Change Your Image
kellytunes
Reviews
Homegrown (1998)
Flawed, but pretty good
This movie will never be confused with Casablanca or The Godfather, but it's not the bad film that a previous reviewer thinks. Is it a touch far-fetched? Sure. But is life really like that in Humboldt Co. California? Yeah, pretty much. Marijuana is grown in many places, and the money the growers and dealers make does go to other places than just their own pockets. So the bit in the diner with Hank Azaria and Judge Rheinhold is not far fetched at all.
I found the character Malcolm a bit much, but the characters portrayed by the other principle actors (Billy Bob Thornton, Hank Azaria, Ryan Phillipe, Kelly Lynch) were pretty much spot-on, as far as I could tell (and I have been around the trade a bit). As far as the mob connection and the growers being all in a twist about things--well, I don't know. There is certainly a degree of "pride of ownership" with the hardcore growers, but a profit is a profit.
As to the ending, well, I've often said I thought it was sad--but that's just my take on things. A shame to see a ton of ultr-primo weed go to waste (even if it is fictitious weed).
The Wicker Man (2006)
worst P.O.S. movie ever
OK--was in Atlanta watching this dog with fleas on HBO. After about 10 minutes, it was apparent that this movies really sucked, but, like Stone Cold, you just find yourself compelled to keep watching. To give credit where due, at least Ellen Burstyn has maintained her looks. Aside from that, this movie was just dreadful.
Actually, this picture reminded me of another really bad film. I don't really remember the film's name, but the plot was basically these two guys rescue this girl who's getting beaten. The "bad" guy warns him "you'll regret this." So, she goes home with the "good" guy, and becomes the ultimate girlfriend: great looking, great cook, great bedmate. Of course, she's really a satanist, betrays the guy, and he ends up being sacrificed. Like I said--pretty bad.
Wicker Man is even worse. Maybe not the absolute worst P.O.S. flick ever, but close. Top 10, for certain. And I'm not including those low-budget films made by Ed Wood in the 50's. Those are so bad, they're entertaining. This one isn't.
Texasville (1990)
casting issues
Although I like Annie Potts, I think she was miscast, even though she did a good job as Karla. Karla should have been a tall, Texas blonde-type. Annie got Karla's personality down, but after the book, a petite brunette just didn't fit the bill. Overall, though--Texasville was a disappointment. Movies are rarely as good as books--this I realize--but Texasville was a huge disappointment. Part of it was the period made--the late 80's and early 90's produced few good films. And Texasville, to me, felt more like an average sitcom than a movie.
To return again to the book vs movie them--I do believe a great movie can be made from a great book, especially most of Larry McMurtry's. Lonesome Dove was superb, as of course was The Last Picture Show. Perhaps the problem was that Texasville is funny, as opposed to heavy, like Picture Show. And funny is harder to do without being sitcom-like. Texasville seemed to me to be lacking balance (as a picture--the book was plenty balanced).