Review of the movie Dark City

I have been on vacation this week, and one tradition I stick to is to try new things and break away from my routine. It doesn't matter what it is, just something different from the usual daily grind. I would like to share an awesome movie from the late Nineties, titled Dark City I happened to see, thanks to my Mom finding the DVD at a yard sale and letting me borrow it. Still in the plastic wrap, someone truly did not know what they had, and gave it way for around a dollar. Gotta love a yardsale!

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   Dark City was released in 1998 and starred Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt and Rufus Sewell. It was directed and written by Alex Proyas, who also directed The Crow. The movie was a joint production by New Line Cinema and Australian Mystery Clock production, with the majority of production shot in Australia at Fox Studios Australia. Dark City is in the Sci-Fi/Neo Noir genre. It received very minor success at the box office, but has received mostly positive critic reviews. Roger Ebert rated 4 stars and claimed it was the best movie of 1998, Rotten Tomatoes has it at 74% fresh, and IMdB 7.7 out of 10.
     Dark City starts off in a dimly lit hotel room, the main character John Murdoch(Rufus Sewell)
awakening to a grisly murder scene, suffering from amnesia with no recollection to what has occurred. Dr. Daniel Schreber(Sutherland) calls to give Murdoch the heads up that a group of men are on the way and after him, and encourages him to leave the hotel at once. As he is leaving the room, a group of strange men, pale skinned and dressed in all black, are getting off the elevator and heading his way. Murdoch finds out that he is wanted by the police and the strange men, known as The Strangers,  for a string of murder's he doesn't remember committing. He also finds out he is married to a woman named Emma(Connelly), and that something just doesn't seem right about the city that never sees daylight. The movie is about Murdoch's exploration of the city and finding the answers to all his questions.

https://stylenoir.com/film-review-dark-city/

      The visual and cinematography of Dark City is plain awesome and what makes it such a great movie. With elements of both Sci-Fi and Noir, both combine nicely to create a beautiful landscape and experience for the audience. The city itself is a mix of modern and old, with no distinct year or era, a dark, cold, and mechanical feel that is reminiscent of the silent movie Metropolis. Art Deco signage, old automobiles, and throwback clothing are all present. The atmosphere and story line are similar to the more popular Matrix movies or Inception, though Dark City did release a year before The Matrix.

     I  give this movie two thumbs up, and recommend it as a must-see if you are a fan of Sci-Fi or Neo Noir/Crime/Thriller films. The story line is complex and fairly deep, asking questions about human nature and what exactly makes us who we are. Dark City may have not captured a huge audience at the time, but I do see it as a cult movie that was well made and thought-provoking. I believe it will continue to be at home during midnight showings and art-house cinemas for a long time to come.

26 movies I have seen in the past year that are "Must-See"

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 Hello! It's been a long time since I last posted, just been busy working, taking care of the cats and trying to have a social life. I wanted to share my top 26(25 plus an added bonus!) movies I have seen in the past 365 days that are "must-see" in my opinion. These are both older and newer releases, in no particular order, that I have watched for the first time in the past year. Without further ado, let's get started!

La La Land
Don't sleep on this movie, yes the trailer is kind of weak and it is a musical, but believe me it lives up to the hype. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, it's a throwback to the golden age of Hollywood. A true Must-See.

Hidden Figures
Based on the true story of three very important African-American women that worked for NASA in the early 1960's during the Apollo program. I never knew about these women, so glad I do now.

IMDb.com

Get Out
It got a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, that's right there with "It's A Wonderful Life"! It's a must-see horror/thriller, fun and unique all the way around.



The Thin Man
William Powell's and Myrna Loy had great chemistry and played many a joke off each other in this colorful  black and white comedy.

Logan
Wolverine,Professor X, mini-Wolverine, nuff said!

IMDb.com

Dr. Strange
My favorite Marvel comic movie to date. Very colorful and vibrant, Marvel did this "Strange" character justice.

The Searchers
John Wayne at his finest. Saw this Western for the first time last summer during a midnight movie run at Baxter, loved it.

The Green Room
A struggling band ends up playing a show at a neo-nazi compound, witnesses a murder, gets locked in the green room and try to survive. Patrick Stewart stars as a bad guy.

The Founder
Starring Michael Keaton as Ray Croc, the story of of how the McDonald's fast-food empire that we know and love came to be.

IMDb.com

Jackie
Natalie Portman plays Jackie Kennedy in a movie about her life after the JFK assassination and the end of Camelot in the White House

Hacksaw Ridge
Mel Gibson directs the story of Desmond Doss, set in Japan during WWII. Great story of a true American hero.

The Apartment
Produced and Directed by Billy Wilder all the way back in 1960, the story of a man the lends out his apartment to the Big-Whigs at his job.

10 Cloverfield Lane

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John Goodman and a ton and twists and turn! An intense movie at times that will have you wondering what is around the next corner.

Lion
A boy in remote India gets lost and ends up miles away from home and later adopted by an Australian couple. Based on a true story, starring Nicole Kidman.

Split
I have always been a fan of M. Night Shylaman, even with his missteps in recent years. A movie about multiple personalities that is creepy and spine-tingling. Great acting by James McAvoy who plays the lead character(s).

IMDb.com

Manchester By The Sea
This movie is a little slow paced, but don't sleep on this one. Steph(my fiancé) and I both liked it.

2001 A Space Odyssey
Yep, I am late to the party on this one,  just watched for the first time about a month ago and was blown away with the visuals and special-effects for the time period. Stanley Kubrick's Sci-Fi masterpiece.

Refer Madness
Just bought this old movie on VHS a month or two ago, a cheesy old school movie about the horrors of Marijuana use and addiction. It's a must see due to the hilarity of the content, not so much the quality of the actual acting.

The Sinister Urge
Ed Wood movies are so-bad-they-are-good, and The Sinister Urge is no different. The plot focuses on the horrors of pornography and the smut business.Gotta love Ed Wood!

Nerve
An internet social media game promotes risky behavior for it's players to advance and win. A movie emphasizing the dark side of the internet and social media.

Before I Fall
Based on a novel, and similar to both Ground Hog Day and Run Lola Run(if you are familiar with both). Some decent twists in this movie will keep you interested.

Inglorious Basterds
I am not a huge fan Quentin Tarantino, but have to admit he has made some good movies. I saw this recently for the first time at a "Fash-Bash" midnight movie run(along with Raiders of the Lost Ark) at the Baxter. It's violent, gory, and profane but damn good.

Dracula Rises From The Grave

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The late Christopher Lee stars as Dracula in this solid Hammer film production. Dracula has risen to terrify the towns folk once again, after supposedly being destroyed for good.

The Screaming Skull
A true 1950's cheese-fest B-grade movie. Black and white, cheap special effects, low quality but nonetheless fun. Just be careful watching this movie, it may scare you to death!

Double Indemnity
The film-noir's film noir. The gold standard to all other film-noir are judged. I Found this gem on VHS in a flea market a while back, definitely so good it is in my top 10 movies of all time.

Colossal
Just saw this movie last night at the Village 8, had to add it to the list due to the uniqueness and that it has Kaiju monsters in it! Stars Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis, a bizarre comedy that I give two thumbs up!

comingsoon.net

So their you have it, my top 26  "must-see" movies that I have watched in the past year. Have a good week, and to all my local friends Happy Derby!

Run, Logan, Run!

Hello all, welcome back to Southpaw Sleuth! Today I am discussing a movie that I watched for the first time a few weeks ago while on vacation. I went with my mom, sister and her boyfriend to Lagrange, KY, to check out the Traderbaker's mall and to shop the stores on historic Main St. At one store in particular, Agape Thrift Store(301 S 1st St.), I spotted a huge selection of VHS tapes in the back. I still have and use a VHS player, and still buy tapes if the price is right. Most VHS at this place were 50 cents each, and I quickly picked out a few older movies that I had never watched before. One of them, "Logan's Run",  I had heard of but had never seen. I figured for half a dollar for any movie it's worth it, even if I'd only watch it once.

Boy, was it worth every penny! Released in 1976, "Logan's Run" was the gold standard of 70's sci-fi(at least until Star Wars New Hope came out in 1977.)  It has everything a 70's movie should have: weird and colorful costumes, elaborate background and set, hippies,ancient symbols, great music and score, kooky characters and Farrah Fawcett. The special effects were top of the line for the time period, and the film was the first to use laser holography. The film was nominated for two Academy awards, won a special Academy Award, and won six Saturn Awards, including Best Science Fiction Film.

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The film takes place in the year 2274. Civilization as we know it ceased to exist, and people now live under a domed city, controlled by a computer. Everything is taken care of, and work is no longer necessary. It is a hedonistic society, one of leisure and pursuit of pleasure. The Utopia under this domed city has one major drawback: No one lives longer than 30 years. The reason for this is to preserve resources and to prevent overpopulation.  On or right after the 30th birthday, the citizens go through a ritual, and if not killed during it, can live out the rest of their lives. Logan 5, the main character, is a law enforcement officer called a "Sandman" who eliminates "Runners" that try to escape the ritual and city. The film is about Logan eventually running from society to escape his on own lethal requirement.

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I don't want to spoil this film for people that have yet to see it. I have already watched it twice, and could easily watch again. The film, at roughly 2 hours long, moves along smoothly with just the right amount of action, adventure and love story. The cast of characters is wonderful, Michael York and Jenny Agutter play the main characters, the late Roscoe Lee Browne and  the late Peter Ustinov are stand-out supporting characters. The visual effects of this film is definitely it's strength, with a vivid and imaginative set and costumes. Even though it is dated compared to today's standards, I believe most people will still appreciate what this film has to offer. Highly recommended!

*WELCOME!*

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Chester(Tabby), Presh(Russian Blue) and Buddy the Dog

Hello! Welcome to my new blog Southpaw Sleuth! In this blog I will touch on many subjects, including food, beer, movies, entertainment and sports. I also have two cats and a dog, thus my blog will include the adventures of being a pet owner, reviews of cat/dog food and treats, first aid and health.

I am definitely what you would consider a "foodie". My fiance, Steph, and I love to try different kinds of food and checking out all the hot spots around town. I have recently begun giving my two cents worth in the form of reviews,judging value, taste and atmosphere,  and will share them on this blog. I sell beer for a living, and have been drinking beer for close to two decades. I  can honestly say my love for beer is a close second to food, and like food, I am always trying something different or checking out the newest offering. My blog will include reviews on beer, old and new, and even food pairings on occasion.

I am an alumni of the University of Louisville(2005 BA), and a big fan of the sport programs. I follow the Football team, (men's and women's)Basketball teams, Baseball, Ice Hockey, and Soccer, just to name a few. I am also a big fan of the Derby City Roller Girls, Louisville's flat track women's roller derby team that plays home games at Champs Rollerdrome in Lyndon. The Louisville Bats, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Browns round out my favorite teams and sport programs.

Finally, I am also movie buff, notably into old movies, but watch and enjoy any and all genre. I love to talk about movies, review, and get the 4-1-1 on new releases. I also enjoy video games(older consoles and CPU), super heroes, arts and crafts.

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Thanks for checking my blog out, see you next time!