cyncamden Reviews

How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)

Advertising...

[7/10 · 12 November 2021]

This highly original comedy was Robinson's follow up to the drunken crowdpleaser Withal & I. In comparison, there are equal one-liners here, with two Grants for the price of one and a strong stance against greed, consumerism and Margaret Thatcher. The transplant scene is awesome!

Only reason it's not 10/10 is that is gets a little too preach near the end.

Talk Radio (1988)

Forgotten Stone film...

[8/10 · 12 November 2021]

Based on Bogosian's play, Oliver Stone capitalizes on the cinematographer's ability to never make this feel like a play.

The camera is frequently moving and diving in for tense close-ups to capture Bogosian's mega performance. Talks Radio is a standout in the Stone filmography roundhouse that ended the 80's with Platoon, Wall Street, Talk Radio, and Born on the Fourth of July.

The Transcendents (2018)

Practical colors galore...

[9/10 · 12 November 2021]

What the critics listed in their reviews is accurate. This is a psychological story about the rise and fall of a band (that we never hear) with some terrific performances.

But the colors in this film are mind blowing. It doesn't (at least it doesn't appear) as though any of it was doctored. But from bright red backpacks set against sundown to purple towels set against pale faces to organe fires against dilapidated wood -- every prop, costume, or set piece could be a still photo.

This is a little gem that I'm lucky enough to stumbled across.

Wolfen (1981)

Wolfen is a curious film...

[8/10 · 12 November 2021]

It's the first horror film that introduced the in-camera thermography to show the predators point of view, staying low to the ground and pouncing on victims who's bodies and gradients of head -- think Predator later on.

Story wise, there's some pretty heady themes about Native American land rights and an anti-gentrification stance.

This is a terrific horror film but also one that leaves you thinking.

I very much recommend.