officer on the submarine USS Tiger Shark. White grapples with the psychological trauma of a wartime decision that resulted in the death of the captain.

Freshly deployed near the end of WWII, White, during a critical moment, gives the order to dive resulting in the death of the captain and another crew member. Despite being promoted, White is haunted by the event, affecting his personal life. He attempts to move on with a peacetime desk job, but is eventually called back to duty on the Tiger Shark during the Korean War.

The film delves into the emotional toll of war and explores post-traumatic stress disorder, a concept not widely acknowledged at the time. It portrays the struggles of a war hero burdened by guilt and the difficulty of moving forward. "Submarine Command" holds a place in film history for its early portrayal of PTSD. 

Holden portrays Ken White with intensity, conveying the character's internal conflict and emotional turmoil. The role requires a range of emotions, from the initial bravado to despair, anger and eventual determination. Holden's performance can boarder on unnerving at times. He quite effectively captures the character's struggle to reconcile his past with the demands of the day to day.

Unfortunately, there's not a lot going on otherwise in this one. It drags a bit and overly relies on voice over narration to advance the story. The action sequences are good, but don't tie in adequately to the overall plot. This keeps it securely in the pretty good range, but not great.

Interestingly, the scenes onboard the Tiger Shark were filmed on a period submarine. There's tremendous authenticity in the setting and procedures. It's hard to image how the film makers achieved their work in such extremely tight spaces with lighting and cameras. Lots of tight lens...

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" delves into the complexities of love, loss, and a surprisingly detailed technical theory of human memory. The film offers a unique and emotionally resonant exploration of human connections.

Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet), both undergo a procedure to abruptly erase each other from their memories after a painful breakup. However, things don't go smoothly. Joel realizes his mistake during his erasure, remembering all the good memories that he and Clementine had together. He fights the procedure, struggling to retain memories of her. Much of the film takes place within Joel's memories, not as a traditional flashback, but literally within the interconnections and distortions of subjective memory itself.

"Eternal Sunshine" is a visual and narrative masterpiece. The film lives in a dreamlike and disorienting atmosphere that mirrors the fractured nature of our inner vision of the past. The film's non-linear structure and inventive visual effects enhance the emotional impact of the story.

Beyond the technical, the film builds insights into the human experience. It explores the bittersweet nature of love, the fear of heartbreak, loneliness, and the enduring power of memory. "Eternal Sunshine" ultimately suggests that the most painful experiences shape us and contribute to our lives.

Carrey and Winslet deliver exceptional performances, showcasing their range and vulnerability. Their chemistry is palpable, making their characters' love story both heartbreaking and inspiring. David Cross is one of those people that is always funny, naturally, even in a small role.

In the end this is not a perfect love story, or about a perfect love. It's quite deliberately imperfect. Joel and Clementine are not made for each other, in fact they are nothing alike. We don't even know for sure what becomes of them in the end. It's the memories that endure.

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Because of You

"Because of You" is a noir adjacent romance starring Loretta Young and Jeff Chandler. The story centers around Christine (Loretta Young), who unknowingly becomes involved with a gangster, Mike, and ends up taking the fall for a part in his crimes. After serving time in prison, she begins to rebuild her life. 

Working as a nurse's aide she falls in love and married a troubled war veteran, Steve (Jeff Chandler). But at what cost? Christine is haunted by her past. She struggles to avoid revealing her record to the emotionally fragile Steve for fear of shocking him, and perhaps losing her new life. Complications arise when Mike suddenly reappears.

Back then they didn't use the phrase PTSD, Steve suffers from "melancholy." Made in 1952 (the story of the film begins during the war), a story centered so directly around a the trauma of combat was not common. 

"Because of You" is a mixed bag, and more than a little a melodrama. The performances of Chandler and Young are exceptional, no surprise there. And the core of the plot is intriguing. Unfortunately it doesn't have much else going for it. There is however a magic show.

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Drunk Bus

"Drunk Bus" is about a not so successful former art school student, Michael, whose dream of Polaroid photography has fallen by the way. He's got a job as a night bus driver on the "drunk bus", campus route driving typically intoxicated students home late-nights. Michael's life consists of little more than the repetitive loop of bus stops and the regulars that ride, night after night.

After a violent incident, Michael's boss hires Pineapple, a large Samoan as a security guard. At first intimidating, Pineapple actually has a kind and insightful nature. Despite initial fear of the imposing security guard, Michael develops an unlikely friendship with Pineapple. And their bus adventures ensue...

This is a film about disappointments, in life and relationships, unexpected friendships and getting out of a rut. There's interesting characters, laughs and of course the bus.

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Outside the Law

"Outside the Law" is a film noir set in the world of undercover operations and international counterfeiting.

Johnny Salvo (Ray Danton), an ex-convict with a chip on his shoulder and a perfect haircut, is offered a chance at redemption and a clear record. His estranged father, a stern Treasury agent, has a plan. Johnny is to go undercover to infiltrate a counterfeiting ring, and investigate the murder or a fellow soldier, in return, a full pardon.

"Overall, Outside the Law" is a classic film noir the delivers in every way. There's shadowy cinematography, snappy dialogue, sharp suits, a mysterious woman and plenty of shady criminals, all with a touch of gritty moral ambiguity.

"Yours are lonely eyes Johnny, you have lonely eyes. Deep, no bottoms..."

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The Cat and the Moon

"The Cat and the Moon" is a coming-of-age following Nick, a teenager who goes to live with his late father's friend Cal, a jazz musician, in New York City while, as we learn, his mom is in rehab. Nick finds himself drawn into the world of some new classmates, and that of Cal.

The film explores Nick's emotional turmoil as he deals with his father's death and his mother's issues. We know nothing about this early on. But as the film unfolds we slowly learn more about the situation and the back stories of Cal and Nick's parents.

"The Cat and the Moon" feels a bit long at times, but in hindsight everything in there contributes to the development of the characters. Just the same, editing could have been tighter, and not every wistful gaze into the distance is necessary, no matter how pretty the shot is.

Toward the final quarter on the tale, when we have pieced together most of the background, the drama ramps up significantly. As the film progresses, comical moments, lighter in the beginning, also become progressively darker and heavier. 

The camera work in interesting throughout. Frequent close-ups and shallow depths of focus contribute to the film's authentic and personal feel. Bokeh is present naturally. There's also some good use of music. Performances are engaging across the entire cast.

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Ed

The Maze Runner

Thomas wakes up with no memory in a metal elevator that ascends to a grassy clearing. There he finds a community of boys his age who call themselves Gladers. They live in a place called, unsurprisingly, The Glade, a self-contained ecosystem surrounded by a giant wall and an ever-changing maze full of mysterious and deadly monsters. We soon learn about the maze runners, a small group who ventures into the maze each day to map it and hopefully find an escape. As Thomas adjusts to his new life, he becomes determined to unravel the secrets of the maze and find a way out himself.

"The Maze Runner" is a sci-fi thriller with a very simple premise. It's not a complicated film. But its strong central mystery and visual style are compelling. The maze running scenes are exciting and well-choreographed. The nature of the situation, and the dangers lurking around every corner, keep the film interesting throughout.

It's more than a bit of "Lord of the Flies", and a bit of "The Hunger Games," but it's fun. It's a one of those one-gag-films, but it's a good gag. The cliffhanger ending leaves unanswered questions. I guess there's a sequel I haven't looked into.

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