DIAMONDS (1975) - terrific soundtrack, shame about the film

DIAMONDS
(1975, USA/Israel, Yahlumim)

High-calibre cast, rare locations and classy soundtrack all outweigh the movie.

This has so little love on IMDB that I've simply got to write it up, it was entertaining enough back in the seventies, and an enjoyable double-bill with Russian Roulette, which has actually aged far better. Ironically Diamonds has made it to DVD, while Russian Roulette hasn't.

This is the sort of mid-range production that Robert Shaw appeared in, even after excellent work in high-profile American hits as The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) and The Sting (1973). Both had failed to make him a megastar before he lucked into his next role: shark-killer Quint in Steven Spielberg's Jaws propelled him into A-list titles until his untimely death in 1978. He dominated young whippersnapper Nick Nolte in The Deep (author Peter Benchley's follow-up to Jaws), Harrison Ford in Force 10 From Navarone, and battled terrorists in the audacious Black Sunday. But Shaw's most famous role after Quint, is the stone killer 'Red' Grant in From Russia With Love (1963), outwitting the famous James Bond.

Here Shaw plays identical twins, thanks to some very basic split-screen trickery and a rather lumpy wig. One is a successful diamond merchant, the other a manufacturer of uncrackable security systems. Can you see where this is going? The wigless, diamond merchant Shaw hires two young criminals to help him crack his younger brother's most impenetrable safe - in the Tel Aviv Diamond Centre tower...

As the three arrive in Israel, the police are already alert to the fact that an ex-con is in their midst. Unable to shake police surveillance, they have to change the plans quickly and drastically. Plans that will involve national treasure, Mission Impossible tactics and of course a helicopter...

For decades, no heist movie has been able to resist the temptation to include pressure-sensitive floors. At least here we haven't got the cliched light beams as well. It's all gentle afternoon fun with a few minor twists that you'll never second guess.


The cast is constantly enlivened by Richard Roundtree (Shaft, Earthquake, and recently Heroes) who's never had nearly enough starring roles. Because of his character's take-no-shit attitude, and maybe his conspicuous shaggy fleece waistcoat and big hat, Diamonds was pushed on VHS as a fourth Shaft movie (retitled Diamond Shaft) which it most certainly isn't. John Shaft would never be caught dead driving an Austin Morris through London!

The third team member is played by Barbara Hershey, so good at baiting Steve Railsback in The Stuntman (1980). Back in 1975 she still appeared under the name Barbara Seagull, which regularly confused me until IMDB arrived. I thought they were different actresses! She is of course mainly the love interest here.

Shelley Winters is prominently featured in publicity and in many scenes, but is almost completely irrelevant to the story, purely along for some tired comedy relief. Though she looks better here than she does in Tentacles or The Poseidon Adventure. Viewers are of course reminded to check out her performance in Night of the Hunter (1955) for proof of her curvaceous appearance and serious acting abilities two decades earlier.

Another impressive aspect of Diamonds is the extensive filming of locations in Israel. I haven't seen Tel Aviv, Jerusalem or Bethlehem (inside the Nativity Church) in any other film.

Best of all, Roy Budd (Get Carter) composed a soundtrack that's more memorable than the film. I bought it on cassette at the time and thankfully it was recently remastered on CD. I must have listened to it over a hundred times, even more than Budd's Fear Is The Key. The main theme is very loungey, with bags of sultry, jazzy sax. The car chase theme is a powerhouse, far more exciting than action on the screen. Then there are the Middle Eastern tracks, a memorable fusion of styles for the Israeli locations. Prince Charles favourites The Three Degrees provide an impeccable vocal to the main theme. Maybe you should listen to Diamonds before watching it?

I've not yet tracked down a copy of the anamorphically presented region 1, 2002 Anchor Bay DVD release, but at least it's out there. Maybe I'll stick with the old Channel 5 VHS...

A squeezed, but original, trailer is here on YouTube...

Hope Your Team Starts with New

If your team starts with New you are doing well. I watched a lot of football this weekend to up my skills for the column. Once again this is just one man's opinions. Enjoy. The teams previous ranking will be displayed now.

1. New York Giants 3-0 (3) - Giants D shut out the Bucs in Tampa. They don't have a true #1 WR but no one seems to notice or care. Manning is spreading around the ball and they have a great one-two RB system with Jacobs and Bradshaw. They haven't played anyone great yet, but they still come in at #1 for me.

2. New England Patriots 2-1 (10) - Patriots beat out good Atlanta team 26-10 at home. Is Fred Taylor the feature back now? The team still has a lot of questions but they still just win. Should be a good test coming up at home vs. Baltimore.

3. New York Jets 3-0 (6) - Jets keep proving that they can win. The really remind me of last years Ravens team. Ravens ran, had a rookie QB, and a great D, hmmmm sound like the Jets? They were down against Tennessee and came back for a win. SO far they have played the hardest teams. Great game coming up against New Orleans. What wins out Jets D or Saints O?

4. Baltimore Ravens 3-0 (9) - Ravens beat up on the Browns to a tune of 34-3. When did this team get an amazing offense!? Could be a surprise (yet way early) AFC champs. Next week @ Patriots will show us how far they really have come.

5. Minnesota Vikings 3-0 (1) - Took a miracle last second catch to beat a 49ers team that was minus Frank Gore, yet they did win. Favre looked pretty weak unless you count his masterful skill at throwing 2 yards and having his teammate make it a big play. Watching them this week made me less impressed. Up next at home vs. Green Bay. Hey didn't Favre used to play for them?

6. New Orleans Saints 3-0 (2) - They drop with a win because why they beat a pretty good team on the road, the offense stalled a tad. Pierre Thomas showed he was still a RB and had a monster game. The D was pretty impressive and if they handle the Jets next week they are sure to be higher on the next list.

7. Indianapolis Colts 3-0 (4) - Peyton Manning and company go into Arizona and just crushed the Cardinals. There defense was getting to Warner on just about every play. Any team that has Peyton Manning is sure to be pretty good.

8. Philadelphia Eagles 2-1 (7) - Getting a win against Kansas City wasn't huge but a much needed win. They team was without McNabb and Westbrook yet still put up 34 points. An early bye week coming up could be just what the doctor ordered.

9. San Francisco 49ers 2-1 (11) - Excuses can be made for that last second loss, but it happened. Something tells me the 49ers will go against Singeltary's wishes and use this one as a moral victory. If they could just get a tad better on offense...look out. Should bounce back (even without Gore) next week at home vs. St Louis.

10. San Diego Chargers 2-1 (12) - Nice win at home over the Dolphins. Something tells me if this team can put it all together they could be really good.

11. Atlanta Falcons 2-1 (5) - Big drop here, they didn't hang with the Pats as long as I thought. They are still a good team. They have a bye week then visit San Francisco.

12. Chicago Bears 2-1 (15) - Nice road win for Cutler and the Bears. Having to travel all the way to Seattle and beat the Seahawks in a close game feels pretty good.

13. Denver Broncos 3-0 (14) - You beat the Raiders you only get to move up one spot, its the rules! But there D is still holding up. Have only given up 16 points the entire year!

14. Cincinnati Bengals 2-1 (22) - Huge jump up for the Bengals! Way to go! You guys beat the Steelers at home, not bad guys! I was pretty shocked that they won. If you take away the one play this team is 3-0, wow.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers 1-2 (8) - A last second loss on the road drops them quite a bit. Never thought they would have a losing record this year...but stranger things have happened. It doesn't get easier with the Chargers coming into town next weekend. They still have too much talent to be bad for long.

16. Dallas Cowboys 2-1 (16) - No move this week Cowboys. You beat the Panthers at home but it wasn't pretty. Romo looks average so far.

17. Green Bay Packers 2-1 (18) - At least you guys could beat the Rams! I have a feeling they will be one of those teams that makes most games close every week. They can beat up on their former legend QB next game.

18. Buffalo Bills 1-2 (13) - The offense couldn't get much going against the Saints vaunted D, oh wait nevermind. Did TO complain yet? Come on, we all know it will happen.

19. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-2 (27) - They had a close, high scoring victory, over the Texans this week. Next up they play Tennessee, it should show a better measure of their skills.

20. Houston Texans 1-2 (20) - This team still scores a lot, Matt Schaub can put up some good numbers. Oh yeah that D? Giving up an average of 28 points a game. Might need to address that.

21. Tennessee Titans 0-3 (21) - Suffered a tough loss on the road vs a good Jets team. I am still not sure how they can be 0-3. I still think they will bounce back. Does Collins need to be benched in favor of the younger Young?

22. Arizona Cardinals 1-2 (17) - Were those fans in Arizona wanting Mr. Leinart to play? Is Warner looking as old as he should? Didn't they have an offense line last year?

23. Detroit Lions 1-2 (30) - THEY WON!!! I wouldn't say it was the best win ever, but a win is a win especially when you didn't win at all last year. Good job Lions. I think they might at least win a few more this year.

24. Seattle Seahawks 1-2 (24) - Those jerseys! Oh my god, I thought the tv was off when I saw those. They were two missed field goals away from having a tie. Maybe those jerseys screwed up Mare, who was called out by his coach on national television. Did I mention the jerseys???

25. Miami Dolphins 0-3 (23) - I just heard they lost Chad Pennington for the year. They still have some talent but something tells me they won't be coming close to last years record.

26. Washington Redskins 1-2 (19) You drop when you lose to the Lions, that's just the way it goes. I didn't know things were going this bad in Washington. Playing the Bucs next week will get them back on track for 8-8, I can feel it.

27. Carolina Panthers 0-3 (25) - This was the team that won 12 games last year? They scored just one TD against the Cowboys D. I did see AJ Feely roaming the sidelines, I would look into that.

28. Oakland Raiders 1-2 (26) - I was looking to place them lower after a beating by the Broncos, but the teams below them are much worse off. So you got that going for you Raider fans! Russell has a 22.9 QB rating, I think if I went out there a threw an incomplete pass I would have a higher ranking. Think they should have held onto Jeff Garcia?

29. Kansas City Chiefs 0-3 (28) - Matt Cassell, this isn't New England. I feel scared for them next week vs. NY Giants.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-3 (29) - Well you got shut out at home against the Giants. I cant find any positives, I tried.

31. St Louis Rams 0-3 (32) - Good job Rams! No longer the worst team in my rankings and you more then doubled your total points on the year from 7 to 24! Holy cow! Marc Bulger got banged up and Kyle Boller came in and threw two touchdowns.

32. Cleveland Browns 0-3 (31) - True they have played some good teams...Vikings, Denver, and Baltimore who are all 3-0. I would cut them some slack but they seem to lack any direction. They bench Brady Quinn so Derek Anderson comes in and throws 3 INT. I say go with the 3rd string QB Brett Ratliff.

This one hurt

Frank Gore goes out on the first play of the game....just before half time the 49ers are showing nothing on offense and Minnesota is about to kick a field goal to go up 16-7....but then the 2009 Niners showed up, Singeltary's 9ers. We then blocked the field goal and get the game back for us. Vernon Davis and Shaun Hill stepped up. Glen Coffee did all he could with what he had to work with.

At the end I wanted to scream, I wanted to break something, I cursed Farve for not retiring and choosing whatever team he wanted to come back with (again). But after I calmed down I realized that we just almost beat one of the best teams in the NFC, possibly the NFL and this was in Minnesota, a tough place to play. Farve for all his dump off passes is still an all time great QB and I guess if we had to get beat at least we left it all out there, we lost with 2 seconds left, some sort of miracle catch, and its over....we lost.

I am realizing that this is not the end of the world because we now play with some purpose, look out St Louis...this team is going to be angry next week, but more so hungry for their next win, their next mission, this year is going to be special. GO NINERS!!!!

THE CASSANDRA CROSSING (1976) - outbreak on a train

THE CASSANDRA CROSSING

(1976, West Germany, Italy, UK)

This just beat Silver Streak to being the first seventies disaster movie on a train, but the accent here was on suspense and doom, rather than comedy. Back then it certainly delivered, though the posters and publicity made me expect something more sci-fi, like The Andromeda Strain. I re-watched this just before a recent trip to Geneva, where the journey begins.

The opening titles lead into a spectacular helicopter shot descending from the clouds, swooping low over Lake Geneva (when the huge fountain was unfortunately switched off), down over the United Nations European Headquarters and up to the World Health Organisation building. Inside, several terrorists force their way into top secret laboratories and during a shoot-out with the guards, one gets splashed with a nasty virus...

This leads neatly to a simple movie premise - hundreds of passengers trapped on a train with a killer virus. Luckily there's an action-hero scientist onboard, his ex-wife and a host of disposal disaster movie stereotypes. There's an early lowpoint with a singsong in one compartment, but after the silly soap-opera interlude, it turns back into a tight thriller as the nightmare deepens.

Eventually the American military find out about the missing terrorist potentially infecting everyone on the train. The Colonel in charge orders the train not to stop and that no-one gets off. Just to make sure, the train takes on armed guards and has its windows boarded up, in an eerie nighttime scene with the soldiers dressed in bio-hazard suits. Anyone who tries to escape will be shot. The all-white outfits might be accurate, but they also reminded me of George Romero's own 'outbreak' horror The Crazies (1973). The following year, there was a similar-looking clean-up squad in David Cronenberg's Rabid (1977).

In these contagion movies the symptoms can go two ways - if it's a thriller then the virus simply kills, like The Andromeda Strain (1971) or Outbreak (1995). If it's a horror film then the infected turn into mindless killers, as in The Crazies, Rabid, right upto 28 Days Later.

Besides the spreading virus, there's the lengths the army will go to prevent the secret of their bio-weapon getting out. Either way, time is running out for the passengers as the train nears the end of the line, the rickety Cassandra Crossing...

With a simple premise, mounting complications and a memorably callous climax, this is also a movie full of familiar faces.Sharing top-billing are Burt Lancaster, Sophia Loren and Richard Harris, all bringing glamour to an endless string of seventies thrillers. Harris was an unlikely, thoughtful action hero throughout the seventies in Juggernaut, Orca - The Killer Whale and Golden Rendezvous... though today he seems mainly remembered for his curtain-call as Dumbledore. Personally, I'd rather see him battle Orca...
Ava Gardner bounces back from her disaster movie experience of Earthquake (1974), invigorated here by toyboy Martin Sheen, who's still in a rut of greasy villains, looking exactly as he does as the predatory paedo in The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane (also 1976). If you ever wanted to see more of Martin doing half-naked yoga, like the opening of Apocalypse Now, this movie is for you...

In the tradition of disaster movies, there's too many characters set up, so that later they can be cruelly cut down... including a host of actors more famous from their European cult movies - John Philip Law (Barbarella), Alida Valli (Suspiria), Ingrid Thulin (Salon Kitty). Not to mention OJ Simpson (The Towering Inferno) as a priest!

Ann Turkel is presumably here because her husband was Richard Harris. She's paired onscreen with Italian actor Ray Lovelock - yes, the star of Living Dead At The Manchester Morgue (1975), but without his beard! I didn't recognise him without the facial hair, wearing a woolly ski sweater!
Last but not least is the father of method acting, Lee Strasberg. His skimpy watch salesman character gains dramatic weight when he realises that the train is taking him back to the internment camp he was imprisoned in during the war. For a major proponent of stage acting, this is a rare movie role, his most acclaimed screen appearance being in The Godfather. Heaven only knows what made him do a European disaster movie.

The Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack certainly helps. He uses a few creepy virus sounds that he first used for The Satan Bug (1965).

All in all, a fast-paced thriller blended into the disaster movie genre.

I've been watching a VHS all this time and am looking for a decent version on DVD. I've got the Carlton DVD - it's widescreen but letterboxed, non-anamorphic, and the negative needs a little restoration work for dirt and scratches - but at least it's available. I'll keep lhoping for an anamorphic remastered version...

A widescreen YouTube trailer from TCM...

NFL Week 3 Power Rankings

I sort of inherited this column from my brother, I will try to do him justice because I really enjoyed his rankings. I will try to keep it up every three weeks or so but alas no guarantees on that. So here is one guys thoughts on the rankings.

1. Minnesota Vikings (2-0): I know they have only played the Browns and Lions but both on the road and they have all the tools to be a great team this year. Next up, home opener against the 49ers. It will determine for both teams how good they really are.

2. New Orleans Saints (2-0): Saints can score some touchdowns if you haven't heard! Brees looks like he will set some sort of QB record this year. Mike Bell came out of nowhere to be the starting RB. They have handled Detroit and Philly (on the road). Up next a tougher match up against the Bills.

3. New York Giants (2-0) Plaxico who? This team is rolling on just fine and finding they have some talented WR in the wings. The D is still one of the best, and some clutch play by Manning against Dallas makes them 2-0. Up next is @ Tampa Bay, look for 3-0.

4. Indianapolis Colts (2-0) Two close games the loss of their second WR and yet the Colts sit pretty at 2-0. Well not too pretty, both games they won were close but they still managed to win them both. Plus they have that Manning guy, he is kinda good. Up next they are @ Arizona, should be a fun game.

5. Atlanta Falcons (2-0) Something tells me Atlanta will be atop this division come the end of the year. Matt Ryan looks for real and adding the best TE in the game helps! Big game up next @ New England will show me how for real this team really is.

6. New York Jets (2-0) Jets have beat Houston on the road and New England at home, is Mark Sanchez the next Big Ben? So far so good. Jets D is coming alive so far and they control the clock and run a lot. I am skeptical of how good they really are but so far they look really good.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) I still think this team has way too much talent not to win a lot of games. Right now having your #1 QB and RB being hurt doesn't help! When McNabb gets back they should start rolling again. Oh and if you haven't watched sportscenter in the last few seconds Michael Vick is back. They should get a W this week against the Eagles.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) A tough loss last week in Chicago puts them in the loss column early on, I think they still have a lot going for them. I do wonder about their RB situation though, but they also had troubles there last year and still won it all.

9. Baltimore Ravens (2-0) Nice win at San Diego, but aren't they suppose to be a defensive team? They are averaging 25 points against in two games so far. Flaco looks like he could be something special but they should establish who the #1 RB is, they have like 3 guys who could start (McGahee, Rice, and McClain). At home against Cleveland looks like a 3-0 start.

10. New England Patriots (1-1) I know they have struggled early on, a miracle fumble lead them to beat the Bills and they lost out bad against the Jets in NY. But why do I have them high? Because they are still the Pats and I think they have way too much talent. Brady is still getting used to playing with pads on, it may take a while to get started but once they do, watch out!

11. San Francisco 49ers (2-0) Beating the NFC champs on the road was nice and showing everyone that the Seahawks looked good because they played the Rams was nice. The teams D is looking like it could be the best they have had in years. I think Singletary will be coach of the year if he keeps the team up.

12. San Diego Chargers (1-1) What happened to their D last week? They still have a ton of weapons and are showing they can score with out or without LT, who is looking much older. They almost lost to the Raiders, I think there coach is what brings down this team. I say he will not last very much longer. Up next is the Dolphins at home.

13. Buffalo Bills (1-1) They could be one fumble away from 2-0 but it didn't happen. They can score a lot and all this without Lynch at RB. Maybe they found a new RB in Fred Jackson? This team seems like they can beat anyone if they wanted to, but they also lack something.

14. Denver Broncos (2-0) Sean, you say...this team is 2-0! Why so low? Well yes they have only let up 13 points so far. They have also only played the Browns and Bengals, and they won on some miracle catch. Buuuut the the defense looks good and they play the Raiders next so it is possible they go 3-0, I just do not think they are all that good..yet.

15. Chicago Bears (1-1) DA BEARS! They beat the super champs at home and looked good. Still not sure how good they really are. Forte is struggling so far.

16. Dallas Cowboys (1-1) An easy win in Tampa and a last second loss against the Giants. This team could be really good, its really hard to tell. I think Tampa is pretty bad. They should shoot up in the rankings if they can handle the Panthers, but Marion Barber could be out.

17. Arizona Cardinals (1-1) They looked pretty bad in week 1 and then bounced back in Jacksonville and Kurt Warner set the record for passing completion %. I am not sure what to make of this team yet, they still are working to see if they are anything like last year.

18. Green Bay Packers (1-1) So they beat Chicago and then lose to the Bengals, at home? WTF? I have no idea if this team is good or not yet.

19. Washington Redskins (1-1) Oh Redskins can we just end the season and say 8-8 right now? Wow you handled the Rams @ home 9-7, up next the Lions. Think you can get double digits?

20. Houston Texans (1-1) I never realized how much talent this team has on offense until I watched the highlights last week. Andre Johnson, Steve Slaton, Owen Daniels, Schaub...they can sure put up some points. So why only 1 TD in week one?

21. Tennesse Titans (0-2) But they don't even have a win! Why did you rank them so high? Because they lost to the Steelers and were like a Collins fumble from coming back on Houston. Not sure what is going on with this team but coach Fisher will have them back and winning soon.

22. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) This team could be one deflection away from 2-0! So they beat Green Bay in Lambeau, wow that's pretty impressive. Antwan Odom has 7 sacks in two games, he had 5 against the Packers alone! Wow who is this guy? Did anyone else know they have S Roy Williams (former Cowboy Pro Bowler) ? I just found out. Lets see how they do against the Steelers this week.

23. Miami Dolphins (0-2) This team can run that wildcat to perfection. They still have loads of talent on D and Ronnie Brown has pretty much returned to form. So why 0-2? They played Atlanta and Indy for one reason. Up next they play in San Diego. I bet they wish they could get that last place schedule they has last year back!

24. Seattle Seahawks (1-1) They looked pretty bad last week in San Francisco. It doesn't help that they lost Matt Hasselback to an injury and let Frank Gore go off for two runs of 80 yards.

25. Carolina Panthers (0-2) Starting off against Philly and Atlanta wasn't very nice. The talk of the town is how they should have addressed the QB need in the off season, possibly will in next years draft. I would have gone after Jeff Garcia or Vick if I was them. Next week they play Dallas.

26. Oakland Raiders (1-1) Yep, you are reading this correctly the Raiders are 1-1! Good for them. I actually think their head coach is pretty good (when is not punching out his assistant coaches). Russell looks like a bust..but he still has some talent, where did it go?

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) They played Arizona and Indy so they have at least played some good teams. I guess they are still in a funk from last year. I am not sure why this team is bad yet I haven't looked too much at the team yet.

28. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) Losing at home against the Raiders had to hurt. They stuck around with Baltimore for the first week but it all went downhill after that. I still think Thigpen is a good QB. Not sure how the Matt Cassell experiment will go.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2) Something tells me this will be a long season for rookie head coach Raheem Morris, who is younger than half his team.

30. Detroit Lions (0-2) Lions are not on the bottom of this list! Woo hoo, its a moral victory for them. Kind of a tough start to the year for a team who didn't win a GAME last year. New Orleans and Minnesota, ouchbay! They have average 20 points a game though and Stafford can throw. They have more upside this year.

31. Cleveland Browns (0-2) Maybe I am being hard on the Browns. They did give up 37 points to the Vikings and 27 to the Broncos. Those teams are not too bad. I think Brady Quinn is not the answer.

32. St Louis Rams (0-2) They have one touchdown in two games. Yes one. They have been outscored 37-7 in two games and they play Green Bay next. It could be a long year for you guys in St. Louis, at least you have the Cardinals...go Pujols!!!

London Film Festival 2009 preview

Some suggestions from the forthcoming London Film Festival (14th to 29th October) and the BFI South Bank programme for November...



The 2009 London Film Festival includes some rare chances to see international cinema on the big screen and previews of forthcoming hits.

The new big budget CGI Astro Boy (Oct 17). This international production is looking good from the trailers I've seen. The characters don't look much like the manga or anime, but this movie could revive the character outside Japan for the first time since Astro's success on US TV in the sixties. The character has been regularly updated as an anime in Japan (most recently in 2003).

The new 3-D edition of the Pixar classic Toy Story 2 (Oct 25) is a ten year anniversary revival, this time re-rendered for 3-D presentation. It should later appear in local cinemas on a double-bill with Toy Story, also in 3D.

There's the new Japanese live-action ninja epic, a manga adaption called Kamui (Oct 22/23).

A new British documentary American: The Bill Hicks Story (Oct 23/26). I never tire of the comedy of the late Bill Hicks and miss his acidic attacks more than ever.

The City of Life and Death (Oct 28) - the latest dramatisation of the Nanking massacre - the worst atrocity during the 1937 Japanese invasion of China. This is a Hong Kong/Chinese co-production, focusing on three characters' stories within the six week 'Rape of Nanking'.

From the BFI archives there's a screening of J'Accuse (Oct 24). This is a full-length print of the silent 1919 version. A plea for peace from director Abel Gance, who remade the film under the same name just before World War 2. A soldier who narrowly avoids death in the trenches, pleas with politicians not to go to war again. As a last resort, he summons up the war dead, and they rise from their graves to march in protest and warn the living.

A restored print of Topper (Oct 15) is the 1937 Cary Grant comedy about two ghosts pestering a timid salaryman (Roland Young). It spawned two movie sequels and a TV series.



After the festival, the BFI Southbank continues with its November programme.

There's all the films of South Korean director Bong Joon-Ho. From his early short films to his latest release. There's a rare screening of his first feature Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000), the marvelous mystery Memories of Murder (2003), and of course the movie that made him internationally famous The Host (2006). He contributed one third of the segments of Tokyo (2008) and there's a preview of his new film Mother (2009). Hopefully it won't be long before we get to see The Host 2...

There's also a Michael Haneke season, including both versions of his brutal Funny Games, which I reviewed here.

Dear Frank Gore

You basically won the game for us today. Thanks for showing me and all the other fans around me in Candlestick Park today that the niners have changed somewhat and are now being lead by a coach who knows what he wants and will stick too it. Oh and the 207 on 16 carriers was pretty bad ass!!!

Also glad to see Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice, Eddie DeBartolo Jr, Joe Montana, and Roger Craig around the stadium to honor DeBartolo at halftime. All in all thanks for the great game and proving me right (so far!).

THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX (2008) - an impressive catalogue of chaos

THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX

(2008, Germany, Der Baader Meinhof Komplex)

From the producer of Downfall, is this shocking recreation of ten years of terrorist activity in West Germany, between 1968 and 1978.

This was such a controversial subject that I mistakenly thought it was going to be a small-scale, low-budget affair. I didn't realise that, riding on the success of Downfall, producer Bernd Eichinger had teamed up with life-long friend, director Uli Edel, to make an impressive re-staging of real-life events, using many of the original locations.

The film is a powerful and astonishing reminder of the time, when popular ideals of left-wing politics were more influenced by revolutionary rebels such as Che Guevara. In Germany, a small group of middle-class radicals are spurred into direct action when a prominent voice of the left is gunned down in the street.

Another death, at the hands of a policeman during a public riot, further radicalises Ulrike Meinhof, a political journalist who gets drawn into the outlawed group, to become one of the masterminds and idealogists behind their tactics and targets.


I was overwhelmed by the scale of the havoc wrought by the RAF (Red Army Faction), also known as the Baader-Meinhof gang. The story follows their lives from before their descent into violent extremism, to their eventual incarceration and public trial.

As the leaders of the RAF get arrested or killed, the remaining members vow revenge, and continue the chaos, linking up with Arab terrorists at a time when an international terrorist coalition was being established...

I sympathised with their initial ideals, which was partly a protest against the many Nazis still in local government at the time. But the unanswered mystery is how quickly they moved into armed robbery, assassination and bombing campaigns. A short journey from political ideals to terrorism, with an obvious parallel to today, though the film doesn't get heavy-handed with 'messages'. For instance, one of their targets is portrayed as a random innocent, yet it doesn't even mention that he was formerly a member of the SS, a hardline Nazi.


The whole film is an education, or the start of one, but without throwing too much information at you, like Oliver Stone's breathless JFK (1991). While detractors of the film complain about what the film has left out, it's up to the audience to learn more.

The Baader Meinhof Complex presents a fast-paced tour of the gangs' actions and many victims. There's also been criticism that it portrays them as quite a sexy bunch, attractively rebellious, mostly young women with a weakness for mini-skirts. I was briefly seduced by their cause, but then repeatedly repelled by their militaristic solutions. I found this no more problematic than the many gangster movies that equate guns, power, sex, and money. Considering the amount of guns and ammo out there, it's surprising that there hasn't been more mayhem like this.

The film has just come out in cinemas in the US, and is already on DVD in the UK. Two short documentaries illuminate the intentions and of the director and the producer, as well as showing the extensive nature of the making of the film.

This review on SFgate says it all much better than me.

Watch the trailer and you'll want to see the film...

SCHOOLGIRL COMMANDO IZUMI (1987) - Japanese TV gold

SCHOOLGIRL COMMANDO IZUMI
(1987, Japan, Shoujo Commando Izumi)

After sampling the mad 1980s Japanese TV phenomenon of schoolgirl action heroes in Sukeban Deka (three series, two films and a recent remake), I looked around for more. Best of the bunch appeared to be Schoolgirl Commando Izumi, who carries around a rucksack of explosives and automatic weapons, bringing swift justice to whatever baddies are around. That is when she's not hanging around and doing girly things with her classmate buddies.

The premise predates James Cameron's Dark Angel. An innocent-looking teenager being re-programmed and re-trained as a government killing machine. Here the pseudo-science is called 'bio-feedback'. So, whenever she gets into a fix, she just stares into the camera, her hair blows up in the air, and then she defeats the villains in slow-motion.

What separates this schoolgirl martial arts chaos from all the rest, is the time and money lavished on the stuntwork and explosives. The action in many episodes is good enough for a Japanese movie from that time. The whole series is relatively short, at 15 half-hour episodes, far less padded out than the epic Sukeban Deka series. This would make it an ideal choice for a US release, which has been very sluggish to import any Japanese series that aren't anime, despite a treasure trove of choice.


Ignorance of these TV gems is of course a result of the lack of English language info. The series isn't even on IMDB. Especially in the wake crowd-pleasers like the recent Machine Girl and Saikano - The Ultimate Weapon. Japanese girls with guns is definitely a hot genre. Let's get a chance to see more of it.

I got my DVD set from CDjapan (front cover artwork pictured at top) last year, but remember there are no English subtitles or voicetrack. No extras either, simply the entire series of 15 episodes over 3 DVDs.

Proof I'm not the only one in the world who's seen this series: check out this review, with screengrabs.

Check out the explosive opening titles here on YouTube...

1-0

What I said: . Everyone is saying the Cardinals will be better then last year...I am not one of those people. I think this game will be very close and could come down to some last minute turnover. I am going to go out on a limb and say the 49ers shock the Cardinals at home and upset the NFC Champions.


It is nice to be right every once in a while. I love all the newspapers saying the win was ugly, If thats the truth I hope this is the butt ugliest season ever and we make the playoffs looking like two dollar whores


Next up is the Seahawks....

TAMAMI: THE BABY'S CURSE (2008) - Japanese IT'S ALIVE meets BASKET CASE

TAMAMI: THE BABY'S CURSE
(2008, Japan, Akanbo shôjo)

There have been decades of adaptions of Kazuo Umezu's horror manga stories, but few very good ones. I persevere because I know the source material is good - traumatic nightmare stories aimed at children, usually with children as the main characters. I thought that the recent run of TV adaptions (Kazuo Umezu's Horror Theater) would have bled him dry of stories, but no...


Tamami: The Baby's Curse begins on familiar ground, as Yoko returns to live with her parents after 15 years in an orphanage. But on arrival, her mother denies Yoko is her daughter, the housekeeper stongly advises her to go away and dad is hardly ever around. Mother thinks that Yoko died in the war and still cradles a teddy bear that reminds her of the lost baby. This spectacularly dysfunctional family live in a huge and remote mansion, surrounded by an electric fence, presumably to keep strangers out...

As Yoko explores her shadowy new home, she's frightened by strange noises in the night, something shuffling in the ceiling, and occasionally drops of blood falling on her as she sleeps...


Beginning identically to Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch (1968), I thought this was going to be an update on the same story with similar spooky chills. But halfway through, Tamami: The Baby's Curse transforms into a monster movie, a cross between Basket Case and It's Alive, with special effects that appear to spoof Hollywood action films - slow-motion bullet-time moments, impossible physics, logic-defying character motives.

Considering that Yûdai Yamaguchi has directed offbeat horror comedy before, like Battlefield Baseball (2003) and The Great Horror Family (2004), I'd also expect it to be funny and more original. The monster looks like a CGI Belial (the monster from Basket Case), but moves like Spiderman, with super strength, super speed and the ability to defy space and time.

Some of the CGI isn't bad, and many close-ups are realised with prosthetics and puppets. But this results in a problem of scale - the creature appears to drastically alter size between scenes. There's a fair amount of blood, but gore-hounds will have to wait until the second half of the story to see any.

But with good acting, if not particularly complex characters, and solid shocks moments and gore, this is an above-average adaption of Umezu compared to the Horror Theater series. But it's still not as good as the similar thrills to be found in the old It's Alive and not as much fun as the Basket Case films or the scampering creature feature Hiruko The Goblin.

The Malaysian DVD I watched (pictured at top) is NTSC, all-region, anamorphic widescreen 2.35, and has very good English subtitles.

There's this subtitled trailer on YouTube...

BRIAN DE PALMA - 1970's master of horror

Life before Scarface - Brian De Palma's horror decade

It feels like movie blasphemy when I say that my admiration for Brian De Palma ended, and not began, with Scarface. It’s a cult film now, but at the time of release it meant to me that the director was no longer making superb horror films.


Scarface (1983) wasn’t as violent as some of his previous films and felt mainstream. Guys, guns, gals. I was disappointed. But in the ten years before that, I’d enjoyed seven of his films in a row. One of the original 'movie brats', alongside Spielberg and Lucas, 1970s De Palma films were a safe bet for a thrilling ride.


After some early, experimental films made in New York in the late sixties, discovering Robert De Niro in the process (Greetings and Hi Mom!), his first mainstream movie was a bizarre false start, a comedy co-starring Orson Welles, Get To Know Your Rabbit (1972). But De Palma caught critics' eyes and the attention of horror magazines with the shocker Sisters.His subsequent films also freely 'referenced' the work of Alfred Hitchcock plundering shots, sub-plots and musical phrases. But Phantom of the Paradise and Carrie felt new, creative and twists in the genre, with amazing camerawork and some purely visual storytelling. Obsession was inspired by Vertigo. The Fury was a tour-de-force extension of the telekinetic theme of Carrie. Dressed to Kill was a stylish but ultraviolent variant of Psycho, Blow Out a mixture of The Conversation and Blow Up. Then he made Scarface - Brian De Palma had left the genre.


But let's look on the bright side, um, the dark side, at these early thrillers:

SISTERS (1973)
PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (1974)
OBSESSION (1976)
CARRIE (1976)
THE FURY (1978)
DRESSED TO KILL (1980)
BLOW OUT (1981)

Sisters (1973) was De Palma's first 'Hitchcock', starting off like a short parody of Psycho. Margot Kidder (before she starred in Black Christmas or Superman) plays a troubled young woman who can get very nasty, very quickly. There’s a bloody knife murder that can still make the guys wince, and an early taste of De Palma's trademark split-screen scenes, simultaneously showing key action from different viewpoints. While the story gets weirder and weirder, Kidder playing a good twin and a psychotic one, there's also more humour than in his later thrillers. It's also good to see Jennifer Salt outside the manic household of TVs long-running Soap. The excellent Charles Durning and William Finlay would shortly return to other De Palma films. One of Hitchcock's most famous collaborators, composer Bernard Herrmann (Psycho, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Vertigo, North By Northwest), went way, way over the top with theramin-fuelled madness for the soundtrack.


At the time, I was hungry for horror and knew that Phantom of the Paradise was a new version of Phantom of the Opera, but revamped as a glam-rock musical! This was before the dire Andrew Lloyd Webber stage musical that started a couple of years later. The film mixes a host of gothic horror film references with a fine set of songs by Paul Williams (Bugsy Malone). This is still highly thought of and has even been commemorated with reunion concerts in the US. It did well in the UK, primarily on double-bills with The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), the only film with which it could possibly be compatible. There's an extensive look at Phantom of the Paradise here.

I missed Obsession (1976) because it was hardly circulated in cinemas. I caught it five years later in a BFI retrospective release. A close riff on Vertigo, featuring a lush score from Herrmann (practically his last), it's a beautifully made mystery with a standout kidnap sequence. It's the first time De Palma used John Lithgow - Cliff Robertson and Genevieve Bujold are also perfectly cast.


It was Carrie (1976) that launched both De Palma and Stephen King as household names in horror. One of my top ten horror films, it was one of the best movie experiences I've ever had, when a packed Saturday-night crowd were literally scared out of their seats. I’ve never heard so much screaming where a rollercoaster wasn’t involved. For the final shock, the whole building shook as everyone jumped! A grisly, chilling tale focussed on a teenage girl’s rite of passage at an all too recognisable high school, where bullying backfires big time. The director's trademark split-screen technique, roaming camerawork, use of slow-motion and storytelling without dialogue makes for an unforgettable horror film, made even more memorable for the high school setting that so many other slashers would soon use!


De Palma stayed in the world of deadly telekinesis with The Fury (1978) – a comparatively overlooked film which predated the very similar Firestarter and Scanners. It doesn’t have the humour of Carrie, but otherwise feels like a sequel, packed with bloody 'set-pieces', a tremendous and rare horror score from John Williams, and spectacular body horror effects from Dick Smith (The Godfather, The Exorcist). A fuller look at The Fury here.


Dressed to Kill (1980) was technically impressive, with more split-screen and long scenes with no dialogue, but caused a critical backlash against the director. At a time when feminism was successfully targeting slasher films, women's groups and critics focused on this big Hollywood thriller, where a killer sexually targets half-naked women with savage razor attacks. Expanding the use of nudity that barely caused comment in Carrie (despite opening with a shower scene in a schoolgirl's changing room), this riff on Psycho was preoccupied with women's sexual fantasies from a very male perspective. Several scenes were severely cut for TV and video releases for many years. It stars Angie Dickinson (Police Woman), Nancy Allen (by now, married to De Palma), Michael Caine (Jaws: The Revenge) and Keith Gordon (Christine).


He returned to suspense for Blow Out (1981) starring John Travolta in an early non-singing, non-dancing role (he'd also had a bit-part in Carrie). It's an enjoyable but under-rated thriller, where a guy collecting sounds for a low-budget horror film gets involved with the cover-up of a political assassination. Again with John Lithgow as the baddie – I didn’t think the actor would ever play good guys again, he was so good at nasty. Nancy Allen again played a prostitute - her later role in Robocop was a much needed change of image. Once again, De Palma uses Dennis Franz (Hill Street Blues) as an overweight cop. It's a favourite film of Tarantino, no doubt influencing his casting in Pulp Fiction.

In all, an impressive run to keep us horror hounds happy. But he'd peaked. Off he went to high-profile projects with the stars: Scarface (1983) with Al Pacino, Oscar success with Kevin Costner and Sean Connery in The Untouchables (1987), even a Vietnam movie trailing the pack with Casualties of War (1989). He took a critical and financial battering with the unfunny The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) and lost his flare for horror, with Body Double (1984), Raising Cain (1992) and Femme Fatale (2002). I watched Snake Eyes (1998) and Mission Impossible (1996) hoping for a glimpse of his early genius and was bitterly disappointed.
After rewatching his seventies thrillers I'd love to talk about them at length - they're all great films to see in a cinema...

Blogaversary! Four years in the Black Hole...

Black Hole is exactly four years old today, having clocking up nearly 500 reviews. You're one of over 6,000 visitors that the site gets every week. The number continues to build slowly but steadily and I'm not even close to running out of movies to talk to you about.

You've probably noticed my recent parallel commitment to Twitter, also on the site in the window on the right. Snippets of DVD news, choice trivia and micro-reviews of movies that won't be getting full articles. The idea was originally to give you some perspective on what else I was watching. Somehow I've nearly 300 'followers' on Twitter, which seems a lot to me.

There's still a shelf of dozens of Asian DVDs that I haven't watched yet - including some Malaysian horrors that I picked up on holiday - that I'm looking forward to. As well as many more Japanese, Chinese and South Korean movies that I couldn't resist the look of. I was also watching Asian horror for a few years before I started the blog, so there's many early classics that I'd like to review for you some time. I just need to find the time to refresh my memory - I always re-watch them before writing a review.

Of course, there are many more guilty pleasures from the 1970s, my most intensive moviegoing period, and also an era which I find still 'works' very well today. I've also been looking for the movies that I missed out on back then, and again I'm filling up another shelf to watch. It's no coincidence that at a time when movie remakes are at a peak, I'm hardly visiting the cinema.

I worry that Black Hole Reviews isn't a site which can be easily labelled - like just Japanese Movies or Horror Films, and I'm tempted to fragment the site into various smaller blogs, each covering a genre. Then again, I think that anyone who spends all their time in one narrow genre should really get out more, and the Black Hole is all about helping you find good stuff that you might have missed. Including strange little films and whole new genres.

Thank you for reading. Keep watching the screens!

Mark Hodgson

49ers Game Log 09

I did this last year and predicted an 8-8 record for my niners, even though I at first said 7-9 (the record in which the actually finished). So like last year I will go game by game and give my reasons for why I think they will win or lose and a final score prediction, I know its basically impossible to predict these games but it is always fun to look back and see how close I was.

Week 1

@Arizona - 49ers played the Cardinals very well last year, and a yard or two separated them from a crucial win @Arizona last year. Everyone is saying the Cardinals will be better then last year...I am not one of those people. I think this game will be very close and could come down to some last minute turnover. I am going to go out on a limb and say the 49ers shock the Cardinals at home and upset the NFC Champions.

Final Score: 49ers Win 28-24 (1-0)

Week 2

vs Seattle - Ah the home opener, a game I am attending myself. 49ers usually start off well to open the season and I think this is a game they can and should take from the Seahawks, who at this point still are trying to build the chemistry with the new players they acquired from the off season. This game is where it pays off to have players like Shaun Hill, who strive to win no matter how it has to happen. I say the 49ers D comes up big in their home opener and the team wins.

Final Score: 49ers Win 17-12 (2-0)

Week 3

@Minnesota- Brett Farve, why did you have to bother? Viking always needed a big named and armed QB and now that they have one, and the best RB in the league they will be all but unstoppable at home. This game will not be pretty for the Niners who typically do not play well on the road against out of division. I will say they somewhat hold the Vikings down and make it close for a while, I don't even remember the last time the 9ers have won in Minnesota.

Final Score: Loss 24-13 (2-1)

Week 4

vs St Louis- Returning home to play the Rams should heal some of the wounds from a trip to Minnesota, I think the 9ers will be amped up to play the Rams who they beat twice last year. Rams are still suppose to be pretty bad at this point and will be struggling to find out who they are. Gore should have a nice big game and 9ers will roll.

Final Score: Win 21-10 (3-1)

Week 5

vs Atlanta- The good old rivals here! Haven't seen ATL in our place since Jamal Anderson was running. Atlanta was very much the surprise NFL team last year in the NFC South, but the thing about that division is that whoever was on top last year never seems to repeat...but this team has added talent and will stilll be good. Niners will struggle at home against them, I think Atlanta has too much and wins on a 4th quarter field goal.

Final Score: Loss 17-14 (3-2)

Week 6- Bye Week

Week 7

@Houston- Houston has been predicted to very well this year, they have loads of talent and play in a very tough division(who the 9ers play this year). I think that while they are loaded on talent that Houston doesn't seem like the scariest venue to play in. I do not think they are much better then an .500 team and yes, I think the 49ers D can handle them on the run making them have to pass to Andre Johnson, who I think will have a big game. I say 49ers get an early lead and hang on during a close game and since they had the bye week they will be well rested.

Final Score: Win 23-13 (4-2)

Week 8

@Indianapolis- Not really looking forward to this game, we typically get killed by Indy and I do not see this being any different...unless Manning sits this one out I am going to say the 9ers get spanked. They play terrible on the road against playoff teams. I will not be nice, 9ers get their butts kicked. I will say Singletary loses it after this game and gets the team to re-focus though.

Final Score: Loss 33-13 (4-3)

Week 9

vs. Tennessee - Ah the rewards of playing the AFC...I think the 9ers are more then ready for this game after playing and losing to the Colts. Lets say the 9ers hold back the rushing attack of Tennessee, they still have to deal with their stingy D. I think its a close one, but the 9ers just do not have enough to pull it out for the win.

Final Score: Loss 23-17 (4-4)

Week 10

vs. Chicago Bears - So yeah I don't know if you have seen the 9ers play the bears the last few years, but the Bears usually kicked the living shit out of us! BUT this one is on TV, this one is on our HOME TURF, and this one you know Singeltary wants to win. I think we have a tough low scoring game, hey look at the last 4 or so years..we always have one very low scoring home win. I will say we learned from getting beat by the Colts and Titans and man up to win this one and get back in the playoff hunt!

Final Score: WIN! 18-12 (5-4)

Week 11

@Green Bay- Playing in Lambeau Field is no fun, and it is sure to be cold there in late November. This game could be very close if the 9ers have to run the ball a lot. Gore and Coffee could run the Packers to a loss, but I just think the venue makes the game for the Packers and that they win in ugly fashion.

Final Score: Loss 17-10 (5-5)

Week 12

vs Jacksonville- The Jaguars! Another team you rarely see come and play in SF. I believe that at home after playing tougher teams the 9ers can pull this one out. It will be a low scoring game, probably mostly running by both teams. But I will say the 9ers win this one because it is at home and the Jags are mostly a running team.

Final Score: Win 13-7 (6-5)

Week 13

@Seatlle- Seahawks are not as bad as they looked last year...and at home I think this game will be close. I know the 9ers went into Seattle last year and had a crazy high scoring game but that was Mike Martz offense, now the 9ers are more run and I think they will have a better overall defense. I will have to say though, that this game looks like a loss for me. I think it will be some fluke big play that gets the Seahawks the win.

Final Score: Loss 14-13 (6-6)

Week 14

vs Arizona- After hanging around being 6-6 the 9ers season will most likely hang in the balance as they play the Cardinals. I think this is what separates this team from last years team, they have the coach will push them over the edge and make them pull out this game and giving them the tie-breaker against the Cardinals(who I think will be 9-7). The 9ers season will look all the more brighter when they take it to the Cardinals and win at home, giving them a winning record and pushing them into the playoff hunt..again.

Final Score: Win 23-21 (7-6)

Week 15

@Philadelphia - I think the Eagles are a great team this year, and this could be the worst loss of the season. Eagles loaded up on talent and at home...well lets just say it wont be too pretty! It is later in the season and both teams will be playing for the playoffs, so it will be intense but I just think the Eagles @home prove too much and they pull away from a close game after the half.

Final Score: Loss 31-14 (7-7)

Week 16

vs Detroit Lions- We beat up on the Lions last year, they have some talented players this time around but the niners are in the playoff hunt and just need this win bad. I think we handle the Lions with some ease and come out on top in this one. I will also go out on a limb and say this will be Matthew Staffords first start.

Final Score: Win 28-17 (8-7)

Week 17

@St Louis- Wait? We get to end the season playing the two worst teams from last year? Sweeeet!!! I think this is the game of the year for the 49ers, who handled the Rams twice last year. Yet I will say its going to be close, probably closer then most 9ers fans would like. Gore steps up and has a monster game and leads the team to the win almost by himself. Gore gets NFC player of the week honors, the niners win and make the playoffs! What a season!!

Final Score: Win 21-20 (9-7)

So there you have it, could it happen? Sure!