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

Saturday, September 16, 2023

COCAINE BEAR (2023) - NOW THAT WE GOT THAT OUT OF OUR SYSTEM, WE CAN FILE IT AWAY WITH Y2K, THE MANNEQUIN CHALLENGE AND OTHER PASSING FADS

 

This is an interesting, somewhat true story that could have been great and ultimately cult classic in the hands of someone like Alex Cox, for example. Instead we get a partially entertaining comedy-thriller-horror sort of hybrid that besides needing directorial style also comes across as disjointed and unsure of what it wants to be. 

Isiah Whitlock, Jr is one of the film's few saving graces (the other being cinematography) but he has little to work with. His scenes with a little dog that he hates but has been stuck with aren't even that funny and it's a downright shame he doesn't get to say his famous line, "sheeeet." It would have been one of the best scenes. 

The film ends with "in loving memory of Ray Liotta" which of course is nice. His scenes here are too short though and his star power stands out like a sore thumb, he was much better than this stuff. If you want to see what all the fuss is about then check it out, otherwise skip.  1.5 stars/5

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