danieljfarthing

The hook of simple but powerful war film "Warfare" is its hard, cold authenticity. Based on the actual memories of a platoon of US Navy SEALs (played by the likes of Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, & Michael Gandolfini) who in 2006's invasion of Iraq were holed up in a Ramadi house coming under heavy attack from IEDs & swarming jihadists. Its superb co-writers / co-directors (the experienced Alex Garland & newcomer Ray Mendoza) go up-close in real-time through the harsh, gruesome, harrowing (yet quite straightforward) events that unfold. Like a compacted & more real "Black Hawk Down" it's a fine salute to all those who serve in the military. Fair play.

Dramatic thriller "Sharp Corner" charts the descent of average family guy Ben Foster (fine actor) from hating his job, thru leaning on booze, to sheer insanity via the titular accident blackspot outside the new home he's bought with wife Cobie Smulders and their young son. As cars repeatedly crash, and folk die, on his front yard, Foster becomes obsessed with the victims and on prepping to 'help' future ones, rather than preventing them and/or addressing his family's trauma. Writer / director Jason Buxton's second film is original, clever, well performed - tho also slow & implausible at times, with an ending that'll irk some. That said, generally, it's a good film.

James Garner is one of many who've played Philip Marlowe from Raymond Chandler's novels. His turn came in 1969's "Marlowe" (adapted from Chandler's 'The Little Sister' by Sterling Silliphant) which pulled the titular private dick from the '40s to the swinging '60s where in his native LA he seeks Sharon Farrell's missing brother and stirs up a typically Chandleresque plot involving blackmail, multiple murder and characters like tv star Gayle Hunnicutt, mobster HM Wynant (with goon Bruce Lee), and cops Carroll O'Connor & Kenneth Tobey. Rockford & director Paul Bogart play it light & fun, and while not intensely memorable they do do Marlowe justice. Not bad.