Movieman's Guide to the Movies
The Final Word on Physical Media
An interesting collaboration with producer Roger Corman and a young Martin Scorsese (subsequent films would define his career from Mean Streets to Raging Bull) and while the direction is solid, the performances are what makes Boxcar Bertha memorable, headlined by the David Carradine.
Hush Hush… Sweet Charlotte is a gem of a drama (almost film noir in some respects) of a film headlined by two amazing performances by Bette Davis, who reunites with director Robert Aldrich, and Olivia de Havilland.
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Bobby Deerfield is a slow paced drama that’s more character than sports (so don’t expect Grand Prix) but with Al Pacino’s usual piercing performances make the film well worth checking out.
Murphy’s Law isn’t Charles Bronson at his best and is more memorable for the young Kathleen Wilhoite and her plethora of lovely insults which makes this so hilarious and the story at least is serviceable with a great and utterly scary villainous.
No Escape is an all around entertaining film perfect for a Saturday movie night. No, it doesn’t make you think or have any profound performances but the acting isn’t bad with Owen Wilson serving as a fine everyman type of character and Pierce Brosnan in his small part is a lot of fun. This is probably worthy of a rental.
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9 to 5 is an oft funny social comedy thanks in large part to the trio of female leads, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton with honorable mention to Dabney Coleman for playing their jackass boss.
Paul Schrader’s drama is disturbing and excels both with the writing, also by Schrader, as well as powerful performances from George C. Scott and Peter Boyle, even if for the former it might not make the list of his top 5 roles, but it’s harrowing nevertheless.
La Moglie Piu Bella is a haunting and disturbing movie featuring a strong, as well as incredible performance by Ornella Muti who was so young during the filming. Although I doubt I’ll ever revisit this movie, by all means it’s worth checking out especially if you’re a fan of Italian cinema.
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The Panic in Needle Park is a grim, sometimes hard to watch drama that gives insight into drug addiction and the power it holds. The film features one heck of a performance by Al Pacino marking his first leading role and Kitty Winn keeps up with Pacino is a number of scenes.
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Inserts is an oddball of a film with Richard Dreyfuss turning in a typical Dreyfuss type of performance from the 1970s. The character drama-centric story works well enough and the inclusion of Bob Hoskins as the main antagonist is always a plus.
Not sure how this version compares to the others, even the 1939 one which I saw several years ago, but Hammer Films’ 1959 The Hound of the Baskervilles is still an entertaining Sherlock Holmes mystery featuring a solid performance from Peter Cushing as the great detective.
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Romeo is Bleeding is certainly a unique movie though also kind of typical Gary Oldman from the 1990s turning in a bizarrely fascinating performance as does Lena Olin who manages to keep up with his insanity, and at times topping it. It’s not perfect but with Oldman and Olin, well worth checking out.
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Rollerball is an interesting vision of the future which, if the NFL is an example, seems to have come to fruition. The acting from James Caan is terrific and Norman Jewison’s direction is swift and although hardly the perfect movie, it’s still well worth checking out.
Cao Ballou is a well done and one hell of an entertaining, and oft funny, Western comedy. The movie excels with the performances by its two leads — Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin — and some catchy tunes to go along with a well written story and characters.
Eureka is a bit of a forgotten film from the 1980s, one that is doubtful to be mentioned amongst Gene Hackman’s greats with an uneven story that goes from an adventurous first half, the best part, to a Citizen Kane-like story for the second and a third act playing out like a bad episode of “Law & Order”.