Johnny_Hing Reviews

Gunsmoke: The Widow (1962) Season 7, Episode 25

Worst Gunsmoke Episode Ever

[3/10 · 26 November 2021]

I love Gunsmoke. I don't think I've ever watched a bad episode before. Until today. When I say "bad", I mean bad by Gunsmoke standards. It was still mildly entertaining enough to watch til the end.

In the opening credits, the first thing I noticed is that neither John Meston nor Kathleen Hite wrote this. Love those 2... they made Gunsmoke the legend that it is. John Dunkel wrote this doozy.

Like another reviewer said, Joan Hackett's character was obnoxious. I might add that a lot of her dialogue was barely audible. Lots of whisper talking. Long extended, boring conversations that you could barely hear. And no, I'm not going deaf, haha.

There were a few good scenes, don't get me wrong. But those involved Miss Kitty, and or Doc/Chester/Matt. Hackett's scenes were rather dreary, IMO.

Overall, in 20 seasons, Gunsmoke is a 9.8 in my book. But this one, The Widow, was quite possibly the word ever, in large part due to the writing and (mis)casting.

Enjoy...if you can.

Gunsmoke: Chicken (1964) Season 10, Episode 11

Excellent... with a Surprise Ending

[10/10 · 11 September 2021]

There are already some detailed, superb reviews here so I will keep this rather short.

No Chester or Festus here, although there is a scene with Quint. There are a few Long Branch scenes, but no Sam the Bartender.

Great plot, great actors...always love to see LQ make a guest appearance.

Okay....so the key storyline, or one of them, is why Lucy keeps refusing Dan's advances. She won't say. Top secret. Apparently, only Doc knows, which seems to provide a hint. I made a few wild guesses...maybe she can't have kids? Maybe she was raped and is scarred for life? Maybe this, maybe that.

I had a "duh" moment when the secret was finally revealed. But of course! She's married to the crippled guy claiming to be her brother! Poor Dan though... he died before finding out. But he died a hero. He wasn't a coward after all.

Gunsmoke often has a tragic ending, and this is no different. Matt arrives on the scene to wrap things up and impart some words of wisdom.

A very pleasant hour to spend when you don't feel like watching Netflix or any of the other streaming channels.

The Bag Man (I) (2014)

Dark, claustrophobic, and senseless

[2/10 · 21 January 2015]

I've been a huge De Niro fan since the 70's and have always enjoyed Cusak's work since The Grifters. But alas, they were not able to carry this film. Their characters were not at all likable. I didn't find myself rooting for either one of them, nor the girl. You don't see much of De Niro anyway, except at the beginning and again towards the end. The motel clerk was okay (thought it was Steve Zahn at first), but even he pooped out with his "don't touch my wheelchair!" scene.

This is a dark movie - literally. Very dim lighting. Not easy on the eyes. You don't see any daylight until the final scene. I happen to sometimes like dark movies, and I also like "sleazy motel" movies, but there has to be some interesting stuff going on to make up for for what is missing visually. Witty dialogue would help, but there is none to be found. Plot? Blah. What is in the bag is way too predictable. Too much senseless violence. Okay, it has a surprise twist at the end, and I can bump it a half star for that. So... 2 stars total for me.

PS: In reading through several dozen pages of the favorable reviews, it almost looks as if they were written by the same person employing many different aliases... same broken English, same adjectives, same rushed format. Surely I'm not the only one who has noticed this. Wow.

The Devil's Ride (2012– )

Interesting

[8/10 · 29 November 2013]

I've read all the reviews here, and read a ton of reviews elsewhere online. Clearly, this show has generated a lot of controversy. And I do believe I understand the many reasons why. I've never ridden a bike in my life, and I only learned what a "1%-er" was this morning, (okay, go ahead and call me a pansy and a dimwit), yet the show had me talking to myself at times, as I'm sure it did many others, especially in regards to respect and loyalty. IMO, Billy the Kid was disrespectful to Gypsy, the original Founder of the club by making him turn in his patches, and in turn Gypsy was disrespectful to his former club by using its colors to start his new club, Sinister Mob. And also by defying the new Pres by having a paint-ball outing when they were supposed to be at the new clubhouse doing some remodeling. Is the show scripted, with hired actors playing the roles of bikers? From all that I've read elsewhere, this doesn't appear to be the case at all. If so, that's some pretty darn good acting from a cast of unknowns.

The show's been renewed for a 2nd season, so apparently there is more interest than one would be led to believe by reading the reviews submitted here. Oh... and I noticed that at least 8 of the negative reviews here are by 1-time reviewers. One and done. Hmmm...

My take: 3 stars for actually riding bikes, as one reviewer put it, another 3 for the great San Diego skyline, beach, and scenery, (I love non-claustrophobic, visual-type shows), and another 2 for the interesting group of personalities and the real-life drama which unfolds.

PS: I tried several times to spell Gypsy with an "i", as is the case in the show, but the site keeps changing it automatically to a "y". Sorry about that.

Gunsmoke: Joe Phy (1958) Season 3, Episode 17

Grrrrr!

[7/10 · 27 October 2013]

A good solid episode, as usual. One quip though: if I hadn't have just watched Season 2's episode called "Brush at Elkader", I might have given this a 9. You see, in this episode, one of the locals in Elkader asks Matt (accompanied by Chester) if he's been to Elkader before. He says no, that this is the first time he's ever been there. And, this is reinforced by the fact that no one seems to know him or realize that he is the Marshall. Yet, he and Chester were both there just a year earlier. John Meston was the writer of both episodes, so I'm not sure what he was thinking. I would have liked to have seen more continuity in some of the episodes, instead of the writers/directors assuming that the viewers have short memories when it comes to previous episodes. The show seems to perpetually take place some time in the 1870s, even though the show ran for 20 years and should have taken us up at least to 1890. And, some of the grave markers on Boot Hill very clearly show dates in the early 1880's. However, in Season 2, there were a couple of episodes where Doc said the Gold Rush happened 20 years ago, which would indicate that the current time is.... well, you do the math. Other than that (sorry, had to get that off my chest), another fine episode in what for me was the greatest TV show of all time.

Gunsmoke: Cain (1957) Season 2, Episode 24

Different than the normal fare

[10/10 · 25 October 2013]

It's not often that one of the guest stars on Gunsmoke actually sits down and plays a classic Stephen Foster song, in this case "Beautiful Dreamer", with the saloon patrons taking a pause in their boozing and becoming all teary-eyed. Usually at the Longbranch, it's the same old upbeat piano diddy over and over again (don't know the name of it). Doc delivers one of the best lines I've heard in a while, asking Cain if he knew or heard of someone named Samuel Clemens, during his travels along the Mississippi. I had to rewind that one a couple of times, as it gave me a good chuckle. I guess news of Clemens' pen name hadn't yet reached Dodge. The show is well worth your nickel just to hear the song, along with Doc's great line. The ending was not your typical shootout, although it was apt, and filled with irony, and even the gambler who shot Cain had to concede that he had been cleverly defeated. This is much better than the 5 stars one reviewer gave. If you're a Gunsmoke fan, even one of the weaker episodes (which this isn't) should still warrant 7 or 8 stars. I mean... overall, I give the entire series a 10, (well, maybe a 9.6 to be more precise), being that it is my favorite TV show of all-time. For me, even the so-called weaker episodes deserve at least a 7. But hey... that's just me.

Abduction (I) (2011)

Very good teen action movie

[8/10 · 20 September 2012]

I am really astounded at how many people are trashing this movie. Most of it appears to be based on Taylor Lautner and his "shirtless" persona from the Twilight films. Despite being a prolific movie-watcher, I have not as yet watched any of the Twilight films, for whatever reason. Perhaps this is a good thing, as I had no preconceived notions of Lautner going in, and had no expectations one way or another.

The drunken party scene was well-executed, and served a purpose in developing his character, being that his Dad challenged him to a fight (with gloves) when he got home, apparently to teach him never to let his guard down. Whatever people want to say about his acting (and I thought it was decent), he is a skilled martial artist in real life. Thus, the fight scenes were realistic, and we didn't have to suffer through a shaky camera trying to disguise an actor's athletic shortcomings, as is the case in many action movies out there. The casting was good (so refreshing to see a real teen play a teen). The cinematography is excellent. The final 20 minutes or so, set in and around PNC Park in Pittsburg, was a visual treat. Amid the action and drama, we actually get to see a few pitches thrown, and even a home-run over the center field fence. The film had a denouement, and didn't leave you muttering to yourself "What the heck just happened?" The movie had a few flaws, but those have been beaten to death and are exaggerated beyond recognition. No, this isn't Die Hard, nor does it try to be. (Even if it had tried, no doubt people would be screaming "Die Hard ripoff!") It is a good, solid teen action movie with Phil Collins' lovely daughter Lily as the co-star. Personally, I recommend it, for whatever that's worth. (Nothing, I know.) Seriously, this does not deserve the vicious thrashing that many reviewers are meting out. Is it blockbuster material? No, certainly not. Is it worth the price of a DVD rental? Yes, indeed.

Soda Springs (2012)

A pleasant surprise

[10/10 · 6 August 2012]

I'm not sure I can find any flaws in this movie. The acting was very good, the direction by Michael Feifer was superb. The storyline was excellent, and unlike many indie movies I watch these days, it actually had a real ending, along with a few surprise twists. The characters were interesting and likable, and the chemistry between them was believable and grabbed my attention. The Idaho scenery was stunning. And the haunting soundtrack throughout was eerily mood-evoking. Possibly the only fault I could find was that I was left wondering for 38 minutes into the movie how long Eden had been in prison. But perhaps that was by design. The song Eden sang at the end was slightly corny, but then... for an amateur redneck performing at the local honkey tonk, it was about what you'd expect, I suppose. I loved Henry Darrow's role (am I the only one who remembers Manolito from The High Chapparal series in the late 60's?), and although his scenes were brief, his presence was richly felt. I don't give 10 stars lightly, but this one definitely deserved it, IMO.

Category 6: Day of Destruction (2004 TV Movie)

Not bad, but not "off the charts" either

[5/10 · 2 August 2012]

I was prepared to rate this movie somewhere between 6-8, while watching the first 2/3rds or so of this 2-part made-for-TV film. But then, things began to fall apart for me. First, one of the pilots in the Air Force plane said, for dramatic effect regarding the hurricane in the Great Lakes: "Off the charts!" Then he says it again a short time later... really a weak and lazy attempt to build the doomsday tension. Then, they comment on how the waves are 15 meters high, but when we actually see the waves a short time later, they are maybe... oh, 3 or 4 feet high? Huge let-down. They're using CGI, so surely they could simulate some sort of gigantic wave 15 meters high?? And the clincher... not ONCE during the movie was the death toll even hinted at, which was quite odd, given the heavy destruction all over the place. They never once gave a ball-park guesstimate "perhaps tens of thousands of people killed", or even "millions", which might be more accurate. Not that I wanted to see people die. But to make it more realistic in a movie about "catastrophe", surely someone would have mentioned the possible death toll?! All we really got was at the closing scene, where the weather chief says that it could be "several weeks" before we have an accurate count of the "fatalities." Well, duh. No one's asking for an "accurate count" right now. Just give us something, anything! Also, again with the Air Force pilots: one of them makes a remark regarding the upcoming tornado and hurricane colliding, "Either one will be destructive ...together they will be deadly." Hmmm. I'm pretty sure that the tornadoes were already quite deadly, given the massive destruction that had already taken place. Seems the movie's dialog was mostly concerned with property damage, not fatalities. Keep in mind this was made during the cable news era, where you get updates every 5 minutes on the possible death toll (think Haiti and Joplin, Missouri for starters.)

But if you can suspend belief during some of these gaffes, (which I tried my best to do), the rest of the movie is actually quite good. Decent subplots, decent acting, interesting characters, the CGI was okay for the most part. I might have given this a 7 or 8, if not for the conspicuous flaws mentioned above.

Café (II) (2011)

Much better than expected

[8/10 · 7 July 2012]

The mood, setting, the assortment of highly interesting characters, and especially the interaction between those characters, are all superb. I suspect that those few folks who are giving this movie a bad rating are doing so based on the little girl who seems to be playing "God", or the "programmer" in a virtual world supposedly created by her. However, the rest of the movie was just so fascinating that I simply would not allow this "existentialism" theme (if that's what it was) to ruin it for me. Hence, I just chalked that relatively minor portion of the film up to "fantasy." I might have given this an even higher rating, if not for the ending, which left one wondering what happened with the writer and the "movie girl", as everyone else in the cafe had a happy ending. *SPOILER* Now that I think of it, the sitting-alone writer (who was observing all the patrons and employees while writing his blog) also happened to be the mysterious owner of the cafe... so perhaps the "fantasy" elements were a product of *his* imagination (not the little girl's) while writing? That might explain why he was still observing and writing at the very end, seemingly despondent, while all those he was observing were experiencing oneness and elation. Just a theory I had the day after watching... ETA: In one of the above reviews, UncleTantra seems to share the same conclusion in his last paragraph.

Dog Jack (2010)

Good screenplay, bad acting

[5/10 · 26 April 2012]

Having recently watched Ken Burns' Civil War series, I decided to watch a movie based upon the Civil War. Seeing the name "Louis Gossett, Jr" drew me in to Dog Jack. However, he did not actually appear in the movie, but only narrated. The actors for the most part, appeared to have been recruited from a church choir, (although admittedly, this is pure speculation on my part), as many of them could sing very nicely, but were ineffective as actors. I did not recognize a single familiar face, not even a grade C or D actor. It was difficult to emotionally connect with the characters due to the contrived feel of the actors reciting their lines. The choreographed fight scenes were weak as well. On the plus side, the storyline was actually quite interesting. The cinematography was excellent, having been filmed in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. If you approach this movie as a documentary re-enactment, then you won't be disappointed. Civil War buffs should be able to enjoy this despite its flaws. But it must be said, this could have been *so much better*, had they hired a couple of professional actors, even B-grade actors, for a couple of the lead roles.

The movie also had a "faith/spirituality" message and feel to it, which is fine by me, but is one of the reasons why I suspect that the actors had been recruited from a church group, probably from somewhere in Illinois. (In the closing credits, special thanks were given to a church in the Chicago area.)

This is a decent family movie, with no graphic violence, sex, or cursing, and the children watching will most likely not notice the glaring weaknesses in regards to the acting.

Once I resigned myself to viewing this as a dramatized Civil War "re-enactment", I was able to appreciate the film on a somewhat modest level.

The Man Who Came Back (2008)

Unsettling, but sobering

[6/10 · 9 April 2012]

I'm a huge fan of Westerns. I thought this one was unique in that the setting was the deep South, about 10 years after the Civil War and Reconstruction, just after the Bluecoats returned to the North. The racism that existed at that time was just brutal. Apparently, blacks were not even considered human. It was truly amazing to see how the former Confederates at that time actually considered themselves to be civilized, and Christian at that! The blacks went on strike after their request for improved working conditions were refused. (They asked that they not have to work more than 12 hours a day, and have Sundays off.) The whites were outraged, saying "What'll they want next, Christmas in July?" One of the blacks was hung out of spite, and when Reese Paxton asks for justice, the local yokels railroad him instead, sending him off to prison, as he watches his wife and son being murdered and thrown down a well. Their crime? Being "n****r lovers."

This movie is quite violent. Be forewarned. I had to FF through several scenes, as it was a bit too much. Eric Braeden wouldn't have been my first choice to play the role of Reese Paxton, former stealth assassin for the Confederacy, some 10 years removed. But for the most part, it was believable.

I had 2 complaints with his character however. First, he seems to mumble at times, when he speaks, and I can barely hear what he's saying. To say that he's "soft-spoken" would be an understatement. Second, during the inevitable face-off with the vicious Billy Duke near the end, he agrees to a fist-fight, laying down his gun. How could anyone trust Duke after all the unspeakable evil he's engaged in? That just seems implausible to me. And sure enough, when the fight is about to begin, Duke pulls out a whip and begins whipping away. And then he pulls out a derringer and gets a shot off. I was not at all happy with that final scene.

Still, the movie got the point across... it was to be a whopping 70 years before the Blacks ever dared go on strike again, due to the brutal massacre that took place.

This could have been much better, don't get me wrong. But, it's nowhere near as bad as some are saying. The cinematography is decent. I felt a strong sense of realism being depicted about the way of life in that particular era of the deep South. Apparently the setting is intended to be in Louisiana, although I believe most of the filming was done in Texas, according to the closing credits.

Blindside (1987)

Mildly entertaining, but bizarre ending

[5/10 · 9 March 2012]

I came to this site to gain some clarity regarding the ending, which was not only abrupt, but confusing. Thus far, no satisfaction in that regard. The movie wasn't bad at all. The lead loudmouth gangster was a bit unbelievable... over the top, and seemingly miscast for the part. Keitel is a fascinating actor, although there were long stretches where his character said little or nothing at all. Lori Hallier and a young 25 year old "Lolita David" (as she was billed in this movie) were easy on the eyes. I found it odd that his motel guests didn't come to the front desk to pay their rent... he would knock on their doors and collect. And, apparently, they didn't have to pay in advance. They could even be a few weeks behind, and he wouldn't boot them out. Strange. Dark, moody, slow-paced. If I could have made some sense out of the plot twists near the end, I might have given this 7 stars.

Unforgettable (1996)

If you like labs and needles...

[4/10 · 12 February 2012]

I love Ray Liotta and Linda Fiorentino. Great actors. If not for them, this movie would have been completely unwatchable. I would have given this an average 5 stars, but could not do so, as this just dragged on and on and on. This movie was almost 2 hours long. And most of the scenes were dreary lab/hospital scenes, with needles and injections, and repetitive flashbacks of crimes having been committed. Very little in the way of cinematography, sound track, or witty dialog. The murder mystery was okay I guess. But again... it dragged. And, did I mention that I really do hate seeing people shoot themselves up with needles? I really love "atmospheric" type movies, and this was advertised as such on netflix. But, hospital rooms/labs/blurred crime scenes are not what I'm looking for in "atmospheric" movies.

Lebanon, Pa. (2010)

Disappointing ending

[4/10 · 4 February 2012]

I was really liking this movie, not having seen any reviews beforehand, and not really knowing what this was about. The cinematography was excellent. The girl who played CJ gave a nice performance, especially considering it was her first role. The problem I had with the movie was... it was clearly a "message" movie, which is fine, but for me, it sent all the wrong messages. CJ's teen pregnancy, and her dilemma as to whether to have the child or get an abortion. And Hopkins' illicit affair with a married lady. And then CJ's younger brother sneaking out the window to have sex with his girlfriend, and CJ providing condoms. I was hoping that this might be something refreshingly different.... a movie that *gasp* might actually promote virtuosity without sounding preachy or religious. I was ready to give this 8 or 9 stars until the ending. Instead, CJ goes through with the abortion, gets a "fresh" start, and off to college in Philly she goes. And Hopkins even gives his Mom 1/2 the money from the sale of his late Dad's house... the same Mom who taught him to hate his Dad all his life, and never apologized for it. I'm all for "choice" and all, don't get me wrong. But, why can't people make the *right* choices once in a while, in these kinds of films? Or, having made the wrong choices, (which we all do at times), why can't we see the fallout from those bad decisions? Hopkins was *very* lucky he didn't get shot, or at least severely beaten, by the husband of the lady he was having an affair with. He had the gall to ask her to stay with him, with her husband present! This could have been so much better. Huge let-down at the end. Bummer.

Small Town Saturday Night (2010)

Pleasantly surprised

[7/10 · 22 December 2011]

From reading the reviews, I was expecting the standard, formulaic aspiring singer/songwriter story, loaded with mediocre songs and bad acting. As it turned out, there weren't any songs at all... well, not until the final scene. The acting was very good, IMO, and I especially liked John Hawkes (Donnie) portraying the good ol boy, ex-con troublemaker who really only wants to spend some quality time with his young child, now in the care of his ex and her lover. It took me a while to figure out what was going on, how the characters were related to one another, and their intertwined struggles for existence. No one has it easy in this small town. The mood is rather depressing and melancholy, which for me, is realistic and refreshing. It's a slice of life... nothing over the top or melodramatic. Simple people living routine and somewhat hopeless lives. There are several other story lines apart from Rhett's dilemma about moving to Nashville, and for me, this is what made this movie enjoyable. The signs inside the gas station/repair shop added a nice, down-home feel, as did the down-on-her-luck bar lady willing to turn a trick for 20 bucks.

Hack (2002–2004)

Highly entertaining!

[9/10 · 13 December 2011]

I've been watching this on Netflix streaming as of late. I don't even remember this show while it was on TV, and can't believe it only lasted 2 or 3 seasons. I found the premise to be intriguing and original. The characters are strong and likable. The chemistry between Morse and his son, Morse and his former partner, (Andre Braugher), and even Morse with his estranged wife, make for good sub-plot lines. Oh... and Morse and the Priest (Dzundza.) The main thrust of the show is his vigilante persona, which he pulls off well, with his passengers who are in need. There are some interesting twists at times, as occasionally the passengers in need turn out to be villains, and not the victims. He's human, has flaws... and wrestles with his inner demons, but at least he acknowledges his shortcomings and struggles to make things right. Great shots of Philly, by the way. The viewer can almost taste the flavor of this great city.

Interstate (2007)

It started off well, but a very disappointing ending

[5/10 · 2 December 2011]

The first half was pretty decent. Nice mood, setting, great shots along the New Mexico highway. Loved the bombastic, rundown pit-stops. This had real potential for some highly entertaining film noir. But alas, the last 20 or 30 minutes was mostly Edgar screaming and whining at his two female hitchhiker companions. He totally wimped out. He could have used force to extract himself from their company, but instead chose to snivel. He could have given them some cash (from Alan's wallet) and dropped them off almost anywhere. Instead, he allows them to call the shots, even though they have no weapons.

I appreciated that it didn't turn into a sex-fest or a horror-fest. Unfortunately, an ear-grating shout-fest with uninteresting dialog is not much of an improvement. This could have been so much better. Lose the screaming and unbecoming wimpiness on Edgar's part, and I would have easily upgraded this to a 7 or higher. Also, stomping on some bags of heroin when there's an unstable, drugged-out girl pointing a gun at you doesn't quite seem like the smart thing to do. Good grief.

Have Gun - Will Travel: Episode in Laredo (1959) Season 3, Episode 2

Loved this!

[9/10 · 13 November 2011]

I mainly wanted to echo the viewpoint that the "family aspect" to this episode is indeed crucial. Not only that, but there's a scene that is actually a real tear-jerker, when father and 9 year old son are reunited at long last, with the son apparently not aware that he's with his Dad. I replayed it several times, and the acting was superb. My eyes actually teared up. How the writer and director were able to introduce this surprise element into the storyline, and have it all neatly wrapped up in a 1/2 hour show involving two gunfighters, is really beyond amazing.

Also, I liked how Paladin and the gunfighter assumed tense, crouching positions when they were squaring off for the gun draw. Usually, you see the gunfighters standing tall, relaxed, loose. It was refreshing to see something different in that regard. Paladin acknowledged that the gunfighter was faster, but he let it be known that he was fast enough himself that he would hurry his opponent's draw, and that if his aim was off by even a quarter inch, he would be dead. Ya gotta love Paladin's psychological war of words with his opponents.

Street Kings 2: Motor City (2011 Video)

Loved the cinematography!

[7/10 · 10 November 2011]

Sure, this story's been told before. Old wine, new bottle. Corrupt cops, veteran cop partnered with first-year cop, Internal Affairs on their tails, and so on and so forth. Nothing original there. Come to think of it, is anything actually "original" anymore these days?? What was refreshing, at least for me, was the setting. Detroit... Motown, Motor City, 2011. Great, great shots of the city from a wide array of angles, including from across the river in Windsor. Just superb. If you've ever lived in Detroit, or even just visited, then you'll see what I mean, especially compared to the mid-70's, when I lived there. And even if you've never been there, what a pleasant treat to watch an action cop flick that wasn't filmed in the same ol same ol: NY, Chicago, or L.A.

The score was excellent as well, and really set the mood. The acting was solid, and Ray Liotta fans won't be disappointed.

If you've got HD and a decent sound system, allow yourself to sit back and be mesmerized, and never mind the hackneyed plot and predictable storyline.

If you're more into witty dialog, memorable one-liners, suspense, surprise twists, and all that, then by all means, take a pass.

Knockout (2011)

Decent

[6/10 · 27 August 2011]

I'm in my 50's and I enjoyed watching this. And that's saying something, as I'm not easily entertained by movies about High School kids and teenage angst. (Not since Fast Times at Ridgemont High, My Bodyguard, and The Breakfast Club from the 80's.) As others have said, this movie is not over the top, nor does it attempt to be. It even takes a friendly poke at some that are, like when our hero jumps up out of his chair after sharing his first kiss with his new girlfriend and shouts something like "Yo, Adrienne!" The Mom not understanding what a son has to endure when transferring to a new school is an important issue that is addressed here. Dads can relate no doubt, but for the single Moms out there, please take note. If your kid wants to learn how to fight, don't discourage him. He most likely has a very good reason. There's hardly any swearing, no gore, no sex, which is refreshing for a film of this genre. Steve Austin's character as the coach is believable, as you know he's lived the life. "For 3 minutes a round, it's just you and your opponent." Wish the kid would have thrown more punches after all that training... he seemed to be mostly on the defensive. Had he noticeably blossomed into a really tough fighter, I might have given this a couple extra stars just to witness the dramatic transformation. As it stands, it is a pleasant, mildly entertaining story about courage and survival within the hallways and gymnasiums of the U.S. secondary school system.

Hollywoodland (2006)

Good acting perhaps, but not much entertainment value

[4/10 · 13 August 2011]

I was a young kid during the 50's, so I recall fondly the Superman series. And most of us eventually became aware that there were some suspicious details surrounding Reeves' death in '59. Unfortunately, this movie was a disappointment to me. Adrien Brody was badly miscast as a detective, IMO. Plus, the movie seemed to be far more about his character (Louis Simo) and his life struggles than about George Reeves. Brody's character was simply boring. He was not likable, lacked charm, he didn't evoke sympathy from me, nor did he answer any questions about the death of Reeves. His role might have worked in a much more subdued and complimentary sense, but not as the lead. Affleck's performance was believable and solid, but here again, he was somewhat miscast due to the age differential, being a good 12 years younger than Reeves was during the 50's era. (Reeves was born in 1914 and was 45 in '59, Affleck was born in '72 and was 33 at the time this movie was made.) Still, the acting was very good all around, especially from Diane Lane. I appreciated the neo-noir aspect of the film. There were a few behind-the-scenes peeks at Reeves' life that were quite interesting, but sadly, only a few. Too much Detective Simo, and not enough George Reeves. If you watch movies just to see good acting, then maybe this is for you. If you're the type (like me) who wants to be entertained in the process, or at the very least find some long-anticipated closure regarding the death of George Reeves, then I'm finding this movie rather hard to recommend. I would never rent this, although if it's available on streaming, it might be worth a shot.

Absolute Power (1997)

Perhaps a bit far-fetched, but solid entertainment

[8/10 · 9 August 2011]

I enjoyed it. I liked Ed Harris' subtle dry wit, (made me laugh out loud a few times), along with the father/daughter issues between Linney's and Eastwood's characters. The scene where Linney's character opens her fridge and discovers that it had been well-stocked by her Dad, whom she suspected earlier of spying on her for not eating well, was a gem. I thought it was a bit absurd for Eastwood's character to return the murder evidence to E.G. Marshall's character in the end. Marshall could have stabbed him with it, for starters. Why not give it to the police, who seemed to already know he wasn't guilty of murder? But then, as in real life, even smart people often do strange things at weird times. Oh... and for those who found it implausible that Linney's character would betray her Dad, she didn't. That's why we see Eastwood playing back the phone message a couple of times... she gives him clues that it's a probable setup and that he should beware. (Calling him "Dad" instead of "Father", stuttering, etc.) 2 of his daughters appear in the film, one of them Kimber, as the White House Tour Guide; the other, Alison, as an art student.

Winter's Bone (2010)

One of the best of the past decade

[10/10 · 2 August 2011]

This is easily the best movie I've seen in a long time, perhaps since The Majestic. What can I say that hasn't already been said? I had never heard of director Debra Granik before. Yet she accomplished with a $2 million budget what most other directors only dream about with their $200m/$300m churn-outs. Visually stunning. Atmospheric and mesmerizing; filmed in the southwestern Missouri Ozarks near the Branson area. Very well-acted, with Jennifer Lawrence making a huge splash in a big-time way. Watch her stock rise in the film industry. The storyline is believable, being that there are hill-folks who make their living manufacturing meth in that part of the country. With a great screenplay, casting, acting, and strikingly visual story-telling, the viewer is seductively transported into the remote backwoods of the Ozarks to experience the harsh struggle for survival. I can't wait to see more from director Debra Granik.

Passion Play (2010)

Could have been better

[5/10 · 31 July 2011]

It was different. In a good way. By introducing Lily, the winged beauty, at a carnival freak show, her character became believable. However, the setting was confusing at times. When we meet Lily, she apparently is living in another country, as she talks about "moving to the States" and seeing the ocean for the first time. So, I assumed it was meant to be set in Mexico, although I never saw this confirmed. Yet she speaks perfect English and has no Mexican accent. And what decade is this supposed to have taken place in? No cell phones, no HDTVs, just older-looking standard-definition TV sets. I like to have my "setting" established during the first 10 minutes or so. I'm a bit fussy about that, I guess. Anyway. I was pleased to see that none of the leads were smokers, only to watch Nate mysteriously begin lighting up on a regular basis about 2/3rds of the way through. If he were a smoker, wouldn't he have been smoking earlier on in the film, especially in the motel scenes? I had to FF through the sex scenes. Not interested in watching Mickey do the dirty with someone 35 years younger than he. No can do, sorry. The ending was good, although I admit that afterward, I had to check the online reviews to confirm who the dead body was in the desert. (Oh, and there appears to be some snow in the desert, which again, just leaves me scratching my head.) The acting was decent. Bill Murray appears to have aged quite a bit since I last saw him, and has lost some weight as well. All in all, reasonably entertaining. If not for some of the obvious flaws and question marks, I would have given it 7 stars. Filmed on location in New Mexico... nice scenery.