…or movie lists, more to the point. I often find myself in the mood to watch movies in groups. Sometimes I’ll spend a week watching films by a single director, or star, sometimes I group by theme.
I have decided (randomly and for the purposes of this blog) to determine these groupings at the start of the week and to share my selections with you, just in case any of my fellow compulsives out there wanted to follow suit.
This week’s theme: Period Los Angeles Crime Dramas
1. L.A. Confidential – Based on a fantastic novel by James Ellroy, and featuring great performances by Kevin Spacey & Russell Crowe, this one (like all great L.A. mysteries) is full of lies, deception and coruption.
2. The Black Dahlia – Not a masterpiece like Confidential (by any stretch of the imagination), but still a nicely atmospheric period piece based on another James Ellroy book. Don’t go looking for great acting or solid plot (cause it ain’t there), instead immerse yourself in the feel of the film and you won’t be too disappointed.
3. Hollywoodland – This is a good one. Based on the real life mystery surrounding the death of TV actor George Reeves (Superman), with Ben Affleck actually giving a great performance (in flashback) as Reeves, this one has plenty of twists and turns to go with the setting.
4. Changeling – No, not the ghost flick with George C. Scott, this one’s a twisty little drama directed by Clint Eastwood and written by J. Michael Stracynski. Well done from every angle.
5. Chinatown – You knew this was coming, right? Directed by Roman Polanski and starring Jack Nicholson, this is THE definitive L.A. private eye story. With one of the best (and most quoted) final scenes in film history.
Extra Credit – Dark Blue – Although this one doesn’t fit the same period (it takes place in the 90’s, during the Rodney King riots) it sure has the feel. Lies and corruption and this time Kurt Russell’s along for the ride. Worth checking out.
.Hollywoodland was my fav.