Les Diaboliques (1955)

This movie is also known as Diabolique. In French, with English subtitles.

Les Diaboliques is the movie that started the twist ending before Psycho could revolutionize it. Henri-Georges Clouzot's spectacular, black-and-white French film is a classic that is timeless and still surprising. Much better than most of Hitchcock's films, this is one to see.

Les Diaboliques is based on a book by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac of the same name. The clever story is about the wife of headmaster at a school and teacher who works there who are mad at the headmeaster. Their sinister talks about him lead to them plotting to kill him. They go through with the plan, but after the murder happens, the body mysteriously disappears. Strange happenings begin at the school all leading to the jaw dropping ending.

Clouzot's best film constructs suspense in such an amazing manner. In the scene in which the take the water and leaves out of a pool (this is where the women have deposited the body), we're sure their going to be found out. As the water clears lower and lower, the suspense mounts. Finally, the water clears and we're given a look at the pool. There is no body! His eery scenes are really what makes the film so special.

The tagline on the poster advised audiences to "See it, be amazed at it, but...BE QUIET ABOUT IT!" This is exactly what one who sees this should do. A major twist makes the film famous so don't spoil it. A great movie that Hitchcock actually tried to get the rights to a half hour after they were sold to Clouzot, it could not have been done better. It couldn't have even been done better by the Master of Suspense.

Safety Last! (1923)

The iconic image of Harold Lloyd hanging from a clock's hand is timeless and still very funny. Safety Last! has not aged at all either. The entire movie is a fun romp in slapstick humor.

The classic silent stars Lloyd as a young man desperate for money. He barely has enough money to buy things for himself to eat. Finally, he finds a solution to his problem when a man across the street from the place he works at is holding a contest that has a prize of money if anybody can climb to the top of the building.

The long, final sequence in which Lloyd actually climbs a very tall building (remember, there were no special effects or green screen in the 20's) is both suspensful and very humorous. The movie itself is very short and the final scene takes up a good deal of it, but the audience is hooked right in. One can't tear their eyes away from this lengthy scene which ends up not feeling lenghty at all.

Safety Last! is a timeless classic that is one of my favorites. Because it is silent, many people won't watch, but it is definitely worth at least two viewings in my opinion. Slapstick comedy and Lloyd antics abound, Safety Last! is one to watch.

Knocked Up (2007)

Judd Apatow is truly the director of this generation. Knocked Up is the funniest movie to come out of last year. Apatow has a monopoly on the comedy part of Hollywood and this film is the reason why.

The subject matter is usual for a Seth Rogen film. To celebrate a woman's (Katherine Heigl), she decides to go out to a club with a friend. Of course, she gets completely smashed. Anyway, so she meets this seemingly attractive guy (Seth Rogen) and has sex with him. Looks like she forgot a condom. She ends up getting pregnant.

This film is very smart unlike Apatow's other films. Although his films are considered high class comedy, this one actually requires some knowledge to watch and understand it. Firstly, the film gives a surprisingly good message. Number two, some of the jokes do need some brain power to comprehend them.

The film may be very entertaining, but it doesn't manage to fill all 130 minutes of it (can you believe there's an unrated version!). Come on, it's long for any comedy! This is the problem with all Apatow movies. The same complaint was made by many reviewers over Pineapple Express, which I have yet to see.

Knocked Up is an intelligent, fine comedy that is sure to please all audiences. Unlike his other films, it is smart and great. Judd Apatow, you are forgiven for the lengthy, graphic, and realistic birth sequence towards the end.

Movies You Shouldn't See: W. (2008)

I guess W. didn't exactly win my vote. This is it. Oliver Stone has finally made a less than stellar movie. W. is not a terrible movie, but it sure is not good enough to fill out all two hours and ten minutes that it takes up.

W. is the story of George W. Bush, played beautifull by Josh Brolin in what should be an Oscar nominated (but not winning) performance. His friends and his political exploits are explored by Oliver Stone. Laura Bush is played by Elizabeth Banks in a stale, but passable performance. Ellen Burstyn plays Bush's mother well, Thandie Newton does an excellent job as Condeleeza Rice, and Richard Dreyfuss is spectacular as Dick Cheney. The other performances, not so much.

To start off, the film is rated PG-13. What kind of Oliver Stone movie is rated PG-13? What contributed to this was a lot of appropriate language where f-words could have been substituted and the forgotten tale of Bush's cocaine addiction.

Also contributing to the film's rating is Stone's lack of risk. For example, one of the few great scenes in the film is Bush fighting his father in the Oval Office in a nightmare. The scene may be edgy and brilliant, but the rest of the movie is far from it. Stone has clearly toned down the subject matter in his worst attempt at satire ever.

W. reads like a long, boring Saturday Night Live skit. It can't hold my attention for the full movie, but the trailer is worth watching. Some good acting and direction, but the film is not edgy enough for the man in the director's chair.

Irreversible (2002)

Gaspar Noe's torturous movie Irreversible is cinematic and also groundbreaking. The film is Memento-esque in the way that it plays backwards as the tragic events unfold in Paris. Marcus (Vincent Cassel) and Pierre are looking for Le Tenia for the reason, which is later revealed, that Alex (Monica Belucci) has been brutally raped and murdered.

Noe's direction and Monica Belucci really shine in this movie. Although it would be hard to say that the direction is beautiful, it is for sure that of an expert. Monica Belucci is great in the role of Alex. In the sick and perverted ten minute rape scene (I'm not even exaggerating), she gives a very believable performance.

Although Irreversible may be hard to watch at times, it does require one's full attention. As confusing enough as it is, things can easily be missed. It is sick and twisted, but worth more than one viewing.

Irreversible falls under what would be called shock cinema and it truly is shocking. The tragic story of rape, murder, and fate is the most disturbing film ever. Many people left the theater originally because it is just too much. Try to watch this movie because it actually is very good.

Warning: This movie includes graphic, extended scenes of rape, violence, and nudity. You've been warned.

Run Lola Run (1998)

Also known as Lola rennt. In German, with English subtitles.

Tom Tykwer's visually stunning, ecstatic film Run Lola Run is adrenaline pumping and worth more than one viewing. The film is about Lola (Franka Potente) whose boyfriend needs 100,000 dollars in twenty minutes to pay a gangster his debt. When Lola's moped gets stolen, she is forced to run and go to extremes to save him. The story is told three times, each one having a different ending because of something different that happens.

Tykwer gives some pretty amazing shots of Germany. He picks up on some interesting designs in places where you would not ever look. For example, there is a shot of Lola running across a big square. The camera quickly pans up to show a lot of squares that she is running over.

Run Lola Run hits the ground running and does not ever stop. The colors pop like a whore's lip gloss and the acting could not be more energetic. The first story is by far the best, but each one is really good. Never has an action movie been so fun.

Vertigo (1958)

Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece has not aged a bit since the day it came out. Vertigo is a visually stunning, twisty trip into a mystery in San Francisco. As expected, Hitchcock has produced another piece of celluloid gold.

Vertigo is the dizzying story of John Scottie (Jimmy Stewart), a detective who has a bad case of severe case of vertigo. When he is hired by friend to watch his wife (Kim Novak), a blond bombshell who has odd habits. John begins to become obsessed with her leading to unfortunate events.

Bernard Herrman has a fantastic soundtrack in this film. His sweeping music fits perfectly with Hitchcock's many shots of San Francisco and the subjective vertigo shots. As usual, the music is very memorable, as is the picture.

By the end, Hitchcock has created an unbelievably creative movie with a major twist at the end and some amazing shots of San Francisco. One can only wonder where one man can get so much talent. Personally, I value this over Psycho.

For a clever parody of this, watch Mel Brooks' High Anxiety.