Top Ten Psychiatrists / Psychoanalysts

Psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, therapists. Group therapy or one-on-one. Mentalist, alienist, psychoanalyst, shrink.

Speaking of the original HBO series In Treatment, which itself comes from the Israeli BeTipul, I thought of no better way to wrap up this series of rankings, especially since I had my share of shrinks in my time. :-)

The number one “psychiatric” film would be One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975, Milos Forman), but the psychiatrist there is merely window dressing; Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) is the one who embodies the oppressive system. And then there’s virtually any Woody Allen film, especially the Gene Wilder episode from *Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) (1972), featuring the doctor who falls in love with Daisy the sheep, which I previously discussed in my ranking of performances in Woody Allen films.

K-PAX (2001, Iain Softley), in which Jeff Bridges plays Dr. Mark Powell, treating an alien—or merely a psychotic patient? (Kevin Spacey)—and the Argentine counterpart Hombre mirando al sudeste (1986, Eliseo Subiela), are really about the patients, much like Nash (Russell Crowe) in A Beautiful Mind (2001, Ron Howard).

There’s also Dr. Marc Chabot (Yves Montand) in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970, Vincente Minnelli), who hypnotizes Barbra Streisand and discovers she has lived previous lives. Barbra herself tried being a doctor in The Prince of Tides (1991), attempting to cure Nick Nolte.

But my personal favorite is Klaus Kinski as Dr. Hugo Zuckerbrot in Buddy Buddy (1981), Billy Wilder’s remake (and final film) of L’Emmerdeur (1973, Édouard Molinaro), unfortunately only a supporting role, complete with a fondness for nudist therapy.

And then there’s Dr. Elliot (Michael Caine) from Brian De Palma’s thriller Dressed to Kill (1980), whom I would call the “cross-dressing” variation.

Still, I decided to give the place to the illustrious Dr. Caligari. To paraphrase Siegfried Kracauer’s From Caligari to Hitler, this ranking goes from Caligari to Freud...

10. Dr. Caligari (Werner Krauss) in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920, Robert Wiene)

Variation: creepy

Dr. Caligari runs an asylum and uses the somnambulist Cesare for various dirty jobs. Similar to Edgar Allan Poe’s The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether and its idea that the inmates have taken over the asylum.

Its descendants include Asylum (1972, Roy Ward Baker), as well as the opening and cover art of In the Mouth of Madness (1995, John Carpenter).

Successors: Fritz Lang’s Dr. Mabuse, Dr. M, the mega-villains of the James Bond franchise beginning with Dr. No, etc.

Caligari controls Cesare, in a scene set to music by Lacrimosa.

(The full film can be found on YouTube.)

9. Dr. Constance Petersen (Ingrid Bergman) in Spellbound (1945, directed by Alfred Hitchcock)

Variation: mysterious

A thriller populated by psychiatrists, fascinated with psychoanalysis—a fairly new concept in Hollywood at the time—partly inspired by producer David O. Selznick’s own experiences in therapy.

Psychiatrist Constance Petersen (Ingrid Bergman) treats the amnesiac John Ballantine (Gregory Peck), accused of murder.

Based on the novel The House of Dr. Edwardes by Francis Beeding, the pseudonym of John Palmer and Hilary St. George Sanders, screenplay by Ben Hecht.

Memorable above all for its dream sequence designed by Salvador Dalí, and for a recurring skiing sequence.

Successor: Gothika (2003, Mathieu Kassovitz), with Halle Berry as an amnesiac psychiatrist committed to an asylum for a murder she cannot remember committing.

Trailer! (The full film can be found on YouTube.)

8. Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson) in Anger Management (2003, directed by Peter Segal)

Variation: out-of-control!

Jack Nicholson, usually the patient :-) (with the exception of “The Specialist” in the musical Tommy (1975), Ken Russell’s adaptation of The Who), plays an anger-management therapist—or whatever the proper term may be; the closest translation I found was “treatment for controlling one’s temper”—in a mediocre film that deserved a much better director.

A vehicle for Adam Sandler, who, when placed face to face with Jack’s explosive personality, is completely eclipsed.

Best scene: Adam, backed up by Jack, singing I Feel Pretty from West Side Story on the bridge!

7. Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence) in the Halloween series

Created by John Carpenter for the landmark 1978 film.

The name was borrowed from Psycho, from the character played by John Gavin, Sam Loomis.

Dr. Loomis is Michael Myers’ nemesis. He treated him at the institution from which Myers escaped. He is also the commentator, the voice of reason, and the only character besides Michael Myers himself to appear throughout the series: five films, including Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, released shortly before Pleasence’s death in 1995.

Played by Malcolm McDowell in Rob Zombie’s remake.

On the nature of evil!

6. Dr. Ben Sobel (Billy Crystal) in Analyze This (1999, directed by Harold Ramis)

Variation: sleeps with the fishes!

Mob boss Vitti (Robert De Niro) has problems and decides to see a psychiatrist. But nobody must find out. Otherwise Vitti might end up sleeping with the fishes too, Luca Brasi style.

Nemesis: Chazz Palminteri, to whom the meaning of the word “closure” has to be explained.

The dramatic TV version: The Sopranos, released the very same year. Which came first? Only they know who inspired whom, but Analyze This is the parody version, a kind of sitcom blown up to feature-film proportions.

Sequel: Analyze That (2002), also directed by Harold Ramis.

Explaining the Oedipus complex! “Fuckin’ Greeks!”

5. Dr. Bill Capa (Bruce Willis) in Color of Night (1994, directed by Richard Rush)

Variation: it’s so bad, it’s good!

The most improbable psychiatrist ever.

Color-blind, traumatized by the color red, trapped in a Hitchcockian thriller inspired in part by Vertigo. Someone starts killing off his patients.

The patient roster is practically a compendium of cult actors: Lance Henriksen, Brad Dourif, Lesley Ann Warren, Kevin J. O'Connor.

Steamy sex scenes with the then-young Jane March (The Lover).

Bruce also played a psychiatrist, Dr. Crowe, in The Sixth Sense (1999, M. Night Shyamalan), but I left him off the list for objective reasons: he belongs to the spirit world. :-)

A fan-made video clip for the title song (super-cheesy), performed by Lauren Christy!

4. Dr. Martin Dysart (Richard Burton) in Equus (1977, directed by Sidney Lumet)

Variation: equestrian

A drama written by Peter Shaffer, adapted from his own play, in which Harry Potter himself (a.k.a. Daniel Radcliffe) is currently appearing nude on Broadway.

Burton delivers a magnificent performance as a doctor determined to cure an extremely disturbed young man obsessed with horses (Peter Firth).

Nominated for three Academy Awards (Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay) and winner of two Golden Globes, for Best Dramatic Actor (Burton) and Best Supporting Actor (Firth).

In the original Broadway production (1974–75), Anthony Hopkins played Dysart.

Trailer!

3. Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss) in What About Bob? (1991, directed by Frank Oz)

Variation: funny

Bill Murray is Bob, the patient who relentlessly torments Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss).

The Romanian title used on television (since it never received a theatrical release) was The Psychiatrist on Vacation.

Similar: the Burt Reynolds / Dom DeLuise pairing in The End (1978, directed by Burt Reynolds).

The “Gimme Gimme, I Need I Need...” scene. (The full film can be found on YouTube.)

2. Col. Vincent Kane (Stacy Keach) in The Ninth Configuration (1980, directed by William Peter Blatty)

Variation: red herrings!

Based on William Peter Blatty’s novel Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane (The Exorcist).

How Do You Fight A War Called Madness?

A new commander arrives at a castle where he applies shock therapy to former soldiers suffering from mental illness.

An entirely male cast: Jason Miller, Stuart Wilson, Neville Brand, Robert Loggia, Joe Spinell.

A film about post-war trauma—in this case Vietnam—one of the greatest unknown films ever made, although it enjoys a loyal cult following. Now available in its longer director’s cut.

Packed with references to The Exorcist, also written and produced by Blatty.

Filmed in Hungary. The castle is Burg Eltz in Germany.

Successor: Shutter Island (2010, Martin Scorsese).

Part One: the opening sequence set to “St. Antone” by Denny Brooks. (The full film can be found on YouTube.)

1. Dr. Freud (Alan Arkin) in The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976, directed by Herbert Ross)

Variation: Freudian :-)

The film in which Dr. Freud (Alan Arkin) treats Sherlock Holmes (Nicol Williamson), brought to him by Dr. Watson (Robert Duvall) for cocaine addiction—hence the film’s title.

Based on the novel by Nicholas Meyer.

Laurence Olivier plays Professor Moriarty and Vanessa Redgrave is the romantic interest, Lola Deveraux.

A special, one-of-a-kind film that clearly influenced Alan Moore’s graphic novel The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

Predecessor: Freud had appeared on screen before, from John Huston’s 1962 biopic Freud, starring Montgomery Clift, to the less likely incarnation played by Jamie Elman (his co-star from California Dreaming!) in the film where Armand Assante portrays Nietzsche, When Nietzsche Wept (2007, Pinchas Perry).

TV promo.

Therapist on Duty: Alin Ludu Dumbravă

---

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (2004-2025)

You're in for a Treat !

The complete version of Kill Bill (s), aka The Whole Bloody Affair, is in Selected Romanian cinemas, for a Very Limited period of time ! With an Intermission too, just overlong, who needs 15 mins??  and in Glorious Shawscope !!!

Let's be Crystal Clear on this, Kill Bill was supposed to be just one film, not two, it was separated due to duration by the infamous youknowho producer and distributor. Tarantino was a bit upset but he conformed. Then he did his own cut. Now he even extended it.  Results: a new film, better than any other version, superior in storytelling, rhythm, timing and flow. 

IMO don't stay after the overlong credits, you'll get a boneheadish animation entitled The LOST CHAPTER which makes no sesne and it;s actually a Tie-in of a video game. Go home with the 

Resume:

Kill Bill vol. 1 -2023 -1h51 = 69 % metascore nr 153 top imdb

Kill Bill vol. 2 -2004 -2h17- metascore: 83%, not in top imdb

Kill Bill; The Whole Bloody Affair -2004/2025 4h 13.-95 % metascore

Top 32 in top imdb !!!

Features the films:
The Golden Stallion -Paramont 1949
Shogun Assassin -1980

Soundtrack:
'Music a silouthette at doom' by Morricone -from Un dollaro a testa
Sunny road to Salina -Christophe 1970
The Chase -Alan Reeves
About Here with samples from Rod Argent Zombies' "She's Not There"
Goodnight Moon-Shivaree

The whole soundtrack here:
https://download-soundtracks.com/movie_soundtracks/kill-bill-whole-bloody-affair-soundtrack/

Credits:

2004 -2025 restored, Visiona Romantica

Now the differences (atken from various sources on the net):

The first change you'll notice is an extra 10 minute animated sequence that shows O-Ren Ishii getting revenge on the man that killed her parents. It's animated beautifully and gives O-Ren's character even more depth than she already had. Secondly you'll notice that the legendary fight scene at the House of Blue Leaves is now in full color. With this scene in full color you get to really see the carnage that The Bride creates. You see guys heads being chopped off and geysers of red blood bursting from their neck. You see limbs chopped off with bursts of red blood. You fully see the red blood soaked floor of the building and the red bloody water of the pond. It makes the scene so much more impactful. The third change you see, albeit a minor one, is you actually see how The Bride interrogates Sofia for information. Which of course includes her asking her questions and in turn chopping her arm off for not answering. But the last change and by far most important is at the end of Volume 1, Bill makes no mention of The Brides child still being alive. That small change not only improves Volume 1 but drastically improves Volume 2. Originally you go into Volume 2 technically ahead of The Bride as you know about her kid and she doesn't. But that small change puts us on equal footing with The Bride. It makes the scene of her coming through the door to her child not just shocking and impactful to her but to us, the audience. 
+++

The old Klingon proverb  "Revenge is a dish best served cold." shown at the beginning of the standard theatrical version of Kill Bill Vol. 1 is not present. A dedication to filmmaker Kinji Fukasaku is in its place, as was also the case in the opening of the Japanese theatrical release of Kill Bill Vol. 1.
+++

While the 2004 Cannes cut of this film has had various special screenings throughout the past two decades, Lionsgate's 2025 theatrical release is the first time this unified version of Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) has become accessible to a wider audience. 

There may have been minor alterations made from the Cannes cut to Lionsgate's cut, but here are some notable differences that separate THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR from VOLUME 1 and VOLUME 2.Modern Lionsgate logo plays before VOLUME 1's original Miramax logo. [*2025 only]
The "Kill Bill" title card during the opening credits contains the subtitle "The Whole Bloody Affair".
The uncensored Japanese version of VOLUME 1 is used for the first five chapters.
In Chapter 3, an additional 7.5 minutes of content is added to VOLUME 1's anime sequence in which a 13-year-old O-Ren attempts to kill Pretty Riki in an elevator.
At the end of Chapter 5, every shot after the Bride's final exchange with Sofie from VOLUME 1 is omitted (from airplane to end credits).
Between Chapters 5 and 6, a static "INTERMISSION" title card (white text, black background) stays on screen for 15 minutes. "Lonely Shepard" plays over the first few minutes of the intermission with the remainder being silent.
Everything from the opening of VOLUME 2 that precedes Chapter 6 is omitted (from Miramax logo to "Vol. 2" title card).
In Chapter 6, the Bride's opening narration at the Two Pines chapel from VOLUME 2 is omitted.
Entire cast, crew and song list from VOLUME 1 is integrated into VOLUME 2's end credits.
The uncensored version of Yuki's Revenge (2025) plays after the credits, front-loaded with an animated lobby jingle. [*2025 only]


9 out of 10 !!! 4 1/2 out of 5 !!!


Mega-trivia:
In Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004), Beatrix Kiddo (The Bride) is buried alive in the grave of Paula Schultz. This is a famous Quentin Tarantino "Easter Egg" connecting the film to Django Unchained (2012), as Paula Schultz is believed to be the deceased wife of Dr. King Schultz.
This video explains the connection between the grave of Paula Schultz in Kill Bill and Dr. King Schultz in Django Unchained.

The Universal Theory/ Die Theorie von Allem (2023)

Die Theorie von Allem /The Universal Theory is a very strange little film. Deutsche Timm Kröger s third feature, after The Trouble with Being Born (2020) and The Council of Birds (2014).

Premiered in Venice 2023 fest and won Bisato d'Oro award, won the Jury Prize in Sitges and best visual effects and cinemtography at German Film Awards 2024.

Gorgeous black and white cinematography in 2.35.1 widescreen (shot in SudTirol by Roland Stuprich, in the splendor of a white majestic winter) 

and beautiful score, a pastiche of classical Hollywood thriller & drama music from the 40s raise the bar. Diego Ramos Rodríguez, composer, with David Schweighart.

Found the whole soundtrack on youtube here. 

Though there is terrible boredom in between and the film has no rhythm, could've been 15 mins. shorter, would've helped. A lot, IMO. Even flawed, it's a unique kind of film and deserves to be seen on the big screen (which in very limited release happens now in Romania, brought by Cay Films (Red Rooms, Oddity, The Apprentice), in what it is the most Curio of the year!-well, when I saw it there was no one in the theatre, so hurry up).

Mixed reviews complain about the third act mostly, which I think was the best. 

Mixing quantum physics with a Multiverse plot thriller its not easy. 1962 feels like 1930s here, the atmosphere is very in the inbetween wars (interbelique). The actors might be the week link, or such are they supposed to be (the lead, Jan Bülow as physician Johannes Leinert is like an alien, French Olivia Ross as Karin, the pianist, is like a Nouvelle Vague apparision (Karina?). There are the two scientists, dr. vs prof., Hanss Zischler (Munich), acting at his most severe and Gottfried Breitfuss, a grotesque character. The two cops (kommisaren) are out of a Billy Wilder picture. 

References,  subliminal or on purpose: Hitchcock, Lang, Wilder, Orson Welles The Trial, The Third Man, best B & W compared with Schindler's List, Cold War, Mank and Kafka (Soderberg's). People mention Lynch and Polanski, but all there it's way older. I bet. 

Thomas Mann's Der Zauberberg / Magic mountain  (obvious reference of the hotel Esplanade) mixes with The Lady Vanishes and Orson Welles' The Trial, Reed's The Third Man, reminded me also of 1964' odd thriller 36 Hours.

                                                ”A strange place between nostalgia and paranoia” (Timm Kröger)

interview with Kröger here: 

7 out of 10 / 3 1/2 out of 5 !

Poor Things (2023)

Poor Things by Yorgos Lanthimos won the Golden Lion in Venice, all top awards around (just now Five BAFTA's) and is nominated for 11 Oscars. It's amazing for a film like this, a one-of-a kind extravaganza with no limits. Gun blazing sort of cinema, risque acting from the top three actors, Emma Stone (she will win an Oscar, her second  for this, no doubt), an epic makeup-ed Scottish accented Willem Dafoe and an incredibly funny offbeat Marc Ruffalo (an uncanny Nae Girimea impersonation ;), career best of going against type.

Mixed feelings, and would've been even better if I didn't find out about the book, by Scottish writer Alasdair Grey. The book was published in 1992 and the author died in 2019. He sold the rights to the book to Yorgos Lanthimos in 2009. There are huge huge differences from the book in the film and Tony McNamara script relocated it from  Glasgow to London, and got rid of on the recent different timeline hooks. The book is told by different characters, through letters and it's supposed to be a found true story. Also at a running time of 2h21, it's at least a half-an-hour too indulgent longeur. Things begin to be too repetitive, esp. in the Paris episode.  There is a fish, aquatic-like theme that runs along the whole film, a dark humour surreal atmosphere and a manifesto of Shock & Panic cinema. 

Impecable tech credits, brilliant cinematography (by Robbie Ryan who did The Favourite too, in Technicolor, black and white, with grand angular, fisheyed lenses, 16 mm, etc), gorgeous set and production design, costumes and great music (pop musician Jerskin Fendrix' debut score), with a very original sound, also because its his first and Lanthimos' first film with an original film score.

Shot in Budapest at the Korda Studios for  a mere 35 million $. I mean, really, it looks alike a much more expensive picture.

Great title lettering inspired by Pablo Ferro. Via Kubrick maybe (dr. Strangelove), he is Lanthimos most revered mentor. Early Tim Burton, Elephant Man, Young Frankenstein, Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula, Fellini's E la Nave Va. I saw some Jodorowski in the Belle du Jour chapter, some Quay Bros. on the fisheye and iris black and whites. The fillmakers acknowledge Roy Andresson also as an inspiration and the primary Technicolors of Powell & Pressburger's Black Narcissus. I'll add some Hammer color too.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

Saw the fifth INDY on premiere day -June 30, on a huuuge screen and liked it (it's already controversial and I don't understand the badmouth, never compare with the original trilogy! That was four decades ago...I was fearful to be dissapointed. After all I am a fan for life of the character and his adventures. Less crystal skulls. The film, after a wait of 15 years since the fourth one, was touching and heartfelt old-fashioned and James Mangold did a great job! There are four screenwriters credited including David Koepp and Mangold himself. Probably more hands and brains there. It's a dignifying end chapter, with old wisdom and even bitterness of a lost era. Also a lost era of filmmaking.

John Williams' score is magnificent and elegant (the Maestro is 91 now and came again out of retirement, as he did it again for The Fablemans, I guess this will be his final score...just when you hear the musical theme you get goosebumps, well, I did), Harrison Ford (81 in 13 days!!!, and he was 78 while filming) is THE INDY (the de-aging at the beginning it's Ok as they said it will be, not grand but works here as opposed to The Irishman and other films) and the girl, Helena (his goddaughter) - brit Phoebe Waller_Bridge (Fleabag series) is a very nice female companion, like a version of Katherine Hepburn on the African Queen days, Mads Mikkelsen is brilliant (as always and he made history as the villain in both Bond (Le Chiffre in Casino Royale) and Indiana Jones franchises!, same as Julian Glover...), Boyd Hollbrook great baddie, plus some nice cameos (no spoliers here!). I liked the new kid, Teddy (Ethann Isidore), Thomas Kretchmann ("Spoils of war go to victors"), Toby Jones (Basil Shaw, Helena's father), Olivier Richters-the tall henchman (2m18”!!!), the nice and touching Antonio Banderas part (Renaldo), Shaunette Rene Wilson (an agent like Cleopatra Jones).

It's the first digital Indy and it was shot beautifully by Mangold's attired cinematographer, Phedon Papamichel (from Identity to Le Mans/Ford vs. Ferrari, sans Logan...). Points go to Adam Stockausențs production design (he worked for Wes Anderson and Spielberg-in Bridge of Spies, Ready Player One and West Side Story). You sense the Spielberg touch and homages all the way (making it up as it goes along;).  I have no clue if Lucas was involved. 

In the end credits Mangold's thanks go to Milos Forman and Alexander Mackendrick. Nice.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny it's also the longest film of the series (2h34'min) and the first one without opening credits, plus the Paramount joke on the logo, cos it's the first Disney distributed and so forth...also it's the first to have an underwater sequence (and eels!). If you buy the MacGuffin and gimmick in the final act it's cool, if not bummer, and I have a feeling most of the audience won't :(

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival one month ago and I heard from then mixed reactions, more pointing to a thumbs down than up...I saw Indy IV in Cannes in 2008 and I really really wanted to like it, but alas...I saw it last time last week and still the final act is horrendous, and it's all Lucas fault. Plus Shia doesn't really shine as Mutt...earlier this year I saw again Indian Jones and the Last Crusade which is my second favourite Indy flick after Raiders of the Lost Ark which I saw 1st time on video when I was 12, one year after its release, on a black and white TV in my house, with another 50 mesmerized people, brought impromptu by a guy I didn't know, and it changed my life (and his;), but that's another story...

Unfortunately BO predix not so good :(, though so...the film cost 295 mill. $ to be made (plus probably another 100 mill $ for marketing and advertising), more than 1000 people worked on it, at Pinewood studios, in Morocco and Sicily,  with New York exteriors, tons of special effects, extras  plus the Covid problems, a lot of post production but also a lot of set dressing and practical effects.

Also in the film can be heard The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour and David Bowie's Space Oddity, cos' it's all happening in 1969...there's a small nod to The Godfather and Nino Rota (1st Sicilian shot, done on a crane I think)...

Anyway, I will go and see it again on that huuuge screen! see if it gets better or not, or holds on to my fearful first but now enthusiastic encounter with a dear dear old friend. Well, we've been friends for 40 years...

T B Concluded...

• "I don't believe in magic. But a few times in my life, I've seen things. Things I can't explain. And I've come to believe it's not so much about what you believe,it's how hard you believe it."
•                                                               dr. Henry Jones Jr. 

RIP Sean Connery

 The Bond to rule all James Bonds is no more :( 

Sean Connery died today at 90. He was one of the most iconic figures in cinema starting, as 007, starting with Doctor No in 1962. The image of Bond continued to pursue him all his life, no matter how much he tried to change or avoid it (as early as 1964 Hitchcock cast him in Marnie with uneven results). His last Bond film was You Only Live Twice in 1967 and George Lazenby came for one shot to take his place in On Her Majesty Secret Service. But the world didn't much care for Lazenby (now his film is considered among one of the best of not the best for some), so Connery came back for one more film, Diamonds are Forever, in 1971. Then in 1983 he was Bond again, the star of the unofficial remake of Thunderball, aptly named, Never Say Never Again. He was absolutely my favourite James Bond, the 1st I saw as Bond in Dr. NO, as it happened that I saw the 1st Bond as my first 007 film. 

Sir Connery, grand scotsman, won an Oscar (best supporting) for Brian De Palma's The Untouchables, as the stubborn Irish cop Malone. He was William de Baskerville in The Name of he Rose, played against type in Zardoz (one of my favourite curios which we played at Cinemateca Patria along with The Name...and on his birthday, August 25), The Hill, Robin and Marian (an aging Robin Hood!), The Man Who Would Be King, Murder in the Orient Express, The Wind and the Lion. He was  Indiana Jones father in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, one dream made true for Spielberg and George Lucas, and  he was the Russian nuclear submarine captain (with a Scottish accent :) in The Hunt for the Red October ! In the 90's he was great in The Rock and his last film was The League of the Extraordinary Gentlemen in 2003, as Allan Quatermain. I loved him as Ramirez, the Spanish mentor of MacLeud in Highlander (1986) and he came back for Highlander 2, and his introduction there was great too (in the theatre where they played Hamlet). There can be only one... Sean Connery ! RIP  :(

Alien: Covenant (2017)

After Prometheus (my review here-in Romanian !) Ridley is back to the Alien series with a third film. 

Alien: Covenant 

I wrote BEFORE in Cinemap in a piece on this years's most anticipated films:
"This year Ridley Scott will be 80 and it's 38 years since Alien. I hope sir Ridley will not fail and the movie will contiune the series further from  Prometheus. To be a sequel and not a remake. The trailer put me off a bit, where are the days of a subtle trailer like the 1st Alien, whose slogan was „In Space No one Can Hear You Scream”. Here the slogan is RUN."

and HIDE !

NOW:
the Covenat is SPOT ON. Great sequel to PROMETHEUS.  Filled with Xenomorphs. And thinking man's philosophy of gods and (im)mortality.
Original title Alien: Paradise Lost would've been more of a spoiler as John Milton's quotes are used: "Better to rule..."
Danny McBride is great in his 1st dramatic role and Michael Fassbender is spellbinding as David & Walter (names coming from exec prods David Giler and Walter Hill !!!). Great art design and dark, bleak, by Chris Seagers, former Tony Scott collaborator ! All the Giger shades are there !

Great score by newcomer Jed Kurzel (Snowtown, Macbeth, Assasin's Creed) with homages to Jerry Goldmith's Alien and Harry Gregson-Williams's Prometheus. Plus Wagner's  Rheingold and...John Denver !
Waiting now for the THIRD part, already announced, shooting starts in 14 months.
**** /8 OUT OF 10
CLUES: BLADE RUNNER -from the opening eye, Dr. STRANGELOVE, 2001, OZZYMANDIS poem by Shelley.
Here are some extra scenes that enlarge the mythology and story:
-The Last Supper Clip

-the alternate beginning/prologue:  

-Birth of Walter (from min.1):

Bonus: VR Experience: IN UTERO

Variety:
"As acts of creation go, Scott has made an “Alien” movie for that segment of the audience that has always rooted for the monster."

Heaven's Gate -In memoriam 2016

Heaven's Gate -e titlul unui film de Michael Cimino din 1980 (dispărutul anului cinematografic pentru mine), un dezastru de proporții cosmice atunci, azi un clasic absolut, restaurat la durata inițială și cu reputația în curs de restabilire. Motto-ul filmului era: What one loves about life are the things that fade.

Un ultim omagiu oamenilor care ne-au făcut să râdem, să plângem, să ne înfiorăm…la porțile paradisului ! Să ne amintim cine nu va mai face filme și muzică în 2017 L… (acest articol este o extensie a celui publicat în revista CINEMAP de iarmă, cu un fragment în Cinemap mic decembrie, cu tot cu linkurile de pe blogul meu din timpul anului trecut)

Actorii:

George Alexandru –pe 1 ianuarie, la 58 de ani. De la Ecaterina Teodoroiu, prin E Pericoloso Sporgersi, la Q.E.D.

Alan Rickman –Hans Gruber în Die Hard, profesorul Severus Snipe în seria Harry Potter. 69 de ani.

Bud Spencer –comisarul Piedone, I se spunea Buldozerul.  I se spunea de fapt Carlo Pedersoli. 86 de ani.

Frank Finlay-Porthos, Van Helsing, Lestrade. 89 de ani.

Sebastian Papaiani-Păcală, Balul de sîmbătă seara, B.D., Cu mâinile curate, Toate pânzele sus, Secretul lui Bachus. 80 de ani.

Radu Beligan-de la Rică Venturiano în O noapte furtunoasă de Jean Georgescu (1943) la Medalia de onoare (2009). Declarat de Guinness Book of Records în 2013 ca ”Cel mai bătrân actor activ din lume”. 97 de ani.  

Gene Wilder-Jerome Silverstein. Young Frankenstein, Leo Bloom în The Producers, Willy Wonka, Fratele cel mai deștept al lui Sherlock Holmes. Cel mai strasnic amant din lume. 83 de ani.

Robert Vaughn –Napoleon Solo, ultimul din Cei șapte magnifici -82 de ani

Gary Shandling-What Planet Are You From? 66 de ani.

George Kennedy-de la westernuri la Dallas și Young and the Restless. Memorabil în Cool Hand Luke, seria Airport, seria naked Gun. 91 de ani

Michael Massee –Se7en, The Crow, 64 de ani

Anton Yelchin –Star Trek, Fright Night. 27 de ani

Jon Polito –actor recurent la frații Coen, 65 de ani

Abe Vigoda –Tessio în Nașul și Națul II. 94 de ani

Kenny Baker-R2D2 în seria Star Wars. 81 de ani

David Huddleston-marele Lebowski din The Big Lebowski, 85 de ani.

Angus Scrimm- Omul Întunecat (Tall Man) din seria Phantasm. 89 de ani.

Bill Nunn- The Legend of 1900, Spider-Man. 62 de ani.

Vanity –protejata lui Prince, de la Vanity 6. 52 Pick-Up. 57 de ani.

Larry Drake – Robert G. Durant, inamicul lui Darkman, Dr. Giggles. 67 de ani.

Burt Kwouk -Cato, servitorul inspectorului Clouseau. Actor englez, a jucat asiatici răi sau buni, de la Goldfinger la Kiss of the Dragon. 85 de ani.

Richard Libertini -Popeye, All of Me, Awakenings. 82 de ani.

Michel Galabru –Gerber, șeful lui Cruchot în seria Jandarmul. Subway. Belle Epoque. 93 de ani.
Claude Gensac-partenera lui De Funes din Aripioara sau picior, Supa de varză, Hibernatus, Oscar. 86 de ani.
Michele Morgan -Le Quai des Brumes, The Fallen Idol. 96 de ani.


Götz George-mare vedetă în Germania, comisarul Schimanski în serialul Tatort (1971-1991). 71 de ani.

Pierre Étaix –actor și regizor (Yoyo)-gagman de structura Buster Keaton, Jacques Tati, a cărui retrospectivă am văzut-o cu el la București, în 2014. 87 de ani.

Debbie Reynolds & Carrie Fisher

Regizorii:

Michael Cimino-Debut cu Thunderbolt & Lightfoot (1974). La al doilea film multi-Oscarizat pentru Deer Hunter (1978), a urmat să fie răstignit pentru Heaven's Gate (1980). Au urmat inegal Anul dragonului (1985), Sicilianul (1987), Ore disperate (1990), Sunchaser (1986). 7 filme. 77 de ani.

Curtis Hanson-Bad Company, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, The River Wild, L.A.Confidential, Wonder Boys, 8 Mile. 71 de ani

Hector Babenco –Argentinian. Pixote, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ironweed, Carandiru. 70 de ani.

Jan Nemec-regizor ceh, Diamantele nopții / Démanty noci-1964, a cărui carieră a fost oprită de invazia din 1968, 79 de ani

Abbas Kiarostami –Iranian. Palme D’Or pentru Gustul cireșei (1987), 76 de ani.

Tonino Di Valerii, grand autore di western spaghetti: I giorni dell'ira (1967), Il prezzo del potere (1969), Una ragione per vivere e una per morire (1972), Mio nomme e Nessuno (1973) -82 de ani

Guy Hamilton –regizor de Bond: Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun -93 de ani

Jacques Rivette –Premiul Juriului la Cannes pentru La Belle Noiseuse (1991), 87 de ani.

EttoreScola –scenarist (Il Sorpasso), regizor (Balul, Terasa, Noaptea de la Varrenes, Splendor, Familia). 84 de ani.

Garry Marshall, actor, scenarist, producător, regizor –Young Doctors in Love, Frankie și Johnny, Pretty Woman, Princess Diaries, Runaway Bride, 81 de ani.

Arthur Hiller -Love Story, Spitalul, Omul din la Mancha, Silver Streak (Transamerica Express). 92 de ani.

Hershell Gordon Lewis- precursor de splatter horror, finanțat independent. Blood Feat (1963), Two Thousand Maniacs !, supranumit: "Godfather of Gore." 90 de ani.

Andrzej Wajda-cel mai mare regizor polonez, cu o carieră de peste 60 de ani: Premiul Juriului la Cannes pentru Canal (1957), Cenușă și diamante (1958), Palme d’Or pentru Omul de fier (1981), Katyn (2007). 90 de ani.

Andrzej Zulawski–regizor cult polonez, născut în Ucraina, care și-a găsit împlinirea în Franța. Film esențial: Possession-1981. 75 de ani.

Robin Hardy –a dat filmul-cult horror al Angliei, The Wicker Man (1973) și continuarea sa obscură, The Wicker Tree (2013). 86 de ani.

Leslie H. Martinson –multe seriale TV, filmul Batman din 1966 și Fathom cu Rachel Welch (1967). 101 ani !
Alexandre Astruc –creatorul ”camerei stilou”, critic de film, teoretician, cât și scenarist, regizor, 92 de ani

Producătorii :

Robert Stigwood –Australian. Impresar Cream, Eric Clapton, Bee Gees, fondator RSO Records. A adus pe ecran Jesus Christ Superstar, Tommy, Grease, Saturday night Fever. 81 de ani.

George Martin (sir) -mr. The Beatles. A hard Day’s Night. A compus muzica la primul Bond cu Roger Moore : Live and Let Die (regia: Guy Hamilton). 90 de ani.

Scott Nimerfro –X-Men –producător și scenarist la serialul Tales From the Crypt și Hannibal -54 de ani

Scriitorii:

Umberto Eco –Numele trandafirului, 84 de ani.

Harper Lee, autoarea romanului Să ucizi o pasăre cântătoare-To Kill a Mockingbird, 82 de ani.

Edward Albee-Cui i-e frică de Virginia Woolf ? -88 de ani.

Peter Shaffer –dramaturg: a luat Oscarul cu propriul scenariu la Amadeus și a fost nominalizat pentru Equus. 90 de ani.

Jim Harrison-Legendele toamnei–nuvela, Revenge –nuvela, Wolf –scenariu. 78 de ani,

Dario Fo-dramaturg de teatru absurd. Scenariu și rol principal în Lo Svitato (1956, Carlo Lizzani). 90 de ani.

Michael Herr-corespondent de război în Vietnam, autorul cărții Dispatches, scenaristul la Full Metal Jacket, autorul narației din Apocalypse Now-76 de ani

Frank De Felitta-autorul romanelor Audrey Rose și The Entity, scenarist și producător al ecranizărilor lor, scenarist și regizor la Scissors (1991). 93 de ani.

Tehnicienii:

Vilmos Zsigmond-colaboratorul lui Brian De Palma și al lui Michael Cimino la Vânătorul de cerbi și Heaven’s Gate, ultimul mare DOP artist al luminii al unei epoci fantastice, acum alaturi de prietenul sau Laszlo Kovacs, mort in 2007. Despre ei s-a facut un documentar, prezentat la Cannes, No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos (2008). 85 de ani.

Raoul Coutard –papa Novelle vague, novator și anarhic, a lucrat cu Godard la cam tot ce a făcut, dar mai ales A bout de souffle / Cu sufletul la gura (1960), Pierrot le Fou (1965), cu Truffaut la Jules și Jim (1962) și cu Costa-Gavras la Z (1969). 92 de ani.

Douglas Slocombe-DOP legendar britanic, de la Dead of Night -1945 A. Cavalcanti la primele trei Indiana Jones, de fapt al treilea, din 1989 a fost și ultimul său film. 3 nominalizări LA Oscar, Călătorii cu mătușa mea -1973, Julia -1977 și . Raiders of the Lost Ark-1981. Premiul ASC în 2002. Avea 103 ani !!!

Ken Adam-scenograful lui Stanley Kubrick-Dr. Strangelove, Barry Lyndon, și James Bond –Dr. No, Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice. 95 de ani.

Music makers:

DavidBowie- The Man Who Fell To Earth, Labyrinth-69 de ani, Glenn Frey (Eagles) -67 de ani, Prince-Purple Rain, Batman-57 de ani, Paul Kantner (Jefferson Airplane)-74 de ani., Pete Burns (Dead or Alive)-57 de ani, Keith Emerson (Inferno, Nighthawks)–71 de ani, Victor Bailey (basist virtuoz, Weather Report, l-am văzut la Hard Rock Café în 2011)-56 de ani, Leonard Cohen (Mccabe și Mrs. Miller)-82 de ani, Leon Russell (Mad Dogs and Englishmen-74 de ani), Adrian Enescu-Ringul, Ciuleandra, Concurs, Pas în doi-68 de ani, Merle Haggard-79 de ani, Gato Barbieri –saxofonist argentinian, Ultimul tango la Paris, 83 de ani, Isao Tomita -The Twilight Samurai, The Hidden Blade. 84 de ani, Candye Kane, Greg Lake (69 de ani, ELP), George Michael, Rick Parfitt (Status Quo, 68 de ani), Leon Russell

După spusele lui Muhammad Ali (74 de ani), care a renunțat la numele de Cassius Clay: When We Were Kings.

***

”The King is gone, but not forgotten”. (Neil Young)

Spectre -remember thy past 007

“The dead are alive”
Of, din 71 sau 81 sau 83 nu am mai auzit de ei.
Quantum era ultimul lor nume. Si fac pariu a revin in Bond 25. Acum ca s-a legalizat ;)

FADE IN:
Primul james bond day to date l-am vazut in norvegia la Kristiansand, asteptind un tren de oslo, goldeneye 1995.
Apoi la olso, arhus, ebeltoft, de vreo 6/7 ori. 007. Am vrut sa duc tripul pina la capat. am trait tot mirajul unei lansari Bond de vest. Si reboot!
Tomorrow never dies, primul la cinema in ro. Ian 2008 or so. Sheryl Crow cintind la Brasov ? check.
The World Is Not Enough, primul film din 2000, la Paris.
Die Another Day, 2002 la preview, pentru ca aveam o revista de scos. Posterul in birou. Another day, indeed. Worst Bond ? Possibly. Cronica aici.
2006. Casino Royale. Opening party la Cinema Pro cu drinky drinky. Shaken and stirred. (Cronica aici)
2008/Quantum of Solace. La the light azi defunct. Opening cocktail. Dar mers in pasaj –azi defufunct too -la Benjamins Bday. Primul film cu cheie Londra dcp. They fucked up. S-a oprit inainte de final. Inspirat ca am plecat la Bday. Vazut apoi la cinema pro. Macelarit in montaj. Cronica mea aici.
2012. imax. Cu bere Heineken 007 la doza de metal. In my skyfalll.
2015. primul bond la brasov in cinema. La avanpremiera. Revin puzzled a doua zi. Still....unsatisfied...
Cut to.
1983 or so. Dr no la club escolette, en francais. I saw my first bond with my dad. In hotel piatra mare. En francais. But ,my first bond was the 1st Bond !!!
Fraza "e ca-n james bond", ziceau toti si nu le placea , cind vroiqm sa vedem un Bond il preferau pe Rambo, nah Reaganiti
eram in perioada roger moore....octopussy ! A View to a Kill ! Zorin, Grace Jones, Duran Duran...
primul contemporan, video, B & W too-The living daylights cu A-ha, ultimul score John Barry-pe cind m-am indragostit de maryam d'abo
Licence to Kill-never considered a real Bond, pacat de Dalton
1990-91, Cinemateca Romana. Moi, etudiant du cinema. Au scos de la naftalina pe pelicula alb-negru si vazut Thunferball, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger. Alb-negru. Mi-amintesc ca am iesit cu o fata din ASE, 1st date, From Russia With Love. la ea n-a fost. Ende.
Recuperari vhs si trase filmele de la British Council pe caseta. Am descoperit OHMSS si ce never happened to the other fellow !
dar nu erau in format, numa pan and scan :(
Scris pina si la james Bond fan club care mi-au trimis 2 reviste. Eram primnul romin care le scria.
Abia in 1995 am recuperat ultimele bonduri. In danemarca. Via Ulrich. Si primul bond pe laserdisc , goldfinger- via sune,
Then the dvd’s….editiile speciale mgm…mmmm, 2001….blues café…
apoi soundtrackurile, bought all of em, toate cele care zaceau intr-un singur exemplar la mall vitan, pina le-am luat pe rind, erau scumpe rau. soundtrackul la licence to kill l-am gasit la atena !



despre James Bond am scris in ultimul CINEMAP.
despre Spectre am sa revin-dupa ce imi revin.
Atit de inegal, prea lung, cu cea mai oribila piesa titlu din serie, si muzica so/so de Thomas Newman, multa reciclata din Skyfall. Cu citate din toata seria, autoreferential. Si, rushine herr Waltz ! Si missed opportunity in Austria. Si too much London. Si prea multe similitudini cu M:I Rogue Nation, ghinion, dar M:I 5 e mai bun, nah competitia !


...si incepuse genial...

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/james-bond-007-first-bond-movies-1201634112/
http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/review-spectre-is-a-bizarre-return-to-a-certain-james-bond-era/
http://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/spectre-review-1201622685/