Stuff I've Been Watching October 2019

1. Raul Julia: The world’s a stage. American Masters. Explore a warm and revealing portrait of the charismatic actor’s journey from his native Puerto Rico to the creative hotbed of 1960s New York City, to prominence on Broadway and in Hollywood. Filled with passion, determination, and joy, Julia’s brilliant and daring career was tragically cut short by his untimely death 25 years ago, at age 54. via the PBS app. 3 October

2. Atlantic City. Directed by Louis Malle. 1981. Starring Burt Lancaster, Susan Sarandon, and Wally Schawn. In a corrupt city, a small-time gangster and estranged wife of pot dealer find themselves thrown together in an escapade of love, money, drugs, and danger. via the amazon app. 5 October

3. Frida. directed by Julie Taymore. 2002. United States. Starring Selma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Antonio Banderas, Diego Luna. The bold visions of two singular artists -- Frida Kahlo and director Julie Taymore -- collide with dazzling results in this vibrant account of the iconic Mexican painter’s work. Featuring tour-de-force performances from Selma Hayek (who also produced the film) and Alfred Molina (as Kahlo’s lover Diego Rivera) as well as imaginative animated flights of fancy from stop-motion surrealists the Brothers Quay, Frida shatters biopic conventions to knit a tapestry of Kahlo’s world that’s as rich, colorful, and complex as the artist’s own canvases. via the Criterion Channel app. 13 October

4. Shadow of the Vampire. Starring John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe. Directed by E. Elias Merhige. During the filming of director Murnau’s vampire movie, the cast and crew begin to disappear and suspect the actor may not be acting after all. via amazon prime app. 20 October

5. Death of a Cyclist. Directed by Juan Antonio Bardem. 1955 Spain. Upper-class geometry professor Juan and his wealthly, married mistress, Maria Jose, driving back from a late-night rendezvous, accidentally hit a cyclist, and run. The resulting, exquisitely shot talke of guilt, infidelity, and blackmail reveals the wide gap between the rich and poor in Spain, and surveys the corrupt ethics of a society seduced by decadence. Juan Antonio Bardem’s charged melodrama Death of a Cyclist (Muerte de un ciclista) was a direct attack on 1950s Spanish society under Franco’s rule. Though it was unaffected by the dictates of censorship, its sting could never be dulled. Via the Criterion app. 27 October.

6. Blowin’ Up. Point of View. Working within a broken criminal justice system, a team of rebel heroines work to change the way women arrested for prostitution are prosecuted. With intimate camerawork that lingers on details abd brings the Queens criminal courtroom to life, Blowin’ Up celebrates acts of steadfast defiance, even as it reveals the hurdles these women must face. Via the PBS app. 28 October.

7. The Battle Over Citizen Kane. American Experience. 1996. DVD checked out from the library. 30 October.