Reviews

Depp and McShane are always entertaining, but this movie isn't even close. Cruz is like Puss In Boots from "Shrek" in human female form. Keith Richard is ridiculous, as usual. This might be about two hours but feels like two years. Rush is possibly the best thing in the movie, but he's really underused. The plot concerns the Fountain of Youth and somehow all these characters chase each other around with occasional sword fight to relieve the tedium. The battles are well staged, but the story is incoherent and silly. Depp gives his usual performance, giving more to the role than it deserves, the same is true for Rush and McShane, Cruz is blah. Worst one yet, but surely there's another coming along.

A fair mystery and secondary plot, but this one doesn't measure up to the previous episodes in the series. Changing Molly to Rose is inexplicable, the town council is larger than the police force and Sidney Greenstreet(!) are just a few of the irritants. Tom Selleck is terrific as usual, Cathy Baker does a fine job as Rose and William Devane is sarcastic and entertaining but the plot with the town council just doesn't seem believable or logical.With the force down to three people with one on light duty, it seems counterproductive to threaten Chief Stone over such petty matters. Oh well, what can you expect from politicians? We hope there are more movies coming. My wife and I really like the Jesse Stone movies, but this one is not as good as the rest, not really bad, just not on par with the rest.

"Lillies of the Field" should be required viewing for everyone who wants to see what true faith is. The great Sidney Poitier gives one of his greatest performances as a handyman roped into building a chapel for a group of German nuns. He's matched line for line by the great Austrian actress Lillia Skala, who uses just about every trick in the book to convince a Baptist to build a Roman Catholic chapel and to keep him on the job. On the side he teaches the sisters English. Both he and the nuns grow to like and even love one another. There is very little embellishment to the story and it moves rapidly. It's crisp pacing, fine acting and loving message make it well worthwhile. All people of faith should see it and take its message to heart.

"Planes, Trains and Automobiles" is a hilarious ode to getting there is half the fun, an advertising slogan from 50+ years ago. It stars Steve Martin and John Candy at the peak of their careers, sadly John died, but Steve is still around, but I, for one don't think he's been in anything this good. The "joys" of travel during Thanksgiving are the setting for this comedy. Probably one of the most famous and funny scenes is the "pillow Scene" when Neal and Del sleep in the same bed in a less than 4 star motel. The rent-a-car exchange with Neal and bubbly Edie McClurg is a classic. Almost non-stop laughs and a sentimental finish make this a must-see.

This movie is entertaining enough, fills in enough political insider stuff, has a nice romantic storyline and one of Michael J. Fox's best acting jobs. Martin Sheen does some prep for his "West Wing" turn as chief of staff very handily. Michael Douglas handles the President/single parent role competently. The real star is, of course, Annette Benning, who steals just about every scene. Richard Dreyfuss really hams it up as the loyal(?) opposition candidate. The plot follows young, handsome, charismatic President Andrew Shepherd as he wines and dines lovely lobbyist Ellen Wade, while trying to run the country, improve his popularity and electability, navigate political minefields and raise his teenage daughter. The film is well directed by Rob Reiner, who always seems to get that extra something out of his actors. My wife liked it a lot more than I did, but it's still an entertaining, if fluffy political/romantic comedy/drama.

1967 was a turbulent year in the U S. Civil rights marches and demonstrations, anti-war rallies, the summer of love,psychedelic music and backlash against the previously noted, 1967 had it all. And this great movie came out, about a small Mississippi town embroiled in a steaming hot summer and a sizzling murder case. The movie diverges from the book on many aspects, mostly for the better. This is a serious look at a nation and a community in turmoil. The acting is first rate, from Sidney Poitier (one of the greatest American actors of this generation, regardless of race), Rod Steiger, Lee Grant, Warren Oates and the whole passel of townsfolk. The plot has been well outlined in previous posts, so I won't belabor it. My favorite scene is when Virgil examines the deceased, looking for clues in discoloration, type of wound, etc., while the sheriff looks on with his jaw practically on the floor in amazement. You can plainly see that he wanted to pin the crime on a hitch-hiker or one of the town's less desirable inhabitants. While some may see the film as preachy or presenting Virgil as a superior to the hicks, seen in the context of its time, it really tells a lot about race relations of the time. The movie is well filmed with lots of atmospheric detail of the time and region (even though it was filmed in Illinois, some areas of Illinois and Indiana were very Southern in their feel and outlook). Great acting, a good mystery, fine cinematography and an important theme make this a must-see movie. 10 stars.

"The Magnificent Seven to me stands alone above any other Western, and there are a great many other contenders, the John Ford/John Wayne cavalry trilogy, How the West Was Won, the 1939 Stagecoach and even Little Big Man to name a few. Excellent cast of actors all ascending to the peak of their careers, all the names would go on to more good roles. Not enough can be said about the fantastic Elmer Bernstein score. The main theme is as familiar as just about anything ever written for a film, and the secondary themes are just as memorable. Particularly, the fanfare that plays after Vin and Chris deliver their "cargo" to the cemetery and turn the hearse around is joyful and triumphant, perfect for the scene. Yul Brynner (Chris) is, of course, most remembered as the king of Siam, but brings a combination of world weariness, sympathy and idealism that's hard to match. Steve McQueen (Vin)tries constantly to steal the picture with his bits in the background of seemingly every shot, so much so that Yul threatened to quit if Steve didn't stop upstaging him. Yul was after all the first billed star and believed it was his picture, at least when he was on screen. They patched things up, thankfully. Charles Bronson (Bernardo) played the muscular gunman who befriends the kids to perfection. James Coburn (Britt)is the knife fighter who seldom talks, but gets his point across one way or another; see his first scene. His friend, Robert Vaughn (by the way, the only living member of the Seven currently) plays a gun fighter, Lee, who has lost his nerve and reflexes. Horst Bucholz, an international star from Germany, plays the hero-worshipping Chico who won't take no for an answer and tags along for the adventure after Chris humiliates him and advises him not to be a gunman. Last, but not least, Brad Dexter plays Harry, a cynic who can't believe Chris has recruited the men for an altruistic purpose. The chief villain, Calvera is played with relish by Eli Wallach. When we first meet him, he shoots a villager and has to look at his holster when he returns the pistol to it, no villain has ever done that or is likely to again. The Mexican government wouldn't allow the peasant to be seen in dirty clothes, so after a day of digging in the dirt or tending the hogs, they're positively sparkling. The battles for the village are spectacular, filled with action and stunts. After Calvera returns and captures the seven, then releases them, saying, "A thief who steals from a thief is pardoned for a thousand years", they come back again to help the villagers who betrayed them, angry that they've been ordered out by Calvera. Harry opts out, but comes back during the final battle and asks Chris why they were really there, he can't believe it was only to help the town rid itself of the outlaws. Chris tells him because of gold, and Harry dies saying, "I knew it!" Four of the seven die in the climactic shootout, one decides to stay in the village and marry a local girl, two ride off and say the memorable exit line; I won't repeat it, watch the movie, it's a fitting finish to the film and a way of life (the traveling gunfighter). The extras on the DVD are well worth watching. There's a super documentary,audio commentary by Eli Wallach, James Coburn and executive producer, Walter Mirisch. For an American Western remake of a Japanese Samurai movie, this is an incredibly brilliant and entertaining movie. 10 stars.

"The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre" is a very good gangster movie, released five years before the all-time great "The Godfather". It's pretty accurate in its chronology, according to the books and documentaries I've seen about the incident, only a couple of dramatic licenses taken. The film unfolds like a documentary, showing the dynamics of the rival gangs and their blood feud. Opening with the killers leaving the garage and then the neighbors discovery of the massacre, it proceeds to detail the buildup to the crime. The victims are introduced, along with the killers and planners. Lots of good actors are in this, veterans of both the big and little screen. Jason Robards has been slammed for his over-the-top portrayal of Al Capone, but everything I've seen about Scarface shows that he was over-the-top himself. George Segal is especially good as a Moran gang member, Peter Gusenberg. Ralph Meeker is a tough , barrel chested Bugs Moran. Both gangs are filled with familiar, competent actors. Jean Hale has a nicely done cameo as a classic "gun Moll", Myrtle, Pete's squeeze. Even Jack Nicholson shows up as a Tommy gunner! The climactic massacre is chillingly accurate using forensic evidence to show how the victims fell and their final positions. All-in-all, a really good movie and record of one of the most famous and shocking events in American criminal history. 8 of 10.

"Miss Congeniality is a gem. Sandra Bullock is one of my favorite current actresses and really comes through as the klutzy tomboy FBI agent who is entered into a beauty pageant. Beauty pageants are fertile ground for satire and slapstick, and the creators and actors don't let anything get by them. The cast is great, from Ernie Hudson as Gracie's boss, Michael Caine as her coach, Benjamin Bratt as her love interest, Candice Bergen as the pageant head honcho, William Shatner as the pompous pageant emcee, and the actresses who play the contestants. One nice touch is that they didn't make the contestants either bubbleheads or mean self-centered brats, which would have been the easy way out. There are plenty of laughs as Gracie tries to learn to be a beauty pageant lady instead of a rough and tumble FBI agent.

This is one of the greatest movies about a single battle. It stands alongside "Zulu" and "Hamburger Hill" as the best, in my opinion. An all-star cast of both established actors and future stars under the able direction of Lewis Milestone brings this desperate battle to life. Crisp black and white cinematography is used to great effect. Gregory Peck is outstanding as Lt Clemons, the supporting cast featuring Woody Strode,Harry Guardino, George Peppard, Martin Landau and Robert Blake is top notch. An added bonus is George Shibata, the first Japanese-American graduate of West Point, who plays Lt Ohashi. This film is well paced, building to the assault on Pork Chop hill by introducing the men and establishing their positions in the company. The movie also shows the tedious and frustrating talks to end the war. The men are presented as individuals, but not clichés. Gregory Peck's performance is Oscar worthy, he projects command presence and competence. Lewis Milestone is known for his great "All Quiet On The Western Front" and "A Walk In The Sun". This picture is easily on a level with both of them. The battle scenes are realistic, the emotions; fear, hope, frustration and determination are portrayed brilliantly. This is a must-see for war movie fans A 10 star movie!

If you've ever watched a TV sitcom of the last thirty years or so, you can see just about every punch line for a mile. Robert DeNiro should have made his comedic debut in something original or at least funnier. He has a couple of good lines and has good chemistry with Blythe Danner. Ben Stiller is given pointless and stupid stuff throughout the movie and really makes no connection with Teri Polo, Owen Wilson would go much better with her. The usual drug references and literal potty humor are uninspired, it's as if the writers gathered around some inane sitcom scripts and padded them with this stuff that wouldn't be allowed on TV. A really weak effort, but at least it's better than the sequel, which manages to misuse Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand. If you want to see an intelligent, actually funny comedy, watch "Analyse This", "My Cousin Vinny", "Runaway Bride" or "Legally Blonde", better yet the best comedy ever, "Some Like It Hot".

"Tootsie" is that rarity, an extremely funny movie that doesn't drop down to the lowest common denominator. This is a story, that while somewhat off the wall is believable. The characters' motivations are plain as day, from Michael/Dorothy taking on a feminine persona to work in the soap, to Julie and Sandy's relationship to Michael/Dorothy. Dustin Hoffman is at his peak in the dual role, Jessica Lange is beautiful as Julie, Terri Garr is sweet and loyal as Sandy, and Charles Durning as fantastic as Les, Julie's Dad and Dorothy's suitor. The supporting cast is also top notch, featuring Dabney Coleman as the smarmy soap director, George Gaynes as a hammy soap doctor, Geena Davis in her big screen debut as a soap opera ingenue, and Sidney Pollack as Michael's agent among others. Bill Murray is hilarious as Michael's roommate, who helps with his deceptions and disguises, even though Bill didn't want a top billing. There are several hilarious scenes, my favorite is the one where Dorothy forces John Van Horn (George Gaynes) to look at her instead of the teleprompter. If you're looking for a real comedy that won't insult your intelligence, this is one for you.

This is an incredible film. While there a few inaccuracies and some dramatic licenses, on the whole the movie follows accounts of the battle accurately. It doesn't vilify the Zulu, in fact it treats them with great respect for their bravery and devotion to their homeland. The bare facts are well known, that Rorke's Drift was the jumping off point for the British invasion of Zululand, and was a hospital and supply depot. It was defended by roughly one hundred men against some 4,000 Zulu. Stanley Baker is outstanding as Lt Chard, the senior officer at the fort, who takes command despite being an engineer officer. Michael Caine is, of course fantastic in his first big role as Lt. Bromhead. Nigel Green is superb as Colour Sergeant Bourne, who received a promotion instead of a Victoria Cross and outlived all the other defenders. The cast of mostly Welsh actors really convey the desperation and bravery of the garrison. The biggest fault with the film is the total misrepresentation of Pvt Henery Hook as a malingerer, in fact he was a good soldier and bravely risked his life to empty the hospital. The scenes of the post before the attack show soldiers at their worst in some ways, especially the treatment of Margaretta Witt. The atmosphere and attitude change when the imminent threat of Zulu attack becomes a fact. Unlike the overconfident officers at Isandlhwana, the inexperienced lieutenants build their defenses and set up ammunition supply to counter the assault. They respect their opponents and understand that they may be the last line of defense against a counter-invasion into Natal. The fighting is spectacularly filmed, highlighting the bravery and resolve of the Zulu and the determination of the redcoats to survive and hold the fort. I was embarrassed to read the comments of certain Americans who have had their brains filled with revisionist political correctness and rooted for the British soldiers to "choke on their own vomit" and die because they were imperialist tools. Just to see this as a record of great bravery (on both sides) and an exciting entertainment apparently isn't enough, they have to spout P C drivel.

Burt Reynolds has made many films, a couple very good, but most are bad. This is possibly the worst. This was supposed to be a big name feature, but a sloppy script, uninspired acting and directing doom it. Burt's miscasting as Steve Carella is bad enough, but Yul Brynner's arrogant, sneering deaf man is wooden. Raquel is forced to hide her best acting assets (you know what) under winter coats, heavy sweaters and boots. There are good actors in it, but they're given nothing to work with. It doesn't come close to the book it's based on. It's hard to believe that prize-winning author Ed McBain was involved in this mess. Avoid it, which shouldn't be too hard, it's hardly ever on TV, and don't waste your money buying or renting it.

The first time I saw this movie, I was glued to the screen. Incredible suspense, superior acting, real train wrecks and great details make this an all-time great. Burt Lancaster as the reluctant hero, Paul Schofield as the obsessed German colonel, and Wolfgang Preiss as the efficient German major head an exceptional international cast. Jean Moreau is great in a small but important role as the bitter, but practical hotel keeper.

No one would or could make this movie today. No computer generated special effects, everything is real. When steam engines collide, they're real!

But, the trains and the men who collide are the backdrop to a tale of saving culture or even civilization. The war and the measures the opponents use are shown in brutal detail. Sacrifices are offered and accepted. The war affects the just and the unjust in much the same way.

This is a great action/war movie, and if you're a train nut like I am, seeing the mighty steam engines and seeing some of their workings is a big bonus. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who wants to see great action, suspense, devotion to duty and patriotism.

It's hard to imagine how much better "Moby Dick on Horseback" could have been without studio interference. Sadly, we'll probably never know, since so much footage is lost or undiscovered. This is still a fine movie, with action, humor, suspense and even a little history of the French incursion into Mexico during our civil war.

Charlton Heston is the star, and title role, but Richard Harris steals the show as the flamboyant Captain Tyreen. Sam Peckinpah's stock company of Ben Johnson, Warren Oates, R. G. Armstrong and L. Q. Jones are great, along with Western vets James Coburn, Slim Pickens and Dub Taylor. The under-rated Brock Peters is also featured. Jim Hutton is excellent as the semi-comic relief, Lt Graham, and Swiss actor Mario Adorf is very good as the steady Sgt Gomez.

Major Dundee himself is a paradox, a stern taskmaster who seems lost at several points in the story, especially the early racially charged campfire incident. He takes no action in a situation that could doom the entire mission, and is fortunate that the preacher and captain bail him out.

It seems that the money or patience ran out and the film ends in a frenzy of fighting with the Apaches and then the French.

I recommend this movie to any Civil War or Western fans, you won't be disappointed. If we ever see a truly restored version, it should be even better.