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Reviews
Tender Mercies (1983)
Just a comment about Betty Buckley - to add to the list
First, let me say that I agree with all the positive comments about the movie. Let me add, that Betty Buckley is solid dead-on perfect as the wife. As a star she sees everything in terms of herself - even when her daughter dies. The director wisely makes nothing more of it, just lets it happen. And of course her singing 'Over You' is as good as any screen singing ever gets.
The Mexican (2001)
What an incredible waste of good photography and James Gandolfini
This was a truly disjointed mishmash of different themes, concepts and characters. Each of them was essentially acting in their own movie. And only James Gandolfini's movie was any good.
I dozed through the last 30 minutes.
Experiment Alcatraz (1950)
Amazing, convoluted, silly mess - possible spoiler
With a leading duo of John Howard, fresh from "Radar Secret Service", and Joan Dixon, about to appear in "Bunco Squad", "Hot Lead" and "Pistol Harvest", how can this picture be anything but the comic, laughing piece of wasted celluloid that it is.
John Howard, as Dr Ross Williams, exposes convicts to the healing rays of radioactive minerals, expecting to 'cure' them of some disease that I missed learning about. One of the exposed convicts kills another and the efficacy of the treatment is questioned.
More silly non-sequitors occur and the entire thing devolves - hard as it may be to believe.
Here comes the spoiler - 10 minutes from the end - the hero is killed. Good, but still the movie goes on.
Limelight (1952)
Chaplin is very reverential - to himself
I must admit that, after reading the other comments, I feel like I'm the killjoy at the parade. Truly the best parts are where Chaplin just shuts up and does his silent routines. During the spoken segments, I was always aware that he was aware that he was creating a semi-biography. 'Here, I am making a film about me as a great actor.'
On the other hand, Claire Bloom is always authentic and beautiful.
Never So Few (1959)
'Never So Few' enjoyable moments
Steve McQueen is cool - as usual not taking anything, particularly this movie - seriously.
Gina is wonderful eye-candy.
Everything else is embarrassingly, stupidly bad.
The World of Suzie Wong (1960)
A must-see for anyone who has ever been to Asia.
The movie is right on - with all the racism and hypocrisy of ex-pats in Asia. This is somewhat balanced by the good-hearted venality of the Asians who are truly interested in profiting from the ignorance of the 'white ghosts.'
Nancy Kwan is beautiful beyond all words.
The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960)
no words can truly say how good Angela Lansbury is as Mavis
Angela tends to play baddies - and she is good at it. In the Manchurian Candidate she was a black widow spider and praying mantis combined - with lipstick. In this movie, she is young and plump and wholesome and pretty - and in one scene with Robert Preston where they share a single kiss, she is more desirable than all the millions of boobs on the Internet.
The Pride and the Passion (1957)
a truly amazingly bad movie
Sinatra as a Spanish revolutionary - no comment needed; Cary Grant never gets a wrinkle or a smudge while schlepping this huge cannon across mountains during the war. Everybody over-acts even the donkeys. Sophia Loren is firmly convincing as a support system for an amazing decolletage.
Requiem for Murder (1999)
My god, what a stinker!!
These actors have been sadly miscast and misused. It seems like there are only 2 cops in Philadelphia, and they do everything without the benefit of cell-phones or beepers or warrants. The director is trying for a film noir-ish look but it ends up sort of silly. There are too many contrivances to be listed but the worst is when Molly Ringwald's squawky adolescent tones are worshipped as smooth and thrilling. The acting is high school flat. Ugh! For an equivalent story that is much better done, ditch this piece of crap and rent a video of "someone to watch over me."
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Cyd Charisse is the epitome of female as dancer
As an entertainer wannabe, I have always loved the singable musicals (as opposed to, say, Cats). Cyd Charisse in this movie, Band Wagon and Silk Stockings will always be the absolute breathtaking ideal of exotic, beautiful, graceful woman. And she has remained beautiful as she has grown older- never breaking our hearts, or our illusions.
Pennies from Heaven (1981)
truly under-rated movie.
Great concept integrated with terrific performances.