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madjohnw
Reviews
Quick Change (1990)
Bill Murray as the straight man
I think a lot of people dismissed this movie because they were expecting the typical antics from Bill Murray, especially in a film he was producing. But they failed to see how perfectly he portrayed the jaded New Yorker, letting others in the cast give the over-the-top performances that are all perfectly in place. I especially love the casting of comedy legend Bob Elliott as the bank security guard. His "version" of events he gives to the police are what I always imagine people saying after the fact. Philip Bosco is also spot on as the neurotic bus driver, who unwittingly helps the robbers by sticking to his tight rules. And of course, the legendary Jason Robards is perfect as the cop about to retire, looking to go out on a high note. It's just a great movie with enough laughs to keep you going to the very end.
The U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006)
Could be better without the extra 60s worship
Beatles fans will enjoy the interviews and films of John, but so much of the rest was 60s filler. I ended up skipping through about half of the movie, which was a lot of unnecessary backstory. Are there really people out there that don't know about the Vietnam war?
The Twilight Zone: Back There (1961)
Underrated episode from the original series
This episode has always been one of my favorites. Written long after "The Time Machine" and long before "Back To the Future", it tackles the question of whether or not a time traveler could alter history. It only scratches the surface for so many possibilities, but within the confines of a 20 minute episode it does very well. I really like the performance by John Lasell as Wellington/Booth, even though he was probably chosen more for his looks than anything. The ending also works well, even though the "shock" is not nearly as severe as many of the more famous episodes.
Micro-Phonies (1945)
The last glimpse of Curly's greatness
Micro-phonies is a classic Stooge short. The guys are inept repairmen working at a radio station, and during some horsing around in a broadcast booth, Curly's perfect mimic of a recording of "Voices of Spring" is mistaken for the real thing, leading to a radio contract and a zany musical party. The trio's mock rendition of the quintet from "Lucia de L'Amamore" is especially entertaining. No doubt this is essential viewing for Stooge fans.
Although the evidence of Curly's failing health is visible in his face and voice, his performance is amazing, and it is probably the last glimpse of the old Curly. Some fans think that "A Bird in the Hand" is the last great Curly short, but his coarse voice and slow movement are just too difficult to watch.