Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Ryan’s Daughter (1970) 10/10 Director: David Lean Starring: Robert Mitchum, Sarah Miles, Christopher Jones, Trevor Howard, John Mills, Leo McKern Critics didn’t care for Lean’s follow-up to Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago. I did. If there’re any flaws it’s the similarity with Zhivago and the soundtrack, which while enjoyable Read More …
Tess (Roman Polanski, 1979) – 8.5/10 I’ve wanted to see this since it came out, in part because my gf back then looked a bit like Nastassja Kinski and had the somber demeanor of the title character. Well, lo and behold, I relinked with her a couple years ago after Read More …
Director: Marat Sarulu (Kazakh)8/10Set in present-day Kazakhstan, the film tells the story of two neighboring families, one Russian, one Kazakh. Comity is broken when the Russian wife gives birth to a baby with Asian features. Hostility lasts for some 15 years. Family lore and folk legends are slowly introduced that tell of the Read More …
Director: Margarethe von Trotta Stars: Barbara Sukowa, Heino Ferch, Hannah Herzsprung 8/10 A biopic of the famed German abbess who lived 1098 – 1179, near Mainz. She is best known for her music, which caught on in New Age circles in the 80s and 90s. However, she also wrote on Read More …
Reviewed by Brian M Downing Director: François Ozon Stars: Pierre Niney, Paula Beer Rating: 8/10 A year after the end of World War One, a German town is grieving over the casualties and defeat. Most families have lost a family member or two. A young Frenchman, Adrien, is seen placing Read More …
Director: Michael Cimino Stars: Kris Kristofferson, Isabelle Huppert, Christopher Walken, Jeff Bridges 6.5/10 Finally got around to seeing this film. It’s well known that it was a box office flop that almost ruined the studio. Fresh from his success with The Deer Hunter, Michael Cimino was given free hand to Read More …
Brian M Downing The US has entered into an alliance with Saudi Arabia, Israel, and several Gulf states to weaken Iran. The project is based less on American security interests than on those of the partners. It aims to weaken Iran by imposing sanctions, supporting insurgencies, and encouraging internal opposition Read More …
Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen Stars: Liam Neeson, Tom Waits, Tim Blake Nelson, Tyne Daley 8/10 This is a six-part anthology available on Netflix. I add parenthetically that there’s probably more interesting material on services like Netflix and Amazon Prime than in first-run theaters. The first episode is a satire Read More …
Four out of five stars This is a slow-paced but intriguing Iranian film about a young woman from a city on the mainland sent to a small island to collect votes for the national election. She is accompanied on her mission by a local soldier who is initially baffled by Read More …
The Coen Brothers Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and Barry Pepper When I heard that the Coen brothers were remaking the 1969 John Wayne oater True Grit, I was puzzled. Which way were Joel and Ethan going with this one: a satire of the western genre, Read More …