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One from the Heart (1981)
A technical marvel
"One from the Heart" is a one of a kind movie experience. Sure, there are dips in the storytelling but none of that really matters. The movie is visually stunning. The cast is very likeable with strong performances throughout. If I had to pick the Best of Breed, I'd have to go with Raul Julia. With the exception of the times he played Gomez Addams, Julia has never been better. "One from the Heart" does feel distance every once in a while but at the end of the day, it's great stuff. (Just for the record, I've seen the original version a few times but last night I watched "One from the Heart: Reprise" on the Criterion Channel. It's 9 minutes shorter than the original. It is better? Beats me.)
Trigger Warning (2024)
Alba's Aging Very Well
An aging very well Jessica Alba does a very good job in "Trigger Warning". Sure, the idea of Jessica Alba as a kickass action star sounds ridiculous and it is. But you know what, the movie works and in a big way. "Trigger Warning" had me at hello. The movie looks great. The cast is very likeable. Alba gives a solid performance. I mean, sure, I never forgot for a minute that it was a dreamy/kind of small looking Jessica Alba kicking the hell out of everyone in sight but it never mattered. This movie's a lot of fun. It has a good story, strong villains and Jessica Alba kicking the crap out of everybody. I hope they make a sequel. Honorable mention: Anthony Michael Hall.
Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)
Bad. Title. Bad. Movie!
Heather Graham is a very appealing actress. She's very good looking and she has charm to spare. On was on her side as soon as she she showed up in "Best. Christmas. Ever!". Brandy Norwood (aka Brandy), on the other hand, I'm completely indifferent to. I will say, while not trying to be petty, Brandy is no longer as easy to watch. Her face is very distracting. Too much done at too young an age. "Best. Christmas. Ever!" was an okay watch for a while. It wasn't very good but it was harmless so who cares. During the last half hour so, the movie really crashes and burns. "Best. Christmas. Ever!" is another straight-to-Netflix dud.
Take the Money and Run (1969)
Okay first (real) at-bat for Woody
IMDB has "What's Up, Tiger Lily?" as Woody Allen's first writer/director gig...and it is. "Take the Money and Run" is really writer/director/star/legendary filmmaker Woody Allen's first real movie. And as far as first at-bats go, Woody does a pretty good job. There are a lot of funny jokes in this movie. It also has quite a few groaners. None of them are deal breakers it's just that "Take the Money and Run" is a very silly movie. It's very likeable for a while but then it starts to run out of steam. For a short movie (85 minutes), it fells pretty long towards the end. (I watched this movie on YouTube. Shhh, don't tell anybody.)
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
Very funny but pretty stupid
I'm no fan of Will Smith. Is anyone? But I have to admit in the Bad Boys movies, he is very likeable. Together with Martin Lawrence, Smith is part of one of the greatest comedy teams in movie history. The Bad Boys movies are all different levels of good. All of them are fun movies. "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" is no exception. Once again, Martin Lawrence shines. Lawrence gets a bunch of big laughs in this movie. Smith is terrific as Lawrence's straight man. Now the story of "Ride or Die" is pretty dumb. The villain is a cookie cutter bad guy. As uninspired as they come. Some of the action is exciting. Some of it is same-old-same-old. But man is this movie funny. I hope they keep making them.
Runaway (1984)
It's too silly
"Runaway" is a good looking movie. It has some cool camera work and some nice stunts. The cast is very likeable. Well, maybe not Gene Simmons. It's not that Simmons is bad or anything like that. It's just that he's...Gene Simmons. Tom Selleck is all handsome, Cynthia Rhodes is very pretty and Kirstie Alley's hair is big. Director Michael Crichton does a nice job but screenwriter Michael Crichton does not. "Runaway" has a few nice moments but for the most part it's just too stupid to be enjoyed. It would for METV's Svengoolie show. (IMDB has a six hundred character minimum. So I'll tell you that I watched "Runaway" on Tubi.)
Crossroads (1986)
Where's Joe Seneca's Oscar?
Director Walter Hill and company do a very nice job with "Crossroads". Well, at least for the most part. The movie looks good and it's filled with great music. The acting is (mostly) top-notch. Joe Seneca is terrific. He delivers an Oscar caliber performance. The only weak link is the miscast Jami Gertz. Gertz' character isn't the greatest but it might have worked with a different actress. Gertz is the only character in the movie that doesn't feel real. And remember there is a strong supernatural element to the story. When Gertz is out of the picture, "Crossroads" takes off. "Crossroads" is a solid entry in Walter Hill's filmography.
No Name on the Bullet (1959)
Worth Watching
I'm not the biggest fan of Audie Murphy's westerns. I admit I've only seen a handful of them but he never really did anything for me. It's not that he's bad or anything like that. It's just that he usually leaves me a little flat. That said, Murphy does a pretty good job in "No Name on the Bullet". Murphy is given a strong supporting cast in this movie. "No Name on the Bullet" is well written and the direction is tight. It also has a very friendly running time of seventy-seven minutes. I enjoyed "No Name on the Bullet" and if I see a few more Audie Murphy westerns like this one, I might become a fan.
Spenser Confidential (2020)
Likeable but forgettable too
"Spenser Confidential" is a watchable movie. It has some nice stuff in it but it's also doesn't stand out either. Mark Wahlberg is a very likeable actor. There's no denying that. He's the main reason "Spenser Confidential" is an okay watch. Wahlberg's supporting cast is also likeable. They're another reason why this movie was a pretty good time killer. The real problem with this movie is that while I was watching it I had the feeling that in a few days I wasn't going to remember even seeing it. That said, for some reason "Spenser Confidential" made me want to read the novel it's based on. We'll see if I ever get around to it.
Viva Knievel! (1977)
Ridiculous Fun
I was a big fan of Evel Knievel when I was growing up. We all were. My fandom began to wear off after the Snake River Canyon jump. I didn't see "Viva Knievel!" when it was in the theater. If I had, I would have loved it. I watched it yesterday and I had a good time. It's totally ridiculous. Evel Knievel locks horns with drug smuggling villain Leslie Nielsen. It's can't miss stuff. Non-actor does gives a pretty nice performance. He's definitely comfortable in front of the camera. He certainly does a better job than Gene Kelly does. The are a lot of motorcycle stunts in "Viva Knievel!" but I have the feeling Evel wasn't doing any of them.
The Legend of Billie Jean (1985)
The Legend of Helen Slater
Helen Slater gained an automatic entry into the Dreamy Hall of Fame with "The Legend of Billie Jean". Slater is beautiful, stunningly beautiful at times, in this movie. Not only is she beautiful, Slater also delivers a very appealing performance. She's the whole package. Slater's supporting cast is also very good. There's no weak link in this cast. If I had to pick Best in Breed among the supporting cast, I would have to go with the duo of Martha Gehman and Yeardley Smith. Yeardley and Smith are terrific together. They deliver most of the movies laughs. "The Legend of Billie Jean" is one of the best teen movies to come out of the 1980's.
Disorderlies (1987)
A lot of fun
I've always been a fan of "Disorderlies". This movie is filled with goodwill. The Fat Boys (Darren Robinson, Damon Wimbley and Mark Morales) are three very likeable guys. Those guys have charm to spare. Their supporting cast seems to be having a good time working with them. "Disorderlies" has a lot of laughs. Sure, it has its fair share of dumb jokes but it doesn't matter. The Fat Boys are impossible to resist. The movie does run out of steam a little during the action finale but it doesn't matter because Troy Byer is really cute. "Disorderlies" is goofy fun. (I watched this movie on Roku.) (IMDB has a 600 character minimum.)
Obsession (1976)
De Palma cures insomnia
Brian De Palma's "Obsession" turns into homework faster than a speeding bullet. It's heavy handed and painfully dull. It's locations are nice but the movie is grey all of the time so the movie doesn't look as good as it should. The music is not only totally overbearing, it also never stops. And when I mean it never stops, I mean it never stops. I don't want to say that Cliff Robertson mails it in but I will say that he's not very good in "Obsession". John Lithgow isn't that great and his accent is annoying. Genevieve Bujold is an appealing actress but even she can't save this movie. Director Brian De Palma has made quite a few good movies. "Obsession" isn't one of them.
Kelly's Heroes (1970)
A True Classic
I've seen "Kelly's Heroes" a bunch of times, including in the theater (Bellerose, NY). It's always a great time. It's very funny and very exciting. "Kelly's Heroes" is a great looking movie with excellent locations. The action scenes are some of the best stuff ever filmed. The explosions and the tanks going through walls never gets old. The cast is one of the best ever assembled. Knock out performances all over the place. Donald Sutherland, Carol O'Connor and Telly Savalas have never been better. Savalas delivers an Oscar caliber performance. "Kelly's Heroes" is probably Clint Eastwood's best movie. If not, it's in his Top 5.
The Greatest Night in Pop (2024)
Yawn
I like my friends at work but their movie recommendations, they're the pits. TV shows are easy for me to get out of because I don't watch them. The last show I watched start to finish was M*A*S*H. (That's not an exaggeration.) When it comes to movie recommendations, it's harder to get out of. My buddy told that "The Greatest Night in Pop" was a good movie. I knew I won't like it but he kept asking me so I gave it a shot. It was pretty much exactly what I expected. "The Greatest Night in Pop" plays like an updated extended VHS video. (I watched this on Netflix.) (IMDB has a 600 character minimum.)
Psycho II (1983)
A lot better than expected
You would think that a twenty three year late sequel to "Psycho" would be DOA (Dead on Arrival) but it's not. It's actually a pretty entertaining movie. The script of "Psycho II" does fly off the rains every once in a while but the overall experience is a good one. That's mostly because of a very likeable cast. Anthony Perkins does a great job. Meg Tilly was wildly likeable in her day and in "Psycho II" she's at the top of her charm. "Psycho II" is too long by about fifteen or twenty minutes but the overall experience is a lot more thrilling than you might expect. (I watched this movie on Netflix".)
Dementia 13 (1963)
Low budget creepiness
I've been meaning to watch Francis Ford Coppola's "Dementia 13" for many years. I remember it used to play the midnight movies circuit and later VHS etc but I was always a little interested in it but I never pulled the trigger. I've been on a bit of a Coppola kick recently ever since I saw "Megalopolis". (It was better than I thought it would be. I gave it a 5 out of 10.) So now was the time to finally to watch "Dementia 13". It was also a lot better than I expected. "Dementia 13" is a nice creepy little movie. I liked a lot of it, especially when Luana Anders decides to go swimming. (I watched this movie on Freevee.)
Chopping Mall (1986)
Ridiculous
"Chopping Mall" isn't the worst movie in the world but, at the end of the day, it's just too dumb to really be enjoyed. It does have its fair share of lame jokes and a nice dose of skin but once any more chances for nudity fades anyway so did my interest in the movie. The cast is fine and I got a kick looking at some forgotten mall stores but those things can carry the movie only so far. Besides the nudity, the only thing "Chopping Mall" has going for it is its very friendly running time of seventy seven minutes. (I watched "Chopping Mall" on Tubi.) (IMDB has a 600 character minimum. So...how are you feeling?)
The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)
Not for me
I took an instant disliking for Virginia Madsen in "The Haunting in Connecticut". I didn't like her and ended up having no sympathy for her character. Madsen ends up dragging the father and the son into my zone of dislike. Obviously, a movie is in trouble with me me if I don't like the three main characters. I give the daughters a pass but they're minor characters. Ever since, "Some Kind of Wonderful" I've enjoyed seeing Elias Koteas show up in a movie. Koteas does a nice job in this movie but I could have done without his fake looking gray hair. Unfortunately, "The Haunting in Connecticut" was pretty much dead on arrival with me because I didn't like the cast.
Cult of Chucky (2017)
It runs out of gas
I was having a pretty good time with "Cult of Chucky" for the first hour or so. The last half hour, however, isn't nearly as good. The movie loses much of its humor and slides into some pretty standard gross-out territory. "Cult of Chucky" works a lot better when it's funny. That said, "Cult of Chucky" is worth watching. The movie looks good and the cast is likeable. The standout being the very appealing Fiona Dourif. I'm not an expert of the Child's Play franchise. (I think I've seen them all but I can't remember.) I can't honestly rank this one with the others. I'm guessing it's middle of the pack, which isn't bad for a Part 7.
The Changeling (1980)
Top-Notch Ghost Story
"The Changeling" is as quiet as it is tense. It does a slow burn until it reaches its very satisfying conclusion. George C. Scott gives an excellent performance. His supporting cast also does a nice job, with the standout being Melvyn Douglas, but this movie belongs to Scott. "The Changeling" is a good looking movie with very good music. The tension builds and builds. I've seen "The Changeling" quite a few times over the years, including in the theater when it first came out (Bellerose, NY). It never fails to hit the spot. (IMDB has a six hundred character minimum. I have thirty to go. Now eight)
Poltergeist (1982)
An 80's Classic
Tobe Hooper/Steven Spielberg's "Poltergeist" is a big time 80's special effect extravaganza. What goes on in this movie is completely off the wall. It has little or nothing to do with what poltergeists really are but that doesn't matter. The movie looks great. The cast is very likeable. And, most importantly, the special effects are outstanding. There's nothing better than pre-CGI specials effects and there are few movies that top "Poltergeist" in that department. I saw "Poltergeist" in the theater when it first came out (New Hyde Park, NY) and I've seen it many times since. It always hits the spot.
Night of the Living Dead (1990)
Solid Remake
I should take the blame for being late to the party with Tom Savini's "Night of the Living Dead" but I won't. I'm going to blame film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Gene and Roger really blasted this movie when it first came out. I didn't see it in the theater or even rent it. I used to stumble across it on cable every once in a while but I was never really interested. For some reason I used to think it was a shot for shot remake with the only difference being that it was shot it color. Well I wasted my youth. This "Night of the Living Dead" is a worthy remake to the original classic. George Romero's script is very good. Tom Savini's direction is tight. The cast is likeable with the standout being a dreamy Particia Tallman. This "Night of the Living Dead" is one of the best of the series.
Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)
On par with the first one
I gave "Joker" a 7/10. I saw it once in the theater when it first came out and I haven't seen it since. I don't want to call "Joker" overrated but I will say it's overpraised. I saw "Joker: Folie a Duex" today (AMC Raceway 10 Westbury, NY) and I ended up also giving it a 7/10. It's as strong a sequel as I could have expected. The musical numbers all worked for me. The performances were all good. The movie looks great. However, "Joker: Folie a Deux" does run out of steam a bit during the last half hour or so. The movie ends up being about fifteen minutes too long. Writer/producer/director Todd Phillips and company deserve a lot of credit for aiming high. Honorable mention: Leigh Gill.
The Wolf Man (1941)
Classic Stuff
"The Wolf Man" is a great looking movie. It looks great in its glorious black & white. It also has a good story and tells it well. The cast is top-notch with the standout being Lon Chaney Jr. Chaney has never been better. "The Wolf Man" comes in at a very friendly seventy minutes. You get a lot for your money with this one. It's a classic. (I watched this on Turner Classic Movies.) (IMB has a six hundred character minimum so I have to ramble on for a little while more. So how was your day? Mine is going pretty well. My shoes are off and I hope they stay off for the rest of the afternoon. Almost there...)