Displays of the Fifth Observer

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Friday Foster: A Reversal of Genre Fortunes

Friday Foster: A Reversal of Genre Fortunes

Starring: Pam Grier, Yaphet Kotto, Godfrey Cambridge, Thalmus Rasulala, Ted Lange, Eartha Kitt, Scatman Crothers, Carl Weathers and Julius Harris. Based on the syndicated newspaper comic strip of the same name, 1975’s Friday Foster stars Pam Grier in what would be her final film with American International Pictures. Directed by blaxploitation veteran Arthur Marks, Friday Foster follows the…

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DeaconsDen Classic Reaction - Wyatt Earp

DeaconsDen Classic Reaction – Wyatt Earp

This is my first watch of Wyatt Earp. I’ve owned the dvd for years because I love westerns and never watched it. I know of it’s reputation and I always had to wonder is it that bad?  The answer is no.  Wyatt Earp is well directed by Lawrence Kasdan. Kevin Costner does serviceable work as the legendary lawman, even if he’s outshined by the other performers in the film, particularly Dennis Quaid…

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Reacting to the Short Films of Melvin Van Peebles

Reacting to the Short Films of Melvin Van Peebles

Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images 2021 saw the loss of Melvin Van Peebles. A trailblazer in cinema who came into the art with his own voice and style. His cinematic language was unfiltered and this was unquestioned in every facet of his work which was not only film, but music, theater and literature. I acquired the Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films box set from the Criterion Collection and want…

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NO TIME TO DIE: A Reaction and a Confessional

NO TIME TO DIE: A Reaction and a Confessional

I do agree with the consensus that NO TIME TO DIE is a fitting farewell to Daniel Craig as James Bond. Craig is the first Bond actor who gets such a moment as the others in the past simply said they weren’t coming back. Since Craig is the one actor who’s tenure consists of a character arc over multiple films, we get a satisfying conclusion to his Bond story. However I came away feeling mixed…

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DeaconsDen Classic Reaction - To Catch a Thief

DeaconsDen Classic Reaction – To Catch a Thief

To Catch a Thief is Alfred Hitchcock on vacation. If you are watching the works of the Master of Suspense, whether it’s Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window, Rebecca and so forth, you have expectations to be on the edge of your seat. Although it has moments of suspense, We pretty much spend our time in the beautiful setting of the French Riviera with two beautiful leads or Grace Kelly and Cary…

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DeaconsDen Classic Reaction - WATERSHIP DOWN

DeaconsDen Classic Reaction – WATERSHIP DOWN

WATERSHIP DOWN does absolutely no holding of hands. It’s naturalist, it’s visceral and it showcases the absolute fleeting idea of nature. Death is quick and sudden most of the time and when it isn’t, like a scene where a rabbit is caught in a snare it’s brutal because it’s a slow process of dying.  In adapting Richard Adams’ novel, director Martin Rosen could have easily removed the elements…

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DeaconsDen Classic Reactions - Carol Reed’s The Third Man

DeaconsDen Classic Reactions – Carol Reed’s The Third Man

The Third Man is a movie that is in between identities and views. It’s a film that even if you’ve never seen it before, you think you’ve seen it one way and it ends up being another. It’s meant to disorient you. It achieves this at the earliest possible moment with the shot of the zither and it’s playing of the main theme over the credits. The Third Man was co-produced by a British producer,…

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DeaconsDen Classic Reactions - The War of the Worlds (1953)

DeaconsDen Classic Reactions – The War of the Worlds (1953)

Although science fiction films of the 1950 tend to have a reputation for being cheesy and cheap, there are a few that presented some form of perspective. The Thing From Another World for instance can be read as a warning of communism already being here. Forbidden Planet is a look at man’s unwillingness to be part of society once he’s realized he gained power. The Day the Earth Stood Still could…

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Exploring the Television Career of Alfred Hitchcock: Episode One - Revenge

Exploring the Television Career of Alfred Hitchcock: Episode One – Revenge

The films of Alfred Hitchcock are certainly frequent subject here on DeaconsDen. I’ve written about a few of the Master of Suspense’s works. These include PSYCHO, MARNIE, DIAL M FOR MURDER, REAR WINDOW, THE LADY VANISHES, SUSPICION, THE BIRDS, FRENZY, TOPAZ AND ROPE. I have always found Hitchcock’s work to be extremely entertaining and due to the size of his filmography, we have a significant…

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DeaconsDen Classic Reaction - The Lady Vanishes

DeaconsDen Classic Reaction – The Lady Vanishes

The Lady Vanishes is Alfred Hitchcock’s best film of his British era. It is an awesome cocktail of comedy, thrills and romance while simultaneously taking a peak at at British insularity. This film could be seen as a predecessor to Hitchcock’s single setting films of the 40s and 50s. Although The Lady Vanishes does not take place in one exact location like Lifeboat, Rope, Dial M for Murder and…

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DeaconsDen Classic Reaction: Ben-Hur

DeaconsDen Classic Reaction: Ben-Hur

Ben-Hur, as it unfolds, feels very much like the movie this genre/sub genre was building towards. Everything about it excels over many of its contemporaries. It may be the best directed (in competition with DeMille’s Ten Commandments from 3 years prior). It has an outstanding production design, one of the best musical scores in movie history, and a top performance from Charlton Heston. These…

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DeaconsDen Classic Reaction - Suspicion (1941)

DeaconsDen Classic Reaction – Suspicion (1941)

Suspicion, while middle tier Hitchcock as best, still is another example of how well Alfred Hitchcock was at the things he was good at. Suspicion, despite its title is not as heavy on the thrills as other Hitchcock films. This could be related to the title which was chosen against Hitchcock’s wishes (he though it a trashy title and wanted to name it Johnnie after Cary Grant’s character). He also…

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DeaconsDen Reaction - Zack Snyder’s Justice League

DeaconsDen Reaction – Zack Snyder’s Justice League

Honesty. If I were to give a one word summary of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, it would be honesty. The film that was released in theaters in 2017 is a compromised work that is quite patronizing and begging the audience to love what it’s doing after the reactions to Snyder’s Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. As I was watching this four hour director’s cut, I obviously will see…

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DeaconsDen Reaction - MALCOLM & MARIE

DeaconsDen Reaction – MALCOLM & MARIE

MALCOLM & MARIE could have been a relationship drama on par with MARRIAGE STORY if only it’s director took himself out of the equation. Zendaya and John David Washington star in this hard hitting assault of verbosity by writer-director Sam Levinson. Malcolm Elliott is a film director who has just premiered his latest work. His film is based on the life of his girlfriend Marie Jones. Marie has…

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DeaconsDen Classic Reaction - The Manchurian Candidate

DeaconsDen Classic Reaction – The Manchurian Candidate

One of the great political thrillers. The Manchurian Candidate isn’t a horror film, but it find it just as unnerving and gut wrenching as something like Psycho or The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

The Manchurian Candidate is so serious I actually think it’s more satirical than I expected it to be. For example when you look at the character of John Islin, he’s obviously a stand in for Joseph…

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DeaconsDen Classic Reaction - Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds

DeaconsDen Classic Reaction – Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds

“I want to go through life jumping into fountains naked.”

This is a line that represents the spirit of the character of Melanie Daniels and the what she represents to the spirit of Lydia Brennan. 

The Birds is Alfred Hitchcock’s The Shining. Much like Kubrick’s film, it’s a horror film that simply presents. You’re shown what is on screen, given clues that really don’t mean anything and you…

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DeaconsDen Classic Reaction - Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy

DeaconsDen Classic Reaction – Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy

*Providing a warning that this film does contain sexual violence*

Alfred Hitchcock’s penultimate film is a mix of all his favorite things. There’s murder, sex, black humor and a man on the run.

With so little time left in his career and his life, Hitchcock decides to play around with the things we’ve become accustomed to in his work. There’s no mystery for us work out. We learn quickly who…

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