The Film Yap

If there’s a greater actor in a better role than Paul Newman in “The Verdict,” I haven’t met it. Continue reading →

Best remembered for that iconic kiss on the beach, “From Here to Eternity” actually belongs to Montgomery Clift and his bold, sideways performance. Continue reading →

A production design in search of a movie, “The Great Gatsby” is a curiously bloodless adaptation of the iconic Fitzgerald novel. Continue reading →

This 1956 drama is a harrowing and terrific portrayal of female POWs during World War II. Too bad the central romance seems pointlessly tacked on. Continue reading →

This well-done World War II film takes an almost documentary-like look at the battle to destroy the mighty German warship. Continue reading →

It might have been another mushy midcentury romance if not for the way “The Enchanted Cottage” focuses on the disfigurement of WWII soldiers. Continue reading →

“Beyond the Time Barrier” is a prime example of low-budget mid-century cheese. It can only be enjoyed ironically. Continue reading →

Often called one of the greatest sports comedies of all time, “Slap Shot” is the rare movie that is contemptuous of the modern state of its sport. Continue reading →

A strange and silly slice of Hollywood cheese, “The Wraith” is what happens when a neat idea gets run over by the ’80s. Continue reading →

A daring and bleak depiction of drug addiction and descent, “The Man with the Golden Arm” is the sort of movie that can end on a sour note but still seem hopeful. Continue reading →