Another Look at The Laughing Policeman (***) and serial killer “procedurals” in the early 1970’s
Police “procedurals” then and now spend much of their time ignoring rules, then thanking those who advised them on police work.
Another Look at The Fly (1986) – Cronenberg at his most…
As long as Cronenberg has the lens on Goldlum, The Fly is a winner.
Another Look: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (****) saves Universal
Lucky viewers will get to see the film as a kid and enjoy it once more when they’re older.
Another Look: Almost Famous Bootleg Cut (****) feels real but still too perfect
In Almost Famous, we have all problems wrapped up in a nice little bow with not much more than smiles to remember. There should have at least been some sort of venerial disease as a result of all that messing around.
Another Look at Falling from Grace (***1/2) Mellencamp’s first film
As it stands the film feels like a particularly brutal television movie with a few good lines and way too many characters speechifying.
Another Look at Wrong Turn (**) just lingers on Dushku
…unfortunately Dushku missed her Ripley opportunity.
Another Look: Police Story 3 / Supercop 1 (***1/2)
Michelle Yeoh plucked this viewer out of the haze and made a lasting impression.
Another (Ironic) look: Blind Fury (**) is a missed opportunity
I used to think I wanted to own this film. Now I feel bad just taking the time watching it on Prime Video. I feel worse for Hauer than anything. He’s got the talent to put more into this film than he does. Given the goofball history of the Zatoichi films of the 50’s through the 70’s, some amount of the silliness is expected. They could have done better by the character though, for sure.
Another Look: Is Rain Man a forgotten gem by now?
I have never come across someone who has a bad thing to say about Rain Man, but if it were released today, I am sure someone could complain. Thank God it came out in 1988.
Another Look: The Odd Couple (****) gives our first date with Lemmon and Matthau
Ultimately, what works best is the chemistry of the two leads, as everyone else appears to be along for the same ride as the viewers.
Another Look (*1/2) Runaway hides its talent in an 80’s crappy movie
This is not so much a film to remember as it is one to learn from. There were a lot of movies like this one in the 1980’s, and we survived to make more stupid films later.
Another Look: Wes Craven’s New Nightmare wears down through the years
The gifts that Craven had as a storyteller would not be acknowledged here, as this film made the least of the entire series. There is little accounting for taste or reaching beyond the same old stuff.
Another Look: Knocked Up Unrated and Unprotected (****) is loaded
It’s not the landmark that The 40 Year-Old Virgin is, but it’s definitely a few rungs above the normal comedy film.
Another Look: Criminal Law (***) Big Fish, Little Pond
This film made impression enough on me that I started following Oldman, there and then, and I have never regretted it.
Another Look: American Gangster Unrated (****) feels right
If that sounds like too much to cover in a movie, it’s not. The three hours fly by and justice is served.
Another Look: Falling Down (****) everybody hurts
Schumacher was an easy director to poke fun at, but this is one film that doesn’t give one many opportunities for that pastime.
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 