Windbreaker!

Under discussion:

On Dangerous Ground  (1951)

Be like me and buy every one of the WB Film Noir Box Sets.  On Dangerous Ground is the first one I watched out of Vol. 3 and it alone makes the box worth grabbing.

Noir staple Robert Ryan plays Robert Ryan (a tough cop who regularly beats up bad guys).  "Why do you make me do it? You know you're gonna talk!"  The first act takes place in a dark, rainy city.  The cinematography sets up the first-person, lonely, hopeless sort of feeling quite well.  Then the film completely shifts character -- Ryan is transferred out to the wintry countryside to catch a killer on the loose.  Watching Ryan act is always a treat.  There are some scenes where he doesn't even speak, but manages to speak volumes through expressions and body language. 

Don't rent it, buy the set!

Under discussion:

L'Avventura  (1960)

I want to say I love L'avventura... it's unique and considering it arrived in 1960, way ahead of its time in terms of the method of plot delivery.  This film basically has a surprise beginning, as opposed to a surprise ending.  My beef is that it was a smidge too long (2:20).

At the beginning, Anna is the centerpiece.  She and some friends are on a remote island when she disappears without a trace.  Boyfriend Sandro and pal Claudia pursue the few leads that surface without success.  Then at some point (I'm not exactly sure when), they don't really care about finding Anna anymore.  And neither does the viewer.  It becomes clear that the film's focus is Claudia, not Anna -- and not Claudia's physical adventure tracking Anna, but her emotional adventure with and without Sandro.  Sandro is a tool.  Claudia should realize it, but doesn't until the end. 

The disc looks great.  It's Criterion, and you know those guys can restore an old film like nobody's business.  Rent it.