With ‘The High Window’ (1942), Chandler sets a high bar
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Plot and characters make a big leap without sacrificing style in the third Marlowe novel.
Author: John Hansen
With ‘The High Window’ (1942), Chandler sets a high bar
‘French Connection’ (1971) lets you make own conclusions about Drug War
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Stylishly gritty without being a lecture, this is a deceptively smart straightforward film.
‘Kiss Me, Stupid’ (1964) is a stupid thing to watch if you dislike farces
Wilder Wednesday (Movie review): Hitting that dead spot between zany and predictable, “Kiss Me, Stupid” is another unfunny sex comedy from the Hays Code era.
I kinda love how ‘Heart Eyes’ mixes rom-com with slasher
Movie review: Though mainstream in many ways, the film boasts cleverness and subversiveness along with the always reliable Olivia Holt.
Chandler makes Marlowe human in ‘Farewell, My Lovely’ (1940)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): In the second Marlowe novel, the detective is more grounded than he is superhero-ish.
‘Phenomena’ (1985) won’t bug Argento acolytes
Frightening Friday (Movie review): But even with Jennifer Connelly as an insect whisperer, the film doesn’t diverge from his formula.
Hackman’s ‘Hoosiers’ (1986) has the winning touch
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Sometimes cliches play well in a movie, as this loose telling of the 1954 Indiana state hoops champs proves.
‘Love in the Afternoon’s’ (1957) May-December romance feels 8 months long
Wilder Wednesday (Movie review): The age gap is a talking point, but the real issue is this rom-com isn’t romantic or funny enough.
Hitchcock mulls truth, POV, memory in hourlong episodes (1957-62)
On a Hitchcock kick (TV review): Hitchcock directs one episode each of three NBC series he produced: “Suspicion,” “Startime” and “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.”
‘The Big Sleep’ (1946) goes from elite novel to respectable film
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): Though it won’t cause narcolepsy, Hawks’ film is too hampered by censorial limitations to totally capture Chandler’s vibe.