’60s
Noah’s Barks pages covering things relating to the years 1960 to 1969, i.e. the ’60s.
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High and Low
I feel slightly guilty about rating High and Low this high, because while its deliberate pacing with separating the thriller (the high) from the investigation (the low) is a novel idea that lends it a lot of personality, it’s hard for me to not be taken a bit too low after the incredible first half.… (read more)
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Red Beard
Red Beard suffers from a loose overarching storyline (it was adapted from many short stories and it shows) where things sometimes progress sporadically, and certain significant plot details come into play surprisingly late, but good can be said about nearly everything else. Red Beard radiates the warm humanism that defines Akira Kurosawa‘s strength and appeal,… (read more)
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Sanjuro
Though not as interesting or tense as Yojimbo, also directed by Akira Kurosawa, Sanjuro has essentially everything Yojimbo had, just in lesser amounts. The same appeal exists in watching the clever Sanjuro repeatedly outsmart his enemies with the occasional stunning action scenes. The plot itself isn’t as gripping as Yojimbo, since it’s politically-driven. We only… (read more)
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The Birds
Often considered Alfred Hitchcock‘s last great movie. At the very most, you can definitely see him running thin. The main duo of The Birds are cardboard cutouts of all Hitchcock leads before them down to the coy sarcastic exchanges and the groomed gentleman and innocent blonde woman. The rest of the cast is equally bland… (read more)
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Spartacus
Spartacus gets both ends of the shaft from film nerds due to the fact it’s the least “Kubrickian” Stanley Kubrick movie, and most everyone else shrugs it off because it’s just not particularly great. Kubrick-like or not, Spartacus is still a pretty well done cheesy Hollywood melodrama adventure flick with some very entertaining action scenes,… (read more)
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Rosemary’s Baby
Rosemary’s Baby draws its power from the realistic universal discomfort of watching a very ill woman suffering during her pregnancy. Rosemary’s innocence and naivete are instantly charming, and when things go wrong for her we feel her same paranoia and worry, genuinely concerned for the safety of her and her baby. The film preys on… (read more)
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Night of the Living Dead
Maybe you’ll consider me more braindead than any creature seen in this movie, because I can’t for the life of me see why anyone still finds entertainment value in Night of the Living Dead. On a measly budget of $100,000 George A. Romero cleverly disguises his lack of funding with craft and great ambition. Too… (read more)
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Repulsion
The first of Roman Polanski‘s so-called “apartment trilogy,” Repulsion explores much of the same themes of the succeeding two films in its own way. Paranoia and phobia run the show here, with some astonishing camerawork during the dream sequences. Chico Hamilton’s chaotic jazz score raises your blood pressure through all the thrills. Both fascinating and… (read more)
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Knife in the Water
Considered Roman Polanski‘s first triumph, Knife in the Water is still a modest one at that. One of those simple “portrait of life” films, this one portrays a rivalry between a young boy and an older man as they both envy each other’s age, joined only by the older man’s wife. Conflict and tension arise… (read more)
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Psycho
Yeah, everyone’s right about it: it’s astonishing how well Psycho still holds up, and that’s always a testament to how well-made it was in the first place. Psycho‘s not likely to instill fear in anyone anymore, but relative to its own time it’s in an entire, brand new league, and the thick tension and thrills… (read more)