Happy Mother’s Day one and all, and it looks like it’s time
for another Reader Request. Yes, those two things aren’t a coincidence in this
case: For this year’s Mother’s Day gift, my own mother asked if I would review
a film for her. I agreed, since this kind of situation is one where I’m more
than happy to eschew my usual 2012-now cut-off date, but… let’s just say that I
use that cut-off for a reason. This is likely going to go even further outside
of my comfort zone than usual, as most of my own knowledge concerning cinema
involves what has happened in my lifetime; I have bits and pieces to call from
beyond that, but I honestly have a lot
to catch up on as far as older cinema goes. Add to that my previously-mentioned
hesitance in watching “classic” films due to a certain sense of cultural
obligation to like them for their status, and I’m in a bit of a weird situation
here.
Still, this is the task I’ve been set, and if I’m unable to provide my
writing for someone who genuinely wants it, then what good am I? Let’s get into
what is sure to be a bizarre pick for the day where we all give thanks to the
women that birthed us, and take a look at the 1962 psycho-thriller What Ever
Happened To Baby Jane?
