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Jun 20, 2014 Issue #50 - June/July 2014 - Future Islands By Austin Trunick

Charles Tatum (Kirk Douglas, on fire) is a quick-witted reporter whose weakness for liquor has washed up all but the lowest of job prospects. Fired from his New York news desk, he finds himself writing for a podunk daily in Albuquerque, New Mexico, writing puff pieces on rattlesnake hunts. En route to another story, he follows police sirens to a nearby cliff face, where a man has become trapped while digging in an old Native American cave dwelling. Tatum sees a human interest story in the situation that he can shape to his needs, even if that means fabricating details. His reports on the disaster become a national media sensation, drawing huge crowds to the scene and turning Tatum into a star—but it comes at the expense of his integrity, and with no regard for the safety of the young man trapped in the collapsed tunnel.

Billy Wilder followed up Sunset Boulevard with this biting tale which cast a skeptical eye on the media and feels just as apropos in our age of 24-hour news. With a great-looking new transfer and extra features—including vintage interviews and a Wilder doc from 1980—this package is a no-brainer recommendation. (www.criterion.com/films/829-ace-in-the-hole)

Author rating: 9/10