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Reviews
L'amant de poche (1978)
Controversial Coming of Age Gem..
Most "coming of age" movies feel like they were written by middle aged men, far removed from their own "coming of Age" days... But this movie is different, in that it truly plays out like the wild fantasies of an actual 15 year old boy... and that makes "Pocket Lover" one of the absolute best movies of the genre.. Julian's vivid descriptions of his hooker dream girl's apartment is something out of an early James Bond film: at the push of a button, golden trays of lobster and grapes and chocolate cake are rolled into the deliriously decorated bedroom, by always invisible adults.. Mimsy Farmer is impossibly sexy in that pin up girl style, and she finds the scrawny, bespeckled 15 year old boy irresistibly sexy.. She even owns a giant dog that knows how to operate the computerized control center that sends in the food and makes the round bed rotate.. If THAT isn't the fantasy of a 15 year old boy I don't know what is...
This film is close to being a "lost title..." Released only in limited numbers on VHS/PAL video format, the subject matter and underage nudity... and it's general presentation of adult/child sexual relationships as normal, acceptable and "cute" makes it unreleasable today in this Age of "Pedo Paranoia.." . With the possible exception of boutique labels like Vinegar Syndrome or Arrow, I doubt any mainstream label would touch this one.. unfortunate as it is a very enjoyable, special kind of movie... On a side note, "Pocket Lover" features a cameo appearance by the infamous child actress Eva Ionesco, a young girl made famous by her eccentric mother, photographer Irina Ionesco, who created coffee table photo books featuring her daughter in highly charged sexually graphic photos.. Eva also starred in the German/Swiss film "Maladolescenza" which is so sexually graphic that it is illegal to own or distribute in most countries..the doll-like Ionesco was 11 years old at the time.. She doesn't appear in any graphic scenes in this one, but her appearance in yet another banned film is very telling of the kinds of "artists" that her mother "loaned" her daughter out to... I recommend "Pocket Lover" to fans of erotica and coming of age films... You will have a hard time finding a copy, but it is worth the effort...
Je suis une nymphomane (1971)
Exquisitely Filmed Erotica..
French director Max Pecas, cut from the same cloth as other filmmakers like Radley Metzger, Joe Sarno, and to a lesser degree, Just Jaeckin and Jess Franco, has created an exquisitely lensed and dreamlike tale of a beautiful young woman who finds her own libido out of control. The low rating on sites like this only prove that the system is highly inaccurate, because obviously certiain films are only ever seen by the wrong audience. Those looking for a well told, linear tale with a strong story arc, are likely going to rate a film like this lower. There is a story here, with a fine dramatic arc, but it all takes a back seat to the lush visuals. Because at it's core, this IS erotica, and that is not going to appeal to mainstream tastes. At the heart of "Je suis une nymphomane" are the scenes of sexual coupling and nudity, all of which are surprisingly tasteful, and even "chaste.." The heroine of this sexual tale, Sandra Julien, is a classic beauty, and her fascinating, innocent portrayal of the young woman lost in her mental illness, carries the film with competence and class. Rather than playing the part of Carol as a one dimensional sex kitten, she chooses to give the character real emotions, displaying her confusion and genuine pain, fear and shameful disgust over her situation. Her scenes with the Priest are among the most effective and beautiful; those outdoor shots of the two figures, walking among the church grounds with the rays of natural sunlight streaming through the trees..this director knows his craft well. In fact every frame of this movie is gorgeous, expertly photographed, with flawlessly lit, richly decorated interior shots, with a lot of oil paintings and flowers in vases always seen in the pastel colored background...Highly recommended for fans of 1970's softcore films, this one stands out as one of the best.
Orestis (1997)
A Masterpiece Destroyed by Time
Here is a true work of art, a lost film depicting the Greek Tragedy of Agamemnon, murdered by his wife Clitemnestra and her lover Aegisthus in the Kingdom of Mycenae. The film opens with Agamemnon's ritual sacrifice, a dizzying quick cut spectacle of painted, writhing bodies and blood ritual, set to a primitive drum beat. Soon after, Orestes, Son of Agamemnon arrives in Mycenae to avenge his Father's death. But Orestes, having an acute aversion to violence and bloodshed, finds the task difficult. In fact, with the Warmongering Agamemnon gone, the Kingdom has fallen to ruin, without a Leader to rally the soldiers to seek out conquests of other Lands, and the people of Mycenae face a Winter of possible starvation. The Matriarch Clitemnestra becomes increasingly furious at the docile Orestes, whose hatred for violence prevents him from organizing the troops for a Mission. As the Greek Tragedy unfolds, tensions build to an expected violent and bloody climax.
The date listed on this site, 1997, is completely incorrect, as "Orestes" is a Greek production from 1969. I believe 1997 is the year when a badly damaged print of the film was unearthed. And "damaged" is an understatement. The surviving film has degraded extremely. Much of the film has turned a bright, blood soaked red. The first half hour, including the Death Ritual and the Funeral, is this intense red color, which considering the content and mood, is strangely suitable. The scenes filmed in the bright daytime sun fare much better, and in these scenes the true beauty of the film and the actors can be appreciated. The character Orestes is portrayed by actor Hiram Keller, who is possibly one of the most aesthetically beautiful men to have ever existed; he truly does resemble a Greek God with his squared chin and full, sensuous mouth. Orestes' friend and traveling companion. Pyladus, blond actor David Elan Peterson is equally beautiful. The film possesses a mesmerizing and haunting quality, the drama offset by a simple yet hypnotic electronic score. The feel and style of the production is very similar to Derek Jarman's "Sebastian," in it's primitive and sparse filming style. And like the Biblical character Saint Sebastian, Orestes also despises War and bloodshed. In fact, at it's core, "Orestes" seems to be an anti war film, with quick flashes of modern day warfare, like missiles, marching Nazi soldiers and mushroom clouds edited into the Ancient scenery, very effectively too. Though the original film negative of this masterful, poetic film, is tragically lost, I still treasure the rough copy that I have managed to find through a collector. Highly recommended for film historians and Greek History enthusiasts to seek out. Also recommended is the Epic, made for Italian tv Masterpiece, "Odissea" from 1968, with actor Bekim Fehmiu in the role of Ulysses...both films are unforgettable works of art.
Mitchell (1975)
Retro Crime Thriller With Heart & Soul...
All I can say is, that current IMdb score of 2.7 stars is preposterous, and the reason I never take the ratings seriously! "Mitchell" breaks the tired mold of "Handsome stud cop hero" and introduces Mitchell, a regular looking cop who lives in a sloppy apartment, riddled with Playboy magazines and empty fast food containers... Mitchell is also cursed with the inherent need to catch the bad guys and put them behind bars. He puts his job on the line to do this, embarking on crazier methods to bust John Saxon, a rich scumbag who gets off on killing Mexicans for kicks... Later he sets his sights on two rival mob bosses who are both trying to use Mitchell to smuggle heroin into the Los Angeles area... The retro look of this film is gorgeous and for movie fans who admire the 70's aesthetic there is no shortage of big cars and suits with big lapels...Our man Mitchell even has his own theme song! The budget on this one isn't large, but it is spent well on a number of action scenes, such as wild car chases, and some extremely graphic and bloody gunplay... As if this all wasn't enough, we have Linda Evans, who really classes up the production with her sexy, often hilarious portrayal of a (very) expensive call girl.... $1,000 a night according to her... And the mystery is, which mafioso is paying her to entertain Mitchell each night, in hopes that our Good Cop will succumb to bribery and corruption..... He doesn't... Anyway thus film is a superb example of the 70s cop drama, and should be sought out by fans of "Fort Apache, the Bronx," and those old "Columbo" TV episodes.... Mitchell won't let you down.....
Zambo, il dominatore della foresta (1972)
Visually Stunning Jungle Adventure
As Hollywood robs us of sights like location photography and "real" animals, movies like these vintage titles become much more valuable. Filmed on location in the jungles of Tanzania and Uganda, the many sights of the exotic Wildlife alone are worth the price of admission. Seeing REAL giraffes and elephants on the screen in 2023 is almost a surreal experience. The story involves an escaped prisoner, Brad Harris, hiding from the authorities in the Tanzania jungle, where he comes upon a Tribe of "Savages..." in a rare turn of events, this Tribe actually doesn't want to eat him..this is no sleazy cannibal movie, in fact it;s all quite innocent. The Natives, dazzled by his odd White complexion and blue eyes, make him their king, and he responds by becoming a hunter and protector of the Tribe, especially the children. As time passes the Legend of the :"White King" of the Jungle reaches the mainland, and a new search for the missing fugitive is began. The crew, including the beautiful Gisele Hahn, locate Harris, but quickly become distracted by the treasure trove of rare jewels they find in a Native Temple..Featuring a gorgeous, rousing score, this forgotten film is sadly only available in a washed out and cropped print. I can imagine how absolutely stunning this would look in it's original scope picture ratio. Hopefully one of the "boutique' label blu-ray distributors will pick this one one up for restoration; it definitely deserves it. Directed by Bitto Albertini, the man responsible for some of the "Emanuelle" films, other movies known for their beautiful travelogue style photography. Fans of Jungle movies should be very pleased with this lost gem...