Movie: The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)

What I knew about The Postman Always Rings Twice before viewing is that it is based on a play (actually it is based on a 1930s book written by pulp author, James M. Cain). It was adapted for the screen by David Mamet, who wrote some well-known stuff in the 80s and 90s. 

This movie is a noir set in 1930s LA County. A drifter falls for the wife of the owner of a road-side service station. Together they plot the owner's death and after they are successful, there is a mind-blowing insurance investigation. Then the story continues in such a way that is difficult to sum up here, so I won't. Let me just say that this is an interesting, odd, quirky, strange and erotic roller coaster of a story. 

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to get from this movie, but I must say that I did enjoy it and I was engage throughout. I would recommend this for film buffs or anyone wanting to experience a perplexing story.  The title is never explained. 

I watched this 8/29/2020, on a DVD checked out from my local library. 

Movie: Nothing But a Man (1964) ****

I’m not sure how I came across this movie, but at some point, I placed a hold on it from my local library and then it was available. Nothing But a Man depicts Black misery, and centers on two people who are fighting to find moments of joy. It is brought to life with great acting, chock-full of internalized emotions and filmed in such a way that you get to look into the faces and see what’s contained. 

After the movie, I watched the recorded interview with the director, Michael Roemer, that's included on the Criterion edition DVD. I gleaned that he was implying that he regrets creating a "manipulative" movie with a happy-hopeful ending, “what Americans want to believe.”  I disagree. I don't see it as a perfect ending or a hopeful ending. I see it as an imperfect-open-ended ending.

“I don't like emphasis so everything I do is non-emphatic. Except that these things that happen that are very extreme. You may feel the tension all the way through, but the tension is subdued, and you are waiting for it to explode.” – Michael Roemer, Director

I loved this movie. I could definitely watch this movie over again and again. It is a film you can see differently at different stages of your life, and a movie I’d like to re-watch and find things in the fore and background that fascinate me. It may not be overtly happy, but the open-ended ending leaves room for you to root for Duff and Josie to thrive. ****

Watched this on a DVD checked out from my local library.