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FILM-REVIEWS:
M
Magnificent seven, The
Maid, The
Maltese falcon, The
Man who knew too much, The
Man who would be king, The
Man with the golden arm, The
Man with the golden gun, The
Man with two brains, The
Marathon man
Miami blues
Midnight run
Misfits, The
Mission, The
Mo' better blues
Mogambo
Moon-spinners, The
Moonstruck
Mother's boys
Mrs. Winterbourne
Much ado about nothing
Muppets take Manhattan, The
Murder on the orient express
My cousin Rachel
My favourite brunette
Mystic pizza
| Title: | MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, THE |
| Year: | 1960 |
| Genre: | Western |
| Director: | John Sturges |
| The players: | Yul
Brynner
Steve McQueen Eli Wallach James Coburn Charles Bronson |
| About the film: | Stylish copy of The seven Samurais where seven gunslingers help protecting poor village from Wallach’s mean gang of bandits. The characters are hard-boiled and almost too cool. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: | Great escape, The |
| Title: | MAID, THE |
| Year: | 1991 |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Director: | Ian Toynton |
| The players: | Martin
Sheen
Jacqueline Bisset Jean-Pierre Cassel Victoria Shalet James Faulkner |
| About the film: | Cosy little comedy where Sheen plays a succesful business-man who meets succesful business-woman Bisset and falls head over heels. He’s so desperate to get her that he applies for the job as the nurse for her young daughter, infamous for driving her nurses insane. A good film to watch when you just want to relax and don’t have to think. |
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| Title: | MALTESE FALCON, THE |
| Year: | 1941 |
| Genre: | Film-noir |
| Director: | John Huston |
| The players: |  Humphrey
Bogart
Mary Astor Peter Lorre Sydney Greenstreet Ward Bond |
| About the film: | Huston said "shoot" and the result is one of the most impressive directional debutes in the history, perhaps only matched by Orson Welles’ the very same year. It’s an up-tempo mystery about the pursuit of a bird, decorated with priceless jewelry. In the center stands Samuel Spade, a cynical, down to earth detective who gets tangled up in something bigger than he expected. No one is harmless, everyone is ready to kill and betray friends to get the falcon. The world and atmosphere that Huston creates is absorbing, you’ll wish the film would go on forever. Huston’s debut isn’t the only one of this film, at the age of 61 Sydney Greenstreet’s characterization of mr Gutman is absolutely sensational. Bogart does one of his signature roles as Sam. This is a must see! |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: | Chinatown |
| Title: | MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, THE |
| Year: | 1934 |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Director: | Alfred Hitchcock |
| The players: | Leslie
Banks
Edna Best Peter Lorre Nova Pilbeam Frank Vosper |
| About the film: | Hitchcock’s original version of this story certainly has it’s flaws and called for a remake. A man learns things he doesn’t wanna know and sees his daughter being kidnapped. Very poor character development, one nice thing though, is the dry British humour which is often seen in Hitchcock’s English pictures. He also shows flashes of brilliance in the scenes at the Albert Hall. Most stupid scene of the film: The police force defying the fire from the villains and getting shot down one by one. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: | 39 steps, The |
| Title: | MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, THE |
| Year: | 1975 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Director: | John Huston |
| The players: | Sean
Connery
Michael Caine Christopher Plummer Saeed Jaffrey Shakira Caine |
| About the film: | Comedy-adventure with Connery and Caine playing two British sergeants in the Far East who decide to become kings of Kafiristan (a small country east of Afghanistan, it seems). The chemistry between them is something extra. Both are very adventurous and positive and stand by each other 100%, until one of them really becomes king and tries to take advantage of the situation. Beautiful ending. |
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| Title: | MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM, THE |
| Year: | 1955 |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Director: | Otto Preminger |
| The players: | Frank
Sinatra
Eleanor Parker Kim Novak Darren McGavin Arnold Stang |
| About the film: | Sinatra is doing one of his best characterizations as Frankie Machine, a drug addicted drummer and poker dealer. There are many strong and eye opening scenes when Frankie tries to get the monkey off his back and get a job as a drummer in an orchestra. Instead he has to work as a dealer to get money to buy heroin. Many elements of the film has gone out of fashion but Sinatra’s performance remains powerful. |
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| Title: | MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN, THE |
| Year: | 1974 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Director: | Guy Hamilton |
| The players: | Roger
Moore
Christopher Lee Britt Ekland Maud Adams Hervé Villechaize |
| About the film: | Roger Moore in one of his better outings as 007 although he’s almost too nonchalant and self-confident. Ok story and pace. Christopher Lee is good in the title role, his personal mission is too kill 007 in his own fashion. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: | Goldfinger |
| Title: | MAN WITH TWO BRAINS, THE |
| Year: | 1983 |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Director: | Carl Reiner |
| The players: | Steve
Martin
Kathleen Turner David Warner Paul Benedict Richard Brestoff |
| About the film: | Bizarre film where Martin plays a surgeon who has social problems with his beautiful wife. He falls in love with a brain(!) which is kept in a jar. His girlfriend has a beautiful body but could have a better brain… The film has a never ending flow of odd and funny sequences, like when he’s in a castle and discovers that what seems to be a strong wooden gate is just paper. Or when he has to juggle, sing and tap-dance at the same time to convince the police officer that he isn’t drunk. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: | LA story |
| Title: | MARATHON MAN |
| Year: | 1976 |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Director: | John Schlesinger |
| The players: | Dustin
Hoffman
Laurence Olivier Roy Scheider William Devane Marthe Keller |
| About the film: | Creepy, exciting thriller in which Hoffman tries to frame a Nazi bank robber called The marathon man. Olivier is chilly. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: |
| Title: | MIAMI BLUES |
| Year: | 1990 |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Director: | George Armitage |
| The players: | Alec
Baldwin
Fred Ward Jennifer Jason Leigh Nora Dunn Charles Napier |
| About the film: | Baldwin plays a psycho who kills and robs to earn his living (and for fun) but he’s always kind to his girlfriend (Leigh). As a viewer you might sympathize with Baldwin, because he seems nice and normal at home. Poor Leigh thinks they can lead a normal life together. Ward is colourless as the cop who’s trying to frame him. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: | Falling down |
| Title: | MIDNIGHT RUN |
| Year: | 1988 |
| Genre: | Action, Comedy |
| Director: | Martin Brest |
| The players: |  Robert
De Niro
Charles Grodin Yaphet Kotto John Ashton Dennis Farina |
| About the film: | De Niro plays a bounty-hunter who’s going to bring Grodin who has stolen big money from the mob. The problem is that the mob, the FBI and another bounty hunter also are hunting down Grodin. One of few films that is a perfect blend of action, humour and story, reminding of Beverly Hills cop (but better) also directed by Martin Brest. De Niro and Grodin are brilliant together, De Niro is stubborn and easily irritated while Grodin talks all the time complaining about his treatment and asking a million questions. Also great support from Ashton as a dumb bounty hunter, Kotto as an FBI-agent and Farina as a hasty tempered gangster boss. Very entertaining. |
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| Title: | MISFITS, THE |
| Year: | 1961 |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Director: | John Huston |
| The players: | Marilyn
Monroe
Clark Gable Montgomery Clift Eli Wallach Thelma Ritter |
| About the film: | Monroe plays an innocent girl with a positive approach to life who helps some unhappy but nice men regain their joy of living. Gable plays one of them, an older cowboy who likes to hunt mustangs which upsets Monroe, she believes hurting animals is just as wrong as hurting human beings. The film definetely has a message there, after a while they all agree that she’s right and set the mustangs free again. The filming took its time because Gable’s health wasn’t exactly tip top. Neither him nor Monroe lived to see the opening. |
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| Title: | MISSION, THE |
| Year: | 1986 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Director: | Roland Joffé |
| The players: | Jeremy
Irons
Robert De Niro Ray McAnally Aidan Quinn Liam Neeson |
| About the film: | Historical tale taking place in the 18th century. The jesuit monastery in the Brazilian jungle is threatened by different fractions within the church and also by political powers. Irons plays one of the priests who doesn’t believe in fighting but in love. De Niro, on the other hand, believes in the power of the sword, that is, until he undergoes an incredible personality change that I can’t believe would happen. Although a grand picture it’s much too slow and unexciting. Morricone composed "Gabriel’s oboe" for this film, let’s just state that such a masterpiece would practically make any scene in any film stunningly beautiful. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: |
| Title: | MO’ BETTER BLUES |
| Year: | 1990 |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Director: | Spike Lee |
| The players: | Denzel
Washington
Spike Lee Giancarlo Esposito Wesley Snipes Samuel L. Jackson |
| About the film: | Washington was forced to play the trumpet as a kid which teached him to love it above everything else including women. It is a typical Lee-film; well acted with good music and atmosphere, but too slow. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: | Malcolm X |
| Title: | MOGAMBO |
| Year: | 1953 |
| Genre: | Romantic drama |
| Director: | John Ford |
| The players: | Clark
Gable
Ava Gardner Grace Kelly Donald Sinden Philip Stainton |
| About the film: | Remake of Red dust from ’32 also starring Gable but Gardner and Kelly replaces Jean Harlow and Mary Astor respectively. A love story set in Africa with Gable playing an old unmarried gentleman who knows the jungle. He meets two young women who are both attracted to him. I get the feeling that Gable is too old for these ladies, he was 28 years older than Kelly. Rumour claims that Gable and Gardner had a romance off the screen during filming. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: |
| Title: | MOON-SPINNERS, THE |
| Year: | 1964 |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Director: | James Nielson |
| The players: | Hayley
Mills
Peter McEnery Eli Wallach Pola Negri Joan Greenwood |
| About the film: | Wallach plays a racketeer operating in Crete. Unfortunately for him some silly kids are on vacation there and spoil the fun for him. The story, as you probably have figured out already, can hardly make a film meant for people over 14. Overlong, to say the least, there’s enough material to go around for about thirty minutes. They should also have had other youngsters in the leading roles, I just can’t stand these. Silent star Pola Negri hadn’t appeared on screen for over twenty years, when she made this one film come-back. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: |
| Title: | MOONSTRUCK |
| Year: | 1987 |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Director: | Norman Jewison |
| The players: | Cher
Nicolas Cage Vincent Gardenia Olympia Dukakis Danny Aiello |
| About the film: | Cher marries Aiello but falls hopelessly in love with Cage - his misfit brother. Cage is an expert at playing this type of characters and Cher is good too. Pleasant film. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: |
| Title: | MOTHER’S BOYS |
| Year: | 1994 |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Director: | Yves Simoneau |
| The players: | Peter
Gallagher
Jamie Lee Curtis Joanne Whalley-Kilmer Vanessa Redgrave Luke Edwards |
| About the film: | Eery story where Gallagher and Curtis plays ex-husband and wife, Gallagher has the custody of the children. Curtis wants to return to her family but that’ll be difficult because Gallagher has a new ladyfriend so Curtis starts to trouble them. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: |
| Title: | MRS. WINTERBOURNE |
| Year: | 1996 |
| Genre: | Romantic comedy |
| Director: | Richard Benjamin |
| The players: | Ricki
Lake
Shirley MacLaine Brendan Fraser Miguel Sandoval Loren Dean |
| About the film: | Lake plays a girl from a not so wealthy family who meets an upper class woman on a train who’s just about to get married. Lake borrows her wedding ring when an accident happens and the upper class girl is killed, her fiancé’s family thinks Lake is the bride and she takes the chance. With good comedians in the leading roles, faster storytelling and more than a few alterations in the script this one could have been enjoyable. Lake is not at all a good actress, all comic situations that she’s involved in (that’s most of them) fall flat. And with the comic intentions of this film it’s not a good idea to slow down the pace and mix it with some sort of lukewarm drama. |
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| Title: | MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING |
| Year: | 1993 |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Director: | Kenneth Branagh |
| The players: | Kenneth
Branagh
Emma Thompson Denzel Washington Michael Keaton Robert Sean Leonard |
| About the film: | Spirited adaption of Shakespeare’s comedy about a man and a woman who have sworn never to marry and how everybody try to manipulate them into loving each other. One thing about Shakespeare’s plays is that all character’s are extremely verbal and witty. In this film there are almost to many witty altercations. Beatrice, for instance, almost makes a sport out of winning every argument. On the whole a funny play carried out by a magnificent cast. Branagh is the one with the most Shakespearean type of acting, Thompson (his wife at the time) is almost always great and even Reeves does well as the bad guy, though I wouldn’t like to see him try to play any of the other characters. Stealing the show is Michael Keaton as some kind of guard who can’t get his words out right. |
| Rating: |
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| Title: | MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN, THE |
| Year: | 1984 |
| Genre: | Comedy, Musical |
| Director: | Frank Oz |
| The players: | Dabney
Coleman
Joan Rivers Gregory Hines Linda Lavin Art Carney |
| About the film: | The muppets graduate from college but they don’t want to split up so they decide to take their show to Broadway. Problems are that they don’t have any money and no director who believes in them. Pleasant movie with nice music. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: |
| Title: | MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS |
| Year: | 1974 |
| Genre: | Mystery |
| Director: | Sidney Lumet |
| The players: | Albert
Finney
Lauren Bacall Martin Balsam Ingrid Bergman Sean Connery |
| About the film: | Hercule Poirot travels on the orient express when, of course, a murder takes place. This film is a disappointment. A unique all-star cast was assembled but they don’t manage to create any excitement at all. Ingrid Bergman won her third oscar in spite of the fact that her part is very small. |
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| Rec.: |
| Title: | MY COUSIN RACHEL |
| Year: | 1952 |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Director: | Henry Koster |
| The players: | Richard
Burton
Olivia de Havilland Audrey Dalton John Sutton Ronald Squire |
| About the film: | Fine drama, based on Daphne de Maurier’s novel, about a young man who inherits a fortune and then falls madly in love with his cousin, who didn’t get anything of the inheritance. Rachel may be guilty of murdering Burton’s father and now tries to swindle Burton. The acting is excellent, Burton young and reckless, while Olivia de Havilland warm and cold at the same time, she should have been oscar-nominated but Hollywood turned its back on her after she moved to Europe. The film has the same kind of atmosphere as Rebecca, although not as strong. The end is puzzling. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: | Rebecca |
| Title: | MY FAVOURITE BRUNETTE |
| Year: | 1947 |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Director: | Elliott Nugent |
| The players: | Bob
Hope
Dorothy Lamour Peter Lorre Lon Chaney John Hoyt |
| About the film: | Parody on the detective genre where Hope becomes a private eye just to help a beautiful lady. The problem is that he’s clumsy and timorous. Rather funny. |
| Rating: |
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| Rec.: |
| Title: | MYSTIC PIZZA |
| Year: | 1988 |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Director: | Donald Petrie |
| The players: | Julia
Roberts
Annabeth Gish Lili Taylor Vincent D’Onofrio William R. Moses |
| About the film: | This film about three girls who earn their living in a shabby pizzeria was Roberts' breakthrough. Not very engaging. |
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