Movies in 2026 211

 

The Searchers (John Ford, 1956)

I don't know what I could possibly say about John Ford's 1956 classic The Searchers which hasn't already been said. To me it's one of the greatest films ever made, and undeniably one of the top five American films (as in, made in the US, but also relating to the American experience) - and clearly the greatest Western ever made. Today it routinely makes film critics' lists for greatest film. That said, when it came out it didn't receive even one Academy Award nomination, not one, in any category. Even today, the average film fan hasn't seen it. Inexplicable. It's not simply the beautiful scenery, exquisite photography, and the best John Wayne performance, but it's also a brilliant condemnation of American racism. I suppose there will be a time when I am tired of watching The Searchers, but, as John Wayne's Ethan would opine, "That'll be the day." Essential, required viewing.

Mothmen

 Just posting another picture from yesterday's get-together. It was wonderful to see Garrett while he's in town, and, as always, spending time with my son is everything to me.

My family has produced some handsome men, except for that guy in the middle, who is pretty hideous.

Movies in 2026 210

 

One Man Up (Paolo Sorrentino, 2001)

When I think of the directors alive today who are still working away, and who I absolutely love, there are several folks who immediately jump to mind: Jia Zhangke, Joachim Trier, Dag Johan Haugerud, Hlynur Palmason, Hal Hartley, etc. Having said that, my choice for my own personal favorite might be Paolo Sorrentino. I've written about his exquisite The Great Beauty, which would be on my very short list for greatest films of this millennium, but I also really liked The Consequences of Love and The Hand of God. Last night I re-watched his first film, One Man Up, and it's a film that I absolutely love. It stars his frequent collaborator, Toni Servillo (as Antonio "Tony" Pisapis) and Andrea Renzi (as Antonio Pisapis). Yes, they share the same name, and essentially the same destiny: two once famous figures - Servillo as a singer and Renzi as a soccer player - who suffer a face from grace, and something like a redemption, although a redemption through a Sorrentino lens. It's funny and sad and profound, and chock full of those oddities you'd expect to find in a Sorrentino filo (Servillo's fascination with cooking fish, including the wonderful final scene). Toni Servillo is, as always, extraordinary, and he probably is the greatest actor working today. Essential.

Mothies

 Just as Taylor Swift has her Swifties, Mothman has his Mothies. My nephew Garrett swung by the state on a visit, and he and my son popped out to the cabin (and lunch at the Maple Corners Store), As it turns out, they all wore wearing Mothman shirts.

I wonder who these three individuals might know in common?

Movies in 2026 209

 

Victims of Sin (Emilio Fernandez, 1951)

And now I've gone down the Rumberas films rabbit hole, having just finished Emilio Fernandez's 1951 Victims of Sin. This one once again starred Ninon Sevilla as Violeta, who is once again treated roughly by men and society. although she's a much kinder character than she was in Aventurera. Tito Junco also stars, although he's a much more noble character (Santriago) than he played in the previous film. The true villain is Rodolfo (played by Rodolfo Acosta), who is utterly wicked, including pimping a lot of women, telling one woman to dump their baby in a trash can (Violete finds it and adopts him), beating Violeta up, and killing Santiago. In the end, Violeta gets her revenge by jumping in through a window a blowing Rodolfo away. This one features crime, prostitution, prison, domestic abuse, slapping children around, murder, etc. - thank God for the dance numbers to save the day. It's also beautifully filmed, it sort of looks like one of those Marcel Carne poetic realism films. It's amazing to think of how real/lurid these films are, as compared to how vanilla American films would have been in 1950 (even the hardest edge 1950 American film noir would seem vanilla by comparison). I think this was a much better film than Aventurera, and it's definitely recommended.

Movies in 2026 208

 

The Silence of the Lambs (Jonathan Demme, 1991)

Last night we watched Jonathan Demme's The Silence of the Lambs, which I always somehow forget is truly a great film. It's easy to focus on the horror, and overlook the fact that it's beautifully structured and acted. I don't know why this always surprises me, considering that it is one of our only three films to sweep the top five awards at the Oscars (along with It Happened One Night and One Flew Over the Cuckoos's Nest). I also think that Demme never even remotely came close to making another film that was this good, although this may fall into the same category as critiquing Jason Isbell for not producing an album as good as the peerless Southeastern; essentially, it leaves a lot of room for a movie/album to be really good, but not come anywhere close to their best work. Highly recommended.

Movies in 2026 207

 

Aventurera (Alberto Gout, 1950)

Yesterday I was introduced to a new little corner of the cinema universe that I didn't know existed: the Rumberas film genre. Once again, thank you to the Criterion Channel. The Rumberas have joined Japanese film noir, Czech New Wave, etc. - it's just too bad that it happened too late for me to create class based on it. I watched Alberto Gout's Aventurera, which was a joyous mess of a film. The Rumberas films are a crazy mashup of film noir, extreme melodrama, and a Busby Berkley musical, all while somehow casting a light on the disenfranchised of society. The lead character is usually a woman who has been done wrong by society or evil men, and how she gains revenge or redemption, while including fix or six high energy Afro-Caribbean dance numbers. Amazing. Aventurera starred Ninon Sevilla, the star of the Rumberas films (she usually also choreographed her own dance numbers), as Elena Tejero, a good girl who survives her mother's infidelity, her father's suicide. life on the streets, an extremely evil step-mother (Andrew Palma) and thug (the great Tito Junco, playing El Guapo) who is blackmailing her, etc., to marry a respectable lawyer, who she tries to destroy as part of her revenge plan - and yet it somehow has a happy ending (except for the devoted Rengo, played by Miguel Inclan). The power of dance (it's all sort of a much better Bollywood film). It also legendary singers Pedro Vargas and Ana Maria Gonzalez as themselves.  Definitely recommended.