scr555 Reviews

Blast from the Past (1999)

Blast From the Past: A Funny Comedy With a Sweet Soul

[9/10 · 7 August 2017]

Blast From the Past is one of those films that succeeds on every level. The script and direction work in concert with a superb cast to tell a touching and original story about a man raised in a fallout shelter who has to cope with life in America in the 1990s. Heading the cast is Brendan Fraser, who's pitch-perfect as naif Adam Webber, who's spent 35 years growing up in a fallout shelter after his father mistakenly assumes nuclear war broke out back in 1962. Fraser is wonderful, but so is everyone else in the cast. Alicia Silverstone has one of her best-ever roles as the cynical Eve, who reluctantly befriends Adam. Dave Foley is a delight as Eve's gay best friend, Troy. Equally impressive are Christopher Walken as Adam's brilliant but daffy father, and Sissy Spacek as Adam's sweet, long suffering mom. Even the smallest roles are well-acted, with special kudos to Joey Slotnik, Nathan Fillion, the two beautiful blondes Adam dances with in the nightclub scene, the deadpan grocery clerk at the meat counter, and the nutty guy Adam sits next to on his first bus ride. It's also got an unbeatable soundtrack, and a story that never loses steam until its sweetly ironic ending. It's also one of those rare comedies that doesn't have a mean moment in it. It's refreshingly sweet and achingly funny; a real winner that deserved the good reviews it got when it came out. It's one of those films whose reputation will only grow with time. Don't miss it.

Ulzana's Raid (1972)

Tough, Realistic Western

[10/10 · 10 December 2016]

Burt Lancaster did a trio of excellent westerns in the late 70s, including Lawman and Valdez is Coming. Of the three, Ulzana's Raid is the best; it ranks as one of the best and most realistic westerns ever made. It's not for the faint of heart, director Aldrich and screenwriter Alan Sharp make no bones about how brutal and terrifying the Indian wars of the Southwest were on both sides. Lancaster is superb as McIntosh the hard-bitten Indian scout, and is ably supported by old pro Richard Jaeckel and Bruce Davison as callow, inexperienced Lt. DeBuin. If you like westerns and you're a history buff, you'll enjoy this movie immensely. It's very well made and true to history.

The Spirit (2008)

A Mess. An Insult to Eisner's Spirit

[1/10 · 6 September 2014]

The Spirit is not only one of the worst comic book adaptations of all time, it's one of the worst films of all time. Although the film is striking visually, the lousy script sinks it virtually from the opening credits. It's not only poorly written, it's offensive. Why Frank Miller thought it would be a good idea to put Samuel Jackson in an SS uniform defies comprehension. This film is stunningly bad. Given the source material and the budget, it could have been a classic. What a missed opportunity. Also Gabriel Macht has zero charisma. Casting him is another reason why this movie stinks so bad. Don't bother. And shame on Frank Miller for desecrating this beloved comic strip.

See You in Hell, Blind Boy (1999)

Poignant, evocative essay on the Delta Blues

[9/10 · 23 June 2006]

Artist and blues enthusiast George Pratt presents a very personal journey to the heart of the blues, punctuated by his intelligent, insightful commentary on his relationship with the blues and the many interesting people he encounters along the way. It does lack the depth of many larger films, but its greatest virtue is that it brings home the appeal of blues music in terms of what it means to one man. Pratt is terrific as the anchor for this exploration of the blues, and his commentary is both sensitive and poetic. It also benefits from Pratt's artistic skills. His drawings and watercolors are interspersed with the music performances, interviews and historical photos and provide an added dimension to this wonderful film. I can't think of a better way to spend an hour than in the company of Mr. Pratt and the bluesmen he interviews.

Gargoyles (1972 TV Movie)

Effective and atmospheric low-budget shocker about a scientist (Cornel Wilde) who discovers a centuries-old colony of living gargoyles.

[8/10 · 24 March 2006]

This is one TV movie that definitely needs to released on DVD. It originally aired in the 1970s as a TV movie on CBS. Its main asset is the believable atmosphere it builds up in the early scenes when scientist Cornel Wilde discovers a gargoyle skeleton hanging inside a junk shop out in the Southwest. Intrigued by his find, Wilde takes it back to his home and soon finds himself under assault by living gargoyles. Although the gargoyle makeups and other effects will probably look cheap to modern audiences, this film is amazingly effective and makes great use of actual locations. I thought the ending was a little lame, but for most of the film it's an effective and surprisingly suspenseful little shocker. This film should be rebroadcast on the Sci-Fi channel or released on DVD. It's a minor horror classic that deserves to be seen by contemporary audiences.