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Movie Review: Valentino (1977) directed by Ken Russell

This was another selection guided by my progression through the review compilation When the Lights Go Down by Rosemary Kael, which collects her reviews from the latter half of the 70's. Valentino emerged in 1977, one of a multitude of biopics from Ken Russell, this time focused upon the silent film star Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926) and his rise from ballroom gigolo dancer to massive movie star, following abruptly with his premature demise. Tasked to play the Italian-American was Soviet dancer/choreographer Rudolf Nureyev; his strongly accented English, though not authentically Italian inflected, nonetheless 'works' in an organic fashion (it isn't 'fake' bad English, if that makes any sense). Further, the fact that Nuryev is not an actor per se actually plays nicely into the caricature -- and not having the pleasure of knowing the real Valentino, I must assume that is what this portrayal largely is: a larger than life caricature. 'Rudy' is always '...

L'une chante l'autre pas aka One Sings, the Other Doesn't (1977) directed by Agnes Varda

Another choice lifted from Kael's When the Lights Go Down , this French film has been alternately labeled a 'folk opera' or a feminist musical. Musically it's pretty forgettable -- one of the two lead characters, Pomme (Apple, played by Valerie Mairesse) is a singer of dubious renown, despite nearer the outset feeling as though she is going to be some sort of massive star. She never finds anything larger than an odd smattering of curious passersby willing to pay attention to her 'pro-choice' infused songs; this aspect of the film, her trajectory as the obvious half of the duo who sings -- as opposed to Suzanne who, as the film title suggests, does not -- is not horribly interesting. Does she sing well? Sure. Is this factoid central to the film's plot? No. What stands out is the playing out of the two's friendship over roughly a ten year period, beginning with a coming together over the central theme: reproductive rights, which are clearly in a state of ...

Movie Review: "Blood Barrier" (1980) Starring Telly Savalas and Eddie Albert

Game on. HBO Guide challenge #1 January 1982, 8:30 am (not sure what they were thinking with this time slot given the film's violence and lack of a rating, but I digest). As indicated previously, I 'messed up' and started with the second movie of the month first - "Snowball Express" is actually in the 6:30 am slot - but we are just going to do this or the whole thing will stall in the gates. The guide refers to this film as "Blood Barrier"; clearly it WAS known by this title at some point in its history, but all current references, DVD's, etc., refer to it as "Border Cop". This is fitting as the former title is probably suggestive of a bit more subtlety than the film pulls off; human trafficking across the Mexican border is the topic, and our central character, played by Kojak star Telly Savalas, is out to "...see that justice is done" as per the guide description. The set up: Savalas is a border cop (hence the descriptive t...

Ryan on a Tangent

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