I’m gradually writing reviews of all the important, ground-breaking or just plain odd films in my collection and I’m delighted to share them with you here.
My aesthetic, as such, is pretty singular and entirely subjective. I confess that I detest “feel good” movies and overblown Hollywood CGI fests. Rom-coms make me nauseous. I have yet to see “Avatar” and think the “oeuvre” of James Cameron, J.J. Abrams and Michael Bay is compelling and irrefutable evidence that our species evolved from dumb, shit-lobbing primates with an eye for bright, shiny objects. Most contemporary movies leave me cold. I hope I’m not an apologist for the many short-comings of genre films, but I do love an old noir or cheesy sci fi flick.
This is definitely a work-in-progress; I’ll be adding more critiques as time allows. Eventually I hope to compile enough to put out a book (but that’s still a few years down the road). You can click on the link below, download my reviews and commence reading.
And then…let the debate begin.
Film Reviews (Free PDF document)
Cinema Arete 
Had a look through your reviews (and took some recommendations down for later, which I do appreciate) but would make one suggestion – make each review a single website page, and allow reviews to be searched by tags, such as actors, director, genre, and whether the film is colour, B&W or silent, and so forth.
Just getting everything set up, still analyzing the best way to present what will eventually be hundreds of short film reviews, along with longer efforts for more innovative or important films. I agree, I have to come up with a format that makes searching easier so I appreciate your suggestions. Obviously, I want this site to be as reader-friendly as possible.
I really have to thank you and your reviews for some quality movie viewing, Cliff. I’ve managed to view “Reservoir Dogs”, “Night of the Living Dead”, and “Wages of Fear”, all of which you highly recommended in your movie review list. The first two movies were excellent, and thought the third was worth watching, too. Again, thank you very much, Cliff – I really appreciate the work you have done here.
I’m glad to be of service. I think the purpose and raison d’etre of this site is not drawing viewers to popular efforts but, instead, highlighting films that because of their age or subject matter have slipped below most people’s radar. I think of a film like “Laws of Gravity”, which deserves a larger, more appreciative viewing audience. You mention “Wages of Fear”—if I can draw a few more people to the powerful, original vision of a genius like Clouzot, I’m accomplishing something.
Apologies that there haven’t been any recent additions to this blog—I’ve been off promoting my novel SO DARK THE NIGHT, which we’ve just released as a trade paperback. Promoting and publicizing that takes an enormous amount of time and energy but, never fear, this blog will continue to grow and develop. Especially if there are people like you popping in for a visit…
May I be so bold as to ask what your favorite Kubrick films are, excluding 2001?
“2001: A Space Odyssey” (5 stars)
“Paths of Glory” (****1/2)
“Dr. Strangelove” (****1/2)
“Clockwork Orange” (****1/2)
“Full Metal Jacket” (****)
“Lolita” (***1/2)
“The Killing” (***1/2)
“Spartacus” (***)
“The Shining” (**1/2)
“Barry Lyndon” (**)
“Eyes Wide Shut” (have been unable to make myself watch it, even though I own a “special edition”–I despise Tom Cruise and the notion of the Master lowering himself to work with the fucker…well…)
Hope that’s helpful. Also have a copy of one of Kubrick’s earliest features, “Killer’s Kiss”, and will view it later this summer. Maybe a Kubrick film festival at my place, hmmm?