What I’m watching: a new crime dramady from IrelandDate: 5/25/2021 On DVD and streaming: “Pixie”
One of my favorite directors is Guy Ritchie. I have enjoyed many of his crime dramas for their story structure – multiple plotlines coming together – characterizations and a dark sense of humor.
It’s no wonder that other filmmakers have been influenced by him and “Pixie” is certainly the product of that adoration.
Perhaps veteran producer Barnaby Thompson who directed this film would chafe under such a comparison, but the fact is “Pixie” comes about as Guy Ritchie-light.
Pixie is the step-daughter of an Irish mobster and becomes involved in a robbery of a lot of drugs from a gang composed of Catholic priests and nuns. This gang has a long-standing feud with her step-father’s organization.
And no there is no explanation about how this gang of priests even came about. We just have to accept it.
The film’s story revolves Pixie trying to liquidate the bag of drugs before the gang of priests can find them.
If I say any more it will ruin the film as the story is built on surprise and deception.
Filmed in Ireland, the production has an interesting look as the story combines the beautiful scenics of the countryside with mobsters battling over a 15 kilos of heroin. This juxtaposition creates a unique feel to the film but it isn’t enough to compensate for the story and characters, that are often lacking.
Part of the movie’s problem is the idea that every young man in a 50-mile radius of her wants to do Pixie’s bidding. Olivia Cooke, as Pixie, is fine as far as the script allows her. There are some key questions raised by the story and character that aren’t resolved and it hurts the film.
Colm Meaney plays her gangster step-father while Alec Baldwin, sporting a fairly acceptable Irish accent, is the leader of the rogue clerics. Meaney, one of the best character actors around, is always fun to watch.
While unmemorable, “Pixie” is a guilt-free way to take up 90 minutes of your life. Just don’t think too much about it while watching it.
On Blu-ray: “Mystery of the Wax Museum”
It is always a thrill for me to watch a film that has been restored to the original intent of its creators and presented to a new generation of fans.
This is what has happened to “Mystery of the Wax Museum.” Made in 1933 by Warner Brothers, the film was considered lost for many years and the print that was found among Jack Warner’s collection has now been lovingly restored.
Shot in what has been called two-strip Technicolor (which emphasized variations of green and red), “Mystery” is a Pre-Code horror film that still has some creepy moments.
The film tells the story of a sculptor, Ivan Igor, (Lionel Atwill) whose life was changed when his business partner set their wax museum on fire to collect the insurance. Unfortunately Igor is left in the burning building.
Fast forward a decade and Igor has opened a new wax museum. He can no longer sculpt the figures, but he supervises his assistants. One of those assistants has a girlfriend (Fay Wray) whose roommate is a fast-talking, wise-cracking reporter (Glenda Farrell). She notices something awfully peculiar about some of the sculptures.
As with most Warner Brothers films of this time, the story is set in a city, the dialogue snaps with slang of that era and the pace is fast.
Farrell steals the show as the reporter who begins to uncover the mystery. She did so well with her performance of a reporter, she later starred in a series of films – “The Torchy Blane” series – for the studio in essentially the same role.
This movie is a lot of fun and after decades it can be seen in the form it should be.
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