JACK NICHOLSON IS HELL-BENT ON KILLING THE MAN WHO RAN OVER HIS DAUGHTER IN SEAN PENN'S PROFOUND "THE CROSSING GUARD" (1995)

 

Another top five list I want to do sometimes is good ole Jack, he's only the greatest American actor that ever lived, that's all. Now I'm not sure if Crossing Guard would make top five but it would be very close and certainly top ten. This is a Jack Nicholson role that's not to be missed. 

A profound tale of forgiveness and redemption, David Morse (also incredible here) plays a just released from prison ex-con who ran over Jack's daughter five years prior. Jack's had a real nice stewing period, he even keeps a calendar on the wall, crossing each day off 'til he can ultimately get his revenge. When his gun jams on the first encounter with Morse, Jack gives him three more days to live. 

In the meantime we see Jack is a jeweler and lives a heavy partying life, hanging out with strippers, getting arrested amd fighting with his ex-wife (Angelica Huston, also in top form) who has moved on and doesn't want Jack to get revenge. 

This is also an excellent Robin Wright performance, perhaps one of her best. Her free form dancing scene with David Morse is a powerful scene and one of my all-time favorites of Wright's. 

It's heavy, suspenseful, engaging, at times funny, and imho an Oscar snub for Jack, this is totally a award winning performance. (Angelica Huston did get nominated for a Golden Globe)  Currently streaming on Tubi and Fubo.  4.0 stars/5

HAPPY 420 DAY - IF THAT'S YOUR KIND OF THING THEN VUDU HAS 7, COUNT 'EM, 7 MOVIES BUNDLE ON SALE TODAY ONLY FOR $4.20

 

Greetings All - As is plainly clear by now there is no advertising on this blog nor will there ever and that includes affiliate marketing, just not my thing. So if I recommend something like today's deal, it's because I believe it's truly worth something and want to share it with y'all. 

Yeah! Having said that, I actually have not seen any of these before except Inherent Vice and the White Castle movie. Now any movie by PT Anderson is easily worth the $4.20 just for that movie - I must confess his one title that I've abandoned ship on a couple times, too disjointed, But we'll give it another try nonetheless and White Castle I know I don't like but I'll also try again, last time I think I gave it five minutes.

Putting the titles below and in the coming days will put the ratings. 7 movies for $4.20, hmmmm.

Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle (2004) - gave up on one time after five minutes, will try again lol same thing as last time, can't get into the characters, too one-dimensional.  No Rating

We're The Millers (2013) - looks real interesting, this and most of these were big box office successes - best of the bunch, a nice blend of comedy and mob crime, a brilliant script and solid performances especially Jason Sudeikis. And Jennifer Anniston as a stripper is incredible, especially in one holy sh*t scene where she strip dances in a warehouse.   3.25 stars/5

Friday (1995) - looking forward to seeing Chris Tucker here - I thought this had a lot of possibilities but just kept bouncing around, every time I'd start to latch on to one character and get an interest in what happens to them the movie would cut to another new character or situation. The guy that played the dad was funny as shit though when he was in a scene.   2.0 stars/5. 

Project X (2012) - a found footage teen debauchery thing? This one has my attention! A teen party is out of control in North Pasadena in this inventive if not wholly unbelievable found footage film. Worth a least one watch for fans of the genre, I'm grading it on the B scale..  1.5 stars/2.75

Due Date (2010) - road trip movie w Robert Downey Jr detoured by a stoner/slacker? I'm in! - Kind of a mis-jointed mess with some laughs here and there. Think Planes, Trains & Automobiles but with a stoner being the annoying traveler. Downey is just adequate, over-powered by Zach Galifilanakis who kills it as the stoner/slacker. 2.25 stars/5

Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny (2006) - I love Jack Black and rock n roll so we'll see....had some interesting moments but in one simple statement - for devoted fans only either of the band or rock n roll, 1.0 stars/2.75

House Party (1990) - I have never dabbled in the House Party waters before, looks good.. - I kept waiting for the music that all the reviews mentioned to show up but didn't see it, couldn't get into characters, abandoned ship     No Rating 

Inherent Vice (2015) - based on the two times I tried to get thru the whole thing, will report back - Same as before, I just don't get what PT was doing here... 4.0 stars/5

QUENTIN TARRANTINO SCRAPS "THE MOVIE CRITIC" AND IS OFFICIALLY BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD WITH NO STUDIO OR DECIDED FINAL PROJECT

 

QT has cancelled the upcoming The Movie Critic which was going to start shooting in the fall. Not much reason was given but apparently the project had morphed into Brad Pitt reappearing as Cliff Booth in a sequel or even prequel. Then it, pun intended, fell off the cliff. You can read more about it HERE. 

I thought it was a pretty cool idea in it's basic conception since I remember growing up in Hollywood exactly the type of publication and ragtag critic that worked for them. I'm just assuming here but I think QT couldn't find a more thirties aged (which is what the critic was) leading man. 

Nonetheless, um, QT-

I love ya, I'm one of your biggest fans. But let's back the train up a little, what happened to the four-hour cut of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood you announced by in '20? Next thing I hear you're a novelist...

Just giving honest opinions here - I always thought your take on the Wonderland Murders would be interesting. And what about doing your version of True Romance? That would be dope with the right cast and maybe one returning cameo from the original...I would also welcome another Western as Hateful Eight is brilliant and all you do with that genre is amazing. 

I could also see a whacked out rom-com along the lines of Punch Drunk Love, something completely out of left field like that was. 

As my mom used to say, five will get you ten - he comes back with the Star Trek thing. 

Whatever it is, would you just rock on with your bad self already? TR 

SKEET ULRICH TRAINS A HORSE WHICH GOES ON TO WIN THE KENTUCKY DERBY, ONE OF THE BIGGEST UPSETS EVER, A TRUE STORY IN "50 TO 1" (2014)

 

Dramatization of a true story in which a Canadian undersized thoroughbred upset the Kentucky Derby at 50 to 1 odds. I'm actually going to call it a comedic-dramatic telling of the story as there is lots of comedy throughout, the buddy-buddy slapstick-ish kind. It got mostly shitty reviews but I like it and for the most part it is suitable for the whole darn family and an inspiring story. 

Skeet Ulrich stars as the trainer with whom Mine That Bird winds up with and the horse has as big a heart as it's stride on the track. William Devane and singer-songwriter Christian Kane are also on hand for the proceedings and the movie overall plays like a very well produced TV movie. 

I find it more enjoyable than the reviews I've read, it received a very limited theatrical release and only returned a million at the box office on a 10 million$ budget. You can decide for yourself, it's currently streaming on Fubo only or VOD.   2.75 stars/5

IN OTHER NEWS >>  Interesting article and oh, so sad. There must be thousands and thousands of great writers in LA with brilliant stuff that get elbowed out of chances. Like Jack Black's iconic "The Man" speech in School Of Rock, the corporate entities have ruined anything artistic they've laid their hands on. I say, F the 1 percent!!

NICOLAS CAGE IS IN CHARGE OF THE "USS INDIANAPOLIS : MEN OF COURAGE" (2016) - THAT IS UNTIL THE GREAT WHITE SHARKS ARRIVE IN WAR MOVIE MISFIRE

 

Keeping things in the military realm, let's get a couple things squared away right off the bat. There is a lot of great talent here that I admire such as it's director, Mario Van Peebles and of course, our man, Nicolas Cage. But this is not a good Van Peebles film and this is not a good Nicolas Cage movie. It is, however, a very noble effort and handled with a surpreme respect to the original story it's sourced from. But, still a misfire. 

Complaints would include cheesy special effects, a lame Cage showing, some misguided pacing as it tries to bounce around time frames. And especially, a failure to make the shark movie part which kicks in about halfway, exciting and scary enough even though there are sharks popping out of the water left and right eating sailors. 

The only plus and it's a small plus is Tom Sizemore who has been much better but still shines here and there as a weathered Ole timer sargeant. Thomas Jane, an actor I admire - I looked for him, I don't see him here. 

Lol, in summary, I'm struggling to give this one 2 stars. I will do that but those of you that have heard me use one of my favorite expressions before - "a good two-star movie" - that, it is not. 

On Tubi and VOD - 2.0 just barely stars/5

ROCK HUDSON GETS A CHANCE TO RESTART HIS LIFE AS ANOTHER PERSON IN JOHN FRANKENHEIMER'S BRILLIANT "SECONDS" (1966) BY ROD SERLING

 

Who in the over-50's crowd wouldn't leap at the chance to wipe the chalkboard clean and start life over again as a 20-year-old? That's basically what happens in this movie that plays like an extended episode of the Twilight Zone but even better. Written by that iconic television show's creator, Rod Serling, but even as ingenious as Serling wasn't a director on Frankenheimer's level and the end result is a great sci-fi drama directed by one of the all-time greats written by one of the all-time greats. 

The script isn't as loaded down with propaganda as Serling's half-hour episodes could be but there is enough here to get the movie viewer thinking about the philosophical contexts of what the ability to start one's life over would be. In my opinion it would have been an even better film had it played with the overly witty dialog Serling was so good at. 

As far as what happens to Rock Hudson's character and his new life, whether he makes it or not, you'll have to watch to find out. This is the meat of the film and where it starts to get real trippy. An unexpected, very erotic and slightly over-the-top scene in a Santa Barbara vineyard has Frankenheimer take us to the very edge before he pulls it back for a perfectly balanced third act. 

You know what they say - be careful what you wish for, you just may get it.     4.5 stars/5

Who and what is Tony Wilson?

WOODY ALLEN'S 50TH FILM, "COUP DE CHANCE" (2023) GETS A US RELEASE DATE, APRIL 12TH FOR VOD AND GUESS WHAT? HE'S MAKING A 51st!!

 

Woody Allen's 50th feature film and first in the French language has been set for US release April 5th and VOD on April 12. 

According to some reviews I've read, the movie is a lot like Match Point but in Paris and with darker and more intricate twists than the 2005 hit. Some writers also mentioned Midnight In Paris and Crimes & Misdemeanors as influences and one writer calls the new film a "master of understatement" from Allen. 

One thing for sure - after the last two clunkers (Rainy Day In NY, Rifkin's Festival) which to this Allen fan represent the absolute lowest of his work, I can't wait to see this one. 

And this post comes with even better news - Allen, 88, has now publicly stated he'll start his 51st film in ITALY, Go, Woody, Go! 

NOIR 1949 & 1950 - "TOO LATE FOR TEARS" (1949) & "711 OCEAN DRIVE" (1950) - 2 ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC OLDIE BUT GOODIES

 

You can file this one under late night black n white noir double feature or something like that ha ha. Two terrific oldies that are streaming now on Tubi, Crackle & Plex. 

In Too Late For Tears, Lizabeth Scott totally kills it as a ruthless woman who finds a suitcase with $60,000 in it and is determined to keep it come hell or high water or anything that tries to get in her way. 

In 711 Ocean Drive, Edmond O Brien plays a telephone technician who crosses the wires sort to speak for the mob so they can run their illegal bookmaking scheme. 

Grab some snacks and cozy in for these two, they're great together as a double feature. 

Too Late For Tears (1949)   3.5 stars/5

711 Ocean Drive (1950)   3.0 stars/5

HIGHLIGHTING THREE OF THE NEW BLOGS ON THE LIST - FLICK ATTACK, THE DEADLY DOLL'S HOUSE OF HORROR NONSENSE & FULL MOON REVIEWS

 Greetings all - There were quite a few new blogs added to the 2024 list and today I would like to highlight three of those outstanding blogs. All three of these are class A winners, please take a look at their blogs and what interests you, I put a short description below each one. T 

Just an outstanding blog, if you want diversity, this cat has it all. 

He reviews just about every imaginable genre from all years of time.

Oh yes, the Deadly Doll's House Of Horror Nonsense, you gotta love it. 

I'm going to some up this incredible blog in one sentence >

A steady stream of twisted consciousness from a short fat girl. 

Great writing, specializes in horror but also crosses over into sci-fi/fantasy.

Recently reviewed hot films such as Lisa Frankenstein & Night Swim.

MARK RUFFALO & ETHAN HAWKE ARE OLD SOUTH BOSTON CHUMS WHO TURN TO CRIME TO PAY THE BILLS IN "WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU" (2008)

 

Who says crime don't pay when you come home and haven't seen each other in a long time? Our two leads are great in this little mob crime thriller that flew way below the radar. After a decent premier at TFF, the film had a very small release before Yari Film Group collapsed. 

It's a pretty decent crime thriller and has a prison sequence in the middle which is cool. Action sequences are excellently produced. Hawke is his usual self, Ruffalo is actually really good, classic pout and all. Amanda Peet as Hawke's wife I could do without here and pretty much everything she's been in. Donnie Walberg has a supporting role as a probation officer, he's been way better but I always enjoy seeing him, mostly the opposite with his more famous brother. What Doesn't Kill You streams on Tubi, Plex, Pluto and other free services.    2.75 stars/5

THE STEPFATHER (1987) THE STEPFATHER 2 (1989) & THE STEPFATHER 3 (1992) - IF YOU'VE NEVER PARTAKEN OF THE STEPFATHER SERIES THEN...

 
...don't pass go and don't collect $200, just get yourself over to Tubi and binge them this weekend, preferably in order, ha ha. It's kind of that classic thing where they bump down a bit in quality but really all three are quite entertaining. Besides Tubi, the series is on just about every free streaming service out there. After you're through watching all three then be careful in the future - if someone walks by you humming Camptown Races, run the other way! ;-) 

The Stepfather (1987)  2.75 stars/2.75   

The Stepfather 2 (1989)  2.5 stars/2.75

The Stepfather 3 (1992)  2.25 stars/2.75

UNDERRATED WOODY ALLEN - EMMA STONE STARS AS A PSYCHIC AND COLIN FIRTH IS TRYING TO UNMASK HER IN "MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT" (2014)

 

By all accounts Magic In The Moonlight really belongs in that heavily populated category known as Allen's Mediocre's which comprises probably 65-70% of his catalog. But it's from this exact category that I pick films I think deserve a little more praise - they're not hits like Midnight In Paris, Sleeper or Annie Hall but they're not crap like Curse Of The Jade Scorpion, You'll Meet A Tall Starnger or Rainy Day In New York. 

"Magic" elevates for two reasons especially the first. The man is a genius writer. This is where the true Woody Allen talent lies. Keep in mind this guy was making a living writing for some very reputable publications when he was still in high school! This script is marketed like a romance but it's really a story about the metaphysical, a common reoccurring theme in Allen's work. As Colin Firth's character struggles back and forth with whether to believe in real mediumship or not, Allen presents some very interesting ideas on life and death concepts that we all deal with.

The simple bare-bones cast in this one all fit real nice too, I particularly like Hamish Linklater as the son of a rich family that is smitten with Stone and serenades her nonstop with ukelele. Also, as usual the photography, I believe he uses his same cinematographer here, is beautiful capturing the south of France. A simple 90-min comedy, worth at least one watch for Allen fans.  3.0 stars/5 

"I see a wonderful future for B-Movie Gazette..."

RICHARD LEWIS PASSES AT AGE 76 OF HEART ATTACK - IN TRIBUTE WE PRESENT AN INCREDIBLE INDIE WHERE HE STARS IN "DRUNKS" (1997)

 

Greetings all - so sad to pass on the news that comic/actor (can I throw in neurotic genius?) Richard Lewis has passed. Read more about it here >  
Many don't know about the movie reco today, Drunks from 1997, which is a shame because it's actually the first movie ever completely centered around the AA program. The plot takes place in a big NYC church where a big meeting is taking place. This gave the filmmakers a lot of room to cast some big names and the supporting cast is chock full of A-listers. But Lewis is the star, he is in charge of coffee for this big metting but he's had a real bad day and wants to go out. After unexpectedly being asked to speak, he loses it, leaves the meeting and begins an odyssey thru NYC relapsing and I won't spoil the rest. Lewis was never really properly commended for this performance though as he acts way outside his normal comedic presence. 

As of this post, Drunks is not available in the streaming world, used DVD best bet, I put some scenes below and if you can handle German subtitles, here's a pretty good upp I found on YT.  3.0 stars/5

Rest in peace Mr Lewis, enjoy the ride. 

NICOLAS CAGE IS A TWISTED, DEMONIC & TOTALLY UNHINGED PASSENGER, YOU BETTER HOPE YOU'RE NOT HIS DRIVER IN "SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL" (2023)

 

If you like Nicolas Cage because, well, because he's "Nicolas Fuc*ingggg Cage," then you will dig this new thriller involving a psychological cat-n-mouse game between the Passenger (Cage) and the Driver (Joel Kinnaman.) An interesting if not slightly convoluted plot keeps it moving along at a nice pace. It's  a more than serviceable thriller with the one caveat being that you dig Cage who delivers a deliciously over-the-top performance. .

I love the diner sequence in middle and cinematography should appropriately be mentioned if not nominated, the nightime photography thru various parts of Las Vegas is stellar. So brilliant it's almost as good as Michael Mann shooting LA in Collateral. 

The movie's title seems like too golden an opportunity to riff off the famous Rolling Stones song which is nowhere to be found in the movie. It's not like Cage is sporting horns or this is a supernatural thriller, I would have opted for a different title. Dosen't matter much, flop-flop went the box office receipts on this one although it seems to be doing better in the streaming world. I recommend this one, you can check it out VOD or also AMC+ and Hoopla. For those that like to build a collection, it's on sale for five or seven dollars depending on which service. Enjoy, and I would also add this is a good late at night flick after a little 420 if you're into that kind of thing.

3.25 stars/5

Do not interrupt the man in conversation, he doesn't like that.

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON IS, LITERALLY, "THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA" (1976)

 

A British romance drama adapted from a 1963 Japanese novel, this is one whack film. First, we have a group of mischievious teen boys that have a club led by a cvigar-smoking 14-year old brat who calls himself "Chief." The others he refers to by numbers 1 through 5, ocassionally promoting or demoting their rank. Sarah Miles plays one of the boy's mother. She's a single mom who is desperately seeking a man. Enter Kristofferson, sans guitar and looking like he's on Bennies or pain pills, who becomes the new stepdad which ultimately puts him square in the path of the boy's club. A quirky, interesting and very Dartmouth drama, streams now on Tubi. 3.75 stars/5

(This post written by Stoney Jones, filling in for Tommy)

The incredible Sarah Miles, what a career.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER TURNS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS CAREER AS A GREIVING FATHER IN A PLANE CRASH'S "AFTERMATH" (2017)

Good ole Arnie boy does his most impressive work, at least from the films I have seen.. Aftermath is a heavy (that's putting it mildly) drama about a plane crash, a grieving father and the air traffic controller (Scoot McNairy) that caused the crash. The film follows those two main characters path as Arnie seeks an apology for his daughter and the air traffic controller seeks the return of his sanity. Everything from the acting to the direction and production is top notch. Highly recommend if and when you're in the mood for this kind of flick. Currently streaming on Tubi, Plex, Freevee and several others.  4 stars/5

(This post written by Stoney Jones, filling in for Tommy while his broken arm is healing.)

SOCIETY OF THE SNOW (2023) - ANDES SURVIVORS STORY IS FINALLY GIVEN A PROPER FEATURE FILM TELLING, THERE NEED BE NO OTHER VERSION

 

Several times while watching Society of the Snow. I thought of the faces of Nando and Roberto, the two survivors that pulled off the amazing feat. Of saving. 14 other survivors out of the Andes Mountains. Following this story for so long since really it happened in the mid 70s. I almost feel like. I know them. That their friends of mine. I visualized them and some of the other survivors watching the final cut and what the expressions on their face might be. I could see pride and even rushed tears. At the magnificence of this splendid cinematic achievement. 

If they feel the way that I do, then the record has been set straight. There will never need to be another version. We went from one end of the. To the other. With the. Hollywood. Formula. Alive 1993. To this. Than a simple retelling of the story. An actual journey into the hearts. And minds. Of the survivors as it was happening. A 4th dimension, if you will. The film makers took endless effort to make sure that this version had no. Traces of. The previous versions and that includes the documentaries. None of the tropes associated with previous versions have been repeated. For example, the pilot asking for a gun so he could shoot himself. The I'll go for pizza and you buy line. The copilot warning that the plane is going to do a "dance." with unknowns and in Spanish, I believe they even took the extra effort of making sure the new faces didn't look like the. Photos of. Nando and. Roberto as we know them. 

The avalanche sequence is given a treatment here that no other film version has even come close. To reproducing. You will likely find one or two parts hard to watch. As the depth of this film. Really drives home. The emotional. Despair. They faced. Both the pre crash and after discovery parts of the story are given ample time. Perhaps too much on the after Discovery, as there's still 20 minutes left of film at that point. The special effects and cinematography are off the chart. 

Appropriately nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Film. Society of the snow is surely to take home the coveted prize. I can't recommend the film enough. But it is a heavy two hours and 25 minutes that you are in for. Netflix only.  5 stars/5 

HENRY THOMAS IS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE FROM TWO KILLERS JUST FLOORBOARDS ABOVE HIM IN "CRAWLSPACE" (2022)

 

Henry Thomas is a conscientious plumber. His wife (Olvia Taylor Dudley) gets on his case about being too nice and extending too much credit to his customers. He goes out to a job and to his misfortune two bad guy poachers have decided to stash a big bag of cash that day in the crawl space under the house. When they find out he's down there literally crawling between them and their money, a big cat and mouse game ensues and it's not pretty for all involved. 

A satisfying enough thriller, what I like to call a "good two-star movie." Thomas is good but nothing along the lines of All The Pretty Horses or some of his other work. Filmed in Oregon, currently streams on Paramount, Fubo, DirecTV, Showtime and VOD, on sale right now for $5 on Vudu.  2.0 stars/5