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S.O.B. (1981)
Wonderful slice of the slimy side of Hollywood that has stayed surprisingly relevant
Lemme start by saying that this film is by no means a perfect movie. As a product of it's time, a lot of the freewheeling sex and casual/rampant alcohol and drug use seem rather dated. In fact, it feels decidedly late-70's in that regard, despite it being a film that came out in 1981. But setting all of this aside, it's probably one of the best skewers of the Movie Industry you'll ever see. It's funny, raucous, profane, lewd, many things you would normally expect from a brilliant comedic director like Blake Edwards. But it also has it's bitter-sweet and tender moments, and it's packed-full of stars from the 60s thru the 80s giving some of their best performances in years...so much so that it feels more legitimate and honest in it's examination of the insanity and pretentiousness of Hollywood than any other film I've seen about the industry yet.
I've often had folks argue with me that "The Player" is a better critique of the Hollywood machine than this film is. They may think that, but I really enjoyed this movie so much more. It's not nearly as self-congratulatory or as overtly ironic as "The Player"...I love Tim Robbins and what he does in that film, but I'd take 5 minutes of William Holden (in his final performance) over ANY actor in "The Player" any day of the week.
If you are a Blake Edwards fan, I must warn you that this is NOT like his Pink Panther films. In fact, I think folks that aren't fans of his work might enjoy this film even more, because then you won't walk into this with any pre-conceived notions of what kind of humor to expect. Don't get me wrong, there's some serious slap-stick gags in this films, ones I still remember to this day. But it's real humor comes from it's hilarious dialogues and conversation, something you don't get nearly as much from his Pink Panther films.
You cannot go wrong watching this film. Especially if you love Hollywood.
Miller's Crossing (1990)
Best modern gangster file ever....
This has got to be, hands down, one of the best gangster films ever made, certainly in the last 20 years or so. Better even than Reservoir Dogs, I'd say...which is a great film too, but just not nearly the same caliber as this.
In a nutshell, the whole movie is about loyalty, and the affect it has on Tom Reagan, as well as everyone else around him. Tom is the central character in this story, and we basically get to experience this movie in his shoes (or wearing his hat, which would be a more appropriate analogy, and you'll understand why I say this after watching the film). In fact, I can probably count on one hand the number of scenes that Tom Reagan (played masterfully by Gabriel Byrne) does NOT appear in.
I won't go into great detail, because the story is full of subtleties...things that you won't notice even after seeing the movie several times. I think that's why I put it so high in my mind as a work of cinematic art. There has ALWAYS been something new that I discovered upon each viewing that I didn't see before, so the complexities of the story make it vastly more entertaining that, say, Titanic or some other Hollywood schlock that's being peddled in theaters. Which is probably why this film did poorly when it was first released, I didn't even see it until it came out on cable a year later.
The script is truly marvelous, and the snappy dialog hearkens back to the good old days of gangster films from the 30s with great actors such as James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, and Bogart. In fact, go get the Warner Bros. Gangster Classics Box set before you see this film...it'll give you a better appreciation of this film, in many different ways (the wise-cracks, the over-the-top gun battles, etc.). The only way the Coen Brothers could pay greater homage to the old gangster classics would have been to have filmed Miller's Crossing in black and white...which they didn't need to do anyway, this film just can't be beat in it's set design and imagery.
Oddly enough, there is almost no gratuitous sex in this mildly R-rated film...it's all implied, which is a nice touch given the way most R-rated films just give in to rampant sex and violence, just for the sake of being able to do it. Even the violence (which some posts have alluded to as excessive) just doesn't even compare with what most folks see on screen today...but that just it, the Coen Brothers use sex and violence in a subtle way that enhances (not detracts) from the film. We know more about what people feel about each other rather than just get to see to sweaty bodies going at it in bed. Don't get me wrong, I think sex and violence in adult films is not a bad thing...I just hate it when filmmakers just throw it in as a way of pleasing the crowd, especially when they don't show the consequences of what sex and violence can bring about in our society.
Anyway, I could go on and on...go BUY (not rent) this film, it'll be the best clearance-rack DVD you'll ever own!
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Best Roger Moore Bond film ever!!!
On my top 5 list of best Bond films, this one certainly ranks up there in that elite group. I've read some complaints about the slower pace of the film, but that's all hogwash...you're little minds just don't have the patience to appreciate good script writing and editing.
SPOILER ALERT: I won't bother with the plot details, but I will say that seeing the demise of Dr. Bloefeld early in the film really helps set the stage for Bond in the almost-post-Cold War era period of 1980 thru 1989. I've heard many fans complain about the fact that the series eliminated his major nemesis so quickly, but come off it guys! That whole SPECTER premise was tired and played out at that point, so it was high time that they ended that aspect of the series once and for all! I'm surprised this wasn't mentioned by many comments in IMDb, but it's easy to overlook since it has no bearing on the rest of the movie.
As for the rest of the film, it takes a very leisurely pace in revealing the story line, with all it's plot twists and turns. There is plenty of REALLY good action in the film, with no help from CGI affects. And best of all, the action is pertinent! They don't just throw it in for looks.
Once again, character and story development takes precedence over wiz-bang action. All of the characters are thoroughly put thru their paces so that you actually care about what they think and why they are the way they are. You see this even in the little things, like seeing the Russian Intelligence Gen. Gogol show up (played by Walter Gotell), if ever so briefly, at the beginning and at the end of this film. Most people don't remember him playing the "2nd. bad guy on the left" in "From Russia w/Love," but he came back in "The Spy Who Loved Me," and had that same recurring role thru the 70s and 80s. Bond films always benefit from continuity, and the fact that the writers stayed true to this (even in the not-so-good Bond films) makes any Bond film MANY TIMES better than your avg. action flick.
I will agree, the music is dated, but jeez, it's almost 25 years old, guys! Lighten up and enjoy the ride, because it is a good one.
So, to summarize: good story/plot and characterization, lots of well-filmed action, some humor...but not overdone with needless puns, a minimum of gadgetry usage (again). All in all, a really good Bond film, with Roger Moore finally enjoying his character after spending all those years refining it when Bond seemed on the verge of being silly during the 70s.
Licence to Kill (1989)
Most underrated Bond film...EVER!
Sorry, but some of you purists are just too narrow-minded to look at this movie for what it was...a great transitional Bond film with a message that was (and still is) very topical for it's time. Timothy Dalton was not my favorite bond, and it would have been interesting to see how "Remington Steele" (a.k.a. Pierce Brosnan) might have come across in the role...but Dalton's bond was quite serious in demeanor and intent, which was perfect while dealing with a very serious topic. This was a "revenge" Bond film, nothing like the light-hearted fair from years back.
Good guys are most often defined by their opponents, and this one had them in spades, with Robert Davi leading the pack as the drug lord king-pin running the show. You get to see a very young Benico Del Toro (of "Traffic" fame, before the cigarettes affected his voice) as the drug lord's most loyal right-hand man, and Carey Lowell (of "Law and Order" fame, 1996-1998) as his very competent female American sidekick and love interest.
It has all of the action, a minimal amount of gadgetry usage, good supporting cast, a very logical E Z 2 follow plot with no noticeable plot-holes, pretty decent character development, even some inadvertent humor (Favorite line: Anthony Zerbe's character retells how he "lost" the drug king-pin's money, explaining it in grandiose terms...here's Robert Davi's mocking reply..."And he flew away into the sky, like a bird.") This is by far one of the very best WRITTEN Bond films you'll ever see. Sure the violence is a bit high, but the pain and anguish that goes with it is more personal than in other Bond films, which helps make the film that much more believable.
I give it a 10...go see it if you are a true, open-minded Bond fan