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

Monday, August 5, 2024

MAGNOLIA (1999) TURNS 25 - PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON'S MAGNUS OPUS IS STILL AS DEEP AS THE OCEAN

 

There's an old philosophy or dogma regarding art - they say the true sign of a masterpiece is if every time you experience that piece of art you notice something you didn't catch in previous exposure. Magnolia is one such piece of art. As I pulled it off the shelf or in this case brought it up on my HD streamer last night, I marveled once again at meanings and messages springing from its well of salvation and redemption.

These are no ordinary disparate characters. The ten main characters that make up this film are literally a kaleidoscope of life itself and all the emotions associated as we all try and figure out this journey. 



And the performances, too many to list, they all kick ass here. I keep telling people Tom Cruise is always his best at badass roles, this one's a classic example and he deserved every accolade he got for this performance. Julianne Moore, omg. An actress I already adore in a hilariously over-the-top but spot on at the same time performance. There's one here that particularly stood out to me last night and that was Melora Walters, just spellbinding as the cokehead and has John C Reilly ever been better? His turn as the conscientious but slightly aloof LAPD cop here is awesome. 

Can you believe people were walking out of movie theaters when this came out? I guess it takes a certain palate and mood to approach, as Frank Zappa once said, it's 'statistical density."  I'm more than happy to keep pulling this one off the shelf, oh excuse me, stream it, for many more times to come.

For the next 26 days, Magnolia streams free on Pluto.  5 stars/5 

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