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PALTADACHO MUNIS / The Man Beyond the Bridge (Dir. Laxmikant Shetgaonkar, 2009, India) – Severing the now
* * * Released in 2009, director Laxmikant Shetgaonkar’s Paltadacho Munis could arguably be situated as part of a post-Parallel Cinema cycle of films, a sort of hangover from the mid to late 90s era, since it is a work that explores caste, gender and religion in a rural milieu with a brilliantly sharp eye Continue reading
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ONCE A THIEF… (Dir. Ralph Nelson, 1965, US/France)
* * In Ralph Nelson’s 1965 noir heist thriller, Once a Thief, the exponential narrative pacing may test the patience, but Alain Delon’s performance is a noteworthy attraction, marking one of the few times the charismatic French star engaged with traditional American noir. The storyline adheres to familiar genre tropes: an ex-con’s struggle for redemption Continue reading
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RIDER ON THE RAIN / Le Passager De La Pluie (Dir. René Clément, 1970, France)
* * * In René Clément’s peculiar Rider on the Rain (1970), the film wields an enigmatic allure, driven largely by the magnetic presence of Marlène Jobert. Known for his rugged demeanour, Charles Bronson plays second fiddle here, emerging in a compelling yet understated role during his fascinating European phase. Jobert, however, commands every frame Continue reading
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BLOOD AND WINE (Dir. Bob Rafelson, 1996, US)
* * In Bob Rafelson’s uneven neo noir tale, Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of a sleazy, violent thief was part of a peaceful nineties’ renaissance that saw him clocking up him a whole new repertoire of roles that were less about scope and more about endearing himself to new audiences. Blood and Wine is a minor Continue reading
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INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (Dir. Philip Kaufman, 1978, US)
* * * * Revisiting Philip Kaufman’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers in a pristine 4K transfer reaffirms its status as a paragon of the horror-science fiction hybrid, a genre blend rarely executed with such finesse. Very few filmmakers have been able to pull it off – Carpenter with The Thing (1982) is one of Continue reading
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