Review of Matinee

Matinee, was in my opinion, one of the best films of 1993. It made clear statements about the threat of nuclear war, racism, anti-media zealots, and said more about trying to bring people back to the theaters, than "The Last Action Hero" could ever have done, although both this, and Schwarzenegger's film failed to address the issue of paying eight bucks or more to see a movie. But the best person in the whole film was John Goodman as Lawrence Woolsey, who was supposed to be modeled after William Castle. I haven't seen all of Castle's films, but from what I've read, I don't think he ever had any monsters like MANT. This could be any B-rated sci-fi movie of the 1950's and early '60's.

Woolsey knew that releasing MANT in Key West during the Cuban Missile Crisis was a good idea for a reason...to send a message about the insanity of nuclear war. He knew, just as much as Lisa Jakub's character did that the Duck and Cover method is no way to survive. I'm a staunch anti-communist, myself, but when it comes to the bomb, I'm as anti-nuke as a draft-dodger. We should also never forget, that Ronald Reagan ended the cold war without firing a single nuclear weapon, the exact opposite of what people believed he was going to do.

If you see this film, check out some of the dialogue in the film within. Much of it is an attack on segregation, as well as nuclear energy & war.