Based on James Ellroy’s seminal novel, The Black Dahlia suffered a rough production history before finally hitting theaters in 2006. Sadly, director Brian De Palma and company fall flat with this tepid throwback noir. Read the full review here!
Movie Reviews
Movie Review: Victoria (2015)
Audaciously filmed in a single take on the streets of Berlin, this lovesick crime drama has enough adrenaline gimmickry to warrant a viewing. Luckily, it offers much more than that with a delicate balance of genres. Read the full review here!
Movie Review: Youth (2015)
Pensive and undeniably of the Federico Fellini school of film, Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth has plenty to offer viewers in terms of performance. Unfortunately, uneven narrative and rushed pacing keep this thing from truly soaring. Read the full review here!
Movie Review: Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
One of the strangest films noir ever concocted, this 1955 outing barrels full speed ahead in creativity. Weaving an exaggerated world of cons and killers, Kiss Me Deadly finds Mike Hammer hot on the trail of the infamous “great whatzit.” Read the full review here!
Movie Review: Ride Along 2 (2016)
Squashing the strengths that made 2014’s Ride Along such a pleasant surprise, this saccharine sequel falls limp with lame punchlines while falling back on forgettable cliché. Read the full review here!
Movie Review: The Hateful Eight (2015)
Chalk full of Quentin Tarantino’s typical trifecta: blood, guts, and chatter, The Hateful Eight is another solid addition that please hardcore fans and repulse the easily offended. Read the full review here!
Movie Review: The Night Before (2015)
Incredibly promising on the strength of its performers and hilarious trailer, The Night Before proves to be a laughless comedy with more in the way of muddling drama than true Christmas hilarity. Read the full review here!
Movie Review: Beasts of No Nation (2015)
Jarringly violent and fueled by exceptional acting, this Netflix film debut is a potent account of African child soldiers and the horrors experienced in the jungle. Read the full review here!
Movie Review: Phantom Lady (1944)
A salivating visual showcase, Phantom Lady is a terrific case of style enhancing the substance of a final product. Directed by noir specialist Robert Siodmak (The Killers, Criss Cross), it is a film that has to be seen to be fully believed. Read the full review here!
Movie Review: The Driver (1978)
Stylish, still, and stunning, Walter Hill’s 1978 masterpiece is an unsung hero of the neon-noir generation. An adaptation of Le Samurai (1967) and precursor to 2011’s Drive, its a film that deserves a detailed reappraising in the modern age. Read the full review here!
Danilo Writes 