henry8-3

Murakani (Toshiro Mifune) a newly promoted rookie homicide detective loses his gun during a sweltering Tokyo summer heatwave. After hours of treading the streets of Tokyo he eventually discovers that the gun was used in a violent crime for which he holds himself responsible. He is told that it isn't his fault and is instructed to work with seasoned vet Sato (Takashi Shimura) on the case - but then there is a killing.

Early police procedural basically following the rookie learning from the vet, whilst they and everyone sweats profusely or gets soaked in the torrential downpours. Like the later High and Low, the great Kurosawa somehow manages to create a riveting film out of simple tale of two detectives moving from a-z interrogating various characters who might lead them to the killer. There are of course no car chases and no violence, but many exciting and expertly played out and acted scenes including a thrilling last twenty minutes, made all the more exciting strangely, by the use of the weather. A truly fascinating thriller that would influence film makers for generation to come.

Veteran surfer Nicholas Cage returns to the Aussie beach where he grew up, to surf with his son. However, a group of locals, a 'club / temple' of sorts, none of whom seem to have jobs, lead by sinister Scally (Julian McMahon) intimidate and threaten him to stop him surfing. Busy trying to secure a mortgage on his nearby birth home and with everything going wrong and everyone including the local police out to stop him, the inevitable resentment starts to bubble to the surface.

Filmed in the blazing sun baked hues of a beautiful Australian beach, Cage, once again proves how good he is being on the receiving end of something or other deeply unpleasant (in this case seemingly every Australian living in this surfing community) and slowly but surely rising up. Whilst I quite liked the ending and it is to be fair unique and undoubtedly a metaphor for something or other, it's frankly all a bit silly and unbelievable and potentially pulled together specifically as a platform for Cage to do his ever popular mad man thing. Nice score.

Returning from the Trojan wars, King Agamemnon is slain by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus. After years of intimidation and isolation their daughter Electra and her brother Orestes, returning from exile, seek their revenge - but at what cost.

Essentially a compelling recreation of Euripides tragedy performed much as a straight theatrical play, under the darkening skies and the mountainous vistas of the Greek countryside - it's like the whole thing was filmed in a vast amphitheatre you've bought a ticket to. This is very much a film of visuals and clearly performed on a pretty meagre budget. The strength though lies in the performances, vital in conveying the strong passions, fury and sadness and this is particularly the case of Irene Papas in the lead who is most impressive - watch her eyes! - not so sure about Giannis Fertis as Orestes. Not for everyone and I guess quite a scholarly piece so not your usual Greek myth recreation, so be warned - Jason and the Argonauts this ain't.