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rodew
Reviews
Harlem Nights (1989)
A must see!!
This movie is 22 years old and I remember the venom from the critics in the media when it was released. Now, its tame by today's standards. There are several great things about this movie that one should appreciate: a)the other great actors in this movie alongside the headliners- The young lady playing Sunshine was a young Lela Rochon in either her first or second movie- she was fabulous; the actor playing Richie Vento- Vic Polizos- has been in numerous movies and TV shows, and in this film he is hilarious. His line- "Theoretically, I don't look at the coloreds but she is f-ing beautiful!" -is profound and really stupid at the same time, and his phone call to home-"Vera, this is Richie, I ain't ever coming home, see ya!"- is comedic genius that was delivered like he was one of the of the film's top comedians. Stan Shaw's scene as the champ attempting to hail a taxi is cruel, demented, and a truly, truly funny scene...I can't help from laughing at the thought of that scene. b) the superb musical soundtrack; and c)some of the subtle comedy ("fat bitch" by the parrot; Vera- "...I got nine good toes left...!") I did not even realize until subsequent viewings! I applaud Eddie's effort and I salute this fantastic film! I recommend viewing it uncut at least 3 separate time to catch everything. This movie ranks in my top five best comedies ever-Animal House, Caddy Shack, Victor/Victoria, Nutty Professor(Eddie's), Harlem Nights
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Movie-making that delivers a great story
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS***
OK so if you are a fan of Vol 1, then the expectation for Vol 2 is for more action like the first and a final intense climactic fight scene where Bill dies and the Bride barely lives. What this movie delivers is the rest of the story while telling the whole story. I liked Kill Bill Vol 1 because of the superb fight scenes, the Bride's single-minded intensity for revenge, and the homage paid to the 70's kung fu/karate film genre. What I did not understand was who she was, how she got there and why was she beaten and left for dead. Bill's answer, "I over-reacted", is as classic a movie line as " dying ain't a good way to make a living" (outlaw josey wales).
Kill Bill Vol 2 was a phenomenal adventure in story telling. I wish that there was more scenes with Pai Mei and the Bride training, I wish there was a scene were the Bride dismembers the pipsqueak who helped bury her alive, and honestly, a scene that defines or establishes Bill and the Bride's relationship (why did he choose her in the first place, especially over Vivica Fox and Lucy Liu who were much better looking). Also, the Bride carries significant respect around the world (the world's most dangerous woman), I appreciated knowing that near the end, but it would have been better to have that knowledge brought forth in some fashion, like Oren Ishii's anime story. I like Uma but I could not fathom how she could go from overdosed woman on the lawn (pulp fiction) to this uncanny killer (vol 1). Vol 2 brought this home for me.
I thought the acting was exceptional by Madsen, Uma, and even Darryl Hannah (a long way from Splash). Superb scenes: the Hanzo sword in the golf bag; the bride walking across the street with dirt being blown off after digging her way out; the bride being blown away with rock salt(?)shotgun pellets; the cruel tutelage of Pai Mei; Elle reading about the Black Mamba venom as Budd writhes on the floor.
Interesting plot lines: Budd selling the Bride's sword for 1 million; Budd not killing her with real shotgun shells; Budd taking that crap from that scummy owner; Budd disrespecting Elle before counting his money; how Elle is even still in the picture(was she a protege also, until she poisoned Pai Mei?); the brides name.
Questionable: why guns in this movie?; how did the Bride know her baby was alive or what she looked like?; Samuel L. Jackson is wasted; when do we learn that The Bride is Black Mamba?; and most questionable- why did the Bride leave Bill in the first place?
Her story seemed quite selfish, although it was superbly enacted in the movie. His answer, although incredibly long-winded, was helpful for me and I actually agreed with his other classic movie line, "when a murderous bastard over reacts, what do you expect would happen". Bill was saddened that the love of his life and his prized protege had died (or so he thought)and was angered to find her alive, due to give birth to their child, and getting married to a total loser. Chris Rock would say of Bill's actions: "I don't agree with his tactics, but I can understand his mindset"
Finally, as I did with Pulp Fiction, I assimilated the entire Kill Bill story in my mind and fashioned that, although the story telling is disjointed and incongruous, the story is utterly fascinating with a great moral: If you are going to kill the love of your life because you found out she did not die, but she just left you to have a baby and attempt to have a normal life, and she happens to be the most significantly dangerous, skillful, ruthless and cold-blooded assassin on the planet, then your days are numbered if she survives. As Budd states, another classic movie line: "the woman deserves her revenge and we deserve to die"
How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass (2003)
An great story about a great story
This movie was great. I remember when I was a youngster in the early 70's, I heard about this Sweetback" movie. My father and his friends joked about being bad as "Sweetback", but I never understood it. Later on in high school, I finally heard about the movie, but was never in any situation where I could see it. When I was thirty-something, I finally saw Sweet Sweetback on VHS and I thought it was a trip with the grainy pictures and the sex scenes and the cops and the music. I did not understand then what a big deal the movie was when it came out twenty years earlier, and ultimately I thought that this movie could not have done well. When I saw Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, I really became engaged in the making of movies because I wanted to know what moved Spike to make such a film. I read everything he put out about making Do the Right Thing, as well as She's Gotta Have It and School Daze. This movie making sojourn took me back to earlier movie production efforts and led me to understand the struggles of early black film makers. Ultimately, I came upon Sweetback again. My new found research uncovered that Earth Wind and Fire had played the music for the movie. Needless to say EWF is treasured in my household, (Love's Holiday from their greatest album ever, (All N All 1977) is the song my wife and I were married to) After that epiphany, I wondered what it took to put this movie together.
Mario Van Peebles brought it home for me. This movie 'Baddasss' was such a great story, I wish I was enlightened when I was 12 or 13 when it came out just to say I was. Mario's portrayal of Melvin was surreal; some clips had Mario actually seem darker skinned, like Melvin. The exhaustive, demanding, stressful pursuit of his goal; the single-minded determination to succeed despite all of the barriers; and the supporting figures throughout the cause really was amazing! I don't know what a spoiler is but this may count, I thought the cameos and stories of the participants at the end were fantastic, especially Maurice and Verdine White and the last cameo.
I saw the movie on cable PPV at home and I gave it a standing ovation. I hope this movie gets Mario a well-deserved Academy nomination, but more importantly, I hope it gets seen by any aspiring film-maker.
This movies is a fitting honor to a phenomenal trailblazer. Rod Walker
Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002)
Moving tribute
I really loved this documentary. Three key points: (1) I applaud the spirit and energy to put the project- long overdue recognition and praise for great musicians- together. I happen to be a fan of the Temptations movie and saw this DVD next to it. Had I not bought it on a whim, I would be so much more empty. (2) James Jamerson-I would love a documentary on him alone. Not because of his quirks, but because of his tortured spirits; a great movie-making project! Also, upon my research of this topic after seeing this film, I came across an extensive web site, bassplayer.com, with a great tribute page to Jamerson. Among the most outrageous discussions that have not been resolved to my knowledge- who played bass on Stevie Wonder's "I Was Made to Love Her"? The majority of folks strongly contend it was James Jamerson, however, a woman named Carol Kaye states she was the actual bass player for the song.
I don't know the truth, but I do know that after never hearing the bass in the song for the 30+ plus that this has been one of my all-time favorite songs, I ONLY hear the bass line. That bass line is so masterful, so exceptional, and so unrelentingly funky, that I believe only a virtuoso could have done it. The fact that that song and bass line were done in 1966/67, amidst so many hundreds of other Motown hits and other songs, tells me that the Funk Brothers and James Jamerson were truly blessed talents.
(3) Chaka Khan's rendition of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" is undoubtedly the very best performance I have ever seen her do and is among the top performances ever recorded. That she won a Grammy for the song is amazing. She actually sang it in 2000; the movie was released in 2002 and won the Grammy in 2003! I get teary every time I hear her singing the song in the movie(I replayed this section at least 10 times when I first saw the movie) and I don't think she will ever have another brilliant performance that would match that intensity. Bottom line: I strongly recommend this movie and subsequent deeper research into other great R&B music roots. Rod Walker