I’ve pretty much come to one, simple conclusion: people enjoy variety. Not just in film, but in life: whether that be a simple choice of choosing pasta over steak or as complicated as picking one lover over the other. Whatever the situation may be, we enjoy a change every once in a while. So in spite of that minuscule revelation, this is my new idea: every Sunday morning I will be making a post – except for now on it will NOT be a lengthy review, but capsule pieces from myself and anyone else who wishes to partake.

Here’s the premise: After a week of film-going, pick the one film you enjoyed the most and write about it

The Guidelines:

- Your Name:

- Website Title or Any Place One Can Find Your Work (Again, anyone with or without a site can write in):

- Url Address To Said Site

- 150 Words or Less

Final Note: All pieces must be sent into my email address (Dukeandmovies@yahoo.com) by every Saturday Night (no matter the time zone).

Now that we have all the formalities out of the way, I present to you the fine folks who helped me out this weekend.

Andy Buckle's favorite film of the week is "The Wages of Fear"

Writer: Andy Buckle

Source: Andy Buckle’s Film Emporium

Film: The Wages of Fear

The Wages of Fear is a 1953 French suspense thriller directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, based on the 1950 novel by Georges Arnaud. When a South American oil well owned by an American oil company catches fire, the company hires four European men, down on their luck and stranded in a backwater Latin American village, to drive two trucks over 300 miles of hazardous mountain roads, carrying the volatile nitroglycerine needed to extinguish the fire. In 1953 The Wages of Fear won both the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and Palme d’Or at Cannes and catapulted Clouzot to international fame. The second half of the film is comprised of the extended mission sequence, which features some of the most intense moments I have ever witnessed. The way the characters react to these situations is just as shocking as the events themselves. Clouzot builds genuine characters and manages to create more suspense by clever editing than most modern blockbuster directors (with visual effects) could ever hope to achieve. This is a masterpiece from a master director. If I were to update 100 films I consider to be truly great, The Wages of Fear would comfortably make the list. It’s truly brilliant.

Playing cards determine fate in Toby's favorite, "Charlie Casanova"

Writer: Blah Toby

Source: Blah Blah Blah Gay

Film: Charlie Casanova

My favourite film this week may not be the best by a long shot, but I would give the award to Charlie Casanova. Terry McMahon’s debut feature screened at Revelation Perth International Film Festival and shocked and entertained and created an interesting thought processes in equal measures. To paraphrase the creator, this is a film that divides opinions. You will either be appalled by both Charlie and the film or appalled by Charlie and enjoy the brave piece of cinema in front of you.  Charlie kills, Charlie abuses his friendships, Charlie preaches hate and Terry McMahon shoves a camera in their faces while it happens. It’s uncomfortable viewing at times, but incredibly powerful. More films should challenge the viewer. It’s just a shame that it took people volunteering via facebook to get this film made rather than somebody taking a chance on something edgy.

Courtney's pick took me 20 minutes to find a picture of.

Writer: Courtney Small

Source: Big Thoughts From A Small Mind

Film: Kung Fu Master

In this hilarious 3 minute short Japanese actor/comedian Shaq lampoons classic Hong Kong martial arts films of the 70s. Directed by Daiuke, Shaq plays three different characters, an old kung fu master, a young woman, and a young man, who are all vying for kung fu supremacy. Shaq plays each character to their maximum comedic potential. Kung Fu Master is the exact type of silly comedy that delivers the big laughs and will leave a permanent smile one your face.

Michael Caine delivers a brilliant performance in "Alfie"

Writer: Jack L

Source: Jack L Film Reviews

Film: Alfie

Alfie is a vastly misunderstood British masterpiece. It has sadly never got the recognition it deserved in my opinion, even if it did start Michael Caine’s career and was the subject for an awful looking remake starring Jude Law. But its delightfully dark humour, inventive directing, brilliant use of narration (which involves Alfie breaking the fourth wall in a most amusing fashion) combined with its highly interesting views on morality and the extreme skill with the character of Alfie is developed make it a most interesting piece of Cinema, that is as subtle in its approach to its subject, as it is ground-breaking in its choice of subject and its technical prowess.  It may seem rather dated by modern standards, but this is only because it succeeds in capturing the times it is set in so well. It may not be a timeless classic, but it’s a film I feel is worthy of a reevaluation.

Paolo chats about "Fright Night"

Writer: Paolo Kagaoan

Source: Okinawa Assault

Film: Fright Night

This week’s favorite film is surprisingly Tom Holland’s original Fright Night. Sure, the movie has the unavoidable camp that comes with 80′s genre films and William Ragsdale yells throughout the movie. Charlie Brewster (Ragsdale) is the Jonathan Harker to his new next door neighbor Jerry Dandridge’s (Chris Sarandon) Dracula, a strong sexual threat. Finding himself in trouble, Charlie recruits his best friend Evil Ed (Stephen Geoffreys) and a TV vampire killer Peter Vincent (Roddy MacDowall) and the vampire movie becomes a film about a new generation of kids in the 80′s learning about sex. Amanda Bearse’s plays Amy, Charlie’s girlfriend, with a young woman’s curiosity. I’m not sure if this is me projecting, but Geoffrey’s Evil Ed’s tears when Jerry ‘seduces’ him is the inner layer of a boisterous kid. And MacDowall is haunting in a scene when he has to kill an adolescent who has turned into one of ‘them.’

From Steve's 1001 film list, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil"

Writer: Steve Honeywell

Source: 1001 Plus

Film: Anvil! The Story of Anvil

It’s said that life imitates art, and there’s no better example of this than the film Anvil! The Story of Anvil. A real-life version of the fictional band Spinal Tap, Anvil consists of frontman Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner. Now in their 50s, the two are still trying to make the band a going concern, and despite producing 12 albums and influencing a generation of bands like Metallica and Anthrax, work day jobs and play local bars. A disastrous European tour, in-fighting, money problems, and a 13th album that can’t find a label leaves the two men wondering what comes next. This is a poignant story of love, passion, and friendship that succeeds despite being an almost note for note and event for event replay of 1980s documentary spoof This is Spinal Tap. Highly recommended, even if you don’t like heavy metal.

Finally! A film that needs no introduction

Writer: Vik Verplanken

Source: Planet Brainfart

Film: Psycho

Alfred Hitchcocks’s Psycho must be one of the balliest suspense films to have ever seen the screen. While made half a century ago, it manages to masterfully put you on an astray trail by introducing likeable characters, only to then kill them off brutally. What makes it work is the utter unpredictability of  Anthony Perkins’ character, Norman Bates, whom he portrayed impeccably. The audience is constantly set up to build certain expectations, only the witness the shattering of them in the most merciless way imaginable. The entire film relies on the Bates’ great depth, and pulls it off magnificently. With the help a terrificly haunting score by Bernard Herrmann and some enthralling cinemaphotography, Psycho makes a true masterpiece that once again confirms that Hitchcock genuinely deserves to be called “the Master of Suspense”.

Brian De Palma's criminally overlooked film, the beautiful and daring "Blow Out"

Writer: Sam Fragoso

Source: Duke & The Movies

Film: Blow Out

Throughout the duration of my summer, I watch about 7 – 10 films a week. In my mind that seems like a rather large number and yet with all of these films going through my cerebrum day after day, week after week, they’re only a select few that truly move me or have any genuine significance on my life. Brian De Palma’s 1981 masterpiece, Blow Out, is such a film. It’s a tour-de-force in filmmaking: blending an intriguing premise, a thoughtful script, and masterful camerawork, to in the end, produce a film that has cruelly been overlooked in the past 30 years. You owe it to yourself to go out and search for this one.

That just about ends things everyone. Hope you enjoyed this first edition of “The Best Is Yet To Come”. If you’d like to participate next week, email your article at Dukeandmovies@yahoo.com & read the guidelines in bold above.

Thank you, have a nice Sunday.