Bacardi1 Reviews

The Birdcage (1996)

I Love This Movie!

[8/10 · 2 February 2018]

I love this movie, & can't even count how many times I've seen it.

Yes, yes, I understand all of the naysayers whining about stereotypes & political correctness (I also frankly wonder how many of them have spent any time in drag clubs. . . .), but the movie is still well-written & a true comedy classic.

Apart from the obvious leading team of Williams, Lane, & Azaria, I can't help but love Gene Hackman in his role, as I can never resist a high-caliber serious mostly-dramatic actor who's not afraid of a role that basically has him looking foolish.

Road House (1948)

Ida's Singing Should Have Been Dubbed

[18 March 2009]

This could have been a top-notch film noir classic if it wasn't for Ida Lupino's god-awful singing, made even more laughable by everyone in the film waxing rhapsodic over her re: how fabulous she was. Flat, off-key, talking thru most of it - you name it. Neither sexy nor torchy. Even the worst Grade D picture singers sound better. Can't help but feel that once again, another example of a star's ego ending up ruining what could have been a very nice little film.

Cornel Wilde does his usual shtick, which rarely changes film-to-film; but as usual, Richard Widmark shines in a role that he does best.

But all in all, a nice little film.

I Was Framed (1942)

Could Have Been Nice

[2/10 · 10 March 2009]

This COULD have been a nice tight - if poorly acted - little Grade B/C film noir piece if someone had had the brains not to devote a solid 20-30 minutes to Patty Hale, whose poetry/song/supposed-light-comedy stints brought me to the point of nausea. This entire film looks to be nothing more than a vehicle for her. How very very sad.

I also found it unexpectedly funny re: the wife having her baby, although she was slim as a green bean in all her immediate before birth shots. I can only guess that it may have had something to do with the censors at that time.

But still - nothing ruins this little flick more than little Patty Hale.

The Third Man (1949)

Actress "Valli" - Film's Only Major Disappointment

[7/10 · 1 October 2006]

While this remains one of my favorite films, the choice of the actress "Valli" remains a major disappointment to me.

She lacks any sort of expression throughout the entire film except for maybe, what, two scenes? Other than that, she holds the same expressionless sad puss throughout the entire picture. Good grief - couldn't they have found someone who could actually act?? They could have pulled someone off the street to "act" her part better.

And apparently she really thought a lot of herself, based on her insistence that she be credited by one name only "Valli". How utterly precocious & vain, especially considering her complete lack of talent. Exactly who did she think she was - the next "Garbo", as she was supposedly promoted when this picture came out? This picture, while terrific, could have been so much more with a better actress - or actually, ANY actress - in the female lead.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)

Enjoyable

[5/10 · 7 August 2006]

I watch this movie when it comes on satellite TV (in fact it's on right now), & have added the novel it was based on to my voluminous "reading list" (I'll probably be dead & buried before I get to everything on that list - lol).

I believe John Cusack, Kevin Spacey, & the plethora of character actors in this piece make the movie shine, but SEVERELY disagree with Clint Eastwood's decision to use his daughter in one of the major roles. Just because she managed to sneak through his "Tightrope" flick as his child doesn't automatically make her an "actress", & I frankly found her outrageously unqualified for this (or really any other) film. Not only can she not act (she sounds like she's reading every line off a teleprompter), but she also can't sing worth a bean. Her spotlight song in this movie is extremely embarrassing it's so bad. Perhaps that's why we haven't seen her acting or singing in anything recently? (Unless I've had the good sense to miss something she's been in.. . .)

The Object of Beauty (1991)

An Excellent Film, Not Given Enough Credit

[8/10 · 27 June 2006]

This is by far one of my favorite little films, & just yesterday I bought it on DVD for a mere pittance ($6 & change)& settled in happily to enjoy it again. Only once in a blue moon does it turn up on artsy/independent film-type channels, so don't hold your breath looking for it on TV.

Everyone in this film is perfectly cast, & what makes it come together so beautifully is that each character in this piece exhibits faults & foibles, as we all do. It's so refreshing to watch something entertaining where the characters are portrayed as "real" - albeit flawed - people. In addition, the jazz musical score throughout the film fits the mood like a glove.

My favorite not-to-be-missed extremely funny scene? John Malkovich's "Jake", in a moment of depressed exasperation, talking aloud to himself composing his own obituary. I laugh every time I hear it - his delivery is perfect. Another favorite scene, very poignant, is when Mr. Malkovich's "Jake" phones his parents, after an apparently long absence, with the apparent intention of requesting monetary assistance. From the one-sided conversation you hear, you get an automatic insight into "Jake"'s upbringing, & perhaps why he's taken the path he has. Even though short, it's an extremely moving & insightful scene.

This movie is definitely worth renting if you can find it - but for the money, it's also worth adding to one's permanent DVD collection.

Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

Pat Hitchcock

[28 October 2005]

This just may be me, but does anyone else find Hitchcock's daughter Pat more than condescending & smarmy in all these new interviews/documentaries coming out these days?? I am absolutely speechless watching the current interview/doc on TCM where she says she just had to take the child actors from "Shadow of a Doubt" in hand & coach them herself. Give me a break. Exactly where does she come off as an expert on acting?

Quite frankly, Ms. Hitchcock would not - & did not - become any sort of an actress except/because of her father. Where she comes off thinking she was a suitable "acting coach" for anyone is anyone's guess.

Storm of the Century (1999)

Dumber Than A Box of Hammers

[1/10 · 23 January 2005]

Frankly - this movie, along with all of the other fairly recent Stephen King movie/screenplays - is simply idiotic & not worth the time.

The adaptations of Mr. King's first books were very good. But once King went into super-I'll-write-anything-that-might-sell mode, it all went downhill. After wasting some time watching a few of them, one can only wonder about Mr. King's mental frame of mind/sanity. Watching them (in fact, a new unbelievably stupid one "Riding The Bullet" is on right now) is like watching a documentary on drug addiction. They make absolutely NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. Unless, perhaps, you're in some sort of psycho therapy.

Mr. King has quite obviously sacrificed quality for quantity in a big way. Sad.