InMyTribe Reviews

The Poseidon Adventure (2005 TV Movie)

3 hours of my life I won't get back

[1/10 · 9 October 2005]

Being a fan of the original 72' film I was looking forward to this miniseries - how disappointing. The premise was quite good (although poorly executed) about terrorists on board blowing a hole in the hull of the S.S. Poseidon. After that, it's flail city as a bunch of has-beens and never-was actors slip and slide along walls, ceilings and staterooms. Steve Guttenberg gives arguably the worst performance in his not-so illustrious career as a weak, philandering husband of Alexa Hamilton. Bryan Brown and Tinarie Van Wyk-Loots play a TV producer and a reality TV singer respectively with little conviction. Brown's character even asks the little brat (the son of Guttenberg & Hamilton) to film their escape. The CG effects are average (especially when the boat starts to capsize the water in the pool stays put ?!?). Without an all-star cast there is no building tension in the entire production. Even if you ignore the gaping holes in the story (the group climb three decks and are swimming underwater while the ballroom is still dry) the editing is so bad that you are not sure where they are in the ship or how they even get to the hull. When one of the characters asks where to tie the end of the rope I felt like saying "how about the scriptwriters neck?" The one bright spot in the whole mess is Alexa Hamilton as Rachel Clarke. Her performance (while not spectacular) manages to convey her bitterness at her two-timing husband while trying to keep her family together (if you ignore the hokey bit where she sends an e-mail Christmas list as a may-day). 2 stars for Alexa, that's all.

Tears Before Bedtime (2004)

You like a little warm-up, don't you ?

[10/10 · 13 April 2004]

Insightful and full of wit, Tears Before Bedtime is the directorial debut of Kevin Klehr, who ventures into the world of S & M Sydney style. With a relaxed interviewing style Klehr puts his subjects at ease, getting a minefield of information and insights from the inhabitants of a world which is rarely seen or reported. His interviewees range from a dominatrix who runs her own parlour in the suburbs to the 'stars' of the Hellfire Club, Sydneys oldest nightclub. The star of the doco is undoubtedly Mistress Sinna, who obviously enjoys her profession. She takes Klehr through her parlour and describes the various equipment that goes with it. Highly Recommended 10/10

Occasional Coarse Language (1998)

A Gem

[24 June 2002]

OCL is one of those small independant films that I am constantly recommending to friends. Min (Sara Browne) has just been fired from her job at a Deli and has just found out her boyfriend is having an affair with her room-mate. So she finds herself without a boyfriend, without a place to live and no job. Her best friend Jaz (Astrid Grant) finds her a place to stay and a new job..."Now only if we can find you some regular sex you can walk down the street without a bag over your head". Min has also got a sick father to deal with and she is always on the phone to her mum about him..."You found his thermometer where ??? Bulls**t!!!". OCL is a film that deserves repeat viewings and the cast is excellent, especially Sara Browne, Nicholas Bishop (as Min's sexually adventrous new room-mate) and Lisa Denmeade (as Claire, her foul-mouthed friend). Highly recommended.

Brain Smasher... A Love Story (1993 Video)

Dross

[23 June 2002]

What possessed a good actress like Deborah Van Valkenburgh to accept a role in dross like this ? She must have been hard up for cash to star in such a Z grade flick. Ms Van Valkenburgh is a great Film, TV and Theatre star and deserves much better. Check her out in The Warriors, A Bunny's Tale, Changing Destiny and especially Rampage. A disapointment.

The Sum of Us (1994)

A father-son story, not just a father-gay son story

[10/10 · 7 November 2001]

After seeing this film when I first came out was a great help to me and after just seeing it again (after 7 years) it is just as helpful today. I have to say The Sum Of Us is not just about how a father accepts his gay son, but also about a father son relationship and their search for love. Period! The two leads, Jack Thompson as Harry Mitchell and Russell Crowe as his son Jeff, are excellent here. Their personal asides to the camera are done just right without being intrusive to the narrative. Also the lingo is slipped into the dialog without being forced. The film will become an oddity as it is a simple story - told effortlessly. If the story was "Hollywoodised" other clichéd elements would be added E.G father was a drunk. The son is estranged, ETC. But The Sum Of Us keeps it direct and funny - which is the Australian way.

Don't watch it if you think this is a coming-out film (watch 'Beautiful Thing and 'Get Real' instead). Jeff is secure in his sexuality and knows what he wants "..someone to talk to, someone to have a laugh with, have a good time with, get drunk with, someone to cuddle up with...It doesn't seem a lot to ask, does it"? Russell Crowe is at his best here (besides his role in 'LA Confidential' and Romper Stomper') but because of the content it will be overlooked. Jack Thompson is great as Harry who, always the optimist, finds love with divorcée Joyce Johnson, played by the under-rated Australian actress Deborah Kennedy. She has never been better here and deserves more roles like it. John Polson is admirable (but miscast) as Greg, Jeff's love interest. The ultimate gay-date movie - truly Australian.

Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)

'Speed' meets 'The Poseidon Adventure'

[20 October 2001]

Jan De Bont's sequel to the highly successful 'Speed' rates a distant second. Like all sequels comparisons will be made to the original but the only link to 'Speed' is Sandra Bullock. This film is more reminicient of 'Under Siege' and 'The Poseidon Adventure' than it's namesake. Bullock is now dating Jason Patric (after she dumped Keanu Reeves) and he takes her onto a cruise ship - hoping to propose to her. On board is Willem DeFoe - a disgruntled ex-employee of the cruise liner company who is now terminally ill - now seeks revenge. The Captain is killed, the ship shudders and the passengers panic. Most of the passengers escape via lifeboats but those few (including a deaf girl who didn't hear the sirens) remain on board - the ship now bound for an oil tanker. It is up to resourseful Bullock and hunky Patric to save the day. Bullock plays her usual spunky self in this film. Patric (who has never been in a "commercial" film since 'The Lost Boys') plays the heroic role admirably. Willem DeFoe sneers constantly. Temuera Morrison (last seen in 'Once Were Warriors'), Lois Chiles ('Evil Under The Sun', 'Sweet Liberty') and Colleen Camp ('Die Hard With A Vengeance' They All Laughed', ' Wayne's World') offer support as crew and passengers who remain on the doomed ship. OK viewing ****1/2 stars.

Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

Willis, Jackson, Irons, Greene, Camp. Can it get any better than this ?

[8/10 · 20 October 2001]

Although this has been billed as 'Die Hard 3' this film can stand alone from the other two predecessors. Bruce Willis is back again as maverick cop John McClane. He is summoned back on duty (he was suspended because of his drinking - due to his divorce) because 'simple Simon' (Jeremy Irons) requests that McClane solve some dangerous riddles or New York schools will be blown up. Samuel L Jackson (as a citizen) is an unwitting accomplice to McClane as they run around New York trying to outwit the maniac Irons. Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves) and Colleen Camp (They All Laughed, Greedy, Wayne's World) are brilliant in support as Willis's cop mates trying to find the bomb while Willis & Jackson chase after Irons.

Willis gives his best performance in this series (he won't be better until 'The Sixth Sense'). Jackson, as always, gives nuance to a type-cast role. Irons supplies a ridiculous German accent. Greene (a most under-rated actor) lends a balance to the heroics in the film and character actress Colleen Camp is inspiringly cast in a dramatic role. She handles the macho elements in the film well. Her best line comes when Greene asks 'Who wants to blow up a mall'? - "Ever see a woman miss a shoe sale"? Very Recommended! ******** (8) 1/2 stars.

Sliver (1993)

Peeping Tom's fantasy

[20 October 2001]

There are great Peeping Tom films (Alfred Hitchcock's 'Rear Window' is one of them) and there are bad ones. Unfortunately this falls in the latter category. Lushly produced, cast and directed 'Sliver' fails on all counts as a thriller, mystery or drama. Sharon Stone buys an apartment in a 'sliver', a tall apartment building in Manhattan. To the neighbours she bears an uncanny resemblance to the previous tenant, who fell (pushed?) to her death from the balcony. She slowly realises that there are more similarities between herself and the dead girl and begins to panic. All this is of no concern to the viewer as Stone hooks up with hunky, rich William Baldwin and menacing failed novelist Tom Berenger. More interesting is the supporting actors. Martin Landau as the concerned neighbour. Polly Walker as the drug-taking model/actress, CCH Pounder as the detective and Colleen Camp as Stone's wise-cracking, sex-hungry best friend. BEST LINE: Colleen Camp : 'I've been using my vibrator so much I've developed a plastic yeast infection". You like to watch? Unfortunately, I didn't. **1/2 stars.

Illegally Yours (1988)

Second Time Around.

[10/10 · 20 October 2001]

Often referred to as a third-rate 'They All Laughed' (a Bogdanovich film from 1981) this film focuses on Rob Lowe a 'hopeless Romeo' who, as luck would have it is a juror on a case where his first love (when he was 6) is now being tried for murder. Most of the film is taken up by him following her while hiding behind newspapers, sunglasses and even a very bad attempt at drag. Lowe is blatently mis-cast as 'our hero' as he dons a ridiculous pair of eye-glasses (reminiscent of other Bogdanovich klutzes Ryan O'Neal in Whats Up Doc and John Ritter in They All Laughed). However, the rest of the cast is excellent in the rip-fire dialog. Jessica James is sassy as Lowe's disappointed mother and Colleen Camp, as ever, is a delight to watch as the daffy murder suspect. Unfortunately this has been Colleen Camp's last attempt in a lead role to date and one hope's that director Bogdanovich will find another vehicle for her underatted talent (he used her to great affect in 'They All Laughed' 1981). This film is much better viewed the second time around and hopefully will gain a cult audience in years to come. To be watched by Camp fans only. ****1/2 stars.

Clue (1985)

"To cut a long story short..." "Too Late"!

[9/10 · 20 October 2001]

While Clue is reminiscent of 'Murder By Death' made a decade earlier (star Eileen Brennan also appeared in that film) Clue is a funnier and more polished film. Based on the board game Clue (Cluedo in Australia and Europe) the story tells of six people being summoned to an American Gothic mansion for an evening of revealed secrets and murder. While the script has some hilarious lines ("Life after death is as improbable as sex after marriage") the core of the film is in the casting. Eileen Brennan is excellent as the disapproving, addle-brained Mrs Peacock, Christopher Lloyd inspiredly cast as the sex-mad Professor Plum, Madeleine Kahn is gorgeously mysterious Mrs White and Colleen Camp is pure delight as the sexy maid Yvette whom all the male guests leer after. "Mrs Peacock was a man"??? You will have to find out for yourself. Recommended. *******1/2 stars.

They All Laughed (1981)

Underrated Bogdanovich film.

[10/10 · 20 October 2001]

A critical and financial flop when first release, the critics have turned around and stated that this film ison of the Director's best. A La Ronde like feel to the film quickly develops as the guys from a detective agency (Ben Gazzara, John Ritter and Blaine Novak) persue, fall in and out of love with some of the most quirky and beautiful women seen on film (Audrey Hepburn, Colleen Camp, Dorothy Stratten and Patti Hansen). Much of the script was ad-libbed or re-written on the day of shooting which gives the film a breezy feel. Ben Gazzara is excellent as the head detective persuing Audrey Hepburn after dropping singer Colleen Camp and seeing cab-driver Patti Hansen on the side. John Ritter ineptly follows Dorothy Stratten and immediately falls in love with her. Blaine Novak has a few girls he is chasing (including Joyce Hyser and Elizabeth Pena). This film has some great performances by a supurb cast. Standouts are Audrey Hepburn (she doesn't have a line in the first half of the film). Ben Gazzara has never been better (and an inspiring choice for a romantic lead) and Colleen Camp has one of her best roles as the manic country singer Christy Miller. She is a delight to watch as she fires off her lines in a rat-a-tat-tat delivery. Highly Recommended! ********* stars!