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Reviews
The Rockford Files: The Dexter Crisis (1974)
More Lee Purcell!
This was a typical early episode in which the producers were still developing the dramatic thread that would define the series.
While some "Rockford" purists feel the first season was by far the best written, I think the middle years, '76 and '77, are when the character development and writing fully meshed and reached their true peaks.
In The Dexter Crisis I was a little annoyed by the cut away shots of the girl's speedometer during the last car chase in that they were not taken from a Camaro.
All and all not bad with one exception: Gorgeous Lee Purcell, epitomizing to me the super sexy woman of the 70's look, was not given enough screen time!
Blue State (2007)
If You Can't Beat 'Em, Whine About 'Em.
A bland self indulgent vanity project for Marshall Lewy, I guess. Watching this movie my mind quickly begin to drift to why is it when some liberals don't get their guy, or girl, in office they throw a tantrum and threaten to "leave the country." Many of the Hollywood liberal limousine elite seem to do this with a sickening fanfare and right on cue, never follow through on it. God forbid they go somewhere where they cannot make millions of dollars being insecure unchecked narcissists. Conservatives, by contrast, when they lose an election, get mad, dig in, and vow to make a change next time; stay tuned for that in the coming days, by the way. But getting back to this movie; a "comedy?" Where? When? If I want to laugh at a generous dose of unknowns with a low budget on bleak locations playing silly Canadian stereotypes, I'll go watch my old VHS copy of Strange Brew again. Hey, good idea.
High Time (1960)
Get Some Rest!
I am a fan of the early Hope-Crosby "Road" pictures and thought to give this a look.
Even by 1960 standards the plot is hooky and contrived. The "humor" is a series of long runs for very short slides and watching Bing flirt with young co-eds and "woo" an attractive Professor twenty years his junior is painful if not laughable.
Bing, as the middle aged man who goes back to college and shows the younger generation he's still "hip," looks REALLY REALLY tired and in poor health in this film. He actually looks more like he should be checking into a hospital than flawlessly pulling off a series of amazing physical feats. So be prepared to suspend belief with extreme prejudice.
Fabian, who my parents informed me was somewhat of a "knock-off" Elvis/Ricky Nelson, is quite forgettable.
A young Yvonne Craig who went on to play Batgirl in the television series is fairly cute and charming.
There's also running "pratfall" gag with Gavin MacLeod that is unfunny and lame.
It is almost inconceivable that Blake Edwards sandwiched this clunker in between Operation Petticoat and Breakfast at Tiffany's, but I guess even the greats have the occasional embarrassment.
The Contender (2000)
Remembering the 90's.
HBO decided to trundle this one out again. Well, it was an election year and they had to find something to run in between Generation Kill episodes I suppose. I also read recently Mr. Obama commenting this was a personal favorite.
The plot is a thinly disguised veil to excuse Mr. Clinton's disgraceful behavior of that era. All the Republicans are mouth breathing knuckle dragging fascist zealots; all the Democrats are brilliant thoughtful selfless virtuous defenders of the Constitution.
The balance of the film is well layered with typical Hollywood left-wing bias, clichés, stereotypes, and ample plot holes. Overall, this movie already seems very dated. To be fair 9-11 did that to a lot of films of this genre and this was a prime example.
However, one scene is truly disturbing even today, and maybe especially today, considering the outcome of the last U.S. election and after a summer in which we watched the Olympic games being held in a brutal totalitarian Marxist state proudly showing off goose stepping soldiers and chilling mass conformism. That scene being the main Democrat character "bravely" standing up to the "evil" Republican inquisitor and reeling off a laundry list of extremist liberal-socialist positions which culminates in her declaring that she is an atheist, but she has a religion and that religion is GOVERNMENT. Scary.
Man of the Year (2006)
Fraud At The Polls!
The date was 13 October 2006: "Mr. Levinson please tell us what your new movie is about?" "Well, it's a dark comedy, it's a political satire, it's a heavy melodrama, it's a modern love story, it's a taunt thriller, it's a
." HUH? I guess we are doomed to heavy doses of this movie every election year from HBO. I had avoided it last cycle and finally figured I would just get it over with. I was expecting a liberal biased love letter to the Democrats and left leaning political hacks in general, after all it's a Hollywood movie and that's what they do, but they could not even get that right. This movie is simply a mess. Foreman in his prime could not have hit hard enough to punch up Robin Williams stale old material. It was painful to watch those cutaway shots of Lewis Black pretending laugh at it. Williams was doing his same act from Decision '88 and Decision '92. Politicians are out of touch and beholden to lobbyists? OK, we caught on to that about the Grant Administration! Then there were the gaping plot holes patched with preposterous tacked on lines like, "You mean to tell me we didn't shut down her access when we let her go?" Gee, that explains everything! For aspiring screenwriters Levinson gives an invaluable tip. Is your second act dragging? Then throw in a pointless Paint Ball scene for the kids! Yippee! Oh, and as a sure "tension modifier," use plenty of cut off phone calls. Hello? Hello? Odd soundtrack choices you ask? It's got 'em. My favorite was the Thanksgiving dinner scene set to a French version of "Beyond the Sea." Because nothing says Thanksgiving Day in America like a Frenchman singing about sailing, right? Come on Barry! Man of the Year was a good idea for a movie, but like bad politician's who try to be Everything to Everybody
.they just end up disappointing Everyone.
First Knight (1995)
Some days it doesn't pay to leave the castle.
An ex-girlfriend insisted we see First Knight when it came out in 1995. Since then I've done my best to put the painful memories of both behind me. Unfortunately, on a recent Saturday morning, when my FIOS package let me down again (oh, for reruns of MST3K!), TNT reopened those old wounds.
I have nothing against the Arthurian legend. In fact, I actually enjoy it and there have been some well made movies on the subject (see Prince Valiant (1954) for a lost treasure). However, First Knight is not one for the ages. Why Jerry Zucker chose to step out of his successful Top Secret, Airplane, Naked Gun, etc; comedic comfort zone to produce this joust wreck is as mysterious as Excalibur. Although, people were laughing in the theater during some of the fight scenes and a bizarre scream in a church. And why did screenwriter William Nicholson sandwich such a woeful tale in between Nell and Galidator? Throw in industry nobleman like John Gielgud, Jerry Goldsmith, and Walter Murch how could this movie miss the mark so badly? First Knight does not work on any level. The plot is weak and contrived, the dialog is unbelievable, the costumes out of historical place, and the pristine "period" sets perplexing. Now some observations on the performances of the principles:
Julia Ormond: At least in those days they were still actually casting British born actresses to play British characters, sparing us from having to spend two hours listening to the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow or Texan Renee Zellweger blather on in their phony English accents. For that alone, I'll give her a pass in First Knight.
Richard Gere: First of all, I've never really got this guy. I can remember when he made a splash in Paul Scharder's American Gigolo (1980). The movie and the character perfectly captured a moment in time and culture in America as did Saturday Night Fever, albeit to a lesser, if not more seedy and shocking, extent. He followed that up with more success in Officer and a Gentleman (1982), which is not holding up well by the way, but then what? Can you name another memorable role Richard Gere has played since? (And Pretty Woman does not count. You could have put Richard Petty next to Julia Roberts in that puff fest and still made mega box office). Yet, every year they trundle him out again for another big budget shot. Like I said I don't get it. Anyway, casting him in First Knight made as much sense as allowing him to present at the Oscar's. I'm sure it looked good on paper, but what you got was something totally repellent. At least he had the decency to keep his Philly accent.
Sean Connery: In 1988 Connery won the Academy Award for his supporting role in The Untouchables. To his credit, he was able to parlay this into a major jump start to his sputtering career and carry it right through the 90's. His performances seemed to fall into two categories; well crafted, as in Medicine Man and The Hunt for Red October, or "mailed it in." His work in First Knight was definitely a quick trip to the Post Office. There were scenes when I thought he was actually in danger of nodding off on his sword! He probably realized early on this was a loser. But a true professional (see Gene Hackman) will step up his game and make the best of lesser material. He might have made it tolerable had he tried, but trust me, watching Sterling Hayden run about in a wig is much more compelling then enduring Connery's uninspired speeches in a "medieval" hair piece!
Next time I see First Knight peek above the parapets, I think I'll just call my ex-girlfriend and start a fight instead. It would be much less painful.