"INTO THE NIGHT" (1985) TURNS 40 - JEFF GOLDBLUM & MICHELLE PFEIFFER DO UP LOS ANGELES AT NIGHT IN JOHN LANDIS' UNDERSTATED MASTERPIECE

 

There is an old friend of mine named Jim Costello that I owe an eternal debt of gratitude to. In a most unusual way that I'll never forget, he turned me onto this film. In 1985 I was a cab dispatcher for Celebrity Cab in Los Angeles and Jim was one of my drivers and good friend. It was a Friday afternoon, we had both just got off work so Jim came over to my place in Hollywood (right behind the Palladium) to do some TGIF partying. He took out a bag of cocaine the size of a loaf of bread and then took out a VHS tape, proclaiming, "wait until you see this movie, this is an advance copy, it doesn't even come out for another week!" 

I replied something to the effect that my pot and booze didn't need nobody and "what's so special about this movie?" As we watched and partied together, I realized every location in this virtual tour of LA at night, either Jim had picked up somebody in his cab or I had dispatched him. The music of BB King and the wonderful opening sequence of a plane landing at LAX still brings me back to that fun afternoon. 

And what a fun film it is. It doesn't fit into any one genre or combo of genres for that matter. And it's certainly not "black comedy" as listed on Wiki. It's John Landis' love letter to LA as created that year, a trip thru the city at night. Goldblum plays a burnt-out aerospace engineer who can't sleep. He drives to LAX one night hoping to catch a red-eye to Vegas to cure his insomnia. Instead, he runs into (literally) Pfiffer, an amateur smuggler and the adventure thru LA at night begins. 

Landis enlisted the help of many friends for this homage and the cast is a cornucopia of great names. A ton of memorable cameos, especially David Bowie. The entire soundtrack is by BB King and very underrated - he did an amazing job of sonically catching that vibe of mid-'80's cocaine-infused LA. 

Hopefully, as the decades rock on, Into The Night will enjoy new popularity and maybe even a cult kind of status. It is truly an understated masterpiece, a very special film. For Goldblum fans, an absolute must, he's at his 100% best here. VOD only right now but worth every penny, enjoy.  3.5 stars/5

"RUNAWAY TRAIN" TURNS 40 - SEMINAL JON VOIGHT ROLE, SEMINAL ERIC ROBERTS ROLE, SEMINAL TRAIN MOVIE

 

Who doesn't love a good train movie and Runaway Train is one of the best ever made, plain and simple. A couple of convicts (Jon Voight, Eric Roberts) escape from a maximum-security prison in Alaska and make their way to a big train yard. Jumping a ride on four locomotives hitched together, the convicts think they're home free until the engineer croaks and their ride becomes a runaway. 

Meanwhile, the prison warden (John P Ryan in one of his best) is on their tail. Central dispatch is trying to figure out if they should derail it or what. Put it all together and you've got the timeless Runaway Train. Jon and Eric are still with us but most the rest are gone, including the beloved Ryan. Runaway Train at 40 and surely to be considered a ground-breaking train movie for decades to come. 3.5 stars/5

Tubi

SEAN ASTIN IS STRANDED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF LAKE MICHIGAN WITH A DRUG SMUGGLER WHO'S PLANE JUST CRASHED IN "THE SURFACE" (2014)

 

Sean Astin stars with Chris Mulkey in what is mostly a two-man act on the water in this wordy slow burn. Shot in the middle of Lake Michigan, Astin plays Mitch who as it turns out has gone out there to kill himself. Mulkey plays Kelly, a smuggler who has a plane crash and is rescued by Mitch. Kelly has a bag with him that has an alarm and GPS on it so now he's being sought and Mitch is in his shit, get it? 

Like I said it's wordy, and it's certainly not going to win any awards for directing or producing. It's got a cool premise though, worth at least one watch for movie lovers. Both leads are great and btw have to throw this in - Mulkey, you need a new agent, totally should have had shared billing with Astin on this.  2.75 stars/5   Tubi, YT, and many other free streamers. 

"FRIGHT NIGHT" (1985) TURNS 40 - FOR REALS! - 9 REASONS CHRIS SARANDONS IMMORTAL TAKE ON DRACULA LIVES ON

 

1. Chris Sarandon, Chris Sarandon, Chris Sarandon! 2. Next to Planet Of The Apes, Roddy McDowells greatest role. 3. Stephen Geoffreys, Stephen Geoffreys, Stephen Geoffreys! 4. Ian Hunters song "Good Man In A Bad Time" in the nightclub scene. 5. Sparks song "Armies Of The Night" in the nightclub scene. 6. Forty years later, still some of the most awesome special fx in a horror movie, every one perfectly executed. 7. Jonathan Stark, Jonathan Stark, Jonathan Stark! 8. "Yeah, Charlie, what's down there?" and last but not least, 9, how about some love for ole character actress Dorothy Fielding as the dipsy doodle mom!

CHAZZ PALMINTERI IS A DICE HUSTLER WHO HAS TO CARE FOR HIS SON WITH DOWNS SYNDROME IN "YONKERS JOE" (2008)

 

The always enjoyable CHAZZ is in top form as a conman and dice hustler. His life is turned upside down when the group home caring for his son (Tom Guiry, absolutely stupendous) calls to say they're kicking the boy out. As is kind of expected as the story moves along, nor only is a bond formed but the boy (who has downs syndrome) is recruited to help dad in a big con. Christine Lahti also stars, it's a nice mix of thrills and comedy, amusing, and at times profound - give this one a chance, it's not bad. 

3.0 stars/5  Tubi