One 11 and 103 (1992)

John Cage: One11 with 103 DVD

Directed by Henning Lohner
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

An experimental mood piece by composer John Cage. A series of vague, fuzzy images slowly move across the screen, set to vague, fuzzy classical music. Alright if you are in the mood, I suppose, but would have been just as effective at say 15 minutes instead of 90.

Eggshells (1969)

Directed by Tobe Hooper
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

Hippies in Texas attend political rallies, give flowers to strangers and hang out in their mansion with friends smoking pot, taking baths and making music. Meanwhile, their reclusive artist roommate discovers strange lights in the basement. Baffling debut feature by Tobe Hooper is badly dated, but interesting visuals including a couple of extended stop motion animation sequences and a soundtrack featuring Shiva's Headband make it more than watchable.

Eye in the Labyrinth (1972)

Cineriz (Italy)
Directed by Mario Caiano
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

Pretty young Rosemary Dexter goes in search of her missing lover/psychiatrist in a small Italian town. She is befriended by a creepy obese man who leads her to a nearby commune for artists and actors. At first they deny ever seeing her boyfriend, but eventually the truth comes out, as do a few other body parts. The usual stylish Italian thriller in the giallo vein, with plenty of girls in bikinis set to an excellent jazz soundtrack.

Out 1 (1971)

Out 1 Blu-ray

Sunchild Productions
Directed by Jacques Rivette and Suzanne Schiffman
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Netflix)

Two experimental theater groups in Paris prepare for their respective interpretations of ancient Greek plays by using a series of acting exercises that encourage improvisation. Meanwhile, two young people wander the streets scamming people for money. One of them receives a note from a theater group member which sends him searching for a mysterious "group of 13" which may or may not exist. The other steals some letters which sends her searching for the "group of 13" as well. The various plot lines gradually, very gradually, interact, leading to a rather unsatisfactory conclusion by the sea. Rivette's nearly 13-hour epic plays like a homage to some old silent serial, neatly broken into 8 separate episodes. Hours and hours are spent on the mostly pointless acting exercises of the two theater groups. In the end, it's just barely worth the huge effort required to get through it all.

Good Neighbor Sam (1964)

Jack Lemmon Showcase Volume 2 - DVD

Columbia Pictures
Directed by David Swift
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Mill Creek)

Languishing ad executive Jack Lemmon saves an account by being the only staff member with an unblemished family life. It's all put in jeopardy when he poses as the husband of his wife's best friend so she can qualify for a 15 million dollar inheritance. It's all innocent enough, until her ex husband shows up and ends up moving in with his wife to complete the charade. The situation is original, but it goes on far too long (over 2 hours), and the comedy is often sexist and dated.

The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch (2004)

Rutles - The Rutles Anthology Blu-Ray/DVD

NBC
Directed by Eric Idle
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Video Services Corp)

If you liked All You Need is Cash... it's more of the same, with some discarded songs and footage, some new interviews with famous rock stars who struggle to say "Rutles" instead of "Beatles", and, most annoyingly, recycled scenes. Fun, but quite unnecessary. Someone should just splice together an extended version of both. Robin Williams phones in his scenes, literally.

The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978)

Rutles - The Rutles Anthology Blu-Ray/DVD

NBC
Directed by Eric Idle and Gary Weis
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Blu-ray, Video Services Corp)

Monty Python's Eric Idle plays a fictional reporter who gives us the history of a famous British rock band from Liverpool named The Rutles. What follows are spot-on satires of iconic Beatles imagery, complete with impeccable musical accompaniment of mock-Beatles songs. It's almost too spot-on, sometimes you might think you are actually watching and listening to The Beatles, until Idle mugs at the camera with those ridiculous Paul McCartney faces (whom he also plays). It's funny, just not hilarious, and best appreciated by hardcore Beatles fans who will recognize every little nuance.

Operation Mad Ball (1957)

Jack Lemmon Showcase Volume 2 - DVD

Columbia Pictures
Directed by Richard Quine
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Mill Creek)

In the waning days of WWII in France, American soldiers deal with boredom, and their superior officers, by planning an elaborate party in a nearby town. Jack Lemmon is the love struck private who organizes the shindig by every means necessary, irritating his overbearing captain played by Ernie Kovacs. Kathryn Grant is the pretty nurse and Arthur O'Connell the friendly commanding officer who lets him get away with it. Mickey Rooney is hilarious as a fast-talking beatnik. The setting bears a striking resemblance to MASH, which was written by Larry Gelbart, who would later work with Blake Edwards, a cowriter of this movie.

My Sister Eileen (1955)

Jack Lemmon Showcase Volume 1 DVD

Columbia Pictures
Directed by Richard Quine
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Mill Creek)

A couple of wide-eyed girls from Ohio arrive in NYC in search of fame and fortune. They get scammed into taking a run down basement apartment which shakes violently because of nearby subway construction. Undeterred, the "pretty" sister Janet Leigh goes from one audition to the next but nobody can get past her sex appeal to see her talent. She chooses a local soda fountain manager among her many potential suitors. Meanwhile her "ugly" sister Betty Garrett collects rejected manuscripts from various editors. One of them, Jack Lemmon, falls for her after a few missteps. Spiced up by a few innovative dance numbers by Bob Fosse, who also has a minor role, but ultimately succumbs to the same old romantic cliches.

State Fair (1945)

State Fair DVD

Twentieth Century-Fox Film
Directed by Walter Lang
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

An Iowa family heads to the state fair. Mom frets about her sweet pickles and dad about his hog, while their teenage kids find love with strangers. Naive Jeanne Crain falls for a fast talking reporter in the tunnel of love. Her brother Dick Haymes falls for the sultry lead singer of a big band. One ends happily while the other doesn't. Even the brilliant Technicolor and music by Rodgers and Hammerstein can't save this from rampant Hollywood cliches.