mctheimer Reviews

Trapped by the Mormons (1922)

Genius in its awfulness

[10/10 · 17 August 2000]

This is, without question, my Favorite Bad Movie. I first saw it about 20 years ago as a college midnight movie, and it stayed with me. I finally found it on tape at and actually bought it, which is something I rarely do. However, this film is so memorably and ineptly hilarious, I had to get it.

It's a silent British film which is to Mormonism as "Reefer Madness" is to marijuana usage. The plot -- what there is of it -- is of a Mormon polygamist luring small-town English girls to forced marriages, upon which they are sent off to Salt Lake City. Needless to say, the heroine, played by Evelyn Brent, is saved by her poor, wheelchair-bound father and her dashing sailor boyfriend.

This film is best experienced with the soundtrack turned off and about 42 beers, with a group of friends who are all able to come up with alternative voiceovers. If it had been science fiction, this would have been a prime MST3k flick. Trust me; it's worth every penny of the $9.99 plus shipping you'll pay for it.

The Dreamlife of Angels (1998)

Sad and beautiful character study

[9/10 · 22 April 2000]

This film is typical of many European films; it's large on character and acting skills, and small on special effects. That is a good thing.

The story revolves around two chronically unemployed 20-ish French women who meet almost purely by accident. While they are common in their socioeconomic backgrounds, their personalities differ greatly, but in such a way that it allows them to become best friends. When the major differences arise in their romantic needs and their ability to ride out emotional storms, the differences become too much.

This movie works for two main reasons. First, the two actresses are highly believable in their parts; the remainder of the cast is also very good. Second, I realized at the end of the film how my general initial perception of the two characters was wrong. The film shows the importance of truly getting to know someone before you judge them.

If you want an action flick, this is not the film for you. However, if you want an intelligent script and an excellent study of humanity, you should see this film.

My Dog Skip (2000)

A family movie that the adults will probably appreciate even more than their kids

[10/10 · 18 April 2000]

This is an absolutely wonderful movie that's aimed for children, but will probably be even more loved by adults.

In 1942, a 10-year-old boy who is more intellectual than athletic and is constantly teased by others finds solace in the puppy given to him on his birthday. The dog helps him make friends and grow up.

That's the capsule of the plot. This movie is much more than that. The acting all around is excellent, but special credit must be given to Frankie Munoz (as the boy) and Moose, the dog from "Frasier" as...the dog.

"My Dog Skip" does a wonderful job of showing all of the joys and agonies of changing from a child into a young adult. It's hard not to recognize yourself in the episodes.

While this movie is sentimental, it's not played for sentimentality. That's much of why it works so well. You won't feel like you're being manipulated as you watch.

Be forwarned: some of the scenes might be rather intense for children under the age of seven. You, as an adult, will probably want to bring along some hankies. >

Return to Me (2000)

They *can* make 'em like they used to!

[8/10 · 18 April 2000]

My parents frequently state that there are no romantic comedies as good as the ones made when they were young. Hah! Here's one, which is a tremendous credit to the entire cast and crew.

The context of the plot is preposterous, which is true of most good romantic comedies: David Duchovny's dearly beloved wife is killed in a car accident; her heart is given to Minnie Driver in a transplant operation; the two fall in love at first sight. Complications ensue.

This plot isn't much more ridiculous than those of Astaire and Rogers movies, but 50 years ago the concept of a heart transplant didn't exist. If it had, I'm willing to bet Fred and Ginger or Tracy and Hepburn would have been in a film with a similar script!

This film worked because the characters are real, despite the plot. Amazingly, David Duchovny actually emotes in this film! I especially appreciated the supporting characters. It was great to see Carroll O'Connor and Robert Loggia acting like real elderly people. I suspect we all know senior citizens who are just as loving and nosy as they are! Also, the team of Bonnie Hunt (who also directed) and James Belushi as Minnie Driver's best friends worked well. Their family acts a lot like most families, down to the messiness of the house and kids repeating things they shouldn't.

If you're looking for a deep, meaningful film, this isn't it. If you want a film where you don't completely check out your brain but still want entertainment, this is well worth seeing.

Fist of Legend (1994)

Utterly amazing fighting sequences make this film worth watching

[10/10 · 13 April 2000]

Even if you don't enjoy watching sports such as boxing, you'll enjoy this film. The coordination and grace shown by the stars performing is equal to that of any world-ranked gymnast.

This is one of the more serious martial arts films. Consequently, it actually has a plot which can be followed!

The fight sequences in this film are outstanding. It's clear from watching this movie that minimal special effects (e.g. wires, cross-cutting in the editing, etc.) are used. The main fights are clearly performed by the stars. Yes, we know that the folks in Hong Kong don't use stand-ins, but it's impressively obvious when watching this film.

It's easy to see why the Wachowski brothers worship Jet Li after seeing this film. The speed and power shown in his acrobatic moves are quite something. In addition, it shows that he can *act*. That's not obvious in "Fong Sai Yuk" or "The Swordsman", which are essentially live-action comic books.

Marius and Jeannette (1997)

A pleasant French love story

[7/10 · 5 April 2000]

This movie kind of reminded me of a cross between "Life is Sweet" (a humorous examination of the lower-middle class), "The Bridges of Madison County" (an examination of how middle aged people actually continue to have libidos and emotions), and a random French romantic love farce.

The director tries to give this film a political slant, showing the perils of capitalism in favor of socialism, and dedicates this film "to all of the workers of the world." Ignore it. Focus instead on the characters, most of whom are people much like people you have met in your life, with French sensibilities. The love story between the main characters is basically an excuse to get to know this small community of neighbors and show how they interact.

This is not one of the great films of all time, but I enjoyed it. It was a pleasant way to spend a little under two hours.

The Tree of Wooden Clogs (1978)

An excellent portrayal of Italian peasant life

[8/10 · 4 April 2000]

This movie could have been made any time after the development of color film. Unless you look at the tape jacket, you wouldn't know what year it had been filmed. It is timeless.

"Tree" follows the lives of three peasant families in the Lombardy (northern) region of Italy. The historical accuracy appears to be quite high. You'll learn how things were done before electricity, the automobile, etc. Watching this film reminded me of visiting Bali or Morocco; I felt immersed in another culture in another time.

The downside is that, of course, peasants don't live terribly exciting lives, and this is a long movie. There isn't really a plot driving the film. What I considered to be the action scenes are grisly; livestock is slaughtered on camera, and it's clear that you are watching the real thing. (I almost started crying while watching a pig as it is was slaughtered; it was squealing loudly as it was literally eviscerated while it was still alive.)

This is a contemplative film. The film which I think would be an interesting companion piece would be "The Scent of Green Papaya," a Vietnamese film with about the same pace and purpose.

The Young and the Damned (1950)

The more things change...

[8/10 · 4 April 2000]

This film holds up surprisingly well after almost 50 years. It appears to be a fairly accurate portrayal of street life in Mexico City in the 1950's. Sadly, most of the characters could be located in any major city in today's times -- but now they'd also probably have handguns, if the film was moved to the US.

Bunuel does not appear to let a lot of behavior remain off the screen. You will find relatively little of the boys' activities occurring off-camera. Some attempts at showing the emotional histories of the players are done, which allows a level of insight into the boys' behavior. Some level of sympathy is generated for all of the characters by the end of the movie, which is impressive in light of how despicable many of the characters are. What Bunuel does not comment on is a way to prevent the boys from falling downward into their spiral in the first place.

This is NOT a movie to be seen after you've just had a bad week at the office, but is an excellent social commentary which still has an impact after half a century.

The Legend (1993)

This is the film that made me fall in love with Hong Kong cinema

[9/10 · 2 April 2000]

Unless you believe that all films must be deep and meaningful, you'll love this film. For just pure entertainment, this film is hard to beat. This beats most action films out of the west. Its special effects are due totally to the stars' martial arts skills, not some gazillion dollar budget and special editing. The plot is wonderful. Besides, who can resist a film where the hero, if he's is in danger, will call on Mom to beat up the enemy? Sit back, get out the popcorn, and be prepared to be wildly entertained.

Swordsman II (1992)

Who needs to understand the plot when you have Jet Li and Brigitte Lin?

[9/10 · 2 April 2000]

For sheer entertainment value, it's hard to beat this film. If you're not concerned about intellectual stimulation, you'll have a great time. The plot is completely confusing, but it helps if you've seen "The Swordsman", the first movie in this sequence.

Don't worry; you won't be paying too much attention to the plot, because if you do you'll get a headache. In a capsule, various martial arts clans vie for possession of a scroll which describes how to obtain secret powers. This is a great excuse to hang together a bunch of amazing martial arts sequences, silly humor, and drunken singing -- and you'll probably sing right along. In fact, you'll see where "The Matrix" got a lot of its inspiration when you watch this film. (The Wachowski brothers worship Jet Li.)

As in "The Swordsman", I appreciated the fact that there are a number of strong female roles in this film. Hollywood doesn't allow many women action heroes, and this film shows how women can knock your socks off, if given the chance, in the fighting sequences.

Assume movie essence absorbing stance!

The Swordsman (1990)

Assume Movie Enjoyment Stance!!!

[9/10 · 2 April 2000]

The above title will make no sense to you until you see this wildly entertaining movie. There's no point in summarizing the plot, since it's so convoluted that it's futile to try to follow it. The film takes place in the past, and involves a scroll which describes how to obtain secret powers. Not surprisingly, various martial arts clans vie for its ownership. This sets up various great martial arts sequences, cheesy jokes, and the codesong (as opposed to codeword) which will get stuck in your head no matter how much you try to fight it.

Besides the fact that it's just plain fun, I appreciated the fact that the film includes several strong female characters. It would be great if Hollywood could learn from this and other martial arts films that women who can kick serious butt can still be feminine and smart.

If you enjoy this film, check out its sequel (Swordsman II), and also check out "The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk," with Jet Li. You'll enjoy them as well.

Carmen Jones (1954)

One of the classics of African-American cinema

[9/10 · 2 April 2000]

This film shows just how much talent existed and was mostly unused because of the small number of pictures made with African-American casts during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

It's a remake of Bizet's "Carmen", and was originally performed on Broadway in the 1940's. Otto Preminger filmed the play during the 1950's. The songs all retain Bizet's original music, but the lyrics have been updated to English. If you've never seen the opera, and are intimidated by opera in general, this film would actually be a good introduction to the topic.

The plot is moved from a Spanish village during the late 1800's to the American South during WWII. The cigarette factory is now a parachute factory, and the bullfighter is now a prize fighter. Generally, I thought the update was done well, just as some Shakespearean updates work well. The only part which doesn't work for me is that some of the dialogue and lyrics are in what I think of as "Porgy and Bess Ebonics", e.g. "dees", "dem", "dat", etc.

Carmen is played by Dorothy Dandridge, who is known as the African-American Marilyn Monroe. The two women's lives sadly parallel each other, although Dandridge could find even fewer scripts to show off her acting talents. Harry Belafonte plays the seduced male lead. Both are stunning beautiful, and at their prime.

All of the singing voices are dubbed by first rank operatic voices; the songs for Carmen Jones are dubbed by Marilyn Horne, for example.

The tragedy is realizing how many great actors and actresses could have had brilliant careers except for their skin color. It was interesting and sad to watch the Movietone Newsreel coverage of the premiere, which came attached to the copy of the tape I had. It features all of the white movie stars attending the premiere, the white studio heads -- and just happens to have a second or two of Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge at the end.

Balance (1989)

Winner of the Oscar for Best Animated Short

[10/10 · 22 March 2000]

It's been several years since I saw this, but it sticks in my mind like I saw it recently. This short does one of the best jobs I've ever seen of making a point in minimal screen time.

I won't go into the plot of the moral; part of the joy of this film is figuring it out. When I saw it, you could watch the audience members individually recognize what was happening over the time of the film. It's under 10 minutes long (I believe), and it would be a shame to spoil it for someone.

The film is not something children would enjoy. While there's nothing objectionable about the film, it's not typical colorful, pretty animation. One thing that struck me is that the animation style is very Eastern European, while the plot is rather Asian (group dynamics).

The bottom line is that this is well worth seeing -- and it won't even take that much time out of your schedule!

Paradise (1984)

1984 Oscar Winner for Best Animated Short

[7/10 · 22 March 2000]

This is a lovely animated short. The basic plot question is poses is: which is preferable, a beautiful gilded cage, or your freedom?

The director is of Indian (as in south Asian) heritage, and it shows. Paradise looks a lot like the Taj Mahal. This short was done with a combination of computer and cell animation, and is quite pretty to look at. The vivid colors associated with India and the tropics are the predominant palettes used in this film.

This is a more attractive film to look at than, say, "Balance", which won the same Oscar in the early 90's. However, the moral from "Balance" has stayed in my head since I saw it years ago. I'm not sure that the same will be true for this film.

Frankenweenie (1984)

The Frankenstein legend from a child's perspective, with a gentle sense of humor

[9/10 · 22 March 2000]

It's hard not to like this film. You'll especially enjoy it if you've seen (a) James Whale's "Frankenstein" and "Bride of Frankenstein," and (b) Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas."

The plot is basically the Frankenstein legend. The variation is that it's about a little boy whose dog has been hit by a car. The boy raises the dog from the dead a la Frankenstein. Charming complications ensue.

This was Tim Burton's first film, and it's a great harbinger of things to come. Burton was an animator at Disney, but the company thought he was a little too weird and let him go as an animator. This film shows how he would treat children's films, and it's delightful. You'll recognize the art direction, especially in the graveyard, from "Nightmare."

The film does a wonderful job of including nuances from the Whale flicks, from the electrodes on the dog's neck to the resuscitation lab to the brief parody of "Bride."

There's enough scary-ish stuff (slightly more gentle than meeting the Almighty Oz) to keep kids going, and enough recognizable movie riffs and humor to keep adults going. What's not to like?

Glen or Glenda (1953)

It'll make you want to buy a tight angora sweater for the man in your life

[9/10 · 22 March 2000]

This is one of the classic Bad Films We Love. It's an excellent introduction to the oeuvre of Ed Woods, one of the worst directors of all time, who never met a film clip he didn't like.

This is Woods' first film, a paean to transvestitism, which was his own personal passion. One of the many amazing things about this film is that the issue is actually a very serious one, and in the right hands, his basic points about the issue are well made. However, the way the film is made will make you laugh out loud, because it's so inept.

For example, Bela Lugosi is randomly interjected giving diatribes as the scientific voice of society -- but what is a stampede of buffaloes superimposed over one of his speeches doing there? Where does Ed find size 12 pumps with 4 inch heels to coordinate with his outfit, and how did he find a Janet Leigh torpedo bra to fit? Do the scenes of lesbians tying each other up have anything to do with this, and how did he talk his (theoretical) actresses into do the scene?

All of these poignant episodes -- and more! -- await you. See it with the one you love, with a case of beer and cheese doodles at your side, and be prepared to laugh very hard.

BTW: The Rhino version of the movie involves a very good restoration. Try to get this version of the film.

Rome, Open City (1945)

Hang on through the first half hour; it pays off

[10/10 · 20 March 2000]

Ignore the less-than-fabulous technical aspects of this film -- the uneven filming quality, the poor lighting, etc. -- that can happen during this film, and remember that it's a byproduct of what was going on in Italy immediately after WWII, when this was filmed. I found that it actually got me into the spirit of this film; the film reflects some of the tragic state of the region during the time.

The first half hour drags some, as the characters establish themselves. If you're like me, you'll be wondering where this film is going. Hang in there. It eventually starts to take off when the characters' traits start to generate the action in the film.

When you're done watching this film, you'll know in your gut that all of the things which happened occurred in reality. The fact that the Italian movie industry had no resources for sets, costumes, etc. actually pays off in this film.

Hands on a Hardbody: The Documentary (1997)

You don't have to be from Texas - or even the US - to enjoy this

[10/10 · 18 March 2000]

A number of the other reviews are from Texans who wonder if you have to be from Texas to appreciate this film. No, you don't! It's a fascinating slice of American life that I think is insightful to anyone. It would also be a great film for people from overseas to learn something about middle American culture.

This movie follows 20 people in their attempt to win a pickup truck. What I loved about this film is that (a) even that there's no action sequences with special effects, the film has a wonderful sense of tension and suspense, due largely to (b) the fact that the director doesn't just turn the camera on and expect magic to happen, but managed to interview a number of the contestants before hand and really get into their heads via some well done interviewing and editing. This film has some wonderful psychological portraits, which make the suspense heightened as you wait to see how the contestants hold up over the very long wait.

While I watched this, I was sort of reminded of the Dogma 95 resolution, to only use hand-held cameras and available situations, so that the story and the acting are what stand out, not "movie magic." By those standards, this film measures up quite well -- and it's not even fiction!

The Betsy (1978)

One of the all time great Bad Movies We Love

[10/10 · 18 March 2000]

This is one of my two favorite Bad Movies I Love, the other one being "Trapped by the Mormons." I watch this after seeing nothing but Italian Neorealism and French tragedies for a couple weeks, to remind myself of what really bad films look like, and how wonderful they can be when life has gotten too serious.

Think of this film as being "Dynasty" with a bigger budget. The basic concept is American Excess At Its Finest. If it had been shown during the Communist era in Russia, I'm sure it would have been great propaganda for the evils of capitalism.

"The Betsy" involves cars instead of oil (as in "Dynasty"). Olivier has the Blake Carrington part, except that John Forsythe is much better in the role. (I read Olivier's bio, and in it he does indeed state that when he got older and had to support one current and two former wives, that doing things for the money was a fine thing.) Leslie Anne Down has the Joan Collins role. Katherine Ross has the Linda Evans role. I don't know whose role Tommy Lee Jones has, but it's the General Stud Muffin Deluxe part, and yes, in his youth, he could pull it off.

Anyhow, this is the perfect film to see when you've had a bad week and need pure, stupid escapist fare -- sort of like why we all were addicted to "Dynasty" and "Dallas" for years!

Sayonara (1957)

Stanley Kowalski seduces a geisha

[6/10 · 14 March 2000]

That's pretty much what I thought of this film. I half expected Brando to start yelling "SUKIYAKI!!!" at the top of his lungs as he walks down an alleyway in Japan. I was amazed to learn that Brando was nominated for an Oscar for this film, because for the life of me I can't see what a woman would see in his character, especially a Japanese woman. (Yes, I'm female.) Brando kind of mumbles through the whole thing, and his character doesn't have any kind of intelligence or kindness.

I'm sure this movie was a big deal in 1957. It actually does a reasonably good job of bringing up issues with interracial marriages, which is still a hot topic in large portions of the world. However, a movie that I think addresses the topic in a more interesting and timeless fashion is "The Bitter Tea of General Yen," starring Barbara Stanwyck and directed by Frank Capra. "General Yen" impressed me a great deal, whereas "Sayonara" did not.

The happy surprise in this film was Red Buttons' performance. My only previous exposure to Red Buttons was in things like Dean Martin roasts when I was a kid. I didn't understand why he was famous. Buttons earned/won an Oscar for his sympathetic portrayal of a open-minded man who marries a Japanese woman and willingly learns Japanese culture because of his love. I'm not convinced the Brando character would ever do that.

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

George C. Scott is amazing, but the rest doesn't hold up

[6/10 · 13 March 2000]

*Possible potential spoiler*

It's easy to see why this film was such a big hit when it came out; it deals head-on with issues like murder and rape. However, it doesn't hold up 40 years later.

Lee Remick plays a woman who has allegedly been raped. Four days later, her character is flirting with every man around, even though the much of the entire plot revolves around whether she's been sexually assaulted or not. (Don't worry; this fact is made obvious within the first 10 minutes of the film.)

In addition, a lot of the legal proceedings which occur in the film are flat-out wrong now. There aren't even any depositions! Evidence would not be submitted during the trial on the spur of the moment during questioning; evidence must now be declared before a trial begins. Consequently, there are a number of deus ex machina moments in this film during the trial. No, I'm not a lawyer!

Having said that, George C. Scott does an amazing job as the big city attorney from Lansing, Michigan (!). You can see the roots of "Patton" in his performance. Jimmy Stewart is, well, Jimmy Stewart -- what's not to like? The Duke Ellington score (and cameo!) is also quite wonderful.

If you want to see a really suspenseful courtroom drama, rent "Presumed Innocent". "Anatomy of a Murder" really only works if you look at it in the context of a late 1950's legal drama with some terrific acting.