What's In the Netflix Queue #18

Some weeks are busier than others. This was one of those weeks. Next 10 flicks in the 'ol inbox:

1. Porcile- Still working my way through Pasolini. It's been a mixed bag. I hated and could barely make it through his "The Hawks and the Sparrows" in which we spend 90 minutes as two vagrants walk and converse with a talking raven about communism, religion and the poor. Yet I liked his debut feature, "Accatone" which can be seen as the influence for alot of Scorsese's work, including stealing the opening theme for his 1995 film "Casino". We'll see about "Porcile".
2. Badge of Honor (2 discs)- Three hour documentary about the history of the Los Angeles police department from the 1800's to today. I have to admit, since visiting L.A. a month ago, I've been fascinated by its history and lore.
3. Monsieur Hire- Patrice Leconte's French thriller that I think was just released on video. It made quite a few critics list back in the late 80's. Not sure why it took so long to get a DVD release.
4. Oh Woe Is Me- Godard film from 2007. A good majority of Godard's late work is pretty insufferable. But, as my 2nd or 3rd favorite director working today, I'll give any film of his a shot. This one is described as: "God takes over the body of Simon Donnadieu (Gérard Depardieu) in order to make love to his beautiful wife, Rachel (Laurence Masliah). When publisher Abraham Klimt (Bernard Verley) hears about this astounding occurrence, he travels to the couple's Swiss town to see whether it's true. French director Jean-Luc Godard's meditation on God's relationship with man is replete with stunning images of the European countryside and nature.
5. Who'll Stop the Rain-70's bonanza rolls on. Karel Reisz's drug smuggling thriller stars Nick Nolte. Never heard of this one.
6. Oedipus Rex- Last Pasolini film I need to see (that is until "Salo" gets its big Criterion release in August) and the oeuvre inspection will be complete.
7. Eyes of Laura Mars- Late 70's thriller starring Faye Dunaway and Tommy Lee Jones about a fashion photographer who learns she can see the murders of a serial killer through the lens of her camera. It can't be as bad as "Shutter" can it?
8. The Notorious Concubines- Third and final film of director Koji Wakamatsu's that is available on video. I expect more weird, perverse stuff.
9. The Lovers- A whole slate of previously unreleased Louis Malle films recently made it to DVD. No better time than the present to catch up. I hold a special place in my heart for his debut, "Elevator to the Gallows" that was the first French New Wave film I can remember watching.
10. The Eagle Has Landed- John Sturges is the man. Anybody who directs "The Great Escape" is pretty damn good in my book. This was his last film in 1976, a World War 2 tale about an elite group of paratroopers landing behind German lines. Sturges is long over due for one of those New York Film Forum retrospectives.