CULT MOVIE: MYSTERY TRAIN (1990)

Hard to describe the crime in this three-into-one-must-go film without giving it all away. This tells three apparently unrelated stories (all based in Memphis) of a pair of Japanese tourists, a young Italian widow and a gang which rob a liquor store. Uniting all three stories are a gunshot and Elvis, either as a ghost or the singer of the ghostly Blue Moon which is playing on almost every radio anybody listens to. It's an odd film in which crime provides some kind of resolution and is a constant threat (as when the widow has to pay a wacko, who tells her the story of Graceland's hitchhiking ghost, just to leave her alone).

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CULT MOVIE: RESERVOIR DOGS (1992)

Make no mistake, Dogs is not a gangster film but out and out heist fun. They've got the suits, the unexplainable nicknames and ruthless boss Joe (1940s tough guy Tierney) keeping it in the family with son Nice Guy Eddie (Penn). What they don't got is loyalty. These guys are purely out for the money and in Mr Blond's case, the thrill of killing, although he is the only character who doesn't kill anyone ( severe maiming doesn't count). Tarantino had planned to have friends playing the roles until actress Lorraine Bracco ( Keitel's wife at the time) passed the script on to Keitel who signed up immediately, helping to raise cash and the film's profile. The role of Mr Blue eventually went to Eddie Bunker, a convincted armed robber who was once on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List.
Director: Quentin Tarantino Cast: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Chris Penn

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CULT MOVIE:BADLANDS(1973).

One of the most stunning debuts by any director, Malick's own script, based loosely on the Starkweather-Fugatte killing spree of the fifties, unussually never passes judgement on the two young killers.Sheen is a James Dean lookalike and garbage collector Kit who goes on the run with his girlfriend(Spacek) after he kills her father for disapproving of their relationship.The pair leave a trail of seemingly random yet brutal killings in their wake.The lack of sensationalism is aided by Malick,cinematographer Tak Fujimoto's golden hues of colour and Spacek's flat monotone narration.Malick gives himself a cameo as the visitor of the mansion owner taken hostage by Sheen and Spacek.
Director:Terrence Malick Cast:Martin Sheen,Sissy Spacek.

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CULT MOVIE OF THE DAY(20-12-2009).DOG DAY AFTERNOON(1975)

Pacino  and Cazale star as Sonny and Sal,holding up a bank to pay for Sonny's lover's(Sarandon in his debut film)sex change operation.What should be a simple heist turns into a media frenzy with the pair holed up whith the bank clerks and customers while the media delve into their private lives and humiliate the inept police force.The clever absence of any musical score gives the film its claustrophobic feel.Brilliant perfomances by Pacino(note the phone conversation he has with Sarandon)and Penny Allen as one of the frazzled bank staff.Cazale is just as good,reminding you of what a loss his early death(from bone cancer)in 1979 really was.
Director:Sidmey Lumet Cast:Al Pacino,John Cazale,Chris Sarandon.

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