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Philo_Kvetch
Reviews
Red Dawn (1984)
An artifact of another time...so it would have seemed
This a throwback to the Reagan era...in other words, a right-wing paranoid fever dream. It remains a guilty pleasure despite its absurd premise. The Russians and Cubans successfully invade the United States that since WWII has had the most powerful military since the Roman Empire. Check me if I'm wrong, but few people believe that would have been a likely scenario for WW3.
Hey, it seems this country under Bush 43 is infinitely more brainless than we were 23 years ago(when this movie was released.) All in all, a sad commentary on the state of this country both then and now.
Still, I still watch it just for a laugh.
Sons & Daughters (2006)
Another good show that will be canceled
I was a fan of "Significant Others" which was broadcast on Bravo a couple of years ago and which had Fred Goss in the cast. I found that show very entertaining due to it's talented cast, witty writing and lack of a laugh track. I like this show even more. While some viewers seem to find Goss irritating, I think he's great. What a pleasure to see Max Gail again! As a matter of fact, I think the whole cast is superb. Their facial expressions are spot on and the dialogue (either written or improvised) is head and shoulders above the usual sitcom fare. I remember reading somewhere that this show is just a placeholder for something else on ABC which means its lifespan could be pretty short. That would be a shame since this the best thing to come down the pike since Arrested Development and we know what happened to that worthy effort.
Never Again (2001)
The title says it all
Having been a Jill Clayburgh fan since she was being gently tugged around by her nipples in "An Unmarried Woman,' I decided to give this movie a try despite the universally awful reviews it received. Well, 1978 was then and this is now and Ms. Clayburgh's chest is thankfully kept under cover. Unfortunately, that's about the only humiliation she and the rest of the cast are spared in this unqualified disaster. In fairness to the director, he was working with a wretched screenplay but that's because Eric Schaeffer is a hack writer *and* director.
The sole believable moment in this entire film is a scene where Grace (Clayburgh) berates Christopher (Jeffrey Tambor) in a restaurant. It shows what a fine actress she is and highlights how badly she is wasted in this schlock. Christopher is an exterminator who plays jazz piano at night. Yeah, right. He's basically Hank Kingsley with some piano lessons and an African American friend named Earl (Bill Duke in a thankless role). Earl is the only sane character in this bomb which makes it highly unlikely that he'd have someone like Christopher as a friend. In fact, there is no conceivable reason for anyone in this film to behave in the incredibly contrived ways they do
Desperate attempts at hilarious hijinks involving a strap-on dildo and a suit of armor land with a dull thud. In a sad attempt at farce, Schaeffer has instead produced a travesty. Hopefully the title of this misbegotten mess will serve as fitting epitaph to his career. And if Jill Clayburgh needs money this bad, please advise her to lay off the crack and give me a call; I'll send her a check. Finally, we have Sandy Duncan. Yes, *that* Sandy Duncan. Talking about sex. I rest my case.
The Wrong Man (1993)
For Rosanna Arquette fans
In a south of the border setting, Lithgow is the quintessential Ugly American, Arguette his bimbo wife, and Anderson a bland non-entity on the run from the law. If you like seeing Arguette undraped (and it certainly beats being poked in the eye with a sharp stick) this third rate flick merits a look. Other than that, not much to recommend.
Now and Again (1999)
"Over Easy"....oh no!
Hmm...a disappointing conclusion to the Egg Man story line. The episode went off the rails (literally) when Wiseman handed his wife/widow a nerve gas-filled egg (!) and then proceeded to suck face with her on the subway platform. While I enjoy the whimsical nature of the show, this was pretty ridiculous. The showdown with the Egg Man in the cab was also a real letdown. The writer's Bruce Willis-type spin really drained the suspense out of the story. In order to make the story work, you have to maintain the balance of horror and humor a little better than that.
I hope that next week's episode sets up a story line as compelling as the E.M.'s was (he'll be missed.) The show's now on the cusp and I hope the writers don't blow it.
Fighter Squadron (1948)
Great camera footage
A rollicking WWII film and a treat for fans of the P-47 Thunderbolt. The flying scenes are great and (if I remember correctly) one of the USAAF fighter pilots actually asks a question about who plays for the Dodgers in order to smoke out false orders radioed to the Group by the Germans. Worth a look-see.
Runaway Train (1985)
A magnificent movie
Jon Voight gives the best performance of his career, Eric Roberts is great, and the movie builds an onrushing momentum that ends nobly. One of the great sleeper movies of the late '80's. Don't miss it.
Counterpoint (1967)
A ridiculous movie
This absurd movie is worth watching to see Leslie Nielsen playing a "serious" role (you'll see why he switched to comedy). Schell plays his typical German officer (think "The Young Lions" or "Cross of Iron")and a special treat is the appearance of Anton Diffring who made a career out of playing Nazi creeps. As bad as this flick is, I watch it whenever it's on. A guilty pleasure.
The January Man (1989)
A horrible waste of a great cast
What were they thinking? This is a textbook example of a moviemaker who had absolutely no idea of what he was trying to accomplish. How can you make a bad movie when you have Rod Steiger, Kevin Kline, Harvey Keitel, Susan Sarandon, Danny Aiello and Allen Rickman in the cast? Simple....you leave out any semblance of an intelligible plot. I can't believe people actually get paid to do this sort of thing. The screenwriter and director should be shot(but in keeping with the total incompetence of this effort, the shooter would miss). End of story.