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VERMIGLIO (2024) Mauro Delpero's beautifully crafted drama about an Italian family during the waning days of WWII. They are a large (and still growing) family headed by a proud and vain schoolteacher Cesare (Tommaso Ragno) in their small village in the Alps. Pietro (Giuseppe De Domenico) a soft-spoken Sicilian soldier who has escaped the Germans at the front is hiding out in the Vermiglio township. He falls for the eldest daughter Lucia (Martina Scrinzi) . The romance momentarily is a ray of hope for the family even if they have their doubts about the wayward young man.

Delpero's script captures the trials and tribulations of the entire clan, including the children. The story is never rushed, yet never feels slow. Each individual is given respect by her writing and tender direction. Mikhail Krichman's burnished cinematography handsomely depicts their existence. The mountains give the exteriors a grandeur, but it's never merely picturesque. It's all part of the landscape for the villagers hardscrabble life during wartime.

VERMIGLIO shows that no matter how far away from the battlefield one may be, there are always repercussions both immediate and long-term. There is pain, secrets, loss and memory. As the movie eloquently states: Tears can be both a sign of sadness and sorrow - as well as hope and happiness.

THE LAST SHOWGIRL (2024) Gia Coppola's whisper thin, but interesting THE LAST SHOWGIRL nonetheless has some interest due in no small part to the 'perfect casting' of Pamela Anderson as the title character. Shelley (Anderson) has been part of a Vegas revue called Razzle Dazzle since its inception in the 80s. She was then the literal poster girl, but is now placed at the back of the stage so that the younger performers take the spotlight. Like Shelley, Razzle Dazzle is showing its age and is no longer a hot ticket in town - in fact, quite the opposite. The rhinestones and glitzy costumes with 'tasteful nudity' is of the past (there are allusions to Paris' famed Crazy Horse Cabaret). The show's manager, Eddie (Dave Bautista) confirms that the end is nigh for the show which sends Shelley into a tailspin. Complicating matters her estranged daughter Hanna (Billie Lourd) is on the verge of high school graduation and comes over for a brief visit.

Kate Gersten's screenplay (loosely based on a real Vegas show called Jubilee!) is better at setting up the situations than delving into them. Shelley's friend Annette (Jamie Lee Curtis) used to be part of Razzle Dazzle but was bounced and now works as a cocktail waitress. Two of the younger members of the troupe (played by Brenda Song and Kiernan Shipka) treat Shelley as a sort of mother figure. The dialogue is spotty and too on point. Coppola, perhaps taking a cue from her aunt Sofia, goes for a more dreamy style with an observational mis en scene.

Anderson mostly goes for the no makeup look when not in her stage costume, while Curtis goes full on bronzer and mascara. It's a contrast that brings to the fore the underlying themes. Anderson, who has always had more acting talent than given credit for, is spot on as Shelley. She, too, has gone from cover girl to fading starlet. The scenes which rely less on dialogue and more on Anderson's physical performance are the most potent. The decades have worn on her, but she defiantly defends her choices as an artist and mother. It's her life. Her decisions. Even at the fade-out, she holds her head up high.

P. S. Full Disclosure: I worked with Pamela for a couple of years. I found her gracious and more talented than given credit for.

RACE WITH THE DEVIL (1975). An entertaining and exciting chase picture combined with a creepy horror flick. The cast is terrific with Warren Oates and Peter Fonda headling with Lara Parker and Loretta Swit as their wives. The couples depart on a ski vacation until they run into...Satanists!

I saw this in 35mm on the big screen several years back as part of a terrific Jack Starrett double feature with the underrated THE DION BROTHERS (aka GRAVY TRAIN). Actors Fredric Forrest and Mark Rydel and Barry Primus were there for a Q&A between films and spoke glowingly of Actor/Director Starrett. Also, told some raunchy tales.