Script oddities keep ‘Hokum’ short of ‘Oddity’
Movie review: But McCarthy’s direction and the Irish setting make for impeccable horror sequences.
Movies
Script oddities keep ‘Hokum’ short of ‘Oddity’
‘Executioners’ (1957), ‘Cape Fear’ (1962, 1991) explore limits of modern law
Throwback Thursday (Book and movie reviews): MacDonald’s novel is surprisingly tame, the first movie keeps the censors occupied, and Scorsese’s version finally delivers the shocks.
‘Marlowe’ (1969) brings the detective into the Swinging Sixties
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): James Garner starts his private eye career in this adaptation of “The Little Sister.”
Sentimental ‘Starman’ (1984) shows the softer side of Carpenter
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): The director’s only theatrical film that’s not action or horror is openly sentimental and hard to dislike.
Marlowe finds love in ‘Brasher Doubloon’s’ (1947) lighter take on ‘High Window’
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): George Montgomery makes Chandler’s P.I. into more of an ole softie than we’re accustomed to.
Carpenter’s resume recovers in ‘The Ward’ (2010)
Frightening Friday (Movie review): The best thing about this Sixties-set mental-ward horror film is it replaces “Ghosts of Mars” as his last film.
Carpenter brings ‘Elvis’ (1979) down to Earth in TV biopic
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): The director’s only non-genre film is a fine one, filled with music but not the details you’d need for a full portrait.
‘Lady in the Lake’s’ (1947) direct-POV experiment is all wet
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): Unfortunately, the mystery of Chandler’s strong fourth novel gets lost in a quest for a new style.
Carpenter quietly makes mark with ‘Assault on Precinct 13’ (1976)
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): The director’s style-over-story-details approach is present in his first major film.
Marlowe properly comes to screen in ‘Murder, My Sweet’ (1944)
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): The screenplay reassembles elements of “Farewell, My Lovely” in an intriguing way, and Dick Powell is a pleasing Marlowe.