DAVID ARQUETTE HAS A NEW JOB DRIVING A "BLACK LIMOUSINE" (2010) - IS THIS ARTSY INDIE HIS BEST PERFORMANCE? AND JUST WHAT THE HELL IS THE LAND OF THE ASTRONAUTS ANYWAYS?

 

Recently I reviewed Eye Of The Beholder with Ashley Judd and talked about the mixture of reality and illusion throughout, a magical realism if you will. This movie is similar in that regard, we find ourselves wondering at several times what's real and unreal, however, the budget here is low, the script not as concrete and a whole lot of weight falls on Arquette to make us like him and have pity for him. 

Considering he's a recovering alcoholic trying to rebuild his life should check off at least a few boxes out there and really anyone who's made a terrible mistake in the past and sought redemption should get something out of this surreal and artsy flick. As he relapses some of his allusions are downright creepy, such as a scene where he sees his dead daughter performing at a school recital.

A lot of very good supporting roles here, particularly Lin Shaye as an evil landlord and Nicolas Bishop as one of the limo company's regular customers. Always great to see Tom Bower and he's nicely cast as Arquette's immediately suspecting limo company boss. Throw in a double entendre kind of ending that also acts as two alternates and you've got an art house inspired indie that in my opinion deserves at least a little more exposure and credit than it got. Hard to find, only on DVD but I also found someone's fairly decent up on YT here. 2.5 stars/2.75

JON GRIES & GARRETT MORRIS ARE HEADED FOR A "JACKPOT" (2001) - HOWEVER, THEY IS NOT GAMBLING, THEY ARE SINGING IN KARAOKE CONTESTS!

"If you like Pina Coladas....and getting caught in the rain.."

Sing it, Jon!

"Candy" scene

Sonny Holiday (Jon Gries) is a dreamer. He wants to be a karaoke star but he's really a legend in his own mind. He chucks his wife and kid to go on the road with Lester Irving (Garrett Morris) who is supposed to be Sonny's manager but he's got his own delusions going. They travel from town to town living a meager existence and running into various characters, making this one part road movie as well. 

Gries really digs deep into his part and has an appealing voice in the music scenes. Morris has a lot of lines in this one and it's nice to see him stretch out in a combo comedic and dramatic role. The late, great Mac Davis has a short but enjoyable cameo and the film's highest marks come in it's editing which is indie perfect. The Polish Brothers are the duo behind this one and you know how we love lifting up overlooked films on this blog. This one's a dandy! 3.0 stars/5 Only available on DVD. 

Jackpot

Theatrical Trailer from Sony Pictures Classics

GOLD (GERMAN 2013) - THERE'S GOLD IN THEM THERE HILLS BUT VERY LITTLE EXCITEMENT IN THIS KLONDIKE JOURNEY WITH A GANG OF SWARTHY CHARACTERS

 

An interesting if not somewhat dull take on the Klondike adventure yarn. Without the adventure. A band of immigrants led by a questionable prospector (Peter Kurth) who claims he knows the best route to the gold. Various mishaps follow but very little of it exciting or interesting and consequently the film plods along at a snail's pace. Two good things here- some very seasoned actors doing what they do best and the cinematography. The music seems to want to copy Neil Young's score for Dead Man with some guitarist playing the same chord and then distorting it in various ways- it does not work. Worth at least one watch and I would like to see the German version sometime w English subtitles to get the full nuances of the actor's voices which is seriously lost in a very monotonous dubbing track. English version currently streaming on Tubi, link below. 2.5 stars/5

 

Gold (2013)

A gripping tale of greed and survival in pursuit of the American dream as a 19th century team of German gold prospectors are stalked by killers.

HER NAME IS "BREEZY" (1973) SHE'S 18 AND IN LOVE WITH A MUCH OLDER MAN AND SHE'S CLINT EASTWOOD'S THIRD TIME BEHIND CAMERA, A GEM OF A DRAMA

Like a good love story? An 18 year old falls in love with a middle aged man, sounds simple right? But Clint's only third time behind the camera nails all the wonderful nuances in the blossoming of this unique relationship. William Holden is absolutely terrific and the chemistry between him and Kay Lenz is spot-on. Wonderfully penned by Jo Heims, the real message of the movie is not just that love can take many forms but that the perception of love from a younger and older person both have beautiful qualities where common ground can happen. 

Shot in Los Angeles, some great locations here including Singapore Gardens, Laurel Canyon and I love the ending scene in Plummer Park. There's one shot of Lenz and Holden walking on the beach by Malibu where Clint tightly captures the shore waves as their backdrop and it's a gorgeous shot, one of movie magic. It's amazing to me that Eastwood crafted such a tasteful and meaningful drama so early in his career and so efficiently. Don't miss this one.  4.0 stars/5 

TAKE A RIDE WITH "THE HITCHHIKERS" (1972) - IF YOU DO, BE PREPARED TO LOSE YOUR PROPERTY AND POSSIBLY YOUR LIFE (AND NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE COVID)

 

The Hitchhikers (1972)

The 1972 grindhouse classic about a pregnant teen who is kicked out of her house and joins a band of alluring women who lure and rob motorists.

Currently streaming on Tubi (link above) The Hitchhikers is a super low budget sexploitation flick starring Misty Rowe (from Hee Haw tv show fame.) The storyline is certainly worthy and with a better director at the helm perhaps this could have been something really cool along the lines of say, Bonnie's Kids. But alas this one was meant to occupy Turkey-Land although there are lots of skimpy clothes, flopping breasts, pot smoking and other general bad hippy behavior. In a sense, it's a hippy-ploitation flick. A good third of the movie is filmed on one commune location and that gets old. Skip this and watch Hitchhike To Hell instead, that alone tells you how bad this one is. 1.25 stars/2.75

THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US (2017) - SLIGHT COPYCAT OF ANDES SURVIVORS STORY TURNED INTO A ROMANCE WITH KATE WINSLETT AND IDRIS ELBA AN AVALANCHE OF DISAPPOINTMENT

 

Yikes- not sure where to begin with this one except to say that the mountain between us exists between the film and it's audience. Am I the only one that noticed the way the plane crashes and the fact they have to get out themselves is identical to the legendary Andes survivors story? Couldn't they come up with a more original way to crash the plane and still keep them alive? 

My list of complaints continues. 

Just when the survival part starts to get slightly interesting, it turns into a love story. 

Beau Bridges does his usual marbles in the mouth delivery and is just not good as a pilot. 

I may be late to the party but this is the first time I've seen this Idris Elba guy and I just don't get it. I don't find him or his acting appealing. 

The whole house appearing in the middle of the mountains is just not very believable and again brings diversion just when the pace was picking up. 

There is very little to no romantic chemistry between these two actors. 

And then there's Kate. In my opinion one of the greatest actresses to ever walk the face of the earth. She's just not used to the best of her abilities here, seems like a step back for her. 

Overall, an avalanche of disappointment. 1.5 stars/5