The Murderer and 6ixtynin9

 One of the things I like about Netflix are the many films and series from around the world especially from India and an occasional one or two from Thailand. This brings me to 2 Thai thrillers that had me gasping and laughing at the same time. One is a film, the other is a 6 part series, and both were terrific. First up is the movie "The Murderer" which is so loopy and bloody. It's also gorgeous in its deep saturated colors. The plot concerns a young woman who brings her British husband home to meet her off the wall family who are a cross between Ma and Pa kettle and the Texas chain saw clan. Murders happen and the hapless Brit played to perfection by James Laver is the main suspect. No doubt influenced by American noir and the Coen brothers with many twists and turns. Also memorable is the popular Thai actor Phetthai Vongkumlao as the investigating detective.

6ixynin9 is a 6 part series that I found out was originally a movie. This one is also nutty and loose. A young woman is laid off from her insurance company job due to Covid and is ok with it. The thrill of the chase and the movie so to speak happen when a lot of money (think drug money) is left outside her door due to a loose screw (there are plenty of them in this series) on her door which makes the number 6 to become number 9. The clever play on sexual activity is of course implied and there is that but there are also much bang bang and violence throughout. The young actress Davika Hoorne plays the lead in a dead pan style like she could care less about what is going on around her. Again the American Coen Brothers are floating around here along with other movie references including Heaven Can Wait and the marvelous British Earling studio caper films.

Robert Irwin 1928-2023

 

Autumn 2023 Mixed on board

 

Ida Applebroog 1929-2023

 

Jack Anderson 1935-2023

Sorry to learn of Jack's death. I knew him in the 70's along with his long time partner and husband George Dorris. In 1975 Jack a

sked me to do the covers for his book of poetry "City Joys".

Keith Baxter 1933-2023

 

Piper Laurie 1932-2023

The fine actress and a favorite of mine has passed. She was known as a Hollywood starlet until she did The Hustler and blew this 15 year old away. I didn't know she was Jewish, I just assumed she was Irish, her name and red hair. Also 3 Oscar nominations, not bad for a starlet who made action movies when young with Tony Curtis.

Le Doulos 1962

 

There is plenty of 1962 in this crime thriller from Jean-Pierre Melville. Based on a novel but inspired like a nightmare from many American gangster and crime movies of the 30's, 40's and 50's. This one was shot around a dreary Paris and concerns a group of petty thieves. The main thrust is built upon two of the guys Jean-Paul Belmondo who is a tell all police informant. Le Doulos in fact is French slang for a stoolie but also for the fedora hats that are worn by practically everyone in the film. Along with Belmondo is the wonderful Serge Reggiani another petty thief and the second main thrust who is just released from prison as the film opens. He is on the way to see a jewel thief pal of his and to set up another robbery. The film and story are dense and its at times hard to follow, but the pleasures of the movie are many especially how it looks and moves. As I said there is plenty of 1962 in the movie, from the trench coats and fedoras to the big American cars, and the flashy dames who take plenty of crap from their men.

Betrayal, revenge and dishonor among thieves are at the heart of the film. Set in dingy nightclubs and bars, apartments full of things and night time Paris with some obvious on purpose process shots mostly behind speeding cars gliding along the streets of the city. You almost need a score card to figure out who is doing dirty to who.


Belmondo with that great face and nose of his was on his way to international fame and stardom and he is nasty and misogynistic, sexy and heated up in his many lies and betrayals. The violence comes without warning and some if not all of it is shocking and disturbing. Women as I said are treated with much misogynistic nastiness, and yes this goes with the territory of crime sometimes pays and towers in many of American crime films. We all have our lists.


Melville loved American culture and especially American film noir and he took from them with applause and tribute. I noticed a few references and homage to the great Andre DeTooth crime thriller of 1954 “Crime Wave” and Melville gives his French detective who like Sterling Hayden in “Crime Wave” chews on a tooth pick throughout the film. There is also a doctor in both films who is reduced to being a veterinarian because of his criminal past who now treats gangsters on the run. This kind of M.D.was also a fixture in many crime and gangster films of Hollywood. With the great Michel Piccoli and inky black and white restored beautiful cinematography by Nicolas Hayer.

Terence Davies 1945-2023

Deep despair over the passing of this great artist and poet of cinema. I adore his films and to think that there will be no more of his great works hurts me to my core. Ironically I have his "Sunset Song" sitting here for two weeks as if it knew what was coming I kept putting off watching it. I will watch it again tonight. I mourn this tremendous artist but celebrate his remarkable life and work.