Sleepless (DVD) Widescreen One of the major innovators of the horror film, Italian director Dario Argento (TENEBRE, SUSPIRIA) was one of the first auteurs to raise the previously dismissed genre to the level of art. Known for his striking visuals and ...
One of the major innovators of the horror film, Italian director Dario Argento (TENEBRE, SUSPIRIA) was one of the first auteurs to raise the previously dismissed genre to the level of art. Known for his striking visuals and elegant approach to gore and violence, Argento teams up with acclaimed actor Max von Sydow (THE EXORCIST, AWAKENINGS) for this terrifying murder mystery. When a town becomes plagued by a group of grisly murders, con Sydow finds himself called on to find the killer.
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Director: Dario Argento
ACTORS: Max Von Sydow, Stefano Dionisi, Chiara Caselli, Gabriele Lavia
Yeelen (DVD)
Capturing the dramatic green-yellow landscape of West Africa with clear, cold photography, YEELEN is the bold story of Nianankoro, a young man with great powers. He is cursed by his evil father, Soma, who is pursuing him with the help of prayers to the gods and the magic post--a compass-like instrument carried between two servant men. Nianakoro`s mother sends him off across the land to escape his father and seek his uncle--his father`s twin, Djigui Diarra. Along the way Nianankoro has a series of adventures. He uses his special powers to help a tribe that is being threatened by warriors. And, when called upon by the king of the tribe to cure his youngest wife of her infertility, Nianankoro learns a hard lesson about honor. Meanwhile, Soma is meeting with a group of talismen to whom he explains his need to kill his son. He conducts a chanting ritual with them, under the influence of strong grog. The speech and singing of the Bambara people is rhythmic and uniquely musical and adds to the film`s already mysterious premise. Based on a Bambaran creation myth, the story shows Nianankoro`s struggle to depose the corrupt ruling power represented by Soma, resulting in knowledge for all.NR"
Director: Souleymane Cisse
Nomads (DVD)
NOMADS, Director John McTiernans first film, is a blueprint for his later psychic thrillers, PREDATOR, DIE HARD, and THE LAST ACTION HERO. Here he boldly delivers a movie which deviates from the blasi and conventional plots popular in most mid-eighties films.
After moving to Los Angeles, Pommier (Pierce Brosnan), a cultural anthropologist and his wife, Niki (Anna Maria Montecelli) are attacked by a group of what appears to be angry street kids. It turns out that the punky group are not urban riff raff, but in fact, evil Eskimo spirits called the Innuat which have been haunting Pommier across the planet. Eventually driven mad by the spirits, Brosnan transfers his persona into Dr Flax (Lesley-Anne Downs). In order to rid herself of the malady, she joins Niki and searches out the Innuat.
With NOMADS, McTiernan treats the viewer to a cinematic cascade of lunacy. The viewer sees Pommiers memories through Flaxs eyes: or, are the memories merely a hallucination? One isnt sure until the shocking finale, which make NOMADS both frightening and unforgettable.R"
Director: John McTiernan
ACTORS: Lesley-Anne Down, Pierce Brosnan, Anna Maria Montecelli, Adam Ant, Hector Mercado
Annie Get Your Gun (DVD) 50th Anniversary Edition Sharpshooter and star of Colonel Buffalo Bill`s Show, Frank Butler (Howard Keel) falls for the spirited Annie Oakley (Betty Hutton) until she provokes him into a clay pigeon shooting competition. Unfortunately,...
Sharpshooter and star of Colonel Buffalo Bill`s Show, Frank Butler (Howard Keel) falls for the spirited Annie Oakley (Betty Hutton) until she provokes him into a clay pigeon shooting competition. Unfortunately, Annie is left to realize a man isn`t always interested in a woman who can beat him at his own game. The film is based on Irving Berlin`s play and contains the songs Anything You Can Do, Doin` What Comes Naturally, and There`s No Business Like Show Business. Winner of the 1951 Academy Award for Best Music and Scoring of a Musical Picture. It should be noted that Judy Garland was originally cast to star in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, but fell ill and was replaced by Betty Hutton.
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Director: George Sidney
ACTORS: Howard Keel, Betty Hutton, Keenan Wynn, J. Carrol Naish, Louis Calhern
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (DVD)
Dr. Caligari, an evil mountebank, hypnotizes an innocent villager and compels him to carry out fiendish murders. Silent film with music track. Inarguably a German Expressionist landmark, featuring fantastical, heavily stylized sets, antirealist acting, and evocative subjective camerawork. The Kino version preserves the original color-tinted film and includes an excerpt from director Wiene`s Genuine Tale of a Vampire. NR"
Director: Robert Wiene
