The Vault: Killer's Kiss (1955)

Those only familiar with the broad strokes of Kubrick's career might be surprised to learn that he started off working in film noir. Very early in his career, Kubrick was already igniting the screen with his trademark blend of amazing cinematography, plots steeped with moral grey areas, and iconic imagery. The first such example of this is his 1955 outing Killer's Kiss.

Film noir, and especially neo-noir is too often waist-deep in its own tropes to be enjoyable. Bogged down by the baggage that the genre forces, many films suffer from being too predictable. The most notable film noir is the work that departs from the strictest confines of the genre. Genius that he was, Kubrick never confined himself to predetermined casts of what a film should be, and Killer's Kiss was no different.

Essentially a marriage of the boxing film and the noir, Killer's Kiss documents the love a washed up boxer has for his neighbour, and the consequences of his being asked to throw a fight by a local mob boss. Both plot lines are clearly in the domain of Kubrick's career long theme of moral relativism.

While not on par with Doctor Strangelove, 2001, Barry Lyndon, A Clockwork Orange, Full Metal Jacket or The Shining, Killer's Kiss does provide some memorable scenes, particularly during the climactic chase and fight. Fans of any genre should be able to enjoy this film; it's not the most exciting movie on the shelf, but it has a broad range of merits and historical significance.

The Best of the Decade

Over the last ten years, the cinema has given us a great deal to be thankful for: a rebirth of the Batman franchise, a series of examinations of what it means to live in this particular decade, and a mass of character studies whether they be animated or popcorn thrillers. As much as I have enjoyed the offerings, a list must be culled together for the end of the year. Except this year is different, this year ten films must be selected from hundreds. Below are some of the best of the aughts. Enjoy! 10) There Will Be Blood Paul Thomas Anderson's magnum opus, a scathing look at extremism in America and the evils of greed and profiteering from religion. It also features the best performance of the decade with Daniel Day-Lewis as oil-man Daniel Plainview. 9) Up A beautiful tale that entrances all ages, Up managed to captivate children and tell a tale that adults cherish as well. 8) The Dark Knight Maybe just a comic book film, but it is the best comic book film

Paprika vs. Inception

Months before Inception hit the theaters forums were alive with rumors that Christopher Nolan either accidentally or intentionally stole some details from another film, the Japanese anime Paprika. The biggest point of comparison for some bloggers and forum runners was the fact that both of the films featured a device that allowed a person, or people, to travel into another’s dreams and delve into their subconscious. Minor points of comparison include scenes in Paprika where the character Paprika breaks through a mirrored wall by holding her hand to it, as well as a scene where a police detective falls his way down a hallway. Claims have been made that Inception abounds with imagery similar to or exactly like the anime movie, but with the recent release of the film on DVD and Blu-Ray, and with Paprika available for several years now, an examination of the two plots can be made more fully. Let us begin with the primary claim— Inception stole the idea of a dream

Armond White's Top Ten Films on Flickchart

Armond White is film criticism’s most famous contrarian. At one moment he writes a review declaring Toy Story 3 to be the most obscene excuse for toy commercials he has ever watched, and then two weeks later types out a glowing review of Resident Evil: Afterlife . He is of split-mind for sure. But what does his Flickchart look like? Read the rest at Flickchart !

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