I love Lenzi's gialli offerings, or at least the one's I have experiences! I still need to see KNIFE OF ICE and A QUIET PLACE TO KILL. SPASMO and EYEBALL are some of my more favorite gialli viewings. Two very stylish yet, odd in nature but still very effective in the payoff!
It's been a long time since I first seen his SO SWEET... SO PERVERSE (1969), was that not just recently issued on DVD again??
I absolutely loved Freda's brilliant I VAMPRI! Now, what was the deal with Bava being uncredited for with this again? I know he had something to do with the overall direction, but what's the full story on that again?
Any opinions about this more recent giallo? I've heard some bad things but when I found it dirt cheap on eBay, I couldn't resist the temptation of picking it up. Figured I need to give some of the more recent horrer/thriller stuff a chance too. Still waiting for it to arrive and I'm not quite sure what to expect of it but at least it has a pretty good cast that includes famous transsexual Eva Robins from TENEBRAE (1982) and the good-looking Elisabetta Rocchietti, who has been cropping up in a lot of horror stuff like THE THREE FACES OF TERROR (2004), DO YOU LIKE HITCHCOCK? (2005) and THE LAST HOUSE IN THE WOODS (2006). Not to mention supporting roles by Florinda Bolkan and Franco Nero! Anyone here seen it?
Interesting looking film out of Italy with Irish/Spanish co-financiers. Directed by Italian SFX man Stefano Bessoni.
In the 1600s, long before the invention of photography, a scientist named Girolamo Fumagalli was obsessed with the idea of reproducing images. He discovered that by killing a victim and removing the victim's eyeballs, it was possible to reproduce on paper the last image imprinted on that person's retinas. He named this technique 'thanatography'. Today, the same kind of gruesome ritual and abominable crime recurs within the walls of an international school of cinema. -imdb.com
Also stars the daughter of Charlie Chapman, Geraldine Chaplin as well as her daughter Oona.
Well, it seems this is yet another Argento flick that is taking a beating in the review department. Even die hard fans are not too pleased with this outing. Anyhow, the PAL R2 DVD is now out via a Polish company that found it important to force the Polish subs!
Looks like this will be getting a UK release first via Arrow Films! I still haven't seen this, it was on my radar during last year's Midnight Madness during the Toronto Film Fest. The disc will be released March 15th..
I'd love to grab this, but for now I'm holding off on the Blu-Ray player for now, too unstable industry right now. Plus, the multi-region player are way too expensive!
STARRING-TOM HARDY, MATT KING, KELLY ADAMS, KATY BARKER, EDWARD BENNETT-COLES and JUNE BLADON.
SOURCE-VERTIGO FILMS (UK)/ENTERTAINMENT 1 DVD (PAL REGION 2 / 89MINS / 2009)
Based on one of Britain's most violent and notorious prisoners, Michael Peterson who eventually become Charles Bronson in name. Originally serving a 7 year sentence for robbing a local post office, he has ended up serving most of his adult life in jail, equating to pretty much 34 years or so behind bars. Known for violently acting out against prison guards and other inmates, as well as causing almost 2 million pounds worth of damage during various prison roof top riots, he has never murdered anyone. At one point after 9/11, the British Secret Service (MI5) even tried to recruit his services while in jail to infiltrate known Al-Queda operatives in the jail he was serving his time. Though, with all the violence under his belt, Charlie Bronson has become a celebrity of sorts, with a following of people who seek to have Bronson released from jail.
BRONSON was a must see for me without a doubt, giving that fact that director Nicolas Winding Refn was attached to the project. Since first being exposed to his work via his gritty and very raw PUSHER trilogy depicting various stages of lifestyles in some of Denmark's harshest environments. Seeing how Refn homed his ability through the series on several different levels, but none more then being able to really convey a great storyline through it's characters. This can also be seen in his other efforts such as BLEEDER (1998) which also showcases two of PUSHER'S main actors, Kim Bodnia and Mads Mikkelsen. As well as his 2003 thriller FEAR X starring John Turturro and Deborah Kara Unger.
What more then to start a film off posed to display the life of one of Britain's most notorious prisoners, then to have a introduction from the main himself, Charlie Bronson. Though, there is one thing that is present with BRONSON, that of all of Refn's prior films, that as discussed, the tight and well executed character formations. Still BRONSON'S overall look, feel and direction is quite different from any of his other films. Pretty much told in a linear fashion with edged out time segments eluding to past events. Refn brings together a very surreal look into the life of Bronson through his actual paintings/artwork, through actual narration and most importantly incorporating a very dark humour that rivals that of Kubrick's A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. Though insisting there was never that influence in making the film. Never shying away from diving into the violence or graphic details necessary to convey the film's portrayal of it's actual events and characters. These elements are encased in an equally as offbeat score provided by various artists that cover the full spectrum of music. Everything from 80's pop to classical.
Building on the solid character profiles in BRONSON, the most important being that of Bronson himself played by Tom Hardy (ROCKNROLLA) who slapped on the carbs, gained some pounds to pull the role off. Extensively studying Charles Bronson, his speech, down to his mannerisms to even his appearance. It all shows in the film itself that Hardy did his job well. His portrayal of Bronson's excessive violence, and sheer boldness yet diving into a 360 to Bronson's subtlety extreme interesting in in art. Almost taming the beast, giving Bronson the perfect way of self expression, one that is simply not for the faint at heart. Often depicting his distaste for prison, his anger towards his treatment and those behind it. Displayed in a completely eerie session of surrealism and nightmarish imagery. These drawings are weaved into the overall flow of the film, integrating them into the transitions of scenes and more.
There also a colourful entourage of support characters in BRONSON, as per often for a Refn film. Everything from a gay hustler who Bronson befriends on prison, who eventually gives Bronson employment via underground fighting during his very brief release from prison. Then there is Bronson's Uncle Jack, who once again during his brief release from prison goes to stay with. His Uncle Jack is jacked into a meriot of unusual sexual orientations. The list goes on as like many aspects of the film continuously echo A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.
The UK DVD release of BRONSON from Vertigo/E1 Entertainment is packed with many goodies for those of you who enjoy their extras as much as the main feature itself. Deck out with everything from a very extensive look at the making of and behind the scenes of BRONSON. Showing everything from Tom Hardy's regiment in getting himself into prefect form for the role to audio snippets from Charlie Bronson himself. TV spots and trailer which include Refn's latest film VALHALLA RISING. This along with pretty much all of Refn's work is well worth a look into, and this DVD is certainly a great start.
BRONSON
Based on one of Britain's most violent and notorious prisoners, Michael Peterson who eventually become Charles Bronson in name. Originally serving a 7 year sentence for robbing a local post office, he has ended up serving most of his adult life in jail, equating to pretty much 34 years or so behind bars. Known for violently acting out against prison guards and other inmates, as well as causing almost 2 million pounds worth of damage during various prison roof top riots, he has never murdered anyone. At one point after 9/11, the British Secret Service (MI5) even tried to recruit his services while in jail to infiltrate known Al-Queda operatives in the jail he was serving his time. Though, with all the violence under his belt, Charlie Bronson has become a celebrity of sorts, with a following of people who seek to have Bronson released from jail. 
is one thing that is present with BRONSON, that of all of Refn's prior films, that as discussed, the tight and well executed character formations. Still BRONSON'S overall look, feel and direction is quite different from any of his other films. Pretty much told in a linear fashion with edged out time segments eluding to past events. Refn brings together a very surreal look into the life of Bronson through his actual paintings/artwork, through actual narration and most importantly incorporating a very dark humour that rivals that of Kubrick's A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. Though insisting there was never that influence in making the film. Never shying away from diving into the violence or graphic details necessary to convey the film's portrayal of it's actual events and characters. These elements are encased in an equally as offbeat score provided by various artists that cover the full spectrum of music. Everything from 80's pop to classical. 
