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mikaldhuber
Reviews
The Born Losers (1967)
Billy Don't be a Hero
This film is something that Tarentino ought to remake, not updated but a simulacrum of the original. Make a nice follow-up to DEATH PROOF. (Where is Tom McLaughlin now?)
The "martial arts" in this flick are pretty feeble, consisting of a few judo chops--the action on BILLY JACK was much more intense. That Billy ends up shooting the gang leader between the eyes (he DID warn him, though) is so anti-heroic that it rather spoils the film in some ways.
Some of the camera work in BORN LOSERS borders on amateurish, the FAR side of amateurish that is. The sound quality is at times atrocious, and the Beachhouse/clubhouse is absurd- I've hung out with bikers, and believe me that place was ridiculously clean--the hardwood floors actually shine!
The Deputy (who pokes Danny in the gut) seems like he SHOULD have been more heroic, but like all of the lesser roles he is completely undeveloped.
Note that Elizabeth James has a co-writing credit on this!
But for all of that, it still ranks among my favorite biker films.
I find it patently absurd to see the subcategories listed as NIPPLE, PUBIC HAIR, NUDITY and so on, since there is very little actual nudity.
BTW: I had a bit part (hippie kid #4) in BILLY JACK since they filmed parts of it at the new Buffalo Free School where I was in attendance. To anyone who keeps an eye open, you might also see that the swimming hole (where Jean was raped) is the very same pool as in EASY RIDER. I think I received about $140 for my three days on set.
No Alibi (2000)
It could have been SO much worse!
Sitting here watching this film right now for the second time, I can't really understand why some people found it confusing at all! Brother PHILLY inadvertently steals laundered Mob money, CAMILLE (Lexa Doig) is not who she says she is, she is set to seduce the wrong brother (CAIN) and his sleazy thief of a brother eventually ends up dead...the rest is Dean Cain playing detective and Eric Roberts chewing the scenery as usual. Boring, pedestrian and completely predictable dialog, gratuitous female nudity, unprotected sex in grimy slimy washroom (resulting in Camille carrying Philly's kid most likely although that is never addressed), so many wasted and utterly undeveloped characters, but it could have been worse! Always remember that! Cain's motivation is clear "he's my f***ing brother, don't tell me to let it go" (but WHY did he wait an entire year to begin searching for clues?), the interplay with Dean and Camille is realistic most of the time...it just goes off track. And what about the BABY? And the money? The cop gets hit in the head and is never seen again, the evil Camille walks away, Cain kills the bad guy--where's the payoff? I think that may be the reason that people find this film unsatisfying--there's 90 plus minutes of set-up and a one minute wrap-up that resolves absolutely nothing.
It could have been released in theaters but you can see why it wasn't! Instead of a top-notch thriller, it ends up being bargain basement...just something to watch when there's nothing but reruns and infomercials on! 'Nuff said!
Kelly (1981)
I disagree about KELLY
Your comment that KELLY was as dull and predictable as an episode of DANGER BAY borders on mean-hearted slander, especially since I worked on DANGER BAY!!! While this film is fairly typical of after-school specials, especially Canadian ones KELLY contains quite a number of amusing twists that raise it above the run-of-the-mill where you have so wrongly placed it, my friend. Since I'm a screenwriter, yes I can predict most plots well ahead of any twists, but that is something I've learned to live with, since it forces me to concentrate on the performances and hope for some manner of innovation somewhere in the plot.
Well, KELLY delivered that, in spades! The performance of Twyla Dawn Vokins (where is she now, I wonder?) was at least as good as the role warranted, and often better and reminded me of Kristy McNicoll or even a young Jodie Foster. This girl had more acting chops that most other eleven or twelve year old actors than I have seen in any of the dozen or so films I've worked on with a youthful cast. Most of them seem to have no idea how to carry a lead. If Twyla had kept at it, she could well have made the transition from child star to adult actor. Too bad.
Yes, it is a tad predictable, but films for children have to be, and the directors were especially guilty of underestimating the intelligence of their audience back in the day. But the twists and turns of this tale manage to salvage an often somewhat hammy script and Kelly's character arc and development are nicely paced, even by today's standards.
SPOILER ALERT!!! When the nasty evil trapper BEACHUM kidnaps Kelly to get his revenge on Kelly's dad, his ultimate fate (being dumped on the Siberian shoreline in a coffin, to be discovered by a Russian patrol!) was quite amusing and very satisfying.
Yes, Beachum was a little unmotivated and somewhat cardboard, but some of the ancillary roles were superbly written and quite well-acted especially KLUTE the native guide and BROTHER ROBIN, a Trappist monk with a Saint Francis quality--I almost expected the guy to walk on water! So I have to strongly disagree. This film held my attention, and I'll be fifty next month. I'm also not easily surprised. See this film with your children. I think most people would agree with my assessment.
Das indische Grabmal (1959)
This deserves ANOTHER remake!
I just watched this on DVD--I wasn't aware of two important factors when I did. One, that this was a remake of a 1938 film, and two that it was actually the last part of a typical Lang epic-length film! I wonder how both films were ever condensed into a mere ninety minutes for domestic release? What an extraordinary feat in itself!
I can see the influence on Speilburg and Luca quite clearly. This does have numerous external similarities to TEMPLE OF DOOM, as well as several motifs common to other Lang films.
There are some amusing blunders. The Priest talks about Allah, then a few scenes later, cautions that THE GODS will be displeased. Islam is monothestic!
There was a line uttered by the Priest: "There will be darkness over Eschanpur." That would have been a most intriguing title, nothing so bland as THE Indian TOMB, and would have also linked TIGERS OF ESCHANAPUR to this film. Both were released in that one 90 minute Americanized version, JOURNEY TO THE LOST CITY. As far as I could tell from this half, the city was far from "lost"! The Maharajah is proclaimed as RAJ of this state and that, master of the realms of Yadda-Yadda, and so on. I got out my map of India and was easily able to locate the areas he mentioned.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and recommend it highly, especially to those who love a good rollicking adventure. I intend to secure the rights and bring this to the screen, before all the tigers are extinct.
An American in Paris (1951)
I have to take exception to your comments
I love this movie. I don't know what your problem with Ms. Caron is, nor how you could ever suggest she's not good-looking at all, as you did. Sure, she's not the finest singer or dancer, but she sure ain't chopped liver! The woman who plays Milo is just too sad, reminds me very much of a woman I had a very brief affair with. Her situation is so well sketched that you pick up on her character in a very few scenes- especially the scene driving back from the cafe in Montmartre where she is obviously quite hurt by Jerry's callous disregard for her.
The only problem I have with this film at all is that Gene Kelley is referred to as a "young man" when he is most certainly not. Or only relatively, at any rate. The music is some of the finest jazz I've ever heard. (Funny that Kelly plays a character named Jerry Mulligan, since Gerry Mulligan is a very well-known jazz artist!) If I were rating this, it would receive four out of five stars.
It's only to be hoped that Musicals will one day return to the screen in large numbers...but I rather doubt they will!
Goal! (2005)
Huffam and I
Pretty good flick, but it HURT a lot to watch it! Here's why- I worked for eighteen LOOONG months on a soccer (football) screenplay with a fellow from Manchester United who had written a book about a giant football flag he made called BIG LILY. This guy (who shall remain nameless as I'm suing him!) then turned around and pitched MY script to SONY, ICON, SEARCHLIGHT and ultimately sold it to Mark Huffam, all of which I was unaware. SONY even flew him to Tokyo for a pitch session!
It was SUPPOSED to be a fifty-fifty split. I received nothing by way of compensation, and Huffam swears that my name never appeared on the script, and disavows any knowledge of my collaboration.
Apparently plans to film BIG LILY were shelved when the author was UNABLE to do requested rewrites in SCREENPLAY FORMAT! (Miss me now, fella?) This film contains TWO scenes that are lifted pretty much intact from MY script, for which I have also NOT been compensated.
Please boycott this film!