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sambogart
Reviews
The Mystery of Mr. X (1934)
Fun "Late Show" movie
One of the many Robert Montgomery B movies that are fun to watch. It's what they used to show on the "Late Show" or maybe the "Late, Late show" before sign off. My enjoyment may have as much or more to do with nostalgia as good movie making, but give it a try. Turn off the cellphone, fix yourself a cup of hot chocolate and a bowl of popcorn, curl up on your sofa in the den and enjoy the movie.
Ordinary People (1980)
Unbelievably good--doesn't get any better
This is not a genre of film that I normally enjoy, but this is the best. Collect all of the laudatory adjectives for actors, directors and cinematographers and apply them here and Timothy Hutton's performance is the best of the best. Don't rent this film--buy it.
Barton Fink (1991)
pseudo-sophisticated nonsense
This movie is not a metaphor for hell, sitting through it is hell. I have never been able to turn off a movie halfway through, but I came very close to making this my first exception. In fact, I would have turned it off, but then I would not have felt entitled to warn others about this travesty. A contrived story seeking a deeper meaning and missing badly. Overacted by some, underacted by others with only Goodman putting in a positive performance. Goodman's performance is not enough to be a saving grace. He had no vehicle--like watching Mario Andretti drive a Corvair. The Cohen family must be HUGE for this film to be rated above "awful." It is impossible to believe that this is from the same genius that brought us Fargo and Raising Arizona. This is not merely two wasted hours, it is two hours of real pain. Do something more pleasant with your time--have a root canal.