Watching Movies Apr 5

A documentary about the history of Christian Nationalism that is blatantly designed to condemn and terrify ahead of the 2024 election. It connects a vast conspiracy-like network of well-funded organizations working with churches to overtake American politics and digs into the roots of the movement, and while thorough and informative, the delivery gets a bit monotonous. 

A poorly-titled historical drama about Lyndon B. Johnson's campaign for the presidency following Kennedy's assassination. The first half seems modeled after Spielberg's Lincoln as Johnson schemes to pass a desegregation bill, which causes him to lose the Southern vote of his own party. The second half is muddled and less urgent since we already know he's going to win, but it's all done with great period detail that doesn't call attention to itself. Bryan Cranston gives a transformative performance and practically disappears behind convincing makeup.

A man spends his entire life in rivalry with his neighbor, with whom he believes he was switched at birth. This is a quirky and sometimes dark story that's convoluted and jumps all over in time and in and out of fantasy yet remains coherent and easy to follow. Perhaps it gets a little too cute and wrapped up in its own contrivances, but fans of Amelie should check this out. 

Burt Lancaster leads a group of soldiers on the hunt for a warring band of Apaches led by Ulzana. The Little House on the Prairie aesthetic takes a surprisingly brutal turn in the first act (although not too surprising when you realize it's a Robert Aldrich movie). After that the film is a meditation on racism and brutality in the west, which Lancaster understands all too well but he can't get it through the white man's thick skull. He's countered by a quixotic Bruce Davison, who struggles to understand the Apache way's against his own Christian morality. Most of the movie, however, is a clever cat-and-mouse chase as Lancaster tries to outwit Ulzana. 

A B-movie made watchable by an A-level cast who can deliver the corny dialogue with a straight face. Barbara Stanwyck was apparently coming back from semi-retirement and at least picked a film where she got to do most of the action. The initial premise apparently didn't have enough jeopardy, so they threw in Ralph Meeker as a ruthless killer. He makes the most of it, and it's very similar to The Hitch-Hiker, which was released about the same time. John Sturges' action directing is clear and realistic, but he doesn't bring much character nuance. At 70 minutes, it feels more like a good TV movie.