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

Sunday, July 21, 2024

HARVEY KEITEL SETS UP A JEWELRY ROBBERY ONLY TO BE BACK-STABBED BY HIS GETAWAY DRIVER STEPHEN DORFF IN "CITY OF INDUSTRY" (1987)

 

Good ole Harvey Keitel, always good at playing the heavy.  

Here's one from a year that was very kind to cinema, 1987. A steady and effective neo-noir thriller or heist thriller. I have no idea why it's called City Of Industry when most of the movie takes place in Palm Springs and LA. Nonetheless, a standard plot - jewelry heist planned by four guys (including Timothy Hutton) goes awry when the getaway driver (Stephen Dorff) backstabs the whole group by taking off with the loot. The rest of the movie is basically devoted to Keitel tracking down the driver so he can get revenge. 

It may be a standard plot but the more-than-worthy cast take it to the moon. I also like that there's no unnecessary subplots that distract from the action, it moves along at a nice brisk pace. Several great actresses here, of particular note is the always welcome but not seen enough, Dana Barron (National Lampoon's European Vacation,) who has a small but very sexy role here. 

City Of Industry currently streams on Tubi or VOD.  3.0 stars/5

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