B-Movie Gazette: MICHAEL J FOX IS WORKING AS A FACT CHECKER FOR AN UPSCALE MAGAZINE IN NYC - SNORTING COCAINE AND LOVING THE NIGHTLIFE IN "BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY" (1988)

B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - WITHOUT WARNING (1980)

Greetings All - It would be cool to do a post one time called the ten most essential B-flicks, sort of a B-Movie 101 thing. If that ever happened I would have to include this sci-fi horror classic from Graydon Clark (Black Shampoo, Satan's Cheerleaders.) This one's a don't pass go and don't collect $200 folks, just see it, Or watch it again. I'm not even going to begin to explain the plot except you have these flying disc things that attach themselves to people, in this case campers on an outing and kill and feed on them. Eventually these discs are tied to an alien, a hungry alien. A forerunner to 1987's Predator sort to speak and with a flat-out goofy cast. Jack Palance and Martin Landau, say what? And looking drugged out I might add but the real surprise here is veteran character actor Larry Storch, from the '60's, a guy who knew 150 dialects and here he is in this as a boy scout leader lol. Also known as It Came Without Warning, this gem is streaming free now only on Plex. 2.75 stars/2.75

Saturday, November 20, 2021

MICHAEL J FOX IS WORKING AS A FACT CHECKER FOR AN UPSCALE MAGAZINE IN NYC - SNORTING COCAINE AND LOVING THE NIGHTLIFE IN "BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY" (1988)

I not only remember those late 80's sunglasses, I used to own a pair!

And I wish I still had those glasses, they were cool. And Michael J Fox is ultra cool in legendary writer/ director James Bridges (The Paper Chase, Urban Cowboy) last film. Pretty much at the peak of his stardom around the time of Secret Of My Success, Fox turns in a respectable performance as a fact checker in daily peril of losing his job because he likes the NYC nightlife and cocaine just a little too much. His wife recently left him which fuels his erratic behavior and zest for the late 80's club scene.

A great supporting cast especially good ole Swoosie Kurtz who plays his concerned workmate. An early Kiefer Sutherland is great here as the classic 80/s clubbing pal. The film went thru major development hell, handed off from one producer to the next and suffers slightly as a result with a disjointed feel here and there. Ultimately it's a miss, which is a bit of a bummer as this could have been a great character study gem. I still find the film very entertaining thanks to Fox's performance and a pretty killer soundtrack to suit the 80's club environment. Streaming on Tubi and Pluto thru Dec 1. 3.0 stars/5