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

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

UNDERRATED WOODY ALLEN - COLIN FARRELL & EWAN MCGREGOR ARE TWO BROTHERS FORCED TO COMMIT A MURDER IN "CASSANDRA'S DREAM" (2007)

 

Consider this the first in an open-ended continuing series I'll post every now and then. As far as Mr Allen's personal life is concerned I'm going to say this as plainly as I can - if you met half the entertainers you consider idols or inspirations you would recoil in horror when you see what their personal lives and real personalities are like. I've been following this man's art for decades and decades, he may have made a mistake back on the day in question and we'll probably never really know the truth of that day but a child molester he is not. 

Now, for those that haven't heard, it was just announced that he will start shooting his 50th film soon and it will be shot in France and be shot in French (wow,) a murder-mystery kind of thing along the lines of Match Point. He has also alluded that this will he his last film while leaving that proverbial door open just in case. The man is 86 after all but I like what I'm hearing so far. I think he may redeem himself and go out with a bang on this next one. 

So, while we're talking about Match Point I enthusiastically submit Cassandra's Dream, a wonderfully acted murder mystery thing. Like a lot of Allen's films it feels like you're watching a play and the meat is in the dialog not the action. But this is a good film that moves along at a nice brisk pace, it's also the only Allen film ever to be scored (Phillip Glass, excellent as always) instead of Woody using his album collection and McGregor is particularly good. On the other hand, Tom Wilkenson, if you know what the guys capable of then you know he phoned this one in big time. Cassandra's Dream is currently streaming free on Roku, Vudu, FreeVee and You Tube which I put below.  3.0 stars/5

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