The Man From Laramie (1955, dir. Anthony Mann)

The Man From Laramie (1955, dir. Anthony Mann)

What Is It?: An angry revenge western starring the great Jimmy Stewart in a bitter lead role.

What About It?: The fifth and last of Anthony Mann's collaborations with Stewart (Bend of the River is another good one) defies a simple explaination, though we'll try. Stewart plays a wagon train runner who delivers goods to a dusty outpost at the "end of the West" -- beautiful New Mexico -- and stays on to find out who sold the guns to the Apaches that killed his brother. That, and they burned his wagons for stealing salt. Great, multilayered supporting work from Mann regular Arthur Kennedy.

Why Should I See It?: Mann's Stewart westerns are terrific, interesting and belie the notion that there were no complicated, interesting westerns prior to the revionist western movement of the 60's and 70's. Dramatic and entertaining.

What Else Is It Like?: Unforgiven, Forty Guns, 7 Men From Now.

When Is It Showing Until ON DEMAND?: 08/17/06

Watch It ON DEMAND on Comcast Cable

--ddt/pdx

Beautiful Girls (1996, dir. Ted Demme)

Beautiful Girls (1996, dir. Ted Demme)

What Is It?: It's a darkish, Gen X-dude-turning-30-doesn't-know-what-the-next-step-is ensemble comedy.

What About It?: Ted Demme carved himself an interesting little career before he had a cocaine-induced heart attack playing a game of basketball. He directed Denis Leary in his first filmed stand-up gigs and also directed him in his first starring vehicle, the excellent black comedy, The Ref, which also introduced Kevin Spacey to the mainstream. After The Ref's mild success, he made Beautiful Girls. He had a modicum of autonomy and his film, though awkwardly plotted has many high points.

Why Should I See It?: It's an interesting mid-90's time capsule with good performances from all of the principals. Timothy Hutton turns in a charming, low-key starring performance and the supporting cast -- even Rosie -- is terrific. The general feel of working class New England in unnamed town (or state for that matter) is nailed here. Also, The Lost Classic is hard pressed to think of another film that has such athoritative authentic snow. It just feels like the hideous New England winters. That, and the title track is a great Tom Petty rip-off.

What Else Is It Like?: Sleep With Me, Walking and Talking, Kicking and Screaming.

When Is It Showing Until ON DEMAND?: 8/17/06

Watch It ON DEMAND on Comcast Cable

-- ddt/pdx

Blow Out (1981, dir. Brian De Palma)

Blow Out (1981, dir. Brian De Palma)

What Is It?: A bleak, exciting political thriller about a man who witnesses an assasination of a presidential favorite and his struggle with the aftermath.

What About It?: Though (arguably) overpraised by Pauline Kael in his heyday, De Palma has fallen on largely deaf ears in the years that have followed. Today, he's praised only by a select few Kaelites left (no disrespect intended) who appreciate his singular gifts, which is a shame. He's a intelligent, funny filmmaker who knows when to crib from Hitchcock and when to put his own peurile cinematic impulses on display.

Why Should I See It?: Blow Out, a kind of re-imagining of the seminal Blowup (1966, dir. Antonioni), tells the story of a B-movie sound engineer who accidentally records the fatal accident of the favored presidential hopeful and the unraveling of his life following the incident. De Palma makes the best 70's political conspiracy thiller you've ever seen (in 1981, natch). And it'll remind you of the magnetic actor John Travolta once was without having to watch Saturday Night Fever again.

When Is It Showing Until ON DEMAND?: 09/07/06

Watch it ON DEMAND on Comcast Cable

-- ddt/pdx