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Reviews
The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (1987)
No other word besides 'dreadful' can sum up this movie
I recently watched this movie again for the first time in years and it really is shambolic.
Usually at this point I would talk about the plot, but there isn't one! The acting is bad, so is the script and direction. The garbage pail kids were meant to represent that beauty comes from the inside, but the kids aren't that nice. The bad guys are in some scenes made out to be big time, but generally they get their kicks, from bullying and stealing a few dollars from a 14 year old! This is a script I would expect from a ten year old (and not a clever one at that) it's that bad. Even the puppeteering is not up to much (the mouths don't even open most of the time when the garbage pail kids talk!), thinking about I can't really think of anything positive, except that the rest of the kids were crushed by the authorities at the ridiculous named 'state home for the ugly' to save us all from having more dislikable characters on screen!
It is a film that seems to have had a half-hearted effort put into it. Not much makes sense and one of the unfortunate things was that captain Manzini was unable to get the kids back in the pail! However no sequel or series (as was intended) ever came to pass!
Atlantic City (1980)
One of the best films of the 1980's
The story of an ageing two bit numbers runner and his unusual relationship with an ambitious waitress, trying to make it as a croupier, might not sound like the most exciting storyline, but I couldn't remember a moment in the film when I wasn't hooked. Malle's direction in showing the old and new, the past and the future, with Atlantic City as the backdrop (gambling had only been legalised in New Jersey in 1979) is beyond criticism. Lancaster and Sarandon represent all this from the character side and both give exception performances. The plot in many ways plays second fiddle to the character building, the relationship between the two protagonists and the numerous metaphors used throughout.
Robert Joy has stolen a bag of cocaine from the mob and is soon on the run with his pregnant girlfriend (McLaren) and hides out at her sister's flat (Sarandon), who is also his ex-wife. He then by chance, meets Lancaster (who is also Sarandon's neighbour and is infatuated with her), who likes to make out he was a big time person, but is and always was a nothing! This leads to Lancaster helping out in what he hopes will make him a somebody at last before a completely new city he won't know is built and people who don't want to know him arrive.
If you haven't seen this or heard much about it, please do so. It truly is one of those gems a film that is ageless and works on every level! One of the best films of the 1980's!
Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)
Watchable at best!
Having seen this movie for the first time in years, I can safely say it is an easy, entertaining watch, but my praise stops there i'm afraid. The story of an abused wife who goes to extreme measures, quickly becomes as predictable as the day after Friday is Saturday. The real highlight is that it proved Julia Roberts could act and go beyond rom-com roles. However the same can't be said for Patrick Bergin and Kevin Anderson. Bergin speaks in a soft voice and bulges his eyes to make him scary, which he fails miserably at; Kevin Anderson's character is neither likable nor realistic. It is little wonder that neither of these two actors careers have progressed that much since this film. Also this film has so many unexplained and unrealistic moments that it becomes laughable by the end of the film. How after, i'm assuming at least weeks, does the YWCA decide to call Bergin and tell of Laura's life story? How did Bergin not spot the ring in the toilet before? How did Laura pay for a home for her mother without the supposed dominant husband getting wind of it? How did Laura suddenly become a brilliant swimmer? I ask this because even a reasonable good swimmer would struggle in a storm on the ocean, yet Robert's character was practically a novice, but swims to shore with ease! How come Laura's mum did not recognise Martin's voice when her daughter was with him for four years? What are the odds they never met? It is an insult to blind people as they recognise people by their voices! Why would Martin suffocate Laura's mum? What would it achieve? Wouldn't it be blatantly clear he killed her since he was the last person seen in her room? Also say Robert's character is at the most is 30, why does her mother look more as though she is pushing 80? So that would make her pushing 50 when she gave birth. How does Martin know where Laura lives before he has even started to follow her? He seems to have rearranged a lot as well in the short space of time he has in the house, would even a crazed lunatic go to such lengths? Also when he is in the house he seems to be the greatest ever player of hide and seek. Its only a small house yet he manages to stay out of sight, whilst over-running a bath, rearranging cans, straightening towels and making a hi-fi turn on by itself. The truth is if you are looking for a by the numbers movie this will suit. If you want something that makes sense don't bother with this tripe!
Chinatown (1974)
One Of The Best Films of the 1970's, possibly of all time
This truly is one of the greatest films of all time, with a plot with such a massive and complex core, which is so well constructed, it is a movie that if paid close attention to will simply take your breath away. Jack Nicholson (in his best role and that says something for one of Hollywood's greats) plays the private detective who is in way over his head when he is hired to spy on the L.A. water commissioner, which leads him to become entangled in a sinister and convoluted case. It is such a complex film I would have to write about a 20,000 word essay before I could really tell you the story, so my advice is just watch it and be fascinated by the story (it may however take two watches before you can fully understand everything). You have a director (Roman Polanski) and a writer (Robert Towne) at the peak of their powers and a film which deserved more awards than the single one Robert Towne receieved (It was just unfortunate to be up in the same year as The Godfather II, another of Hollywood's great films). I just wish films of today were as consistently good today as they were in the 1970's (I wasn't born until 1981 and missed these films on their initial and shock felt release, so I still have a lot of catching up to do)
The Day of the Locust (1975)
Great Film and underrated
This is a film which certainly will not please your easy going, "Top Gun" film watcher, but if you understand the ethics and realities of Hollywood and film, this is the perfect movie for you. With a fantastic cast, first rate and diligent direction and photography and a story so harrowingly realistic I am surprised it got such a mixed response by the public and especially critics alike at the time. The story of a dark side of Hollywood in the 1930's was just fascinatinating with it's excellent characterisations, movie wannabes ignorence to the rest of the world (pay close attention to when Black and Atherton leave the cinema after Black's very short appearance) and of course one an ending which must rank as American cinemas best. I own the DVD and it is one of my best. I showed to my brother who is very hard to impress and he was left shaken by the end for days. A must see, for those who appreciate the great era of 70's movies and people who understand what is needed to make a "proper film".