Favorite films

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Recent reviews

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  The Clay Pigeon 1949

  ★★★ Watched by 4 Star Films 23 May 2022

  Aside from a brief mention in Daisy Kenyon, I think The Clay Pigeon has the first acknowledgment of Japanese-Americans and the 442nd after WWII. I've been trying to watch this Richard Fleischer B movie for some time, and I'm finally glad to see it.

  I feel like the contrasting portrayals of the Japanese (ie. Richard Loo and a deceased Nisei) might be screenwriter Carl Foreman's doing. The historical source for this outlandish little noir is no less fascinating. Otherwise, the story itself is relatively standard fare for the era.

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  Like Grains of Sand 1995

  ★★★½ Watched by 4 Star Films 18 May 2022

  The final act was not quite what I was expecting, but the contours of the world come the closest of anything I've seen in replicating the spaces I used to work in while in Japan. Lots of young people trying to figure out their brokenness and personal insecurities. It knows no cultural bounds.

Popular reviews

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  Rio Bravo 1959

  ★★★★★ Rewatched by 4 Star Films 22 Mar 2014

  I had forgotten how good Howard Hawk's Rio Bravo is. Most any western with John Wayne is easily watchable, but this film boasts a extraordinary cast including some mainstays of the genre like Walter Brennan and Ward Bond. However, you also have some other stars that you do not associate with westerns. Namely Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, and Ricky Nelson. Each one delivers a fun, likable, and even moving performance.

  This western has been allegedly labeled as an answer to…

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  The Passion of Joan of Arc 1928

  ★★★★½ Watched by 4 Star Films 02 May 2014 4

  As cliche as it will sound this is one of those films that transcends the years for me. It is still that powerful after so many decades.

  Using low angles and numerous close ups Carl Theodor Dreyer pulled me into this story early on. It was tense and claustrophobic causing the viewer to become emotionally involved in the trial and the plight that surrounded Joan.

  The actors that he chose have wonderfully expressive visages that are so distinct even with…