Snobbin: Beautiful Trash in the Pop Culture Gutter

Jean Rollin's movies are always beautifully shot and, while generally lacking a traditional narrative, present interesting protagonists and little dialogue. Overall, this is a complex story about friendship in the guise of a vampire movie.

 Film Nine: The Italian Connection (1972). A loose sequel to Fernando Di Leo's Caliber 9 that is even more audacious than that film. A small-time criminal and pimp from Milan, Luca Canali, expertly played by Mario Adorf, finds himself set up by his boss and soon two hitmen are after him. Quentin Tarantino used these hitmen as the basis for the very similar ones in Pulp Fiction. The action and fight scenes are composed well, and the cinematography is top notch. Watch for an unexpected headbutt from Adorf that would never fly in an American film. 

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.