January-February Film Challenge: A Film For Every Letter in the Alphabet
Film Six: The Flying Ace (1926). The first silent film in my challenge is so much fun. The intriguing mystery plot keeps one guessing.
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January-February Film Challenge: A Film For Every Letter in the Alphabet
Film Five: The Erl-King (At least in the English Title) (1931). Stunning cinematography, state-of-the-art special effects, and a haunting score add tension in Marie-Louise Iribe's spellbinding adaptation of the Johann Goethe tale. A father races his horse through a forest replete with all manners of supernatural characters as the Erl-King tries to take the soul of his young son in this classic tale.
January-February Film Challenge: A Film For Every Letter in the Alphabet
Film Four: Dark Wind (1991). I have not seen this Tony Hillerman adaptation in years. While it was the only fiction film directed by famed documentarian Errol Morris, this one feels cobbled together because he left the project before completing his vision. Lou Diamond Phillip's tentative performance as Jim Chee and Gary Farmer's assured one as Deputy Cowboy Albert Dashee do little to help the fragmented narrative, and poor editing gives a boom mic star power that it does not deserve. While I enjoyed the acting, I can't really recommend this one. Instead, if you are interested in adaptations of the Chee and Leaphorn mysteries, I suggest watching the 2022 AMC television series Dark Winds starring Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, and Jessica Matten.
January-February Film Challenge: A Film For Every Letter in the Alphabet
Film Three: Caliber 9 (At least in the English title) (1972). It's been some time since I watched a stylish and beautifully-filmed Italian Poliziotteschi. Fernando Di Leo's movie continually builds tension even with expected reveals. The fun Innocenti Mini Scene, and the rivalry between the hard-as-nails Ugo Piazza (Gastone Moschin) and loose cannon Rocco (Mario Adorf) make this one worth it if you like 1970s crime thrillers.