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An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
GERE, WINGER, AND GOSSETT AT THEIR BEST!
Taylor Hackford's classic old fashioned military romantic drama is one of the most beloved and commercially successful motion pictures of the early 1980s. About an emotionally damaged selfish loner named Zack Mayo, sensationally played with conviction by Richard Gere, in one of the finest performances of his career which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor, who joins the Navy's Officer Candidate School to became an aviator, and will have to endure the survival training which is 13 weeks of hell under the watchful eye of the tough-as-nails drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley, brilliantly played by the late great Louis Gossett Jr. In a tour-de-force scene-stealing performance that earned him Oscar and Golden Globe Award wins for Best Supporting Actor. The brooding Mayo makes friends with another officer candidate, Sid Worley, wonderfully played by David Keith who earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and they soon met two of the local ladies Paula Pokifki and Lynette Pomeroy, marvelously played by Debra Winger, who earned an Oscar and Golden Award nominations for Best Actress, and the late Lisa Blount who delivers a terrific performance, they both dream of leaving their dead end factory jobs and boring lives by marrying a naval aviator. For Mayo he will slowly learn some life lessons as he begins to fell in love with Paula, who truly loves him, unlike her friend Lynette who goal is to become a officer's wife by any means necessary. Special kudos to Richard Gere and Debra Winger who have a natural and endearing chemistry that rings true. There is also an inspired Karate bout between Gere and Gossett that is most impressive. Astute direction by Hackford, with an exquisite Oscar nominated score by Jack Nitzsche, and a fine Oscar winning hit theme song "Up Where you Belong" by Jack Nitzsche, Will Jennings, and Buffy Sainte-Marie. This gem of film has one of the most feel-good endings in cinematic history. A real winner!
No Time to Die (2021)
A ROYAL FAREWELL TO CRAIG'S BOND THAT IS BRILLIANT
Cary Joji Fukunaga's dramatic, action-packed, moving extravaganza gives a royal farewell to Daniel Craig's kickass James Bond series of films. It concerns a retired James Bond, brilliantly played by Daniel Craig with real conviction, who is living and enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica with his beautiful wife Madeline, wonderfully played by Lex Seydoux, but this is short-lived when his old CIA friend Felix Leiter, superbly played by Jeffrey Wright, appears and asks for his help to find a kidnapped scientist, but this covert mission is more treacherous then expected when Bond discovers a complex plot involving a mysterious scarface sociopathic villain named Lyutsifer Safin, effectively played by Oscar winner Rami Malek in a truly creepy performance, who possesses a super lethal DNA-altering bioweapon that threatens the entire world. Terrific direction by Fukunaga who gives his film stunning action sequences that are truly jaw-dropping, exceptional supporting performances by Ralph Fiennes as M, Ben Whishaw as Q, Rory Kinnear as Tanner, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, Christoph Waltz as Biofeld, with special kudos to Lashana Lynch as Nomi the new no-nonsense "007" female agent and Ana de Armas as the gorgeous and deadly CIA agent Paloma. Breathtaking cinematography by Linus Sandgren, with an evocative score by Hans Zimmer, and a haunting Grammy Award winning title song which was written and beautifully sung by Billie Eilish. I totally enjoyed and was highly entertained by this expertly-crafted epic film which is a perfect swan song to Daniel Craig's sensational 15 year tenure as James Bond throughout 5 films, and his impressive farewell performance delivers on all levels.
Barbie (2023)
OVERRATED AND OVERHYPED, BUT A GOOD FILM
Greta Gerwig's overhyped and vastly overrated pink feminist fantasy that became a mega-hit at the global box office. For me the highlight of this movie is the opening in the world of "Barbieland" which is colorful and visually stunning with some campy humor and a look into the repetitive lives of these living dolls, particularly the stereotypical Barbie, played brilliantly played by Margo Robbie who is pure perfection in the role, and her hunky dimwitted boyfriend Ken, terrifically played by Ryan Gosling who earned an Oscar nomination for his scene-stealing turn, but once Barbie and Ken leave Barbieland and enter the real world the entire lighthearted tone of the film ends, it becomes a negative and turns into a weird war between men and women, I found this part of the film very boring and did not find it funny or entertaining, it turns preachy and dialogue-heavy. Gerwig's direction is solid, but the most impressive thing about this film is its sensational production design which is amazing, some cute musical numbers with Barbie and Ken, and the superb cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto. The supporting performances are all good, but why America Ferrera got an Oscar nomination for her okay performance is beyond me, however special kudos must go to Rhea Perlman who delivers an wonderfully endearing performance in an extended cameo. The film is a disappointment to me that could of been way better, no masterpiece here just a good film.
Nyad (2023)
BENING AND FOSTER AT THEIR FINEST
Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhel's wonderfully inspirational true-life drama about the incredible story of the famed long distance swimmer Diane Nyad, impressively played by Annette Bening in towering performance of great physically, who at the age of 60 wants to come out of retirement and swim 103 miles from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida, a feat that has never been done successfully. The strong-willed Nyad will seek the aid of her devoted and supportive best friend, Bonnie Stoll, brilliantly played by Jodie Foster, who is just so warm-hearted and endearing in her marvelous performance, to be her coach and help her with this monumental attempt. Nyad, Bonnie, and their support team will face storms, sharks, and box jellyfish in their quest to help Nyad do the impossible. What really makes this film work is the remarkable chemistry between Bening and Foster which is phenomenal and realistic, they both earned richly deserved Oscar and Globe Globe nominations for Best Actress and Supporting Actress for their exceptional performances. Excellent direction by Chin and Chai Vasarhel, with beautiful cinematography by Claudio Miranda, and terrific score by Alexandre Desalt. A superb film of an extraordinary woman with an almost super-human drive and determination. Highly recommended.
La sociedad de la nieve (2023)
A BRILLIANT AND HEARTBREAKING MOTION PICTURE
J. A. Bayona's gripping and unforgettable motion picture drama that tells the tragic true-life story of the Christian rugby team from Stella's Maris College who's charted flight heading from Uruguay to Chile crashes into a glacier in the Andes on October of 1972. What follows is a life and death struggle to survive for the team members, family, and friends who lived through the horrific plane crash. The freezing temperatures, the lack of food and water, and the seriously injured and dying passengers only adds to their suffering and anguish. Indeed the most heartbreaking fact of this powerful and deeply moving film is the fact that the remaining living survivors most resort to cannibalism in order to stay alive, they must eat the flesh from the dead passengers who's bodies are kept in the cold outside the shell of the fuselage of the plane that the survivors use for shelter. Skillful direction by Bayona who gets sensational and sensitive performances from his mostly unknown cast that includes Enzo Vogrincic, Agustin Pardella, Matias Recalt, Esteban Bigliardi, Diego Vegezzi, and Fernando Contingiani. Beautiful cinematography by Pedro Luque, and an evocative score by Michael Giacchino. Nominated for 2 Academy Awards including Best International Feature Film (Spain), and Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling.
In the Heights (2021)
A WONDERFUL VISUALLY STUNNING MUSICAL
Jon M. Chu's exuberant, visually stunning, cinematic adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's brilliant Tony Award winning Broadway musical smash hit is an absolute delight and one of the finest and most enjoyable films of the year. It is a rich and touching story of dreamers and the challenges of the Latin American community in New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood in northern tip of upper Manhattan. The film's storyteller is Usnavi, sensationally played by Anthony Ramos who deilvers an impressive star-making breakout performance, he owns and runs a small corner bodega, selling cafe con leches every morning to his loyal neighborhood customers. He works with his little teenage cousin, Sonny, wonderfully played by Gregory Diaz, and lives with his beloved grandma Abuela Claudia, endearingly played by Olga Merediz, who reprises her role from the Broadway show, she raised him after the death of his parents. The shy Usnavi is in love with the gorgeous beauty shop worker Vanessa, terrifically played by Melissa Barrera, who dreams of being a fashion designer. Usnavi's best friend is Benny, superbly played by Corey Hawkins, works as a taxi dispatcher for his boss Mr. Kevin Rosario the owner of the car service, who is marvelously played by Jimmy Smits. Benny is in love with his boss's beautiful daughter Nina, remarkably played by Leslie Grace, who is the model straight "A" student and the star of the neighborhood that made it to the prestigious Stamford college but has dropped out and returned home in defeat, and must now find a way of telling her proud father. This magnificent life-affirming musical is masterfully directed by Chu, who gives his film jaw-dropping choreography with it's spectacular song and dance sequences, breathtaking cinematography by Alice Brooks, and razor shape editing by Myron Kerstein. Outstanding supporting performances by Daphne Rubin-Vega, Stephanie Beatriz, Mateo Gomez, James Leyva, Olivia Perez, and Marc Anthony. Special kudos to Lin-Manuel Miranda for his colorful scene-stealing cameo as the slightly pot-bellied Piragua (shave ice) man. In the Heights is an awesome celebration of Latin culture, pride, and community. A new classic.
West Side Story (2021)
MASTERFUL MUSICAL BY SPIELBERG!
Steven Spielberg's phenomenal, visually stunning, vibrant, epic reimagining of the beloved 1961 Oscar winning musical classic is truly an impressive cinematic achievement. The film is similar to the original with only a few changes in it's storyline and some songs sang in different order and locations, this does not effect the overall emotional impact of the film. It takes place in Manhattan's upper West side in 1958 where most of the neighborhood is being demolished to make way for the New York State theatre Lincoln Center as well as some new high-rent housing. Two rival street gangs that live in this area and utterly hate each other are the Jets (American born whites) and the Sharks (Puerto Rican immigrants), the trouble begins when former gang leader Tony, superbly played by Ansel Elgort, who created the Jets along with his best friend Riff, terrifically played by Mike Faist, is now on parole and is trying to make a new start in life after serving a year in prison for nearly killing a member of another immigrant rival gang, but as fate will have it he excepts an invitation to a social dance at a high school from Riff, there he encounters a beautiful young Puerto Rican girl named Maria, magnificently played by Rachel Zegler in a remarkable big-screen debut, their eyes locked across the crowded gymnasium dance floor and the fall in love at first sight. Maria's hot-headed over protective older brother Bernardo, brilliantly played by the scene-stealing David Alvarez, who is the proud leader of the Sharks confronts Tony and forbids him to see his sister, this will unfortunately set in motion a series of consequences that will be truly tragic. Skillful Oscar nominated direction by Spielberg who does a masterful job on his first musical and makes this version of West Side Story his own, and gets exceptional supporting performances from Ariana DeBose as the sassy Anita in a sensational Oscar, Golden Globes Award, BAFTA Film Award, SAGA Award winning performance, Brian d'arcy as Police Officer Krupke, Corey Stollas as Lt. Schrank, Josh Andres Rivera as Chino, and Iris Menas as Anybodys. Special kudos to Rita Moreno for her wonderfully endearing performance as Valentina, the widow of Doc the Candy store owner. Breathtaking Oscar nominated cinematography by Janusz Kaminski, with dazzling dance choreography by Justin Peck which is based on the late great Jerome Robbins' legendary work on the original film, it also beautifully incorporates the iconic music by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. All of the classic songs "America." "I Feel Pretty," "Maria," "Tonight," "One Hand, One Heart," "Gee, Officer Krupke" are wonderfully rendered by the game cast, with fresh new treatments for "Someday," and "Cool." Flawless period recreation, extraordinary Oscar nominated production design, and gorgeous Oscar nominated costume design. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture. One of this year's best films.
The Wrestler (2008)
MICKEY ROURKE'S TOUR-DE-FORCE COMEBACK!
Darren Aronofsky's gripping motion picture drama about an aging professional wrestler who is way past his prime named Randy 'The Ram' Robinson, played magnificently by Mickey Rourke in an astonishing comeback performance that earned him an Oscar nomination, Golden Globe Award, and BAFTA Film Award win for Best Actor, his heartbreaking powerhouse turn is one for the ages, and he truly brings a real tragic sadness and inner pain to the role. Randy refuses to believe that he is washed up in his profession and he takes any wrestling match he can get in dive clubs to make a few dollars to get by, he is convinced that one day he will be on top again. Marissa Tomei delivers a remarkable performance that earned an Oscar, Golden Globe Award, and BAFTA Film Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress, as an middle aged exotic dancer who like her dear friend Randy is past her prime and glory days, she and Randy have a special endearing friendship. Then there is Randy's 21 year old estranged gay daughter, wonderful played by Evan Rachel Wood, who he is trying to rebuild a relationship with after abandoning her when she was a child and he was at the top of his game. Randy will soon have to face a major health crises that could ruin his life for good. Brilliant direction by Aronofsky, with solid supporting performances by Mark Margolis, Todd Barry, Wass Stevens, Judah Friedlander, and John D'Leo. But this is completely Rourke's show and you just cannot take eyes off him. He trained hard for this film and has created strong muscular physique for his character that is quite impressive. A must see motion picture.
Napoleon (2023)
A COMPELLING PERIOD EPIC BY SCOTT
Sir Ridley Scott's sweeping and sumptuously crafted bio-epic that tells the rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor and military genius Napoleon Bonaparte, brilliantly played by Joaquin Phoenix in an impressive stoic performance, it also focuses on the volatile and obsessive relationship with the love of his life Josephine, sensationally played by Vanessa Kirby. Masterful direction by Scott who has always had a great eye for creating awe-inspiring spectacles, visually stunning cinematography by Darius Wolski that is breathtaking, gorgeous costume design by David Crossman and Janty Yates, and a beautiful production design by Arthur Max. The film's staging of the numerous jaw-dropping battle sequences are spectacular and unforgettable. I found this historical cinematic period piece to captivating and vastly entertaining.
Gojira -1.0 (2023)
BRILLIANT AND POWERFUL GODZILLA EPIC
Kashi Yamasaki's spectacular, emotionally-powerful character-driven kaiju motion picture. Taking place in post World War II Japan where a Imperial Japanese Navy Kamikaze pilot named Koich Shikishima, superbly played by Ryunosuke Kamiki, returns home to the ruins of Tokyo, he is haunted by survivor's guilt for being a Kamikaze who did not carry out his duty of self-sacrifice. When the towering highly radioactive gargantuan kanji known as Godzilla emerges from depths of the Pacific Ocean to unleash mass devastation and death on Japan as he topples tall buildings, crushes fleeing civilians under his massive feet, bites into rail cars and sends them flying through the air. Koich and a few survivors see a chance to strike back at the rampaging merciless monster. Astute direction Yamasaki, who also wrote the captivating screenplay, impressive CGI visual effects with jaw-dropping scenes of destruction and carnage caused by Godzilla. A surprisingly poignant giant monster movie with solid and realistic human characters. In Japanese with English subtitles.
The Iron Claw (2023)
A POWERFUL FILM WITH A BRILLIANT TURN BY EFRON
Sean Durkin's captivating, visceral, gripping bio pic that shows the triumphs and deep tragedies of the Von Erich brothers who were infamous in the early 1980's world of professional wrestling. An impressively muscled Zac Efron delivers brilliant emotional performance of great physicality which is the finest of his career as Kevin the second oldest brother, he and his beloved brothers Kerry, David, and Mike, marvelously played by Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, and Stanley Simons, are all under the control of their heartless former-wrestler father, Fritz, superbly played by Holt NcCallany, who drives his children to achieve his personal idea of greatness which will lead to agonizing tragedy and pain for most of the brothers who will slowly succumb to self-destruction. Astute direction by Durkin, who gives his film a complex and poignant narrative that is heartbreaking. Striking cinematography by Matias Erdely, and sensational wrestling sequences. One of the best films of 2023.
Saltburn (2023)
A BRILLIANT TURN BY KEOGHAN IN THIS BRILLIANT GOTHIC THRILLER
Emerald Fennell's immensely twisted psychological Gothic drama with a dark wit is a truly compelling motion picture that is one of this year's finest. About a young socially awkward working-class Oxford student named Oliver Quick, astoundingly played by Barry Keoghan in an impressive multi-layered scene-stealing Golden Globe Award nominated performance for Best Actor, who is there because of a scholarship and finds himself alone because of the cultural divide between him and the other wealthy students. Oliver is attracted to a tall and handsome popular student Felix Catton, marvelously played by Jacob Elordi, who comes from a super rich aristocratic family, and soon befriends him. Felix invites Oliver to spend the summer at his family's massive country estate Saliburn where he will meet the eccentric and dysfunctional Catton family members consisting of Sir James, superbly played by Richard E. Grant, Lady Elspeth, brilliantly played by Rosmund Pike in Golden Globe nominated performance for Best Female Actor, Felix's sexy sister, Venetia, wonderfully played by Alison Oliver, and their obnoxious closeted gay cousin Farleigh, terrifically played by Archie Madekwe, who is extremely jealous and cannot stand Oliver. What transpires at Saliburn over the summer will be disturbing and tragic as Oliver's lust for Felix grows and he becomes more and more obsessed with him, this will lead to some unexpected sinister revelations about Oliver that no one saw coming. Solid direction by Fennell, with exquisite cinematography by Linus Sandgren.
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
SCORSESE' LONG BUT REWARDING EPIC
Martin Scorsese's harrowing 1920s true-crime epic motion picture about love, betrayal, murder, and monstrous greed. It concerns the horrific Oklahoma killing spree that was perpetrated by white Americans against the oil-rich families of the Osage Indian Nation who were the wealthiest people in the United States at that time. These atrocious murders were committed by husbands, lovers, friends, and federally appointed guardians who were after their vast fortune. Leonardo DiCaprio magnificently plays Ernest Burkhart, a U. S. Army soldier who returns from World War I to live with his manipulative money-hungry rancher uncle William 'King' Hale, brilliantly played by Robert De Niro in a scene-stealing performance, who is a nefarious schemer that secretly takes advance of the Osage at every turn, and is man behind many of the murders that are never investigated by the corrupt local lawmen. Hale encourages Ernest to seek and marry an Osage woman so he can keep her big money in the family, and he soon meets a pure-blood Osage Indian woman named Mollie Burkhart, wonderfully played by Lily Gladstone in an impressive performance, she is truly heartbreaking and is the emotional center of this film, they fall in love and have three children as the murders continue all around them, until finally the FBI is sent to investigate these killings and the suspicious circumstances behind them. Astute direction by Scorsese, and stellar cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto, and an evocative score by the late Robbie Robertson. At three hours and twenty six minutes this is a very long film that is a slow burn, but it is an artistic and rewarding cinematic masterpiece.
Leave the World Behind (2023)
THE YEAR'S BIGGEST MOVIE DISAPPOINTMENT!
Sam Esmail's well-crafted apocalyptic doomsday drama has a captivating build up and them after over 2 hours of tension and mystery it all leads to a major let down. The story concerns New Yorkers Amanda and Clay Sandford, terrifically played by Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke, who go on a getaway vacation with their teenage children, Archie and Rose, superbly played by Charlie Evans and Farrah Mackenzie, to a luxurious rental home out in the beautiful countryside. Then one evening there is a knock on the door, and two African American strangers a man and his teenage daughter, marvelously played by Mahershala Ali and Myha'la, show up and ask to stay for a while because of a blackout in the city, the man who's name is G. H. Scott saids that he is the owner of the house they rented. Amanda and Clay after a long discussion reluctantly let them stay, soon after nightmarish things begin to happen like the internet, television, radio, cell and landline stop working, and a mysterious ear-piercing sonic boom keeps attack them without warning, commercial planes fall out the sky, and large ships crash on to the beach, also animals in the forest start acting erratically like they know something is wrong. What's going on? Well we really don't get a direct answer, it could be a massive cyber attack, a rogue war from some foreign government using some unknown sonic weapon, a solar storm from the sun? All this plays well and is both entertaining and engrossing until the awful ending which is the worse I have seen in years, it just leaves viewer completely unsatisfied, this is not the fault of the wonderful cast which is brilliant, it is the fault of the director and writer Esmail who leaves us without closure of any kind. For me this is the biggest movie disappointment of the year. Not recommended.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
THE COEN BROS. CINEMATIC MASTERPICE
Ethan Coen & Joel Coen's gripping, uncompromising drama concerning Llewelyn Moss, played impressively by Josh Brolin, who finds a pickup truck in rural Texas filled with heroin and two million dollars in cash. The truck is surrounded by dead men who were drug runners, Moss decides to take the money which sets off a chain reaction of catastrophic events of violence that not even the law in the person of aging and disillusioned Sheriff Bell, superbly played by Tommy Lee Jones, can contain or help. As Moss tries to evade his pursuers who are after him for what he found and took. A mysterious psychotic enforcer named Anton Chigurh, played magnificently by Javier Bardem, who won a richly deserved Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his unforgettably chilling performance, is now also on the trail of Moss and the money and he mercilessly kills anyone who gets in his way. Brilliant Oscar winning direction by Ethan & Joel Coen, with terrific supporting performances by Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Tess Harper, and Barry Corbin, but it's Bardem's mesmerizing portrayal of this ruthless cold blooded killer that steals the entire film, and he makes his character into one of the greatest screen villains of all time. A taut, suspenseful masterpiece which won 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture.
Panic Room (2002)
FINCHER'S MASTERFUL THRILLER
David Fincher's unique claustrophobic thriller is a highly suspenseful sickly executed motion picture. About a mother named Meg Altman, played sensationally by Jodie Foster in an impressive star performance, who is newly separated from her extremely wealthy older husband who is a pharmaceutical tycoon. She moves into a huge brownstone townhouse in Manhattan with her teenaged daughter Sarah, wonderfully played by a very young Kristen Stewart. Their new residence has 3 floors, an elevator, 8 bedrooms, 6 working fireplaces, and a 'Panic Room," which is an impenetrable reinforced cement and steel encased safe-room, which has 8 recordable video monitors which are connected to 16 surveillance cameras, a separate buried phone line, and a motorized sliding reinforced steel door that is secured by solid core dead bolts and a motion sensitive closing system. That evening while Meg and Sarah are sleeping upstairs, a trio of intruders enter the residence thinking it is still empty. Meg who gets up to go to the bathroom and then walks into the panic room which is located in her bedroom to turn off the lights in it, notices the intruders downstairs in the living room on the surveillance monitor, Meg runs to Sarah's room upstairs to get her as the intruders chase her, they both manage to get back downstairs and into the panic room locking themselves in. An intense cat and mouse game of wills ensues as Meg desperately tries to find a way to summon help. The trio of intruders are terrifically played by Forest Whitaker as Bumham, the security technician who built the panic room, Jared Leto as Junior the manic leader of the group, and country singer Dwight Yoakum as Raoul, the nearly-silent murderous sociopath with the itchy trigger finger. Masterful direction by Fincher, with extraordinary cinematography by the late great Conrad Hall and Darius Khondji which truly breathtaking, razor-sharp editing by James Haywood and Angus Wal, and an effective score by Howard Shore. A pulse-pounding thriller.
Elvis (2022)
A TOUR-DE-FORCE BY AUSTIN BUTLER AS ELVIS
Baz Luhrumann's visually stunning and incredibly lavish musical biographical drama epic which chronicles the life and career of legendary rock & roll singer and cultural icon Elvis Presley, who would become the best selling solo musical artist of all-time. Elvis is brilliantly played by Austin Butler in an electrifying show-stopping Oscar nominated, Golden Globe Award, and BAFTA Film Award winning star-making performance that is truly breathtaking, from the early days as child to his rise as a rock superstar and movie star, to his very complex 20 year relationship with his enigmatic manager Colonel Tom Parker, terrifically played by Tom Hanks. It also showcases his family life, his devotion to his mother Gladys Presley, superbly played by Helen Thomson, his marriage to his wife Priscilla Presley, wonderfully played by Olivia DeJonge, and his legal troubles for his infamous on stage sexually provocative hip gyrations that drove females wild during his performances, that brought him plenty of negative criticism and the wrath of political conservatives who wanted to see him in jail for it. Astute direction by Luhrumann, who gives his film plenty of sensational musical numbers and sequences, with gorgeous cinematography by Mandy Walker, fine supporting performances from Richard Roxburgh, Kelvin Harrison Jr., David Wenham, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Luke Bracey, and Alton Mason, but it is Butler's spellbinding turn that steals this film, he completely throws himself into the role and becomes Elvis before our eyes, his mannerisms, his voice, his singing, and his dancing are perfect and are a beautiful tribute to the legendary performer. Butler and Hanks do have a dynamic screen chemistry together that really works. One of the best films of 2022. Nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture. Highly recommended.
Hard Times (1975)
WALTER HILL'S REMARKABLE DEBUT, WITH BRONSON'S FINEST DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE
Walter Hill's auspicious directorial debut is a hard-hitting richly textured film which is an engrossing tale about a middle-aged drifter who is a master bare-knuckle street-fighter named Chaney, a quite man of great integrity and few words. He is memorably played by the physically imposing Charles Bronson in the finest dramatic performance of his long career. Chaney gets caught up in the brutal illegal underground fight game of New Orleans during the Great Depression, he is out to make some quick money the only way he knows how with his fists. So Chaney approaches a slick small-time hustler named Speed, played perfectly by the James Coburn who delivers a wonderfully colorful performance, and convinces him to be his manager and arrange bouts for him for a piece of the action. He knocked out his opponent in first few seconds of the first round of his very first fight, Speed impressed by Chaney fighting ability plans for a big money fight with the local champion, a grinning, bald-headed, muscle bound massive brute nicknamed Skinhead, superbly played by Robert Tessier, in a sensationally choreographed fight sequence which takes place in a steel-mesh enclosed bull pen at warehouse. Chaney wins more than a few fights, but Speed's carelessness with his money and indebtedness to a gang of cutthroats put his very life on the line, if Chaney does not have one last fight with a monstrous fighter named Street, impressively played by Nick Dimitri in a chilling performance, who they have brought in special from Chicago just to take on the unbeatable Chaney. The final bone-crushing climatic match between Chaney and Street is truly spectacular and is one of the best hand-to-hand combat sequences in cinematic history. Brilliant direction by Hill, with superlative supporting performances by Strother Martin, Jill Ireland, Bruce Glover, Michael McGuire, Margaret Blye, Edward Walsh, Frank McRae, and Felice Orlandi. Marvelous cinematography by Phillp H. Lathrop, and a splendid score by Barry DeVorzon. A compelling classic that is an utterly winning motion picture.
Midnight Express (1978)
ALAN PARKER'S POWERFUL CLASSIC WITH A GREAT STAR-MAKING TURN BY BRAD DAVIS
Alan Parker's powerfully shocking expose of a hellish Turkish prison which is based on the real-life experiences of a young America man named Billy Hayes, played brilliantly by the late Brad Davis, in an intensely compelling star-making performance. It follows his failed efforts to smuggle out some hashish to later sell in the United States, his being arrested at the Yesikoy Airport on a drug possession charge, his placement into Istanbul's inhuman Sagmalcilar prison after being sentenced to a four-and-a-half year term. An appeal financed by Billy's father, played superbly played by Mike Kellin, does not end well and results in a retrial, a new tougher judge throws out the possessions rap and convicts Billy on a smuggling charge, his new sentence was then extended to life imprisonment, 30 years under the merciless Turkish law. Billy must now fight to survive and keep his sanity in this filthy hellhole, and endure the brutal beatings and sexual abuses by a towering and physically massive sadistic prison guard named Hamidou, chillingly played by Paul L. Smith. Billy has an ever-present desire to get on the "Midnight Express" which is the prison slang for escape. He can no longer take it, so he and his friends decide to escape from this nightmarish prison before it is too late for all of them. There are superlative supporting performances by John Hurt, in an remarkable Oscar nominated turn, as Max, a drug-addicted Englishman and Billy's best friend in the prison; Randy Quaid's splendid performance as the rebellions American prisoner Jimmy Booth; and Norbert Welsser's excellent performance as Erich, a gay Scandinavian prisoner who is attracted to Billy. Flawless Oscar nominated direction by Alan Parker, with a forceful, intelligent Oscar winning screenplay by Oliver Stone, Giorgio Moroder's mesmerizing Oscar winning original score is unforgettable, and Michael Seresin's magnificent cinematography is remarkable. A totally enthralling motion picture that earned 6 Academy Award including Best Picture and Best Director: Alan Parker.
The Stunt Man (1980)
A BRILLIANT FILM WITH A TOUR-DE-FORCE PERFORMANCE BY THE GREAT PETER O' TOOLE
Richard Rush's exhilarating movie within a movie masterpiece has since become one of the most revered cult-classic movies of all time, due to it's outrageously original story about the art and artifice of filmmaking and a masterful Oscar nominated multi-layered tour-de-force performance by the great Peter O'Toole, as the brilliant megalomaniac film director Eli Cross. O'Toole plays this larger-than-life enigmatic 'God-like' figure with great relish, Cross' ability to manipulate reality is uncanny and he does just that was a young fugitive and ex-Vietnam war veteran named Cameron, sensationally played by Steve Railsback in the performance of his career, who stumbles on to the resort beach set of Cross' World War I epic and is recruited by him to replace a stuntman who was just killed in a tragic on set accident. In return for this protective sanctuary Cameron must take a crash course in stunt work from the head stunt coordinator Chuck Barton, wonderfully played by real-life stunt man Charles Bail. But Cameron discovers that he is a player in a game that he cannot control and that this dictatorial director makes up the rules as he goes along. Soon Cameron starts becoming confused and paranoid and believes that Cross is planning to kill him and film his death and there in lays the tale, is he or isn't he going to kill him? Barbara Hershey delivers an exceptionally impressive supporting performance as the sexy lead actress who loves Cameron won't submit to her director's seemingly devious behavior, Allen Garfield is terrific as Cross' long-suffering screenwriter, and Alex Rocco is very amusing as the besieged town chief of police, but this gem of a film clearly belongs to the scene-stealing O'Toole who totally dominates it. Skillful direction by Rush, with extraordinary cinematography by Mario Tosi, and a delightful score by Dominic Frontiere. One of the finest films of the 80s.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
A DELIGHTFUL CLASSIC ROMANTIC FANTASY
Joseph L Mankiewicz's delightful motion picture classic is one of the finest romantic fantasy films ever made. It takes place in the early 1900s and concerns a strong-willed young widow named Lucy Muir, marvelously played by the lovely Gene Tierney in a brilliantly endearing performance, who has decided to leave her home and her meddling in-laws and find a new life and new home. She moves out with her little daughter Anna, wonderfully played by young Natalie Wood, and her loyal maid Martha Huggins, superbly played by Edna Best, and against all advice moves into a cottage overlooking the sea. One stormy night she encounters the cantankerous ghost of the former owner of the cottage Captain Daniel Gregg, played magnificently by Rex Harrison in a droll scene-stealing performance, who tries to scare her away but she stands up to him where other tenants have been scared off. Lucy is determined to live there and soon the two of them become very fond of each other, and he help Lucy out in many ways, like standing up to her controlling sister-in-law and mother-in-law, and when she falls into financial trouble that could result in her losing the cottage, he has her write his life story for him which becomes a big best seller. Eventually they fall in love with each other but they know they couldn't truly be together. One day at her publisher Lucy meets children's author named Miles Fairley, played terrifically by George Sanders, and she can't resist his charms and soon after the two of them begin a relationship, Daniel becomes jealous and tries to warn her that Miles is no good, but Lucy won't listen. Daniel decides the best thing he can do is to step out of Lucy's life and let her carry on her relationship with Miles. Unfortunately it turns out Daniel was right about Miles and Lucy soon discovers that philandering Miles is already married and has children of his own. Heartbroken Lucy goes home to live out her life as a single woman. But will Daniel ever return?, there in lays the tale. Masterfully direction by Makiewicz, and a fine script by Philip Dunne that is filled with witty, colorful dialogue. Gorgeous Oscar nominated black & white cinematography by Charles Lang, and an unforgettably beautiful score by Bernard Herrmann. A true classic in every sense of the word.
Blade Runner (1982)
RIDLEY SCOTT'S VISIONARY SCI-FI CLASSIC
Sir Ridley Scott's spellbinding visionary classic masterpiece is one of the most influential sci-fi films of all time. Harrison Ford delivers a superlative performance of great moral ambiguity as the hard-boiled and world weary Rick Deckard, an ex-special policeman known as a "Blade Runner" in a hellish Los Angeles of then future circa 2019, where it is always night and the smog-choked dark skies pour acid rain on the littered overcrowded neon-splattered streets, while airborne police patrol cars called spinners fly through the canyons created by the awesome mile-high skyscrapers. Deckard specializes in tracking down and terminating replicants which are genetically-engineered humanoids who are virtually identical to a human being, they posses superior strength and agility and are at least equal in intelligence to the genetic engineers who created them. Replicants both male and female are used on the off-world colonies as slave laborers, soldiers, and prostitutes and are forbidden on Earth under penalty of death. Deckard who is long retired was the best Blade Runner on the force, he is pressed back into service by his seedy former boss Bryant, wonderfully played by veteran character actor M. Emmet Walsh, because of four especially dangerous replicants that have escape to Earth on a stolen spacecraft after having slaughtered 23 people. They are seeking their creator Dr. Eldon Tyell, terrifically played by Joe Turkel, who is the czar of the shadowy Tyrell Corporation where the replicants are manufactured, they seek him out so he can extend their short 4-year life span because their time is almost up. The leader of the group is a powerful massive albino-looking replicant named Roy Batty, played by Rutger Hauser in a sensational career-defining performance that is so charismatic and compelling that he steals the entire picture hands down. Deckard tracks down Batty and they have final brutal life and death confrontation on a rooftop that is totally unforgettable. The other replicants are all exceptionally played by the late Brion James, Daryl Hannah, and Joanna Cassidy. Special kudos must go to the beautiful Sean Young who delivers a memorable turn as Rachel the new replicant experiment and Deckard's love interest. The rest of the supporting cast all deliver fine performances they include Edward James Olmos, William Sanderson, James Hong, and the late Morgan Paull. Masterful direction by Scott, with stunning eye-popping Oscar nominated practical visual effects by Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricih and David Dryer, using optical effects, matte painting, animation and exquisitely detailed miniatures to create a truly dazzling vision of a very dark oppressive future world. Captivating cinematography by the late Jordan Croneweth, and a haunting and mesmerizing score by Greek composer Vangelis. This was Scott's second landmark film his first being "Alien" which revolutionized the genre. "Blade Runner" created the cyberpunk genre and single-handedly changed the look of science fiction forever and it fully and richly deserves its reputation. A timeless and utterly astonishing film, a must see!
NOTE: "Blade Runner" has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being a culturally and historically significant motion picture.
Starman (1984)
CARPENTER'S MOST BEGUILING FILM WITH A BRILLIANT OSCAR NOMINATED TURN BY JEFF BRIDGES
John Carpenter's finest achievement as a director, and without a doubt it is his most intelligent and beguiling film. A science-fiction odyssey about an alien entity who's space vessel has been shot down by Air Force jets after entering earth's atmosphere, it crash lands in the Wisconsin forest and the Starman, sensationally by Jeff Bridges who delivers a mesmerizing performance that earned him a richly deserved Oscar and Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor, arrives at the remote cabin of a distraught young widow named Jenny Hayden, beautifully played by Karen Allen in a truly endearing performance, who is still grieving over the recent death of her beloved husband Scott. The Starman finds a photo album and some DNA samples from a lock of hair from Jenny's dead husband; he then clones the physical form of her deceased husband. Jenny responds at first with shock and fear at the slight of him. The Starman forces Jenny on interstate road trip to Arizona where he is to be picked up by a massive mothership in three days or he'll die. Along the way Jenny's fear turns to sympathy and finally love, and the Starman learns what it means to be a man in love for he has developed a deep caring passion for Jenny. But they must watch out for the milltary and government agents who are hot on their trail and consider the Starman a dangerous alien threat. The chemistry between Bridges and Allen rings true and is extremely moving. Astute direction by Carpenter, with striking cinematography by Donald M. Morgan, and there is a marvelous synthesizer musical score by the late Jack Nitzche. Solid supporting performances by Charles Martin Smith, and the late Richard Jaeckel, but it's Bridges's brilliant and sublime performance that dominates this entire film. A witty, heartwarming sci-fi fantasy that is a must see.
The Andromeda Strain (1971)
ROBERT WISE'S CAPTIVATING SCI-FI CLASSIC
Robert Wise's classic documentary style sci-fi motion picture is both captivating and entertaining with an intelligent screenplay adaptation by Nelson Gidding of the Michael Crichton's best-selling novel. It concerns the first major biological crisis that could wipe out all life from the face of the Earth. When a small U. S. satellite crashes near a remote desert town in New Mexico, it is recovered by some town's people but unbeknownst to them the satellite has a super lethal extraterrestrial virus embedded in it. A military recovery team discovers that everyone in the town has been killed by this unknown space pathogen with the mysterious exception of an infant and an old homeless man. An elite scientific group of specialists, terrifically by played by Arthur Hill, David Wayne, James Olson, and Kate Reid, are brought to a top-secret underground state-of-the-art laboratory with the two survivors, where they race against time to determine the nature of the deadly alien virus they called "Andromeda," before it can spread and cause worldwide havoc. Solid direction by Wise, with a superb score by Gil Melle, impressive production design and sets by Boris Leven, William H. Tuntke, and Rudy R. Levitt, and some inventive practical visual effects by Douglas Trumbull. An intriguingly realistic science fiction thriller. Nominated for 2 Academy Awards: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Film Editing.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
GEORGE MILLER'S GENRE MASTERPIECE
After some 30 years writer director George Miller brilliantly brings back to a new generation of moviegoers his iconic character of Mad Max, which was originally played by Mel Gibson in a breakout performance that made him an international superstar. Miller's new supercharged, visually stunning reboot is a punk-influenced dystopian vision with an angry feminist streak, it is also a non-stop relentless orgy of brutal violence, death, blood, automotive mayhem peppered with collisions and explosions, as well as unforgettable, adrenaline-pumping, kinetic action sequences that puts to shame every action blockbuster in recent memory! The plot concerns the revenge seeking desert nomad Max Rockatansky, played impressively by Tom Hardy who skillfully takes over the role from Gibson and proves to be a worthy successor. Max is roped into helping a one-armed, steely-eyed, badass female protagonist named Furiosa, played magnificently by Charlize Theron in a scene-stealing performance. She has escape with five young women from the clutches of Immortan Joe, a fearsome psychotic warlord who wears a teeth-bar mask, he is chillingly played by Hugh Keays-Byrne who played the sadistic villain "Toecutter" in the 1979 cult-classic original Mad Max. Joe with his army of murderous gonzo warriors and tricked-out vehicles race across the desert, he will stop at nothing to recover his female property and is totally hellbent on stopping them. Masterful direction by Miller, exceptional supporting performances by Nicholas Hoult, Josh Helman, Nathan Joe, Zoe Kravitz, Rosie Gunting-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Abby Lee, Courtney Eaton, but it's Charlize Theron's feminist freedom fighter that surprisingly steals this awesome film. Dazzling cinematography by John Seale, with extraordinary razor-sharp editing by Jason Ballantine and Margaret Sixel. The film has breathtaking stunt work. A cinematic work of jaw-dropping imagination and artistic craftsmanship, a total masterpiece. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture & Best Director: George Miller.