Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

Sunrise Blu-ray + Dvd Combo

Academy Awards, USA 1929

Won Oscar	Best Picture, Unique and Artistic Production
	Best Actress in a Leading Role Janet Gaynor For 7th Heaven and Street Angel
	Best Cinematography Charles Rosher Karl Struss
Nominated Oscar	Best Art Direction Rochus Gliese

Fox Film
Directed by F.W. Murnau
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Fox)

A farmer is tempted by a vacationing woman from the city, who convinces him to murder his wife by drowning her in a lake. He prepares for the deed by collecting reeds by which he plans to save himself by floating after capsizing their boat. When he can't go through with it, his wife flees for safety by streetcar to the nearby city. He tries to win her back by gifts and flowers, and she eventually succumbs after they stumble on a wedding ceremony. They encounter a storm during the trip back by boat and he fears his wife is drowned. However, she is found alive and they reconcile. Classic Murnau film incorporates some of his expressionistic touches, but it is not enough to overcome its melodramatic tendencies.

The Criminal Code (1931)

Karloff: Criminal Kind Dvd Collection

Academy Awards, USA 1931

Nominated Oscar

Best Writing, Adaptation Seton I. Miller Fred Niblo Jr.

Columbia Pictures
Directed by Howard Hawks
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(DVD, Sony)

A young man is sent to prison by a boisterous DA despite evidence pointing to self defense. Years later, the DA is appointed warden of the same prison. Many of the men hold grudges against him leading to a tense atmosphere. He employees a couple of them in his private quarters, including the young man he sent to prison earlier, who falls in love with his daughter, and Karloff, a murderer plotting to kill the prison guard who sent him up. Karloff dominates his scenes but is really just a supporting player. Walter Huston's DA turned warden is not always sympathetic, and the love story which leads to the young prisoner's redemption is underdeveloped. Still, steady direction by the uncredited Hawks makes this prison drama very watchable even today.

Coraline (2009)

Coraline (Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD))

Academy Awards, USA 2010

Nominated Oscar

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year Henry Selick

Focus Features
Directed by Henry Selick
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray 3D, Universal)

Blue-haired tweener Coraline, neglected by her parents, discovers an "Other World" at the other end of a corridor in her bedroom where doubles of everyone she knows exist, only with button eyes instead of real ones. Her parents are loving, her neighbors young and a friendly cat talks. However, the reality is much more sinister, and she ends up fighting for not only her freedom, but that of her parents and other children living as ghosts. Superbly imaginative adaptation of the Neil Gaman novel, with a creepiness that approaches David Lynch.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Mad Max: Fury Road /Fury Road Black & Chrome (BD Double Feature) [Blu-ray]

Academy Awards, USA 2016

Won Oscar	Best Achievement in Film Editing Margaret Sixel
	Best Achievement in Costume Design Jenny Beavan
	Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling Lesley Vanderwalt Elka Wardega Damian Martin
	Best Achievement in Sound Mixing Chris Jenkins Gregg Rudloff Ben Osmo
	Best Achievement in Sound Editing Mark A. Mangini David White
	Best Achievement in Production Design Colin Gibson (production design) Lisa Thompson (set decoration)
Nominated Oscar	Best Motion Picture of the Year Doug Mitchell George Miller
	Best Achievement in Directing George Miller
	Best Achievement in Cinematography John Seale
	Best Achievement in Visual Effects Andrew Jackson Tom Wood Dan Oliver Andy Williams

Warner Bros.
Directed by George Miller
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Warner Bros.)

Survivor Max from the ongoing series is being held hostage by a war mongering clan for his blood, which has a healing power. The leader of the clan, a tyrannical warlord, realizes his "five wives" have been kidnapped by a renegade female soldier. He sends his entire army after her, including the captive Max. They engage in epic battles on barren landscapes in souped-up vehicles. It's a loud, noisy film that rarely stops for such things as character or plot. The "five wives" are nothing more than waifish, barely dressed Calvin Klein models. On a technical level, the film is a marvel, and the cinematography in the "black and chrome" version I watched particularly effective; just don't expect anything more than escapist entertainment.

The Secret Land (1948)

Academy Awards, USA 1949

Won Oscar

Best Documentary, Features Orville O. Dull

MGM
no director credited
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(YouTube)

A late 40s expedition to the Antarctic is chronicled by military photographers. Just getting there proves treacherous, with a submarine and several ships imperiled by the ice floes. Eventually they make base on the continent and carry out a wide variety of scientifically exciting, but cinematically boring, experiments. Narrated by Hollywood stars Robert Montgomery, Robert Taylor and Van Heflin, all veterans.

The Challenge... A Tribute to Modern Art (1975)

Academy Awards, USA 1975

Nominated Oscar

Best Documentary, Features Herbert Kline

New Line Cinema
Directed by Herbert Kline
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(YouTube)

Orson Welles hosts and narrates this broad review of "modern art", from Cezanne and his contemporaries to the early 70s when the film was made. It touches briefly on most of the important artists, incorporating interviews and whenever possible. Informative but really a starting point, with too much emphasis on contemporary artists who never made much of an impact.

The Way Back (2010)

The Way Back [Blu-ray]

Academy Awards, USA 2011

Nominated Oscar

Best Achievement in Makeup Edouard F. Henriques Greg Funk Yolanda Toussieng

Image Entertainment
Directed by Peter Weir
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Image Entertainment)

A Polish officer is sent to Siberia by the invading Soviets. He survives in the harsh labor camps with other political prisoners as well as hardened criminals. He joins a group who decides to escape during a snow storm, and then plan on walking thousands of miles south to freedom. They have to overcome harsh physical barriers and changing climates along the way, not to mention the ever present threat of Communists. Improbable story supposed based on a real event is tough sledding. Colin Farell overacts and Ed Harris underacts. Saoirse Ronan elicits sympathy as a young orphan who joins them half way through, but seems like and afterthought. Entertaining, if disappointing, effort from Australian director Weir.

Johnny Doughboy (1942)

Academy Awards, USA 1943

Nominated Oscar

Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture Walter Scharf

Republic Pictures
Directed by John H. Auer
My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(YouTube)

Teen star Jane Withers becomes disillusioned with Hollywood and hits the road for a vacation. A lookalike fangirl arrives the same day and with the help of her agent substitutes for the missing actress. She is courted by a group of has-been child actors, including members of Our Gang, to star in their stage production to entertain the troops. Meanwhile, the real actress gets stranded at the country estate of a playwright and develops a crush on him. Ridiculous melodrama mainly of interest to see Spanky and Alfalfa together for the last time on film, albeit singing a terrible song.

Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me (2014)

Glen Campbell...I'll Be Me DVD

Academy Awards, USA 2015

Nominated Oscar

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song Glen Campbell Julian Raymond Song: "I'm Not Gonna Miss You"

Area 23a
Directed by James Keach
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Netflix)

Legendary country artist Glen Campbell embarks on a farewell tour while struggling with Alzheimer's. He gets incredible support from his family, including his wife who helps him with just about every aspect of his life, and his young adult children, many of them in the touring band. At the center of it all is Glen, his memory failing but able to tap into the place where music is made. Incredibly moving film, even if you don't like country music.

Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)

Young Mr. Lincoln (The Criterion Collection)

Academy Awards, USA 1940

Nominated Oscar

Best Writing, Original Story Lamar Trotti

Twentieth Century-Fox Film
Directed by John Ford
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Netflix)

Lincoln is a young lawyer in Illinois who offers to defend a pair of brothers accused of murdering a man one night during a Fourth of July brawl. The ensuing trial looks hopeless, until Lincoln manages to elicit a confession from the real killer in dramatic fashion. Henry Fonda, in heavy make up, almost manages to disappear in the role, only his voice gives him away. The script strays too often into comic relief, and the ending is overblown patriotism, but still entertaining as early Americana with that inimitable John Ford touch.

13th (2016)

Academy Awards, USA 2017

Nominated Oscar

Best Documentary Feature Ava DuVernay Spencer Averick Howard Barish

Netflix
Directed by Ava DuVernay
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Netflix)

The roots of the modern phenomenon of "mass incarceration" are traced to a clause in the 13th amendment to the Constitution, which outlawed slavery, except in the notable exception of punishment for a crime. The clause has been exploited over the decades as a way to incarcerate people of color and use them for cheap labor. The argument is convincing and disturbing, especially in the current political climate. You might want to go out and start protesting after viewing it.

Macario (1960)

Academy Awards, USA 1961

Nominated Oscar

Best Foreign Language Film Mexico.

Azteca Films
Directed by Roberto Gavaldón
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(YouTube)

A Mexican peasant refuses to eat until he gets a whole roast turkey to himself. His obliging wife steals one for him, but before he can eat it three ghostly apparitions appear before him. One of them turns out to be Death, with whom he shares the turkey. Amused, Death gives him a supply of miraculous water which will heal the sick, well most of them anyway. The peasant becomes a famous healer and profits from the water, attracting the Inquisition. He makes a desperate escape, only to end up in the cavern of Death. Interesting concept done in by amateurish special effects and simple-minded approach. Compare to the much superior classic Bergman film The Seventh Seal.

Julia (1977)

Julia (Blu-ray)

Academy Awards, USA 1978

Won Oscar	Best Actor in a Supporting Role Jason Robards Jason Robards was not present at the ceremony. Presenters Maggie Smith and Michael Caine accepted the award on his behalf.
	Best Actress in a Supporting Role Vanessa Redgrave
	Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium Alvin Sargent
Nominated Oscar	Best Picture Richard Roth
	Best Actress in a Leading Role Jane Fonda
	Best Actor in a Supporting Role Maximilian Schell
	Best Director Fred Zinnemann
	Best Cinematography Douglas Slocombe
	Best Costume Design Anthea Sylbert
	Best Film Editing Walter Murch Marcel Durham
	Best Music, Original Score Georges Delerue

Twentieth Century-Fox Film
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Twilight Time)

Childhood friends Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave maintain close ties as adults despite being separated by the demands of work. Jane eventually finds success as a playwright with the help of sometime lover Jason Robards, while Vanessa gets involved with the fight against Nazis. She convinces Jane to smuggle money into Germany while passing through by train. There are some truly tense moments during this sequence of events. Douglas Slocombe's photography can be breathtaking. However, the characters are underdeveloped, particularly the relationship between the two girls which is crucial to the plot, and as a result the finished product is unsatisfying.

Corpse Bride (2005)

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride [Blu-ray]

Academy Awards, USA 2006

Nominated Oscar

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year Tim Burton Mike Johnson

Warner Bros.
Directed by Tim Burton
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Warner Bros.)

Victorian-era story of an arranged marriage between a shy young man and a timid young girl. They fall in love at first sight, but while practicing the wedding vows he accidentally ends up married to a personable and outgoing girl, who happens to be dead. She takes him to the "land of the dead" where everyone appears to be enjoying themselves. He concocts a plan to get her back to the land of the living to reunite with his fiance, but when she discovers his treachery she whisks back to the dead and he reluctantly agrees to marry her. However, at the wedding she realizes he still loves his fiance and lets him return to her, getting some revenge along the way. This stop-motion animated film takes an otherwise predictable love story and turns it into a Dickensian black comedy that could have been directed by Rankin-Bass. Briskly paced with just the right amount of musical accompaniment, I sometimes wonder if this isn't better than Burton's better known predecessor The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Escape Me Never (1935)

Academy Awards, USA 1936

Nominated Oscar

Best Actress in a Leading Role Elisabeth Bergner

United Artists
Directed by Paul Czinner
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(YouTube)

Elisabeth Bergner is a homeless waif with a newborn child who befriends a down and out composer in Venice. They decide to set out together with his brother as traveling minstrels, eventually ending up in London. She romances both brothers, leading to the inevitable melodramatic complications. Bergner's over-the-top performance earned her an Oscar nomination, but most viewers will tire of her theatrics rather quickly, leaving no one to root for in this overwrought adaptation of Margaret Kennedy's play.

There Will Be Blood (2007)

There Will Be Blood (2007) (BD) [Blu-ray]

Academy Awards, USA 2008

Won Oscar	Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Daniel Day-Lewis
	Best Achievement in Cinematography Robert Elswit
Nominated Oscar	Best Motion Picture of the Year JoAnne Sellar Paul Thomas Anderson Daniel Lupi
	Best Achievement in Directing Paul Thomas Anderson
	Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay Paul Thomas Anderson
	Best Achievement in Film Editing Dylan Tichenor
	Best Achievement in Art Direction Jack Fisk (art director) Jim Erickson (set decorator)
	Best Achievement in Sound Editing Matthew Wood Christopher Scarabosio

Paramount Vantage
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Paramount) 

Prospector Daniel Day-Lewis gets a tip about an oil field on a remote California ranch. He travels there to buy the ranch and as much surrounding land as possible before the big oil company. He builds a derrick and hires men to operate it. His plans to build a pipeline to the ocean are thwarted by a holdout who refused to sell his land. He also clashes with a local young preacher, leading to a deadly confrontation. Epic story demonstrating how greed, in all of its forms, leads to amoral and ultimately self-destructive behavior. A vivid characterization by Day-Lewis, set to an intense, foreboding soundtrack by Jonny Greenwood. However, the gloomy atmosphere and unlikable characters begins to wear after a couple of hours, and an overwrought ending does not help.

James and the Giant Peach (1996)

James and the Giant Peach (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray]

Academy Awards, USA 1997

Nominated Oscar

Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score Randy Newman

Buena Vista Pictures
Directed by Henry Selick
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(DVD, Disney)

An orphaned boy lives with his two cruel aunts in a ramshackle house by the sea. He escapes by using magic "crocodile tongues" which cause a giant peach to grow outside the house. He climbs inside and befriends its inhabitants of talking bugs and insects. Together they cross the ocean in the giant peach, overcoming various obstacles, eventually ending up in NYC. The aunts try to reclaim him, but when their abusive behavior is revealed he prevails. Combination of live action and stop motion animation is a hit and miss affair. The songs are unmemorable, James is annoying and the bugs are broad stereotypes.