davidbaldwin-11838 Reviews

Lolita (1962)

Genius...with a bit of magic

[8/10 · 21 August 2023]

Yes, it is probably 60 years since I last saw this film. But this year I discovered Nabakov and have just finished being blown into space by Lolita, the novel. And what a brilliant honourable job this film is. Superb and very hard working performances from James Mason and Shelley Winters...the audacious opening up to the Peter Sellers and his outrageous offering...but then you need the magic. For that, thank you Sue Lyon...a kind of perfect foil, a gem of lifeforce, amidst the power of professional craft force displayed in all other aspects of this great film. Lolita was not included in my list of 10 favourite films. It sure is now....and near the top.

Freshwater (2016)

A shame frankly.....

[5/10 · 30 April 2023]

I have no doubt that everyone worked hard on this movie and, frankly, I think it's a shame that it misses the mark at a number of points. But I had no problem watching it all the way through and appreciated the scenes in which suspense developed well (especially with the group on the island.) But it was frustrating. Zoe Bell does a good job but was let down by the script, which I think just needed another good go by the writer-director. A return to the editing room would have helped too--mainly to remove stuff rather than revealing! Why oh why did you include that large and silly reveal on the wharf with the poor old fisherman early in the movie? There were some nice things. I hope the writer-director has learned from this one. Good luck! I have certainly been worse entertained by films with double your IMDB rating.

Crna svadba (2021– )

A stunner!

[8/10 · 7 September 2022]

Thank you writers, director, actors all! A great, intelligently wrought mystery: disciplined , imaginative choices (with no interest in boring gore fests or cheap horror tricks) make this one of the best-ever forays into the battle against demons. Subtle, real.

And that's about all I want to say. But apparently my review is too short. So.....one of the first delights was the sense of place which hit me between the eyes in the village in the opening episode....that combined with what happened in that episode, shocking but real, quite hooked me.

The characters are REAL.....some of them rather irritating at times.

All good good good. I look forward very much to the second series.

Reprisal! (1956)

A Madison Gem..

[7/10 · 2 May 2021]

A delightful surprise...this small, rich wonder of a film surely offers up Guy Madison's best performance...as the compromised cowboy....trying to deal with the racism of his villainous neighbours and their hangers-on. So refreshing to find a 1950s western which goes full-bore at the question of US xenophobia re their dealings with their first nations people. Not a political diatribe.....good simple narrative with well-played, not overplayed, characters, good dramatic ducking and diving.

The Killer Elite (1975)

Way Ahead of Its Time..Thanks Sam....

[8/10 · 26 December 2020]

Did you, like me, come away from the cinema in 1975 disappointed in this apparent failure by Mr Pekinpah? Please give it another shot. I think this little gem was ahead of its time in construction and approach and this fabulous team of actors really pulls it off. Much humour, which I'm sure I missed back then. And much more about loyalty, priorities...and life! A ripper. Loved it...second time around.

Hail, Mafia (1965)

Hail The Storyteller!

[7/10 · 22 March 2020]

One of the most refreshing movie experiences I have had in recent years. This tale of two hitmen on a journey from New York to France to rub out a potential Grand Jury squealer is an absolute delight. So unpretentious and yet so involving as it moves along with a good rhythm and a cute jazz soundtrack. Klugman and Silva are fine in the awkwardness of their difficult killer team relationship. And Eddie Constantine as interesting and reliable as ever.

Johnny Concho (1956)

Wow! A neglected gem

[7/10 · 1 March 2020]

Sinatra is excellent (as he so often was) in an atypical role and the whole film is a tightly wrought very fine little black and white drama. A great moral tale and suspenseful. Music very good. William Conrad and his sidekick an excellent scary pair of villains.

What's New Pussycat (1965)

Look Again! It's Great!!!

[7/10 · 3 November 2019]

Worth a good 7.5 in my refreshed view. Just viewed on dvd, having not seen this since its cinema appearance in 1965....when I found it amusing...but patchy and indulgent. I think it was a film before its time. A great reminder of how fast, able and imaginative Peter O'Toole was and his scenes with the hilarious Peter Sellers are adorable...so good together. This is no easy little workmanlike drama. There is is so much achieved in every way in this fabulous full-on farce. There is great-good hard work going on behind the scenes here. It resulted in a rich and lovely offering. Thank you, team!

Red Sparrow (2018)

Gorgeous, tell your babushka........

[7/10 · 1 April 2018]

Hmmmm.......what a curious trail of vitriol dripping through the trail of most of the reviews for this movie. And apologies if most of those reviews were genuine. I was happily hurled about the twists and turns of this well-filmed spy thriller. Yes, there's violence and nudity, but it all served to raise the stakes in the deadly game in which the stunning Jennifer Lawrence's character finds herself. The accents choice didn't bother me, it seemed quite appropriate for a film which achieves its aim of being a thriller with some depth (and not a deep political drama....which it is not.) It was easily a 7.5 movie......for me.

Edge of Darkness (2010)

Please seek the original gem...

[5/10 · 25 February 2018]

It's okay. An evening's mindless entertainment, nothing particularly original and not a patch on the original British 'Edge of Darkness' series. Swim through broken glass to find it. An extraordinarily fine and original piece with all the elements--fabulous script, wonderful acting (especially Bob Peck's compelling and understated Ronnie Craven) and Joanne Whalley as Emma and wonderful Joe Don Baker as Jedburgh; master score by Eric Clapton...etc etc.......all spun together brilliantly by Martin Campbell....who for some reason has returned to try to bring some class to this tired American remake. Why?

A Streetcar Named Desire (1995 TV Movie)

An appalling vulnerability

[7/10 · 4 February 2018]

Wow. Still reeling from this one several hours later. What a true and deep and affecting performance from Jessica Lange plus the usual intelligent and imaginative choices from Alec Baldwin. I've seen a few productions of this, plus the Brando movie. I have never before been left with such depth of feeling for ALL of those characters trying to find their feet again in the conflicts and complexities of that post World War 2 society.