B-Movie Gazette: JOSH CHARLES, JASON SEDRICK & STEPHEN BALDWIN ARE "CROSSING THE BRIDGE" (1992) - MIKE BINDER COMING OF AGE DRAMA SET IN EARLY 70's DETROIT STILL ROCKS THANKS TO CAST & STORY

B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - THE DEATH OF RITCHIE (TV 1977)

Looks like a lot of fun to me, I don't know. Seriously and for those that don't know, The Death Of Ritchie is one of the most iconic TV movies of the entire '70's decade. I was roughly 15 when it aired and i can tell you that both Robby Benson and teens taking drugs were very hot topics at the time. The film is based on a true story where a father who couldn't control his teen's behavior from drug abuse was forced to take the law into his own hands. The father here is good ole Ben Gazzara and he is at his Gazzara best with a ferocious intensity, his scenes with Benson as father and son a perfect chemistry. At the time more emphasis was on Benson as a model but his performance here is really amazing. Streams free on Tubi, Freevee, Roku and Plex, if this was being rated on the standard scale I would give it five stars, 'nuff said. 2.75 stars/2.75

Thursday, June 10, 2021

JOSH CHARLES, JASON SEDRICK & STEPHEN BALDWIN ARE "CROSSING THE BRIDGE" (1992) - MIKE BINDER COMING OF AGE DRAMA SET IN EARLY 70's DETROIT STILL ROCKS THANKS TO CAST & STORY

Hard to believe this one's coming up on thirty years old, holy crap, where does the time go? Oh yeah, watching movies! And this one is a long favorite about three pals growing up in Detroit, their escapades with a car they label "The War Wagon" and in particular, one night where crossing the bridge with a bunch of heroin in your spare tire just might not be a wise decision.

Binder's The Indian Summer, a movie he made before this but around the same era gets a lot more mention and accolades than this one, but this in my opinion is his masterpiece and certainly seems to be the one most associated with who he is as a person.

All three characters in the film have conflicts going on within their own personal lives and families but the War Wagon and their friendship keeps everything normal for them. Look for Richard Edson in one hell of a cameo as the drug dealer.

Pretty sweet early 70's soundtrack as well, the performances are all excellent especially Sedrick and Baldwin. A film I will never tire of recommending. 3.5 stars/5