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

Friday, May 27, 2022

SEAN BAKER DOES IT AGAIN WITH "RED ROCKET" (2021) - SIMON REX STARS AS A DOWN AND OUT PORN STAR

 

On the heels of his last film, the delicious Florida Project, comes Red Rocket about a porn star who returns home and starts dating a seventeen year old fast food clerk. Nobody in his hometown wants him back there especially his ex-wife whose door he just shows up at. After only a couple days back under her roof he's boning her, starting to see the fast food chick and selling weed following a series of one bad choice after another just like our protagonist in Florida Project. And just like Halley in the end gets everything he bargained for karma-wise. 

I'm still new to this guy's work so I'm not sure if he's trying to teach us a moral lesson in these two films about seedy characters or if he's advocating a do-what-you-want lifestyle. I don't really care, his films have a great style to them and he obviously loves working with actors and characters. Red Rocket is sleazier and doesn't have as much charm as Florida Project but is still just as gripping. I just added Tangerine to my wishlist and look forward to see what this guy comes up with next.  4.0 stars/5




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