DARTHKOOL Reviews

The Baltimore Bullet (1980)

A comedy classic!

[10/10 · 30 August 2002]

This is required viewing for any James Coburn fan.

Easily one of his best performances and perhaps one of the best "buddy" films I've ever seen. James Coburn (as Nick Casey aka The Baltimore Bullet) and Bruce Boxleitner (as Billy Joe) are excellent as a professional pool hustler and his up coming protogee'. The two have great chemistry on screen that is hard to duplicate. Omar Sharif plays "The Deacon", the ultimate pool hustler and gambler that had been serving jail time, but is now out on "Good Behavior". The movie follows Coburn and Boxleitner cross-country trying to hustle up enough money to play The Deacon who only plays for a 5-figure minimum. And a player that had his way with Coburn the last time they shot pool. Sending the Baltimore Bullet home in "nothing but his jock strap".

This movie is a laugh a minute, chock full of one-liners, that will have you watching it over and over again!

Knute Rockne All American (1940)

Greatest Football movie ever...

[10/10 · 30 August 2002]

The true life story of perhaps the greatest football coach the game has ever known. Knute Rockne led the game of football out of the "stone age" with innovations such as the forward pass and offensive formation shifts. But he is probably best known for his motivational locker room speeches. Along the way, he brought fame and glory to a tiny, little, unknown Catholic school in Indiana. Pat O'Brien is incomparable in his role as Rockne. Terrific cast that includes Ronald Reagan who gives a great performance as Notre Dame's first, true superstar, George Gipp.

For Football aficionados, this is the greatest football movie ever made. Do yourself a favor and rent the black and white version. (Some versions have deleted scenes for some reason) If you got the good version, look for a brief cameo by the immortal Jim Thorpe as he sticks his head in the locker room telling Rockne and the team they only have a few minutes left before the 2nd half begins.

Footloose (1984)

A New Rebel with a cause...

[9/10 · 8 June 2002]

A cleverly masked, yet updated version of "Rebel Without A Cause" set to a Hit music soundtrack...but this time with a happy ending. A great date movie for it's time. Kevin Bacon, as always, gives a terrific performance. With Sarah Jessica Parker in a small, "before they were stars" role.