Text (C) 2014 – Eric Reports

Suspiria – 1977

Italian giallo director Dario Argento’s masterpiece.  Girl (Jessica Harper) enrolls in a school for dance, then slowly begins to discover that it’s a cult of witches.  (Partially based on a true story.)  Blood-red Technicolor rolls off the screen.  The extreme style + beautiful camera work and direction – put current horror films to shame.

Magnum Force – 1973

Second of the “Dirty Harry” film series.  Detective Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) uncovers a death squad of fanatical cops who execute criminals that slip through the justice system.  The absolute flip-side of the first Dirty Harry movie and every bit as good.

Seconds – 1966

A middle-aged businessman finds a second chance for a new life.  Sound too good to be true?  Nightmarish black & white cinematography by James Wong Howe, bleak, hopeless story by David Ely and razor-sharp direction by John Frankenheimer.  Intelligent sci-fi that was way ahead of its time.

Macbeth – 1971

Whoever said Shakespeare was boring, never saw this version of “Macbeth”.  Directed by Roman Polanski, a few years after his wife and unborn son were murdered by the “Manson Family” and it shows.  Bloody, bloody violence and a foreboding sense of disaster.  Polanski said he was only giving the public what was expected of him.  Rich, dynamic performance by star Jon Finch.

The Shootist – 1976

Last, best performance by John Wayne as an aging gunfighter dying of cancer.  Great all-star cast, Richard Boone is especially good.  Don Siegel directs; based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout.  Despoite the sad theme, “The Shootist” remains upbeat.  A fitting tribute to the Duke, who died from cancer three years later.

My Name is Nobody – 1974

Comedy-western starring Henry Fonda and Terrence Hill.  Based on a idea by Sergio Leone.  Memorable music composed by Ennio Morricone.

The Manchurian Candidate – 1962

Forget the lame 2004 remake.  Returning Korean War POWs all have the same recurring nightmare.  What’s the connection?  Set against the Cold War-McCarthy Era, this fictional story proves more true every day:  how a Communist agent could one day occupy the White House.  Frank Sinatra-Lawrence Harvey-Angela Lansbury, all excellent.  John Frankenheimer directs, based on Richard Condon’s novel.

Sisters – 1973

Director Brian de Palma’s first horror-suspense film.  Story about separated Siamese twins (the Blanchion sisters) both played by Margot Kidder.  Which one is the psychotic killer?  Loud, pulsating score by the man who composed “Psycho” – Bernard Herrmann.