STRANGE DAYS (1995) - WAY AHEAD OF IT'S TIME KATHRYN BIGELOW BRINGS HANDS-DOWN ULTIMATE NEW YEAR'S EVE MOVIE W/ RALPH FIENNES & JULIETTE LEWIS

It's LA in the future and people's memories of specific events are bought and sold on the black market. They're called "playback" and you "jack it" into your brain, ya dig? Scumbag Lenny (Ralph Fiennes) is a dealer of such druggy material but has a dear friend (Angela Bassett) who wants to see him clean up his life. However, he can't get over an ex-girlfriend (Juliette Lewis in a total Holy Shit performance) who is really wrapped up in the underworld and she holds the key to why a famous rapper has been murdered. 

If any of that catches your attention so far, then dig in as Kathryn Bigelow, hot on the success of the magnificent Point Break, changes backdrops from the sunny beaches of Malibu to the gritty grime of downtown LA. The use of handhelds and production of action scenes in this movie is off the chart.. The story is a bit convoluted but never boring. Juliette Lewis' scenes fronting a rock band are to be seen to be believed, they're that good. That's not new ground for her of course but these scenes are stellar, not to mention her scene in Venice Beach. 

Angela Bassett really shows off her physical skills in fight scenes and Tom Sizemore is his usual very enjoyable self as one of Lenny's friends. An outstanding sci-fi that was way ahead of it's time, highly recommend. Not available in the streaming world, just DVD.  3.5 stars/5

OWEN WILSON IS "THE MINUS MAN" (1999) - A QUIET, FRIENDLY, PASSIVE-AGRESSIVE TYPE WORKING AT THE POST OFFICE BUT ACTUALLY A SERIAL KILLER!

Owen Wilson plays against type as a quiet, reserved and aimless postal worker who is actually a serial killer in this Sundance Grand Jury nominee from 1999. An easy-going yet taut psychological thriller based on a best-selling novel, Wilson's more than distinctive voice (I think he sounds a little like a young Jimmy Stewart) narrates his character's feelings about why he is poisoning people left and right. Wilson strikes that perfect balance in the classic serial killer make-up - strangely detached but very likable, easily accessible to those close to him. 

Janeane Garofalo absolutely nails it as a fellow postal worker who has the hots for him. Brian Cox is great as always, he rents a room to Wilson, then makes the mistake of befriending him. And we love the opening scene with Sheryl Crow of all people as a drunk who also makes the mistake of crossing paths with Wilson. 

Thumbs up, currently streaming on Tubi.  3.0 stars/5

TOMMY'S FIVE FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES #1 - JONATHAN TAYLOR THOMAS STARS IN DISNEY'S "I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS" (1998) - OR WILL HE?!

Jake has to be home by 6pm Christmas if he's going to inherit his dad's custom Porsche. In a zany road trip from LA to NY he encounters these interesting characters....

A TOM JONES FAN CLUB FOR OLD LADIES

NOLAN, THE GOOFBALL THIEF

THE LOVE-SICK COP AND HIS FIANCE

"CONWAY" THE BUS DRIVER WRAPPED WAY TOO TIGHT

THE SANTA CLAUS RACE

STUCK WITH RINGO THE DOG ON A PLANE

AND FINALLY THE LOCAL PARADE

(WHERE JAKE STEALS A SLEIGH)

He goes through all that and still winds up riding off with the girl? Way to go Jake! 3.0 stars/5

TOMMY'S FIVE FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES #2 - ARE YOU READY FOR A SINGING, DANCING ALBERT FINNEY AS "SCROOGE" (1970) A MUSICAL FULL OF TREASURES IF YOU LOOK FOR THEM

"Time is short and suddenly you're not there anymore." - Ghost Of Christmas Present

Whereas most adaptions of The Christmas Carol have stuck to the character's precise verbiage from the 1843 story (some sickeningly so,) 1970's Scrooge dared to go way outside the box. The central characters not only express themselves through lavish musical numbers but also dramatic sequences wonderfully written to keep some of the classic lines but also build upon them. The film is surprisingly chock full of  little philosophical nuggets on life perfectly woven in.

A British production, mostly shot at Shepperton by the same company that had produced 1968's successful Oliver, another Dickens novel. For the Scrooge posters they put the clever tagline "What the dicken's have they done to Scrooge?" they hoped to prepare audiences for their musical take on things. While to this day some movie fans just won't bite. it mostly worked thanks to the legendary thespian Albert Finney. His performance is truly masterful. 

While most agree the songs themselves are not that special, the dramatic sequences more than make up for that and in particular the three Ghosts are all handled brilliantly. As the old lady that visits him as Christmas Past breaks down his life, you won't help but be reminded of your own past mistakes and failures. This whole sequence is fantastical but oh so poignant. The mood changes nicely when Christmas Present comes along and parties with Scrooge before flying him over to Bob Crachett's house to peek in on the family. This is also the only adaption to feature a scene where Scrooge goes to hell, literally, before waking up. Since this is a G-rated film the sequence was considered too heavy in the early '80's and cut from early VHS and DVD releases. It has since been restored and is included in modern releases. 

Like it or lump it, or until someone makes a better version, I still consider 1970's Scrooge to be the most outside the box but still entertaining for all audiences version of the classic story. Highly recommend.  3.5 stars/5

TOMMY'S FIVE FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES #3 - DON'T PLAY NO "REINDEER GAMES" (2000) WITH ME CONVICT! CLASSIC BEN AFFLECK CASINO HEIST THRILLER STILL ROCKS

 
     "Don't do it Rudy, don't you f*cking do it."

I must admit I didn't know quite what to make of Ben Affleck when he first came along and remember quickly dismissing him as someone who wouldn't last. That has morphed over the decades into a tremendous respect for his work on both sides of the camera. One of his best untapped resources I believe is his comedic side. Especially his ability to poke fun at himself which is on full display in the now two-decades old Raindeer Games.

An ex-con who gets entrapped in a scheme to rip off a casino on Christmas Eve, this film also features an outrageous performance by Gary Sinese as the long-haired, black tank-top wearing bad guy. Over the top doesn't even begin to describe the way he plays it. Charlize Theron, Danny Trejo and Dennis Farina are all along for the ride in this part prison flick, part heist and part road trip flick. Wisely, the film is devoid of any cops  on their trail or detective aspect.

Universally panned at release and not faring much better through the decades, I would have thought this should have achieved  at least cult film status by now. I suppose it's more of a guy flick or one of those love it or hate it and no in-between. I know this - can't go back to Vegas.  3.0 stars/5

Darts anyone?

TOMMY'S FIVE FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES #4 - FROM LONDON TO BEVERLY HILLS : KATE WINSLETT & CAMERON DIAZ SWAP HOUSES FOR "THE HOLIDAY" (2006)

 
From Private Benjamin to She's Gotta Give and many more, Nancy Meyers has given cinema some of the most prolific and thoughtful rom-coms ever made. The Holiday continues what she does best and I really think this is her masterwork.  Fueled by the casting Grand Slam of Kate Winslett, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black, the two-hour fifteen minute film hardly seems that long and while none of these performances are necessarily nomination-worthy, Kate Winslett continues to blow me away with her skills and this is a Jack Black performance like none other, a perfect hybrid of his dramatic and comedic sides. 

The plot is simple - two heartbroken women who just went thru break-ups decide to swap houses for the holidays and then each land up falling in love with one of the locals. A subplot involving Eli Wallach as an elderly Beverly Hills movie mogul whom Winslett helps and befriends is a nice dynamic to drive home the holiday compassion so it's not just about two sets of lovers. The locations for the houses are beautiful and I love the scene where Winslett first tours her new diggs in Beverly Hills and discovers she scored majorly in the swap. 

A great holiday film for any audience really but particularly I could see this as a perfect choice for a ladies night kind of get-together. A big box office hit but receiver of mixed reviews overall, this is one of those where I scratch my head and wonder if people realize just what a great film this is. 4.0 stars/5 (told ya there would be some shockers, wait til you see #3!)

TOMMY'S FIVE FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES #5 - EDWARD BURNS WRITES, DIRECTS AND STARS IN "THE FITZGERALD FAMILY CHRISTMAS" (2012) HEARTWARMER ABOUT FORGIVENESS

 

Once again, Happy Holidays to all - this year, a top-five list of my all-time favorite Christmas flicks and I guarantee there will be some shockers as we climb the list. We may lose some blog visitors, there will be people weeping in the streets but here we go!

A unique individual talent exists within Edward Burns and it has not been hard to praise his solo work behind the camera through the years. Totally New York, charismatic, funny, light-hearted, very real. His canon of indies now thirteen titles strong, some of my favorites include Nice Guy Johnny, Looking For Kitty and The Groomsmen. 

Here Burns stars as the older brother of a seven-sibling family, the Fitzgeralds, who have a big Christmas problem. Their father walked out on them twenty years ago but now has suddenly reappeared and wants to know if he can spend Christmas with them. Mom and most of the siblings are steadfast against it which leaves it up to Burns to try and unite the family. 

Connie Britton, Kerry Bishe and a host of other great ensemble actors Burns has used before help round out a terrific cast. An excellent Christmas movie about the true meaning of the holiday - forgiveness. 2.75 stars/2.75  

BEING MICK (TV 2001) - MICK JAGGER VIDEOTAPES A YEAR OF HIS LIFE FOR AN ENTERTAINING TV SPECIAL STATING THE RHETORICAL : YOU WOULD IF YOU COULD!

 

Twenty years ago on Thanksgiving weekend, ABC aired this one-hour doc on ole Mick boy (oh, excuse me, ole Sir Mick boy.) Produced from the vantage point of what it would be like to be Sir Mick, it follows him around as he records his solo album "Goddess In The Doorway" (which Rolling Stone gave a surprising five stars to) hangs out with his family, goes to events, works on a feature and generally lives the rock star life most can only dream of. 

There's too many great parts to list but check out Kate Winslett and Mick at Elton John's party, a segment inside Lenny Kravitz amazing house and studio,  a part with Pete Townshend who is a neighbor of Mick's and much more. If you're even the slightest Stones fan, you'll enjoy this and hardcore fans will love every minute from Sir Mick teaching his daughters how to do back-up vocals to  hunting crocodiles in Florida. The documentary is no more boring than the man himself or to quote his longtime bodyguard when asked why he has worked for Jagger so long, "quite simply, he's one of the most interesting people in the world."  Only available on DVD out of print or VHS, I put a very mediocre up I found on YT below.  2.75 stars/2.75

For more on the Stones, we also really dig....

Brett Morgen's excellent doc produced on the 50th anniversary and told from the "rise to fame" standpoint. It actually only covers up to the 1981 tour but it's still excellent. 

Crossfire Hurricane (2012) Trailer

Legendary TV producer Lorne Michaels of SNL fame produced this very entertaining 1990 doc, covering in nice linear fashion everything from when Mick & Keith first met to the Steel Wheels tour, their current at the time. Still remains the best Stones flick next to Gimme Shelter, 25 x 5 is only available on old VHS although bootleg DVD copies do exist, they're just VHS dupes. 

THE FREAK BROTHERS (TV SERIES 2021-) + CHEECH & CHONG'S ANIMATED MOVIE (2013) - HOMAGE TO OLD 420 CLASSICS WELCOME BUT LACK ORIGINAL VIBE

 

Young people today probably have very little clue as to the downright torture us old folks used to have to go through to score weed. Unless you were rich or in the biz the quality was low, weights were inconsistent and usually measured with just the fingers on your hand. Most deals involved other sets of fingers dipping into the bag as well before it got to you. The world of home delivery and a million strains, Sunset Sherbert this and Strawberry Banana that simply did not exist. 

Most stoners were reading High Times and that's where The Freak Brothers come in as their comics were promoted and available for mail order. You could also buy them in head shops. The ongoing series followed three hippy dudes and their adventures always trying to score weed. Now, in the new animated series (streaming for free on Tubi) the Freak Brothers arrive by time warp to our day and age where they are now in weed seventh heaven due to it's legal availability. New adventures ensue. 

With voicing by Woody Harrelson and John Goodman among others, this new version is about as good as we can hope to expect and I found the animation and production top notch. The situations of course are much different, we live in a different world now, some of the episodes I found a little too vulgar and gory. Somehow the old comics had more innocence to them even though weed was very illegal then. 

On the other hand, Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie which I recently rented has mediocre at best animation and two pretty unauthentic voices for our beloved pair of stoner friends. The premise is nice as it's basically a greatest hits run-thru of all the classic Cheech & Chong skits from their old albums and stage shows. I was blessed enough to see them do this stuff onstage at the LA Forum in 1973 opening up for the Rolling Stones at the impressionable age of eleven. Ahhh, the good ole days. 

The Freak Brothers (TV Series 2021-) 3.0 stars/5                                                                                  Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie (1973) 1.5 stars/5

ALEC BALDWIN IS ALCOHOLIC WASHED-UP EX-DETECTIVE DAVE ROBICHEOUX IN "HEAVEN'S PRISONERS" (1996) - ERIC ROBERTS IS BUBBA THE DRUGPIN IN THIS FORGOTTEN BUT WORTHY 90'S THRILLER

 
Based on a best selling mystery novel, Heaven's Prisoners is an overlong bordering on epic crime thriller. While slow moving at times, if you can latch onto the characters and story it's quite an entertaining film from a decade that produced some awesome crime dramas. There sure is some amazing talent in the Baldwin family and Alec here is outstanding, he owns this from start to finish and also performs some pretty hairy stunts. 

His character is one of the more pathetic in cinema, a washed up ex cop who is a struggling alcoholic very down on himself, defeatist. He's retired to the bayou and living a pretty laid back life when he and his wife witness a small plane crash in the ocean right next to their boat. They rescue a young girl from the sunken craft and this sets off a series of events that brings Robicheoux out of retirement and closer to relapse. His crosshairs are set on a major drugpin played excellently by the always enjoyable and I'll go ahead and use the word legendary Eric Roberts. 

A bunch of excellent supporting players here and some genuinely exciting action scenes from a decade that produced some of the greatest action thrillers ever. Heaven's Prisoners deserves to be remembered with the same reputation as such classics as Thelma & Louise and The Fugitive.  3.5 stars/5

Eric Roberts as "Bubba"

KEVIN SPACEY IS FROM THE PLANET "K-PAX" (2001) - IS HE A MENTAL PATIENT OR IS HE REALLY AN ALIEN? JEFF BRIDGES HAS TO FIGURE OUT WHICH IN THIS FORGOTTEN SCI FI DRAMA

 

Twenty years ago, way way back in the Blockbuster Video days there existed a movie called K-Pax which in due time was quickly forgotten about. I certainly remember those VHS covers adorning the video tape shelves.  Had it not been for a great thing called Tubi, K-Pax probably would have remained mostly forgotten. Which is a bit of a shame as it's a pretty decent sci-fi mystery with an awesome story and a more than noteworthy performance from Spacey.

I actually think Bridges is a little miscast here as the doctor trying to treat our mysterious visitor but as we know, Bridges rarely, if ever, lets down. Funny enough, Spacey originally tried out for the doctor but landed the patient instead, Will Smith having been the original choice. A box office disappointment just missing recouping it's budget, a wide variety of mixed reviews exists on the film. I fall into the camp of thumbs up more than down. 

I would have loved to seen this done by a Kubrick or a Scorcese as the story's statistical density is where it's strength lies and requires some broad strokes instead of short. All in all, a worthy addition to anyone's sci-fi library. Currently streaming on Tubi.  3.0 stars/5

That Blockbuster sticker bring back any memories? 

JOHN TRAVOLTA IS A SOCIAL WORKER TRYING TO SAVE TEEN JOEY LAWRENCE FROM A HORRIBLE GANG OF DRUG DEALERS IN "CHAINS OF GOLD" (TV 1991)

 
Found this in a pawn shop few years back- my headline above describes the basic plot here. Interesting lineage, it was first released as a Showtime original in 1991, then given a German theatrical release and in 1997 put out straight to DVD. Somewhere in there was a VHS release or two. 

It's an okay flick, fairly predictable and routine, lacking any real directorial style or panache, The bad guy's drug world is portrayed way over the top and basically ruins anything the film had going for it up to that point. There are however a few good action scenes and a great stunt where a guy goes sliding down the side of a hotel. Marilu Henner is gorgeous as always but underused and better than the material. 

Call it one of those "worth one watch" for cinephiles. Hard to find, I put the only digital representation out there on Dailymotion below, enjoy.  1.5 stars/2.75