B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - THE LIFT (1983)

Greetings all, finally back and looks like the new updated blog list is being enjoyed. I left a few of the real old blogs on there even though they haven't updated in years (hellooooo, anyone home??) they are chock full of good B-movie articles. Ok, so our B-movie of the month is the Dutch sci-fi horror semi-cult-classic The Lift about an elevator gone mad. Not to riff on a cliche but this one gives new meaning to "so bad it's good." It's also both fun and funny, slightly scary and a little sexy too - just all the things we love in a B-flick. I'm recommending the newest version playing now on Tubi. Viva Le Lift! 2.75 stars/2.75

Sunday, May 30, 2021

THE MUSIC OF CHANCE (1993) - OBSCURE INDIE STARRING JAMES SPADER & MANDY PATINKIN AS CARD PLAYERS WHO LOSE AT POKER AND ARE FORCED TO BUILD A WALL WITH 10,000 STONES!

 

James Spader in one of the best performances of his career.

1993 was a stellar year for movies with now considered classics adorning our shelves like The Fugitive, Falling Down, Tombstone, and The Firm to name just a few. But tucked away in the far reaches of the indie world was this golden nugget of a film starring an incredible acting ensemble of James Spader, Mandy Patinkin, M Emmet Walsh, Charles Durning and Joel Grey. The plot is as simple as what I wrote in the headline but this is a film and story that operates on several levels for those looking for deeper meaning. The folly of gambling, separation of economic classes, running from unresolved issues, the alienation of the ultra rich are all woven beautifully into the film. Spader is off the chart, it is absolutely one of his greatest performances. M Emmet Walsh, who seemingly found his way onto every feature ever made, gets more screen time than any other thing I've ever seen him in and he's terrific as the schlep assigned to supervise the two losers building the wall. The film is currently out of print and hard to find, the DVD is going for $150, VHS should be valued at 30 minimum and if you can find it any lower and are into that format, I would jump on it. 3.5 stars/5 Probably not destined to become available in the streaming world.

Monday, May 10, 2021

BABY BOOMER PARADISE - TUBI HAS ALL SIX SEASONS OF THE FLINTSTONES (1960 - 1965) STREAMING - YABBA DABBA DOO X 166! + MY LIST OF GREATEST EPISODES

Oh my, don't pass go and don't collect $200, just get your snack situation figured out and head to Tubi for a FLINTSTONES binge party! All six seasons streaming free, a fantastical 166 episodes, ENJOY

TOMMY'S 24 BEST EPISODES LIST

Seas 1 Ep 1 THE FLINTSTONE FLYER (a must!)
         1.      3 THE SWIMMING POOL
         1.      8  AT THE RACES
         1.    25  IN THE DOUGH
         2.      3. THE MISSING BUS
         2.     16 THE GAMBLER
         2.     21 IMPRACTICLE JOKER
         2.     28 THE ROCK VEGAS STORY
         3.      7  THE BUFFALO CONVENTION 
         3.     21 FOXY GRANDMA
         4.     16  TEN LITTLE FLINTSTONES 
         4.     19  FLINTSTONE AND THE LION
         4.     25. BACHELOR DAZE
         5.       4.  PEBBLES BIRTHDAY PARTY 
         5.       7.  A HAUNTED HOUSE IS NOT A HOME
         5.      11. DINO AND JULIET
         5.      13. INDIANROCKOPOLIS 500
         5.      24. SUPERSTONE 
         6.        7. THE GREAT KAZOO
         6.        8. RIP VAN FLINTSTONE 
         6.        9.  GRAVELBERRY PIE KING
         6.       10  THE STONEFINGER CAPER
         6.       14.  SEEING DOUBLES
         6.       17. THE LONG LONG LONG WEEKEND 
Seas 1 Ep 19 - The Hot Piano
"Happy Anniversary, Happy Anniversary....."


Friday, May 7, 2021

15 MINUTES (2001) TURNS 20 YEARS OLD HA HA - SATIRE THRILLER ABOUT VIDEOTAPING CRIMES STILL PLAYS LIKE A LATE-90's ACTION THRILLER ON STEROIDS

Founded on the classic Andy Warhol dogma that in the future everyone will be world-famous for fifteen minutes, Robert Deniro and a younger Edward Burns star in this more than slightly over-contrived action thriller set in NYC. The whole movie comes at you over the top and director John Herzfeld puts too much emphasis on the bad guys (Karel Roden, Oleg Taktarov) and their desperation to become famous that it skews the dynamic of the film. However, watching it now I realize that, like it or lump it, the film wouldn't stand up very well had they gone for a mellow approach. With it's unneeded extra twists at the end it plays very much like a typical late-90's thriller but on steroids. Funny enough it was filmed in '99 but released in 2001, held back one year due to a never explained last minute studio decision.

DeNiro is nothing special here but still enjoyable, Burns is excellent and it's been great to see what he's done with his career since this came out, an accomplished indie film maker with some great rom-coms he's penned and a one-of-a-kind New Yorker presence in his acting roles. Since this movie is part cop buddy flick, I will also say the chemistry with Burns and DeNiro here works very nicely. The best performance in the movie is surprisingly by Kelsey Grammer who kills it as a ruthless reporter. 

You know, there's a good movie down in here somewhere with nice insight into the whole 15 minutes of fame thing. Even as it is, it holds up well thanks mostly to the acting and fast pace. I'm glad I pulled it off the shelf, we'll take a look in another five years..     3.0 stars/5

B-MOVIE GAZETTE RATING SYSTEM

5 Stars - Only awarded to the precious few.
4 Stars - Excellent, see by all means.
3 Stars - Very Good, you should like.
2 Stars - Fair, like a frozen dinner.
1 Star - Poor, like a spoiled dinner.

ALL B-MOVIES, DRIVE-IN MOVIES AND TV MOVIES HAVE A MAX AWARD OF 2.75 STARS.