This week’s Moviedrome Monday entry consists of an American film by an African-American director and a foreign film courtesy of a French filmmaker.

To Sleep with Anger (1990)

I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s introduction to underrated African-American director Charles Burnett’s 1990 comedy-drama To Sleep with Anger. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 14, 1994 (read here). While I have a considerable number of favorite Cox’s intros, this one for To Sleep with Anger tops them all as my number one favorite. Love his insights as always. As for myself, To Sleep with Anger is gracefully acted, directed, photographed and written. Not unlike the rest of Charles Burnett’s work, what makes To Sleep with Anger so unique (as other devotees of this film have implied) lies less in their plots and more in how they are presented. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Charles Burnett films (read here).

Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to To Sleep with Anger

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer

Here is a youtube video link to cinematographer/director/writer Ernest Dickerson’s Trailers from Hell commentary for the film

Contempt (1963)

I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s introduction to master French New Wave veteran filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard’s 1963 foreign classic Contempt. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 15, 1994 (read here). Not much to add here except to say that Cox offers another eloquent introduction. Cox’s analysis on GATT (General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade) was particularly insightful. As for Contempt itself, it undoubtedly ranks as one of my many favorite Jean-Luc Godard films. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Jean-Luc Godard films (read here).

Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Contempt

Here is a youtube video link to what may be the film’s original theatrical trailer

Here is a youtube video link to British film critic Mark Kermode’s commentary on Contempt as his BFI Player choice of the week