John Ireland

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All The King's Men (1949) Review

By Christopher Null

Excellent

Broderick Crawford is no Orson Welles, but this meditation on the underbelly of American politics is at least in the same league as Citizen Kane. Also a Best Picture winner, the film traces the rise of populist local hero Willie Stark, as he moves through the American political machine like a juggernaut, chewing up anything in his way. His compatriots (a newsman turned publicist, various lovelies and heavies) stick by him as Stark becomes corrupted en route to the top. The direction by Robert Rossen (The Hustler) isn't inspired, but he does get the job done with reasonable aplomb.

The Incubus (1981) Review

By Christopher Null

Weak

John Hough isn't exactly known as a moviemaking genius (check out 2001's Hell's Gate), but maybe some will take his dazzling prolificness as a substitute for quality. One of his most maligned films, 1981's The Incubus, has John Cassavetes as a New England doctor who finds himself performing one autopsy after another on the slaughtered young girls of the town.

Is the doctor's boyfriend -- who's experience sadistic nightmares -- the culprit? Or is it an otherworldly beast called the incubus?

Continue reading: The Incubus (1981) Review

I Saw What You Did Review

By Christopher Null

Very Good

William Castle pulled out all the stops for I Saw What You Did, an effective -- if not entirely "scary" -- thriller based on a timeless idea: What if you randomly crank-called a guy and said "I saw what you did" when her really did just murder his wife? It's a hokey version of Rear Window, complete with all of Castle's usual parlor tricks. This is one terror tale that is strangely still suitable for all ages. Lots of fun.

Gunfight At The O.K. Corral Review

By Christopher Null

Weak

Interested in the Wyatt Earp-Doc Holliday-O.K. Corral legend but don't want a lot of bloodshed? Or maybe you feel like dozing off a bit?

Have I got a movie for you! The Burt Lancaster-Kirk Douglas rendition of the still-going-strong story of the shootout in Tombstone is possible the tamest and least inspired on record, a workmanlike and low-budget retelling of the story. No insight, no real violence, no soul. This Gunfight doesn't actually occur until 1 hour and 45 minutes into the film -- tragic in its deception and painful in the boredom induced on the way.

Continue reading: Gunfight At The O.K. Corral Review

I Shot Jesse James Review

By Christopher Null

Very dated but passable feature about the not-so-glamorous death of Jesse James, and the man who shot him in the back (Robert Ford). Interesting mainly because it's Samuel Fuller's first film, showing off a few of his trademark touches -- but not enough to make the movie stand on its own.