THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1-2-3 (1974) (TV 1998) (2009) - AND HOPEFULLY NO MORE AS TWO OF THESE WERE UNNECESSARY

Oscar snub? - Dick O'Neill as dispatcher and alter-ego to "Garber" (Walter Matthau)

1974 VERSION 

There must be literally a dozen or more great films from the '70's that should have never been remade and this one is a doosie. From the perfectly grimy photography of the subway sequences to the near-perfect editing and of course, performances, the original Pelham is a Bonafide classic through and through. Robert Shaw's performance as the hijacker's ringleader is one of his best and although Walter Matthau is great as the cop, it's his counterpart, Correll (Dick O'Neill) that should get top honors. In the event you've never seen it then don't pass go and don't collect two hundred dollars - just get your butt over to Tubi where it's streaming for free. Easily one of early 70's best films.  4.0 stars/5

TV 1998 VERSION

Produced by MGM for ABC, this television adaption stars Edward James Olmos as the cop and Vincent O'nofrio as the ringleader. They make a couple of politically correct changes such as making one of the four robbers a woman. "Mixed results" I think would be a great term to describe this version. The casting here is really good but the dialog isn't. The editing is hip for the time period but the underground photography leaves a lot to be desired. Lorraine Bracco is here as a cop but it's certainly not the same woman I saw in Goodfellas. As my man Rod Serling used to say, "subject to your approval," you can decide for yourself, use the embed or it's on Tubi, Roku and some others.   2.0 stars/2.75

 

2009 VERSION

Oh, man. From the dredges of the deep dark comes this absolutely unnecessary version that has one thing and only one thing going for it which was Tony Scott behind the camera. Having said that, it's his worst by a mile. The changes they make to the plot are many (such as making the robbery about a stock trade) and so vast and off the track of the story. It has been known to make fans of the original version puke. For instance, a scene where a boy needs to pee and an adult wants to but can't and Travolta makes a stupid comment, all of it totally unnecessary. (For whatever reason, this scene is also in the 1998 TV version but is not in the original book or movie which means 2009 copied that from the TV version.)

And then there's John Travolta. Miscast isn't the word to use, it's just wrong, doesn't work. Scott should have told him to come back with a different approach to the character. I am calling miscast though on both John Turturro way out of place as a cop and Michael Rispoli who is so much better than this material. Same thing with Denzel who can play anything but this isn't him. It's a car wreck folks, it's up to you whether to look or not. On VOD.   1.25 stars/5

IN OTHER RELATED NEWS, THIS JUST OUT....

PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T REMAKE "IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD"

PLEASE HELP PASS LEGISLATION THAT BANS REMAKES 😆

WRAPPING UP THE JUNE SUMMER ISSUE WITH "CAMP CUCAMONGA" (TV 1990) - JENNIFER ANISTON'S FIRST MOVIE

 

The basic idea behind this project was to gather as many big TV stars around in 1990 and use it as a vehicle for those names. Did it work? Negatory. 

A basic series of vignettes instead of a plot. Most the actors look out of place, it becomes a Gumball Rally kind of flick. When Sherman Hensley isn't even funny or enthused, you know you got problems. 

Point of interest here being Jennifer Aniston;'s first movie, third outing. Some alright locations, honestly I can't find much good to say about this one. Worth one watch for cinephiles.  1.0 stars/2.75

THE SUMMER FUN CONTINUES WITH JULY'S B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH

CAN YOU GUESS WHAT IT IS FROM THESE 3 CLUES?

1. A Crown International obscurity.

2. stars a pretty actress in her debut, she went on to become a star.

3. It has to deal with condoms and diamonds. 

HERE WE GO AGAIN, NOW IT'S REST IN PEACE, BILL COBBS - LEGENDARY ACTOR PASSES AT 90

Bill Cobbs has passed at 90, you can read more about it HERE>

I don't have to think about the tribute pick on this one, we've talked about it many times and it was featured as our B-Movie Of The Month at least once, the film is Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned. Previous post is HERE>  2.75 stars/2.75

God bless you Mr Cobbs, enjoy the ride. 

LEAPFROG THE DOG AND BRUSH ME, "DADDIO" (2023) - SEAN PENN IS BACK IN TOP FORM WITH DAKOTA JOHNSON IN THIS DRAMA COMING OUT JUNE 28th

 
Sean Penn as a cab driver? We're in! 

This certainly looks like an interesting one. Originally conceived as a play, it's a two-man cast with Penn as a cab driver, Dakota Johnson gets in his cab and proceeds to tell him about all the unfortunate decisions that led up to her having an affair with a married man. 

The film was shown at both Telluride and Toronto and is now finally seeing a US release date on June 28th. Apparently, this is Penn's best performance since Milk and reviews are super-positive. 

Oh yeah, we're big Sean Penn fans around here!

WE ALSO DIG....

Sean Penn's work on the other side of the camera is brilliant as well. 

Emile Hirsch kills it as the legendary wanderer Alexander Supertramp

and Penn's meticulous re-creation nothing less than 5 stars/5

RIP DONALD SUTHERLAND - THE TRIBUTE FILM THIS TIME IS "PANIC" (2000) - HE PLAYS A HITMAN WHO HAS COERCED HIS SON INTO THE BUSINESS

    Donald Sutherland and William H Macy - an exquisite pairing. 

Alex (William H Macy) is having a rather unique mid-life crisis. His family business of being a hit man has eaten away at him and he wants out. Meanwhile, his dad (Donald Sutherland) is already handing him another assignment while his shrink (John Ritter) is trying to get him to stand up to his dad and quit the business. A reckless diversion with a younger femme fatale (Neve Campbell) might not be a good idea at this time either. 

The cast is phenomenal with a capital P. This is one of John Ritter's last films and while comedy was his best arena. he totally shines here in a purely dramatic role. Beautifully shot in Huntington Beach. Critically acclaimed but a box office flop, file this one under way overlooked and then head over to Tubi where it's currently streaming for free.  2.75 stars/2.75

Editor's note 6/21/24 - Currently, Panic streams free on Tubi, Roku, Vudu Free, Freevee and included with Prime.  

UNDERRATED SPIKE LEE - 15 COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN ARE ABOUT TO "GET ON THE BUS" (1996) IN THIS POIGNANT TREATISE ON PREJUSTICE

The late great Thomas Jefferson Byrd plays Evan, a disgruntled father estranged from his son Junior (right) but you better call him "Smooth" played by Deaundre Bonds. 

Usually, I give this warning towards the end of a review but I'll tell you right now - you will not like this flick if you don't like movies with lots of dialog or the theatre. It's a two-hour long very prolific (and very heartfelt) drama on many sociopolitical issues especially black-white relations. Like all Spike Lee Joints, it's funny but serious and intense, at times over-the-top. It's messages and solutions are similar to Do The Right Thing and, if anything, that film was an early warm-up for Get On The Bus because this is truly a remarkable, very real film and bordering on masterpiece. 

Now you know we love actors on this blog. If you said to me, "hey, show me the fifteen best African-American actors that were working in 1996," it would be a piece of cake, I would just have to mention this film. So many great performances here but of particular note are Thomas Jefferson Byrd once again, Ossie Davis who was always so good but this is a powerhouse from the elder thespian, my absolute favorite from him. Also, Charles Dutton is incredible - nomination worthy, especially his film-closing monologue, an as-to-be-expected Spike Lee doosie.

As far as what happens to them on their bus trip from LA to Washington DC, there are familiar plotlines -  a breakdown, rest stop, restaurant scene and even a police pull-over. But it's all just background scenery for the script, just a beautiful piece of work from Spike. It's about time to add this one to the Library Of Congress list of culturally relative works, especially considering more than half of the ensemble cast is no longer with us. 

Streams on Tubi only right now or VOD.  4.5 stars/5

VARIOUS YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE VARIOUS SUMMER ADVENTURES IN CROWN INTERNATIONAL'S "MALIBU BEACH" (1978)

 

1978 was a wild year in Southern California. It was also the last climatic gasp from the entire 70's style and fashion. This movie, in a sense, captures that wholly '70's vibe desperately clinging to what was left of the whole let-it-all-hang-out lifestyle. Punk rock had just arrived in Hollywood - disco, cocaine and MTV were right around the corner. 

This is what I would call a very typical Crown International pic. Lots of newbie actors hamming it up or trying to make a splash (ha ha, Malibu Beach, get it, splash?) Not much of a plot but as usual with them good production values. The dog that takes women's bikini tops off and runs away is the best of the lot, they could have the made the whole movie with him as the main character. And when you start thinking that, yes, ladies and gentlemen, you have another Crown International classic. 

A bit of an obscurity, this one - no streaming, DVD is your best bet if you can find one on Amazon. It also appears in Millcreek's "Drive-In Cult Classics Vol 3" and in a 4-pack with some other goofy movies. 1.25 stars/2.75

TOMMY'S 13th ANNUAL PICK-FIVE GREAT SUMMER MOVIES - #1 - TIMOTHEE CHAMLAMET IS A POT-DEALING TEEN COMING OF AGE IN "HOT SUMMER NIGHTS" (2017)

 

Neo-noir meets coming of age meets Cape Cod 1991. 

Having been very well developed that particular combo turns into a surprise success with this very cool movie. Cool as in you can't describe it, you just know when you see it - Keith Richards, James Dean, Robert Mitchum and so on.

Now I'm no Timothee Chamlamet fan by any stretch of the imagination, I can't even spell his name but he's good in this. The real star however is Alex Roe who totally knocks it out of the park as our protagonist's new drug dealing bad-ass mentor. There are various subplots dealing with girlfriends but mainly the movie is about the two guys friendships, their pot-dealing success and a famous storm that took place that year. It's nicely narrated, tightly edited and grabs you from the get-go. 

If that's not enough to grab your attention, I would like to throw in one of the most awesome cameos I've seen in the last couple decades - yes, decades. William Fitchner plays a whacked-out coke dealer in a mind-blowing long take of a scene towards the end of the movie that will trip you out for sure. 

And to add to all this, the movie feels, actually feels like you're inside their summer, just a great creative effort here on all involved. Hot Summer Nights streams only on Cinemax or VOD but is on sale right now for only $5 on Apple and Amazon, if you collect movies trust me, it's a great purchase   3.25 stars/5

MAY YOUR SUMMER BE A HARMONIOUS ONE - T

TOMMY'S 13th ANNUAL PICK-FIVE GREAT SUMMER MOVIES - #2 - KEVIN BACON IS THE CAMP COUNSELOR FROM HELL IN "WHITE WATER SUMMER" (1987)

 

Here's one that started entering the pick-five a couple of years ago and has stayed on since. 

Sean Astin is our protagonist and he's a city boy who's looking forward to enjoying his summer in, shall we say, a more urban way until Kevin Bacon shows up at his door and talks his parents into enrolling him in survival nature camp. 

Right from the get-go Bacon is on his ass about his knife, radio and other slip-ups including leaving the tent poles for the night on the other side of a huge drawbridge. Eventually Bacon strands him on an island for a night to prove a point. This is only a warm-up for an even more outrageous stunt Bacon pulls on him for the grand finale. Just how long will he and the other three kids put up with this?

Besides being very well-produced in general, White Water Summer has two big pluses that really help make it a decent picture - the soundtrack, loaded with '80's arena rock and the scrumptious photography of Northern California by John Alcott who passed right after the film was completed. It's dedicated to him appropriately. All four teen leads should be commended for what was certainly a grueling shoot. 

It's Kevin Bacon, it's outdoor fun, it's oh so '80's and it's streaming only on Tubi. Enjoy. 2.75 stars/5

TOMMY'S 13th ANNUAL PICK-FIVE GREAT SUMMER MOVIES - #3 - HELEN HUNT WRITES, DIRECTS, STARS AND SURFS, YES, SURFS IN "RIDE" (2014)

 

A surprising choice, I'm sure. But Helen Hunt's second time behind the camera and also writing this time produced a more than satisfactory and warm dramedy. More importantly she crafted a vehicle that completely plays to her acting prowess and let's her physical beauty shine through - at 61 when she made this, she doesn't look half-bad in a one-piece, that's for sure! Not everyone is going to be a Sean Penn on the other side of the camera and even with that as an example, Mr Penn is still better in front of the camera. Hunt knows she can carry a film and chose wisely to cast herself the way she did here. 

It's a simple bare-bones story about an over-protective mother who really needs to find herself and does so by learning to surf although she doesn't know that yet. Taking it from dramedy into rom-com land, she then falls in love with her surfing instructor (Luke Wilson.) Wilson is a very calming presence on-screen compared to his more famous brother but he and Hunt have great chemistry and a scene where she asks him to pee on her foot so barbs will come off her feet is at once funny, romantic, musical and sexy. 

Hunt's surfing scenes are awesomely done and quite funny at times as she struggles to do it her way instead of the instructor's way. Mike White has a brief but memorable cameo as a book publisher. A great one to watch with a sibling or two, me thinks. Takes a little bit to get started but once Hunt winds up on the West Coast and in the water, the movie glides (ha ha) from there. 

Streams on just about every free channel out there including Tubi. It's technically on that fine line of being a low-budget flick but I'm grading it as a regular.   3.0 stars/5

#4 - THE CAMP DIRECTOR IS DEAD, THE COUNSELORS ARE LOCKED UP AND THE KIDS ARE OUT OF CONTROL IN TIMELESS "SUMMER CAMP NIGHTMARE" (1987)

 

Who could resist a character named Runk The Punk lip-syncing to FEAR's "Beef Bologna" ?

Back on the pick-five after a couple of years absence, this B-movie classic is not to be missed, spearheaded by the one-and-only Penelope Spheeris (Decline Of Western Civilization, Suburbia, Wayne's World.) She actually pens this instead of working behind the camera but her stamp and style is all over the film directed by her colleague Bert Dragin. 

Why do the kids take over the camp shortly after arriving? It's their new wacky director (Chuck Conners, perfectly cast) who is not only a creepy butterfly-catching weirdo but also wants to make a meditation center where only religious programming is shown on the tube. Not to mention they're a bunch of horny bastards that want to party! 

The location they chose was great and the cast, all the kids are just great. A total late-80's classic, both the trailer and an authorized Laserdisc rip of the full movie, enjoy.  2.75 stars/2.75

....so that's #4.

This year's honorable mention is going to be featured as July's B-Movie Of The Month.

Since I'm such a tease, here's some clues>

1. It's a Crown International obscurity 2. It stars a very pretty actress in her first outing. 3. Condoms and diamonds both play a part. 😁

TOMMY'S 13th ANNUAL PICK-FIVE GREAT SUMMER MOVIES - #5 - ON A WEDNESDAY IN 1976 AT AGE 13, I DITCHED SCHOOL TO GO SEE "LIFEGUARD" (1976)

 
Back in 1976, I was living in New York with my dad because I was impossible to handle so my mom sent me from Hollywood there. I abhorred my new school, a fancy schmancy deal where you had to wear a blazer with their emblem and the whole nine yards. I would ditch any time I got the chance. Movies used to actually premiere on Wednesdays back then and I was so desperate for a taste of my old West Coast diggs, I couldn't wait til this came out...and so off to Flushing Meadows I went! 

Lifeguard is both a rom-com and a character study. It's about a man who loves lifeguarding but has reached that age where everyone kind of questions why he's still doing it. To the point where he's questioning himself. It's also about two women simultaneously in love with him - the just-about-to-turn- 18 girl that visits his shack (Kathleen Quinlan) and a woman his age (Ann Archer) that he's reconnected with. 

This was Sam Elliot's breakout role and deservedly so, his charismatic presence takes up every scene he's in. The film itself is now a wonderful 1976 time capsule of Santa Monica and LA, however, it is melodramatic and plays a bit like a TV movie. It's still a fun watch and obviously one that is close to my heart. 

Acting wise - Quinlan probably gets top honors here, she's quite good considering she was 21 but this was not the first rodeo for the American Graffiti (1974) star. She obviously enjoyed this role as well. 

Lifeguard streams on Paramount +, Fubo, or VOD.  3.0 stars/5

This guy here is the leader of the Underwater Demolition Team,

they try and remove girl's bikini tops.

COLLATERAL (2004) TURNS 20 AND IS STILL ONE HELL OF A CAB RIDE THROUGH NIGHTTIME LOS ANGELES

One time a musician friend of mine who's a bit of a cinephile like me said "so let me ask you something, do you think Tom Cruise can really act?" I replied, "are you kidding," and cited Born on The Fourth Of July, A Few Good Men and Collateral. Of course, the retort I got was "Collateral?!"

Yes, Collateral! Cruise is great in this as a hired assassin who snags the meek but philosophical Max, the cab driver (Jamie Foxx) to drive him around all night while he knocks seven different people off. Foxx got all the accolades and nominations but Cruise was only honored by Saturn Awards. I'm not saying he was better than Foxx but they were both incredible together as a team and this is an underrated Cruise performance. He's perfect as the calm but unhinged assassin and he looks great. 

The lengendary Micheel Mann (Heat, Miami Vice) is responsible for this thrilling odessey through LA at night and he set the bar with this film using the Viper Filmstream, a forerunner to what we now call FHD, it's one of the only films ever to use it as a primary camera. The only thing shot in 35 were portions of the Viper niteclub scene. 

I still marvel at the pacing of this film, it's really a work of art as it speeds up and slows down. Just when we're rolling along at 3 in the morning, Mann decides to have a coyote stop the cab in it's tracks. As both Cruise and Foxx stare baffled at the creature, Vangelis' "Moxica & The Horse" starts to play with it's powerful lead vocal. It's the only time in the film a whole song (or most of it) is used. 

The scene where they visit Max's mom in the hospital is mellow on the surface but full of underlying meanings and clues about the character of Max. One of my very favorite thrillers, check it out in the event you haven't seen it or revisit it, streaming right now for free on Pluto. The channel, not the planet.  4.0 stars/5