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Posted: |
Jan 3, 2021 - 11:47 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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THE ASSASSINATION OF TROTSKY (1972) – 6/10 “Who are you? What were your motives?” asks a 1940 Mexican police official of Trotsky’s assassin near the end of this film. Director Joseph Losey has been let down by screenwriter Nicholas Mosey because those questions are never answered. Of course, the filmmakers give themselves an out, by introducing their tale with an onscreen notice that when history has not provided answers, the questions have been left open-ended. But if the purpose of the film is not to attempt to answer such questions, even with informed speculation, what is its purpose? We see assassin Frank Jacson (Alain Delon) meet with some handler who urges him on, but otherwise provides little facilitation. We watch the Mexico-exiled Trotsky (Richard Burton) reciting passages from his writings into a Dictaphone, and passing time with his loving wife (Valentina Cortese). And we see Jacson’s girlfriend and Trotsky acolyte, Romy Schneider, attempt unsuccessfully to penetrate the taciturn mind of Jacson. Apparently, from half a world away, Stalin considered this old man and his writings a threat to a Russia staring down Hitler’s armies, so he had to go. That’s pretty much all we’re given during this slow march to the inevitable conclusion. The only compensations are a decent period production, and a good performance by Burton. If we are not going to understand the assassin, on whom much screen time is devoted, more of Burton would have at least been to the benefit of the picture. Egisto Macchi’s score for the film was released by Beat Records in 1990. The $2.5 million picture garnered lousy reviews and was a bomb at the U.S. box office, grossing only $200,000.
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I like remagen, it's on the shelf and gets a go now and then.
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Utah Blaine (1957) 7/10. With Rory Calhoun. Nice an decent minor western. Rory helps some people from having their land nicked by the villains. The cast do fine, it's brief and moves along nicely.
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Posted: |
Jan 10, 2021 - 12:12 AM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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THE NEW GUY (2002) – 6/10 “Dizzy Harrison” (DJ Qualls) is an aspiring funk bassist and whipping boy at a Texas high school whose status as a "blip" (on the radar screen of life) results in his being the victim of constant humiliating pranks and abuse, along with his "blip" bandmates, “Nora” (Zooey Deschanel), “Kirk” (Jerod Mixon), and “Glen” (Parry Shen). After a particularly embarrassing incident gets him expelled and sent to jail for indecent exposure, he meets “Luther” (Eddie Griffin), an inmate who used to be similarly abused, but has learned to intimidate others primarily through the use of a scary stare and a crazy reputation. Luther convinces Dizzy to start over at a new school with a new identity, using his technique to assure his position at the top of the heap. So Diz changes his name to “Gil Harris” and descends upon Highland High School, where he is soon feared and/or respected by all except “Connor” (Ross Patterson), a bully whose disgust for Gil grows as the new guy becomes increasingly friendly with his girlfriend, head cheerleader “Danielle” (Eliza Dushku). But as Gil's stature grows, he is forced to choose between his new popularity and the friendship of his geeky bandmates. This film proceeds along familiar lines, but for once, we don’t have to wait until the last 15 minutes of the picture to see the geek turn things around. Gil learns Luther’s lessons well, and quickly becomes the top dog at Highland. But he doesn’t let it go to his head, and the character never loses audience sympathies. After years of abuse, the fact that he is able to lead a fairly normal high school existence makes Gil so deliriously happy that his father (Lyle Lovett) and the school nurse (Ileana Douglas) are convinced that he is on drugs, and are constantly trying to perform an intervention. It’s all pretty good-natured stuff, and of course, Gil/Dizzy makes the right choices in the end, albeit with a nice twist on the romantic angle. The $13 million film made $31 million at the box office.
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The Young Savages (1961) 8/10 with Burt Lancaster, Shelley Winters, Telly Savalas. A fine film about about a blind kid getting murdered by a rival gang. It was good the way you think it's an open and shut case but as it progresses other facts reveal its not quite the case. John Davis Chandler plays the lead murderer with a face you want to slap. In a small, non speaking role, was Savalas's hair.
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This week, no sky so dvds. Boys from Brazil - love it, great music, 8 out of 10 How to murder your wife - just delicious from beginning to end,Lemmon superb, Terry-Thomas impeccable as ever and perfectly cast, wonderful music (thank u kritzerland) and omg, Virna Lisi??? Who didnt fantasise with longing about the "horror" of waking up being married to her?? 8.9 out of 10. Love and Death- always loved it, great Prokofiev music, slapstick and wit, Allen at his funniest 8.5 out of 10 That pistols duel in the snow was great Life of Brian - not the most pythonesque of films, more mainstream comedy in many scenes, but still an 8.8 out of 10. Casino Royale - marginally better than the risible Quantum and Spectre, but still weak with the odd action set piece. It seems to be cart before the horse, what action scenes can we think up?, ok, now lets link them with a loose plot and oh yes, better make up some dialogue too and chuck in some very forgettable music (the only times these dreary films come alive is when they play a version of the bond theme) 6.5 out of 10. Ronin. Chase movie spoiled by the bad acting of Sean Bean, however DeNiro and Reno are solid. 7.5 out of 10
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Also sort of half watched- Southwest Passage 6/10 with Rod Cameron, John Ireland and Joanne Dru. Ok b movie. Cast were ok, film looked ok. The story was, er, story, not much. Contraband (1943) 7/10.with Conrad Veidt. Quite enjoyable film where Veidt captain gets mixed up with spy ring.
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Posted: |
Jan 10, 2021 - 10:47 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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MONEY TRAIN (1995) – 7/10 “John” (Wesley Snipes) and “Charlie” (Woody Harrelson) are “brothers,” having grown up in the same foster home together. Now they are both transit cops for the New York City subway system. Every day, while they are typically staked out looking for purse snatchers, petty thieves, and a recent toll booth arsonist, they see the “money train” roll by. That’s the armored subway car that goes from station to station each day picking up the day’s cash receipts. More than one person considers Charlie to be a “fuck up.” He’s an inveterate poker player, and constantly broke. Now he owes $15,000 to a minor mob figure, who has Charlie beaten up on a regular basis. John would like to help Charlie, but he doesn’t want to enable him either. When a woman officer (Jennifer Lopez) is assigned to their team, a new source of friction opens up between the “brothers.” One day, Charlie muses to John about how one could knock over the money train. John thinks this is just idle speculation… Snipes and Harrelson work well together in this picture. Action-wise, there are a lot of foot chases in the film, and Snipes, who is a martial arts practitioner, has some good fight scenes. Robert Blake has a fine supporting role as the pair’s officious boss. This film is more action-oriented than something like THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE, and has a more slam-bang conclusion. The film grossed $35 million, probably less than was hoped. Mark Mancina’s score was released by La-La Land in 2011. In the film, it's barely discernible between all of the songs, which appeared on an Epic Soundtrax CD.
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The Exorcist: The Beginning 6/10 . It was watchable while on. After it was done , it was done, not much to ponder, really. Music wasn't much, though a couple of choral bits made my ears prick up in hope.
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Shake Hands with the Devil 1959 8/10 with James Cagney, Don Murray, Cyril Cusack, Richard Harris. Well made and enjoyable, as well as interesting. Cagney was good as a doctor/republican. Harris played his part well, as a bit of an arsehole, even amongst his own. Didn't notice much music, by William Alwyn. I'll have to pull out his chandos disc. Followed by Dangerous Crossing (1953)7/10 with Michael Rennie and Jeanne Crain. Crain plays a recently married woman whose husband disappears as soon as the board ship. Rennie is the ships doctor who is sympathetic to her situation. People think she's fell off her rocker, or lost a few shillings from a pound. It was entertaining and filled an hour twenty, nicely.
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Posted: |
Jan 12, 2021 - 1:28 PM
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By: |
MusicMad
(Member)
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Magic Town (1947) ... 5/10 James Stewart followed It's a Wonderful life (1946) with this lightweight comedy drama and I'm tempted to say there appeared to be an attempt to cash-in on a winning formula. Only, from what I've read, the earlier film wasn't particularly successful on release, its fame and popularity coming somewhat later. It looks to me as if they used some of the same sets and there is more than a similarity between the films ... an attempt to show what effect an individual has on his (her) surroundings, neighbours, friends. Only here, George - now Rip - is the big city guy who moves to the idyllic American town, rather than seeking to leave it to explore the world. And because of his actions, as opposed to his non-existence meaning things don't happen, the town suffers. On the plus side there is James Stewart who is once again, outstanding, and here he has superb support from Jane Wyman plus a number of vaguely (to me) remembered faces, but names I don't know, who satisfy their roles. And there's a lovely score by Roy Webb; the underscore to the scene of Rip's attempted reconciliation with Mary is particularly good. But ... maybe it's because the idea is too forced ... the film lacks the heart and soul of the earlier one. Despite their joint appeal, I was less involved in their characters and I found myself shrugging at the on-going events as the less than amiable citizens sought to benefit, and then attempt to walk away, from the disaster they had created. I might revisit Grandview... but I'm more likely to stay in Bedford Falls Mitch
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