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Reviews
D.C. Sniper (2010)
Not a Horror flick, that's right!
What are these horror fans out there thinking? Especially in in way down under? Guys, this ain't a horror flick, alright? It's an art film, a personal journey. I know some people who - like me - really enjoyed this film, but it's made for an intellectual art house crowd, not for horror fans. I guess the big mistake the producers made was to market this as a horror film, that way they got the wrong people viewing it. I've seen those things happen over and over again, especially from Lionsgate in the U.S., they go ahead and create a gigantic horror campaign only to disappoint and anger horror fans, why they keep doing this is beyond me. Anyway, I really liked this movie, I found it inspiring and engrossing and different and very, very personal. And I think Ken Foree did one hell of a job! This is his best role and his best performance ever. And it is Lommel's best film in many years, so stop beating up on this film and check it out again, alright?
Strangers in Paradise (1984)
Cult Hit
I saw this film as part of a retrospective of Ulli Lommel films in Munch, Germany, back in December of 2009. I do not care much for his recent horror flicks, but this film deserves attention and acclaim. As one can see, it polarizes, lots of 9s and 10s and lots of 1-ratings. Wow! Seldom has there been a director who is that controversial. I enjoyed the camera work and the acting and the song and dance numbers, my favorite one is THE SAME OLD SONG AND DANCE, where Lommel takes a swing at the Reagan area born again Christians in America and their double standards in morals and ethics. It's a very political movie for me, yet highly entertaining. Made back in 1984, it has almost vanished. Someone should remaster this film and do a new release on DVD or put it back in the theatres where it belongs. This has the potential of becoming a cult hit like ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, I mean it. It's almost a master piece.
Haytabo (1971)
Early master piece
I recently discovered this film at a Lommel retrospective in Munich, Germany, and was delighted! When you watch this film made in 1970, you must wonder whether Fassbinder imitated Lommel or vice versa. Maybe they both learned from each other. HAYTABO is very poetic and spiritual and the images are beautiful, with an incredible musical score. And French icon Eddie Constantine in the lead is a real treat. Shot mostly in Bavaria in the winter. it takes the viewer to breath taking locations. My favorite scene is when Eddie C. meets a teacher in the middle of nowhere and the guy starts conducting an invisible orchestra. Totally surreal and convincing at the same time. This is movie making the way it ought to be: Searching, risking, and finding treasures in the course of it. Real treasures. I couldn't stop thinking about this film for days. It even haunted me in my dreams, but in a pleasant way. Highly recommendable to everyone who wants to embark on a journey of discovery.
Cocaine Cowboys (1979)
Andy Warhol Pop Classic
This is 70s pop at its best, guys! What a gem! I love it! And Jack Palance as the evil rock band's manager is insane, he's so cool, man! And Andy Warhol playing himself, what a riot, I've never seen him do himself like that, he's cooler than cool! I believe the whole flick was filmed at Andy's compound in Montauk, Long Island, what a place, what a location! And the scenes in Manhattan that hold the story together, how funny. Great writing, cool camera, cool acting and very, very cool directing by Ulli Lommel, who's know to crank out one horror flick after the other, but this one, this is pure popism, no horror at all, and it shows that Lommel has real talent. The film also stars Tom Sullivan, a real life drug dealer who died age 23 in the gutter of Brooklyn after several failed attempts to reignite his "business" (that's what I read in "High Times" back in the early 80s). This film was shot right after Lommel's first Warhol production, "Blank Generation" another cool flick.
Blank Generation (1980)
The ultimate pop-punk-Warhol experience
Yeah, this is it! The ultimate pop-punk-Warhol experience. A wild love triangle, that was shot many years prior to SEX, LIES AND VIDEO TAPE and is much cooler and deeper. Carole Bouquet in the role of NADA LUMIERE is so sexy and cool, Richard Hell as BILLY is riveting, ULLI LOMMEL as Hoffritz is very funny and Andy Warhol as himself is the best! There is so much cool punk rock music in the film, the entire Blank Generation album, it's a real treat, yeah. All the locations show Manhattan, especially SOHO and the Lower Eastside as they were rocking in the late 70s, and even the World Trade Center is in it in a very cool shot from the Staten Island Ferry. I had to order this DVD from Japan, where the movie is a big hit - those Japanese obviously know what's good and cool, I was unable to score a new DVD here in the States, why is that? The producers should do a US release on this one, it's obligatory, because there must be a zillion punk rock, 70s pop fans out there.
Die Zärtlichkeit der Wölfe (1973)
Masterpiece
This is a true masterpiece. A classic Produced by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, who also plays a small role, and directed by Cult Filmmaker Ulli Lommel. It stars legendary Kurt Raab and it reminds you of Fritz Lang's masterpiece "M". Even though it is 37 years old, it feels like it was made yesterday. The camera work, the music, the acting, the directing, the lighting, the music, it's all as good as it gets! Based on a true crime story, it's about serial killer Fritz Haarmann, who murdered some 40 kids back around WWII in Germany. The mood, the settings, the whole feel of the film is so extraordinary, it keeps you glued to the screen from the first minute. And it's actually as good as the best Fassbinder films I have seen. I read a review back in the 70s by Vincent Canby in the New York Times, who loved this film and I saw it back then at a cinema in Manhattan, but this DVD I just screened is so cool so wonderful, this film is on my all time top ten list.