siamangos Reviews

Convicts 4 (1962)

awkward

[18 September 2011]

The movie obviously has some merit in its acting, its filming, and its points about the justice system. But I found it unwatchable, at least this day. One after another, situations felt very forced to produce an effect. I wasn't able to get much of the effect because I was too busy cringing at how ham-handed various bits were. (For example: the robbery, the initial conflict with the first cell-mate, the initial conflict with the second cell-mate,...)

Some stuff *did* work potently for me, like the problem with Gazzara's bed.

About forty minutes in, when (as others mentioned) Timothy Carey is dubbed in his character's first scene, I guess it was just one 'fakeyness' straw too many and I turned off the TV. Either let him talk through his teeth, or don't let him talk through his teeth.

The Day After Halloween (1979)

quirky & interesting non-horror flick

[6/10 · 14 May 2011]

I agree with the posters who liked Snap Shot, and I appreciate some of the things they pointed out. In fact, it might deserve more than six stars, but I'd have to see it again sometime and decide more if comparisons to some of the depth of Mulholland Dr. hold water.

I chanced upon it on TCM cable channel, not knowing anything much in advance. It's not a horror or slasher flick, and it's neither terrifying (well, maybe the little sister...) nor exactly campy/fun. And bad pan-and-scan movement got distracting toward the end of the movie. That seemed strange because the image didn't fill the TV screen anyway, yet clearly there was still a bunch of frame missing.

Call it a bracing slice-of-(weird)-life coming-of-age melodrama with horror aspects. Don't expect a great film and don't expect an exciting film, but you'll find an interesting film with truly odd characters and touches and a sort of jauntily grim look at one young woman's options.

A reviewer mentioned that Thornton, the actress playing the central character, is like a cross between Elizabeth McGovern and Jennifer Jason Leigh. I didn't consciously notice that while watching, but seeing it pointed out, it's quite right. And JJL is one of my favorite actresses.