Death Race 2000, Rear Window, and Calendar Girls

Death Race 2000 is a cult flick written and directed by Paul Bartel and produced by Roger Corman. If you're a Corman fan, then you know his a what to expect from his films, low budget, bad dialogue, and scantily clad women. The director, Paul Bartel, has a fiendishly wicked sense of humor. The film was released in 1975, but was set in a nihilistic future, a dark idea of the world in the year 2000. The Death Race is a bloody cross-country race in which the goal is not only to reach the finish line first, but also to reach the finish line with the highest body count. The drivers are worshipped, the fans are brainwashed sheep, and the Death Race is government sanctioned. Throw in some rebels trying to sabotage the race and it makes for an entertaining and fascinating 79 minutes. David Carradine, Simone Griffith, and Mary Woronov star.

Rear Window is one of my favorite Alfred Hitchcock films, because I find the world he created in the courtyard of the apartment buildings fascinating. Hitchcock was master filmmaker, and he often incorporated a challenge into his films, like shooting the entire film in one continuous shot like he did in Rope. In Rear Window, the film begins with one continuous shot around the courtyard, and continues with all but a few shots from the perspective of one apartment. This technique added to the suspense and the artistry of the film. Rear Window showcases the talent of James Stewart, Grace Kelly, and Raymond Burr, and the film has the look of a classic Hitchcock film, because he tended to collaborate with the same talent from one film to the next. For Rear Window, the editing was done by George Tomasini and the costume design was done by Edith Head, bringing about much of the classic feel of the film. I love this film.

Calendar Girls tells the true story of a women’s group in Napley, England whose middle-aged members pose nude for a fundraising calendar. This is a funny movie, a great story, and it stars a group of wonderful actresses, including: Helen Miran, Julie Walters, Linda Bassett, Annette Crosbie, Celia Imrie, Geraldine James, and Penelope Wilton.