The Manchurian Candidate - the original, not the new Blu but the old MGM DVD. Watched this the day Angela Landsbury got her lifetime award - that wierd synchronicity that often happens when you randomly pluck a movie from your collection - fitting too, because she steals this movie as a driven harridan, a mother from hell. Some of the Commie paranoia stuff has dated this movie, and it can like a bit of propulsion at times, but it's still powerful stuff and recommend.
Vera Cruz - Perfect Saturday morning hokum as Burt Lancaster (pearly white sneer/grin turned up to 11) and Gary Mr Laconic Cooper alternately buddy up and lock horns in a fantasy Mexico. The massacre at the end nearly rivals the Wild Bunch and the shootout ending is great. Great stuff.
The Professionals - Classy effort, amazing cast - Burt again, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan (aging, doleful), Woody Strode as a gang of mercenaries. Almost a proto Avengers - Strode as Hawkeye, Lancaster as Tony Stark and Marvin as Nick Fury. Thrown in Jack Palance as the baddy, Claudi Cardinale at her absolute sexiest and a roster of background colour - Borgnine, Elam, Bronson - you've got a winner. Looks stunning on blu ray, a beautifuuly shot film.
Borderline - dud 1950 semi noir starts out OK with an aging Claire Trevor acting the floozy to infiltrate Raymond Burrs (doing his pre Ironside thug schtick) drug gang. Then Fred MacMurray, at his smarminest, appears and we veer into meet cute territory, replete with comedy Mexican stereotypes (I've been seeing a lot of Mexico lately - another odd coincidence) anyway, a punch up/shoot out climax can't save this misbegotten turkey which falls between 3 stools, and ends up flat on its arse.
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