THE KILLING (1956)

There's no foolin' around here!  THE KILLING jumps straight into the exciting story about a group of tough guys that are looking pull a racetrack heist worth $2 million clams. You got two inside men (a cashier and a bartender), the distractions (a giant wrestler to start a bar fight and a sharpshooter to snipe the lead horse during the big race), the financier, the gun man and the getaway guy (a crooked cop). The plan is full proof. Full proof I tells ya! Except that this one palooka keeps running his yap to his dame - a selfish money-hungry, shit-talkin' moll, that'll stop at nothing to get her mitts on all that tasty spinach.

THE KILLING is awesome. It's hard to think of a better example of a young filmmaker improving his craft from one film to the next better than with Stanley Kubrick and the rough around the edges, KILLER'S KISS in 1955 to the incredible THE KILLING only one year later. Memorable characters that are all bitter and hard-boiled as fook, a quick pace, the acting by the entire cast is great, awesome story, a few shocking moments...but I think the two things THE KILLING is remembered for the most is its photography and non-linear storytelling. Both have been copied many times since. I won't get into all the examples, but it's a lot.

Sadly, The Kube turned his back on film noir after THE KILLING but at least he went out with a bang. Highly recommended.

Rodney Dangerfield

LOVE CRAZY (1941)

[Update 09/07/2021: Need to redo this review completely. Fix the screenshots also.]

This tenth of the fourteen pairings between Loy and Powell is one of the best. I've never sat down to make a complete list from best to worst, but off the top of my head I would rank this around #4 or #5. The films starts out with Powell and Loy as a loving couple celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary. Things are looking great and it's almost guaranteed that Powell's gonna get him some tonight, maybe even some anal. Then...the mother-in-law shows up. And she ain't no cool mother-in-law, no this bitch is a meddling troublemaker and she stirs up so much shit in her short little visit that by the end of the night Loy has moved out and wants to file for divorce!!!

I won't get into all of the details, but I'll just say that Loy is mad as Hell and Powell gets so desperate to stall the divorce that he pulls out the only option he has left: act crazy and get the hearing delayed for 30 days. Bad news is he does such a good job of acting crazy he gets thrown into an insane asylum! Hahaha! As funny as all that sounds the highlight of the movie is what happens after the insane asylum.

If you're a fan of classic comedies then LOVE CRAZY is a much see. You're not going to be doubled over with laughter or anything, but it's an enjoyable time with a number of memorable lines and familiar faces like: Elisha Cook Jr., Donald MacBride, Gail Patrick and the always great Jack Carson.

Highly recommended. Double-feature with LA CAGE AUX FOLLES.

I think we all know who that's a reference too.