The Eyes of Despero

"Out of the Past" (feature)
Dir: Jaques Tourneur
Premier: 11/14/1947
Viewed: 2/09/09
Review: Based on the novel "Build My Gallows High", "Out of the Past" is an influential plot outline where the stranger's mysterious past comes back to haunt him. It was a great study in the typical noir story. The double-crossing, the femme fatale, the $40,000 stakes, this was definitely by the book. I saw a lot of "Batman: The Animated Series" in many of these shots. It was interesting to see the story expand to Mexico without losing the shady tones.

The viewer beins to root for the male lead when he figures out how his old boss and lover plans to cross him and makes plans to rid himself of them. In contrast to Mildred Pierce, "Past" had a far more bittersweet ending, as no one really makes it out alive, with the exception of the few decent characters in the story. One female character was narrowly spared in the end, from the harsh life led by her love interest. She's left with the practically nameless and omnipresent "nice guy". Lucky her...



"The Third Man" (feature)
Dir: Carol Reed
Premier: 9/3/1949
Viewed: 2/09/09
Review: This film was a great exercise in murder-mystery fare. If you wanted a solid example of plots and sub-plots inter-weaving, and characters who’s significance to the film falls and spiked from scene to scene, you’d want to see this film. I do take issue with one thing, and have been thinking about it a lot. Why do so many stories take the party to the sewers!? It’s as if they had no idea, or concern as to what vile misadventures await them at the crossroad of all toilets. Ironically, one of my favorite stories, involving four pizza-eating mutant turtles takes place entirely in a sewer.

There was a very dramatic use of black and white, particularly in the more pressing moments. It’s nice to see Orson Welles at a young age. I’m noticing that his overall look changes dramatically from film to film. The acting was standard noir-style acting, if I remember. Noir movies seem to have a certain line-delivery style that isn’t boring, but isn’t too excitable.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold: "The Eyes of Despero" (tv series)
Dir: Ben Jones
Premier: 2/06/09
Viewed: 2/09/09
Comment: Interesting plot choice, placing the now yellow Sinestro in a sort of "villain-in-the-making" situation. Reminds me of Anakin Skywalker.