Film Discoveries of 2018 - Larry Karaszewski's 50 Favorite Discoveries of 2018 (Part Two)

Here is the rest of Larry's incredibly wonderful list of discoveries from 2018! Enjoy!

(See Part One here:
http://www.rupertpupkinspeaks.com/2018/12/film-discoveries-of-2018-larry.html)

RPM (1970)
Anthony Quinn in his “I’m a free spirit” period playing a groovy college professor who helps out a student takeover of the campus. Ann Margaret is his lady friend. Stanley Kramer directs and Love Story’s Erich Segal wrote it. Trying to be hip but fails.

Born to Boogie (1972)
T. Rex makes a movie. Ringo Starr directs. Curiosity catastrophe. Like Nilsson and Ringo’s “Son of Dracula” - you just wish all involved cared a little more.

Sweet Charity (1969)

Big overdone 60s musical. Bob Fosse’s first film so of course there are some great numbers. But the whole thing never gels. Shirley MacLaine is technically the right choice in this remake of Fellini’s “Nights of Cabiria"... but something doesn’t connect. The segment with Ricardo Montalban as a big movie star is a standout.

How To Steal A Million (1966)
Dud heist picture with Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole. Tries to be a romp and doesn’t quite get there. Hugh Griffith steals the show as Hepburn’s eccentric Dad.

Driftwood (1947)
Odd film that Richard Brody went apeshit for in the New Yorker this year staring a very young Natalie Wood as an orphan who brings the people of a town together

His Kind Of Woman (1951)
Robert Mitchum. Jane Russell. Vincent Price. Weird ass film.

99 and 44/100 % Dead (1974)
Wacky Richard Harris/Ann Turkel pop art gangster vehicle for director John
Frankenheimer.

The Nickel Ride (1974)
I love Jason Miller so much in The Exorcist - glad I finally saw his only other staring role in Eric Roth’s and Robert Mulligans 70s noir

The Nanny (1965)
British Bette Davis 60s horror. Effective.

Fists in the Pocket (1965)

Marco Bellocchio’s psycho family drama. Gorgeous black and white cinematography. Great performances.

Ruby Gentry (1952)

Charlton Heston. Jennifer Jones. Involving melodrama.

The Passion of Anna (1969)

Bergman’s stunning color film with Ulmann & Von Sydow

Pollyanna (1960)
More Haley Mills. I liked Tiger Bay better

When You Read This Letter (1953)

Restored Jean-Pierre Melville - another highlight from the TCM fest

FlareUp (1969)
Raquel Welch. She was a movie star. Easy to make fun of... but she really holds the screen

I Love You Alice B Toklas (1968) 

Peter Sellers drops out in first Paul Mazursky script. Dated but fun

Fathers Little Dividend (1951)
Hyper sequel to Father of the Bride. Spencer solid as always

Road To Nashville (1967)

Creepy low budget country and western flick with Doodles Weaver connecting Marty Robbins and Faron Young

The Hot Rock (1972)
How’d I not see this before?

They Were Expendable (1945) 

Robert Montgomery and John Wayne. Solid WW2 flick.

Detective Story (1951)
Sure it feels like a play. But riveting. Great performances and direction.

The Naked City (1948)

Barry Fitzgerald directed by Jukes Dassin. Really good.

Shanghai Express (1932)

Wish I loved it more. Dreamy but sleepy.

Kansas City Confidential (1952) 

Phil Karlson is such an underrated director. Terrific

Train to Busan (2016)
I missed this Korean zombie picture from a few years back. Glad I found it on NetflIx. Edge of your seat stuff.