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MORTUARY (1983-although various dates are listed). Your patience may be tested by this one. Mary Elizabeth McDonough (from TV's THE WALTONS) play a girl who is affected by her Father's murder and has reason to feel the killer is coming after Her-a contentious relationship with her Mother (Lynda Day George) and an ineffectual boyfriend also does not help. Adding to her woes are sleepwalking and being pursued by the killer in a long cloak with a white face-all I could think of was the writer of SCREAM must have seen this. Also, You can figure out who the killer is, halfway through the film; never a good sign.
Mary Elizabeth is appealing and while there is some nudity, it's via a Body double (I remember Judy Morton from the same show has shown all to PLAYBOY and was thinking another Walton girl went the same path). Also Christopher George (in his last film) and stealing every scene He is , is a very young, very skinny Bill Paxton who hams outrageously throughout. **1/2 |
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Manhattan 1979 ★★★½
Damn, the Simpsons were great. While watching Manhattan, I could not stop myself from thinking: that one line that Flanders had (you know the one) is so on the money it's hilarious. You know what? That's one thing you should do: if you ever plan on watching this one or Annie Hall, you should watch A milhouse divided as a warm-up. Pretty sure, it will add to the enjoyment. Through 2024 eyes, this felt like a time stamp more than anything else. A love letter to New York City, or at least to the good side. I mean, after all, Woody Allen writes about the type of characters never go to Travis Bickle's side of the city. Heck, they would not even have a Bickle-like cab driver in a Woody Allen-flick. This is the sunny side of NYC during the last carefree days, before HIV roared its ugly head. Also, not going to lie, but with today's knowledge in the back of your mind, the plot with Tracy does become pretty awkward. Not knocking on the movie or the people who like it, but you cannot really ignore it either. Because – don't get me wrong – this is a good movie. With a lot of witty dialogue and laugh out loud lines. As a comedy, it still holds up. With lines like “you're so beautiful I can hardly keep my eyes on the meter” or the whole argument between Isaac and Yale. For some reason, I also thought this was the one where Woody brought out the author who then went “you know nothing about my work”. Which one was that again? Anyways, I can see why it got two Oscar-nods at the time and why Siskel and Ebert would give this one two thumbs up. Their (great)grandchildren... probably not so much.
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Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong 1989 ★★★
When watching this, I was mostly reminded of the unique talent of Louis Armstrong. Well, Lewis or Louis? How he improved and laid his mark on every band he joined and every movie he appeared in. With the documentary not failing to mention how offensive some of the roles were. You know that saying how you can't polish a turd? Well, Louis came pretty darn close to being able to. Also how he helped launch people in his sphere or slipstream or under his wing (or whichever term is respectfull enough), like Lionel Hampton, Earl Hines, Milt Hinton and a whole host of others I am now forgetting. Lest we forget his influence on people like Billie Holiday. Does Satchmo give a complete image of Louis Armstrong? Not really, I guess. If you listen carefully and read between the lines, you also get a sense of a different Louis. A side that this documentary does not really get into. How his infidelity is quickly glossed over. Or the touching remark about marihuana helped form a shield against the pain racism caused. Some remarks also give an insight into Armstrong's business sense. Underneath that happy go lucky image, we found both a hurtful soul and a savvy businessman who knows well enough to promote both himself and his art. Not easy to get genuine quotes or images on those themes, since I would imagine that Louis rarely let his shield down. Also because a lot of the people interviewed were not that willing to get into that. Nonetheless, a entertaining and informative documentary. Fun stuff.
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LOADED GUNS (1975). A stewardess -played an absolutely ravishing Ursula Andress- is kind enough to deliver a letter and finds herself in a vendetta between two gangs- almost A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS scenario- one led by Woody Strode (looking quite intimidating). These early portions are ugly as Ursula is beaten quite badly to get information She really doesn't have-You will wonder why it takes so many guys to carry this mission out. However, She is able to turn the tables. After this sort of gritty opening quarter, the goofiness begins with a lot of Ursula nudity (By this time, She was knocking on 40's door, but has the body of a 25 year) and painfully unfunny episodes throughout; Ursula calling about a clogged tub, a pointless car chase and a big gang fight-reminding Me of the Kung-Fu films the time- with the film makers finding it humorous to have a big guy knocked into a fountain and just as He's about to climb out, the same guy karate kicks him back in ...several times. Ha Ha *1/2
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THE REVENGERS (1972).>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> I had never heard of this Western until my wife found it on TUBI. William Holden has made a good life for himself some years after The Civil War until a gang massacres his family and steals his horses. After finding out the Gang leaders name, He ventures to a Mexican prison, hires out about six prisoners to help him in his search (THE DIRTY HALF DOZEN-??). Of course, they all become buddies in their quest. Some great photography, a low key Woody Strode, an unbelievably hammy Ernest Borgnine and Susan Hayward's last appearance (and a pretty wasted one). TR reminds lot of THE SEARCHERS with THE WILD BUNCH thrown in, but lots of logic missing, especially when Bill's group injures the gang leader and almost an hour later, finds him and in a true WTF moment, lets him go not much point that I can see. ** |
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CLOAK & DAGGER (1984). Very enjoyable film of a video game (dealing with espionage) playing pre-teen who by circumstance finds himself in a real life espionage episode involving government document and cold blooded hit men after him. Sadly, no one believes him;;not his father or the police. It's up to Davey (Henry Thomas from ET) and his imaginary friend from the games, Jack Flack to somehow keep ahead.
This reminded Me a lot of 1949's THE WINDOW about an imaginative pre-teen whose embellishments wear old and no one believes him when He's telling the truth. Pretty suspenseful and some laughs. Some good supporting turns by John McIntyre (whose name, George McCready is the same as a 40's-50's actor who normally played villains), Jeanette Nolan and an absolutely terrific turn by Dabney Coleman as Davey's loving yet occupied father (recently widowed, busy work schedule) as well as Jack Flack himself! ***1/2 |
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THE HOWLING 2: YOUR SISTER IS A WEREWOLF (1985). For years, I've heard nothing but bad about this and after finally seeing it yesterday,I must confess that the negativity was punctuated with too much kindness. H2YSIAW is truly one of the worst, poorly put together and ridiculous films I've ever seen. The acting isn't good (especially the two leads), the werewolf effects look hokey and WHAT is with the awful band being allowed to play the same song so many times. Christopher Lee, in what must have been a "Mortgage" role slums throughout (I came across a website with a review and a photo of him "...looking like He wants to die". Sybil Danning looks lovely and she provides the film with any spark it might have. She had requested not to do so much nudity and a compromise of sorts was reached. Her bit is lovely as always, but the producers pulled a sneaky move and justifiably Sybil was not happy about it. Pass this by and watch the great original. 1/2
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THE DEEP (1977). While vacationing in Bermuda, a young couple explores a ship on a reef, discovering what appears to be gold and other items that might mean gold to other people and not so nice ones either...
There are some good things about TD...the underwater photography is stunning, lovely aerial views of Bermuda itself, Robert Shaw is an unstoppable force of nature and wet T-shirt notwithstanding (no doubt a big draw), Jacqueline Bisset is glamorously lovely. The biggest problem is how the story drags...there is way too much filler-I read NBC added 53 minutes to this for the TV debut and can't imagine having to slog through that. And the single biggest liability is Nick Nolte's character. Nick isn't the kind of guy that engenders good feelings-how much better Jeff Bridges would have been-and his David is a stupid impulsive doofus...there's NO WAY You could picture a regal woman like JB with him. **1/2 |
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