Siberian

I remember seeing this movie as a kid, one of the umpteen B&W WWII movies that were shown as late night TV movies. As our TV was B&W then, it fit right in.

I just watched it again last night, this time on DVD. A very good period film, proving that Hollywood's current obsession with overpaid superstars and overwrought CGI special effects is no way to make a decent film.

I want to thank Fox for releasing this and several other older films as part of their FOX WAR CLASSICS on DVD, where the picture and sound are for the most part excellent, and at a reasonable price. Most of these films will never be digitally restored, so these budget DVDs are a great way to enjoy them.

A bigger mish-mash of left-wing kookiness has probably never been devised. Let's see: all civilian lawyers are courageous, honest, and self-sacrificing; all military personel are psychopathic killers with stupid haircuts.

Ashley Judd's character did so many stupid things, I actually started wanting her to get killed off, just to put me out of my misery. Everyone should run in the street wearing headphones and using the telephone, right? It's just a step away from driving and talking on a cell. And if anyone ever sprays oil in front of your vehicle, don't let off on the accelerator and coast to a stop, floor that sucker and then stand on the brake pedal. Works like a charm!

Too bad, I think Ashley Judd is as cute as they come, and a good actress; Morgan Freeman steals the show as always, but this movie....AAAAARRRRGGGHHH.

"Hard Eight", as it was titled when I saw it, is definitely an improvement over "Sidney", don't you think?

And, this is probably the only improvement this movie needed. I was sucked into it from the very beginning. Phillip Baker Hall's voice just seemed so right, as if you could believe every word he said. I've always wanted a voice like that. I suppose acquiring that level of assertiveness requires a lifetime of work. Mr. Hall shows here that he learned his trade well.