smokehill Reviews

Bicentennial Man (1999)

Asimov would have liked this translation

[10/10 · 16 December 2000]

Not a perfect movie, and some of the other critical comments are valid (except for the brainless kiddies who were expecting laser guns and Wookies chasing bad guys). However, after giving it some thought I rated it pretty high.

Robin Williams was in many ways the perfect choice for the lead, and did a fine job. I am a big Asimov fan and have always rated the I, ROBOT series as top-grade SF. I haven't read the series in 20 years, but I think this is sticks close to the books, and certainly in general thought and purpose. I believe Isaac would have liked this. Some of the criticism stemmed from condensing so much into slightly over 2 hours. Would it have worked better as a miniseries? Yes, and I wished it could have been done that way; unfortunately the money just isn't there in the multi-part series films so they're seldom done, except when the "owner" (such as Stephen King) has enough clout to insist. Hollywood is a business driven strictly by cost-to-return ratio and almost NEVER by art, except in rare cases where someone with enough money or power can insist -- and the big return is in short crappy films requiring little thought and having lots of action and sex to keep the average viewer (roughly equivalent to a crow or a hamster) interested until the two-hour limit of his attention span.

This being said, BICENTENNIAL MAN is the best we can get from Hollywood on a piece like this. Is it a disservice to Asimov's writing? Yes -- but movies always are. I was grateful that it was as good as it was -- which was extremely good -- and not the usual worthless hack job.

Keep in mind the limitations of the Hollywood system (and the deteriorated intellectual state of modern filmgoers) and I think you'll agree that this was an exceptionally fine effort.

Most people will like this movie a lot. Sci Fi, and especially Asimov fans, will be very pleased at the careful attention to the Master's finest creation.

Screen One: A Foreign Field (1993) Season 5, Episode 2

One of the finest films of all time

[10/10 · 16 December 2000]

Without a doubt one of the finest and most under-viewed films ever made. I haven't seen it in over four years, but still get misty-eyed when recalling it -- particularly Alec Guinness' flawless, delicate little performance.

It should be required viewing. It's not bombastic like Citizen Kane, nor groundbreaking like Birth of a Nation. It's just theater at its absolute finest.

Seconds (1966)

Superb little gem, almost unknown

[10/10 · 16 December 2000]

At first I thought Rock Hudson must have been a box-office decision, or a second choice. Clearly, I was wrong -- he was the perfect choice, and the most surprising aspect of this film is that it's almost unknown outside a small circle of film buffs.

This is one of Frankenheimer's best -- certainly Hudson's best -- and should be on anyone's list of quality films. To miss finely-crafted, tight little thriller would be a shame. I'll bet it was one of Hitchcock's favorites (besides his own, of course).

Christine (1983)

A superb film, perfectly cast and terrifying

[10/10 · 27 October 2000]

One of the finest genuine horror flicks of all time, and all the more impressive because it's achieved strictly through brilliant direction, acting and cinematography rather than cheap gore, predictable "shocks," and the obligatory silicone tits.

I must admit to a bit of bias, since I owned a great many of the awesome MoPar (Chrysler Corp) street-stompers, like this '58 Fury, and I have a great understanding -- nay, sympathy -- for Arnie's obsession with this spectacular breed of car. My twin-carbed Chrysler 300s and Plymouths also evoked a visceral, almost sexual power when you lit 'em up and the tailpipes roared....with the twin four-barrel carbs and 150-mph speedometer, this breed of rumbling metal vampire was as close as Detroit ever got to building a sex goddess.

I've just watched CHRISTINE for the umpteenth time, and still cringed whenever she got smashed. I only hope they did most of this with models or tricked-up Belvederes, not Furys...

If you've overlooked this gem because it sounds schlocky or just because it's Steven King's -- go rent it. Make some popcorn, turn down the lights and get ready for a Hell of a ride....literally.

Killer Condom (1996)

A grand hoot!!

[8/10 · 23 October 2000]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who liked this flick. It sounds like a real waste of film, but they actually have plot, subplot, character development -- it ain't Citizen Kane, but it sure is a lot of fun. The special effects probably didn't cost more than a lunch at McDonald's, but they were entirely adequate and a real treat to watch.

I thought for a moment that Det. Mackaroni's speech was going to evolve into the Second Coming of Christ (which would have been quite wonderful), but alas they went a different direction. I'm really glad I taped this one.

Oxygen (1999)

surprisingly good

[9/10 · 31 July 2000]

Much better-than-average, very different suspense film. The few plot holes and the occasional trite dialogue don't detract from the overall work. It's such a great improvement on the usual hackneyed crap put out by Hollywood that it's hard not to like it a lot. The acting, largely by no one you ever heard of, is so much better than anything you EVER see in big-money films... it makes you realize what junk we usually have to pay seven bucks to see.

The In-Laws (1979)

Brilliant comedy, superb cast

[2 June 2000]

One of the top ten comedies of all time, no question. Both Falk and Arkin should work together again; they're at least as good as Matthau & Lemmon. The script is perfect, Arkin's and Falk's performance is priceless (not to mention Libertini's!), and the directing is tight as a drum. My wife, who dislikes both Arkin and Falk generally, watches this movie whenever it comes on.

Cadence (1990)

A rare gem, and not to be missed.

[10/10 · 31 May 2000]

I had never heard of this film and was thoroughly prepared to hate it. I spent too long in the Army to have any patience with 99% of movies with military themes, and I generally dislike Charlie Sheen even when he does a good job. Here, he was simply superb. I've seen it five times and it still amazes me. It just goes to prove that the viewing public and the various "awards" groups have no taste at all. This got zero awards and zero viewing in the theaters. The big losers here are the viewing public. SEE THIS MOVIE !!

Solarbabies (1986)

Wretched, almost funny piece of dreck

[3/10 · 27 May 2000]

Probably the only reason Mystery Science Theatre 3K hasn't done this one is because it's hardly necessary. Most viewers will automatically howl and add their own comments to this ghastly waste of film. Is this really a Mel Brooks production? If so, he truly should stick to intentional comedy, where he's great, and leave futuristic "message" films mercifully alone. Actually, this is good for a laugh some evening if you're among friends in the right mood. Perhaps a double-feature with an Ed Wood masterpiece?

I Married a Witch (1942)

Nicely-done comedy with a good cast

[9/10 · 23 May 2000]

Very well-crafted comedy with some memorable work by Veronica Lake and a charming role for Cecil Kellaway (perfectly cast in this picture). Considering some of the fluffy, forgettable comedies of this era, this one deserves a much better following than it has enjoyed so far. Well worth watching.

Start the Revolution Without Me (1970)

very well-crafted farce in the Mel Brooks style

[10/10 · 22 May 2000]

A very well-deserved reputation as a cult classic, based on brilliant performances and excellent writing. I've seen it perhaps a dozen times and keep finding subtle jokes I had missed, such as the Corsican Brothers' names, "da Sissy" (a play on the feminine affectations of the noblemen and particularly Sutherland's sort-of-in-the-closet character. Those who don't remember the original M*A*S*H movie tend to think of Sutherland in his scary or evil roles and ignore his great gift for comedy. One of the great lines of this movie is Sutherland's response to Wilder's, "Someday I shall be King!" -- "... and I shall be Queen!"

The character names are inspired: Escargot, Coupe, da Sissy ... and a lot of the humor is in this vein, but quick. Even the lower-billed players (particularly the King, Queen Marie and Escargot) are perfectly cast and brilliant. If you like Mel Brooks or the Airplane! or Leslie Nielsen comedies, you WILL love this masterpiece.

Rush (1991)

Excellent drama, much better than expected

[8/10 · 18 May 2000]

I watched this only because Sam Elliott was in it, expecting little from Patric & Leigh, whom I looked upon as TV-quality lightweights. I was quite wrong -- both can act with great strength when given a quality script (a rare item in Hollywood). This is an intense, driven tale about undercover cops firmly entangled in the drug underworld, with the criminal activity and hypocrisy evenly spread between the cops and the dealers. The accuracy of this portrayal and the obvious futility of the "War on Drugs" explain why this film was hammered loudly by the police departments, newspapers and mainstream critics. To anyone who hasn't spent time around serious junkies this film will be a bit of a jolt, but it's the best and most honest portrayal of this world ever put on film.

This is definitely not your standard two-cop "buddy" films that spew forth so often from the Hollywood colon. The story is not predictable, nor is the ending....nor the ending after that ending. Scripts like this are jolting because they make you realize just how awful most of the other films actually are.

Some of the secondary actors turn in surprisingly nice jobs here. Sam Elliott turns in his usual good work, always enjoyable, but several others are well worth mention: Max Perlich, the pathetic little snitch, and Gregg Allman, who with almost no dialogue does a very convincing portrayal of a malevolent local crime kingpin.

This is one of those rare movies where the soundtrack is worth owning. Eric Clapton does a superb score, and his selection of music for the saloon and drug den scenes is masterful.

I've watched this three times, each a few years apart, and it gets better each time. The film doesn't have rely on fancy car chases, lengthy gunfights or comic relief. It's simply a fine film done by craftsmen -- a rare treat indeed.

Rollerball (1975)

Vastly underrated, surpassing High Noon in intensity

[18 May 2000]

Even though I'm a sci-fi fan, I ignored this movie since the trailer gave the impression of a cheap hybrid of sci-fi and sports...and sports of all types bore me. Much later, a friend almost forced me to watch it on late-night TV, and I was riveted from the opening scene. There are a lot of insightful descriptions and comments at this same site, so I won't duplicate them -- but do look them over before you see ROLLERBALL since it'll give you some interesting aspects of this masterpiece. As a celebration of individuality, character and personal freedom, it compares well (and I believe far surpasses) both 1984 and HIGH NOON. It's easy to see why such superb names (Jewison, Houseman, Maud Adams, and Sir Ralph Richardson in a glorious bit part) signed on to what seems to have all the makings of a straight-to-video potboiler.

I watch movies for enjoyment, not moral messages or spritual claptrap, and I thoroughly detest having a message shoved down my throat (as Gene Roddenberry's later work always did so clumsily)....and I dislike those who try to dredge such underlying threads from perfectly enjoyable movies. However, the powerful themes woven so artfully into this gem only add to the visceral thrill that even a sports-hater like me gets from hearing the organ thundering out Bach's shimmering chords and seeing the silver ball slammed home.

Twenty-five years later, as government steals more and more of our individual freedoms while placating the masses with socialist bread and circuses, this movie's strong, jarring themes ring truer than ever. And the beautifully-crafted ending, where silence gradually soars into .... well, words fail me at that point, but it is unforgettable and magnificent.

I have never been so wrong in my expectations of a film. If you have not seen it, you are in for a rare treat.

Quigley Down Under (1990)

One of the best westerns of modern times

[14 May 2000]

Unlike most "modern" westerns, this one is unburdened by the usual Hollywood flaws: overproduction, overacting and a massive cast of big names demanding their share of "face time." Selleck & San Giacomo do a masterful job of creating honest, three-dimensional characters facing a truly evil antagonist -- a part played with fiendish perfection by the superb Alan Rickman. Even the minor characters on both sides are well-cast and well-acted. Two other "stars" of this exceptionally fine film are Quigley's Sharps rifle and the musical score. The unusual, catchy theme will stick in your mind, and some of the dialogue will pass into screen legend, such as Quigley's remark about the Colt revolvers: "I said I didn't have much use for them. I never said I didn't know how to use one." To be sure, the writers take a few necessary liberties with the plot to make everything work, as in any movie, but it does work well. My wife, who is a gun enthusiast but not a big fan of westerns, has watched "Quigley" 7 or 8 times and never tires of it. There are a few films that will bear watching that often: The Usual Suspects, All About Eve, High Noon, Casablanca -- to name a few. Quigley is one of these.

Naked Obsession (1990)

Superb little gem of a thriller. Hitchcock would've loved it

[14 May 2000]

One of the great hidden gems of late-night cable. The main actor, William Katt, has come a long way since he was Carrie's date for the prom. A second-generation actor (Bill Williams and Barbara Hale's son), Katt is great in this role, but the movie is stolen by the masterful performance of Rick Dean as the very bizarre "Sam Silver" in this Hitchcockian thriller. If ever there was an example of how big a part luck and studio hype play in film success, this is it. This movie deserves to be well-known, and it should have catapulted Rick Dean into a major role. Watch this movie, and tape it for your friends who have taste.