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...
So you don't hear yourself tut?
And what - in either review - should I need to "tut" about? Surely you're not suggesting I under/over-rated either film? 
Maybe speel hec(sic) problems
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Posted: |
Jan 11, 2022 - 10:54 AM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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CHARLEY-ONE-EYE (1973) – 6/10
Richard Roundtree is a black, Union Army deserter wandering through desert country who comes across a crippled American Indian (Roy Thinnes), whom he takes hostage. The pair forge a strained partnership in the interests of surviving the advancing threats of neighboring bandits and a racist bounty hunter (Nigel Davenport), who is after the soldier for allegedly murdering his commanding officer.
This is an oddball UK – U.S. co-production shot in Spain by director Don Chaffey. Roundtree’s soldier is half crazy, while Thinnes’ Indian is stoic and monosyllabic. For most of the film’s running time, they are the only ones on screen. The film’s advertising (see below) is totally misleading, portraying this eccentric character drama as some sort of revenge rampage. Consequently, it should also come as no surprise that no person in the film is named “Charley-One-Eye.” John Cameron’s squawking score has not had a release. The film was a dud at the U.S. box office, grossing less than $250,000. Worth it only to see the two main actors in non-typical roles.
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Is that a euphemism?
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Is that a euphemism?
No. It is the name of something pictured on the poster.
Not playing ,today, eh? 
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Posted: |
Jan 12, 2022 - 1:20 AM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain
Watched it for the first time yesterday, and I loved it. I was always sceptical about that film, and thought I won't like it, but I did
Welcome, SuzanneV ...
We know of this film, in the UK, simply as Amélie (2001). I've yet to see it but a good friend - TallGuy - highly recommends it, too.
Someone mention my name? I dare you to say it three times…
Yes, welcome to the board, SuzanneV, and this is one of very few 10/10 films for me. Love it from start to finish - the story, characters, music, style, all top notch.
Not quite as good, but still brilliant, is 2009’s Micmacs from the same director (original title Micmacs à tire-larigot).
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And the second one was more interesting!
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Posted: |
Jan 12, 2022 - 5:11 AM
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By: |
jackfu
(Member)
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Class Action Park (2020) 6/10
Interesting, if at times tedious HBO special about Action Park located in Vernon Township, NJ, which operated from 1978 - 1996.
Numerous interviews and comments from former patrons, employees, etc., about the rather sordid history of the amusement park in which 6 people died over the period from 1980 - 1987.
Apparently the number of injuries incurred at the park is in the thousands over the span of its operational time period.
The park was the brainchild of Gene Mulvihill, who wanted a park with rides that were more thrilling than the strapped-in, passive experience of most theme/amusement park rides.
Some of the rides were quite creative and must have been thrilling, if a little too close to the edge.
It's amazing how long the place operated as it did without more scrutiny than it got - injuries and even one death that went unreported.
It featured one of the earliest water parks in the US.
Most of the folks interviewed seemed to have a sense of gallows humor about the dangers encountered.
I liked that the doc wasn't exploitative and didn't go for the sensationalistic angle.
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Posted: |
Jan 13, 2022 - 7:25 AM
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By: |
Hurdy Gurdy
(Member)
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PROPHECY (1979) 6.5/10
Thanks to dragon53 and The Avenger, for the trivia and sending me off to seek it out (again)...
My appreciation of this film grows with each subsequent viewing of it.
I first saw it at the cinema, as a teenager and passed it off as just another dumb, average monster movie.
There was so much better horror stuff hitting around the same time, for this one to make any lasting impression on me.
I watched it again, on a rare TV screening, about 7...maybe even 10 years ago.
And I quite enjoyed it, despite some unintentional comedy moments and a real lack of tension or terror attacks.
But it looks great and really has that tremendous 70s outdoors feel about it.
And the cast give it a real good go, despite a weak script and some clumsy edits.
And where to start about Leonard Rosenman's fantastic score!
His inimitable style really does apply a rich, glossy sheen to the (oftentimes) silliness that's going on.
It's just tremendous film music.
From the warm, great outdoors moments, to the all out horror and suspense scoring, with added Blaster Beam to great effect. And even if it doesn't really have a strong main theme to hang on to.
Just check out the scene - towards the end - when the remaining characters are driving a jeep over rocks, at night, by headlamp and torchlight. NOW THAT'S HOW TO AID A NOTHING SCENE WITH MUSIC!!
There's only about 20 minutes of music during the first 75 minutes of the film and then the same amount during the last 25.
The rushed ending is a real bummer, with unresolved character outcomes and a silly stinger finale.
I could do without mopey faced Talia Shire too. Did she ever have another facial gesture! She acts permanently constipated.
But I like it overall and it does offer an Eco message about pollution and the environment, which is becoming even more prescient now.
Who knows how I'll rate it on my 4th viewing.
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Eternals: 6/10
What a lovely screensaver.
Its 2.5 hour duration does little favor to disguise the barebones story stretched to near passivity, filled with sullen breathing room and widescreen vistas (which do lend a sense of scope, shrinking these demigods within the confines of Earth's environment). The longer the film progressed, the more weight was added to the drama, though it is a slog to get to that lightweight conclusion, all of which is confoundingly opposed by the obvious lack of logic (why these cyphers are given individual powers, instead of a singular being possessing them all, says a lot about the limited execution of their creator's vision, and I don't mean Jack Kirby; the cyphers' leader allowing her team to become humane centuries before having a good reason why that should happen; the not-so-villainous villains embodying the Marvel trademark mirror dichotomy of the heroes' journey). The jokes and music are standard (including the usage of needledrop songs), the performances are spirited, and enough tears flow from the whole cast to drown the universe, all in the service of "character development". Oh, and don't worry about not knowing any of the characters names since they're exclaimed more often than Pokemon talk about themselves. Overall, an equally rushed and crawling epic worth exactly one viewing.
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Posted: |
Jan 14, 2022 - 12:54 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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THE DOOLINS OF OKLAHOMA (1949) – 7/10
This film finds Randolph Scott in one of his few bad-guy roles, albeit still a sympathetic one. Bill Doolin is a member of the Dalton gang, but misses a bank robbery when he arrives late in Coffeyville, Kansas due to a lame horse. When the gang is decimated by lawmen lying in wait, Doolin ends up killing a gang informant, “Wichita” (Robert Osterloh), in self-defense. A posse sets out after him as he flees from town. He proceeds to join the gang of friend “Arkansas Tom Jones” (Charles Kemper) and soon becomes its leader. Doolin tries to escape the criminal life several times and settle down as a farmer, with parson’s daughter “Elaine Burton” (Virginia Huston), but either his gang or the law always thwart his plans.
Gordon Douglas directed the film, which does a good job of humanizing Doolin. Even though he commits numerous robberies (and probably shot a lot of people), the only person he is shown killing is Wichita. John Ireland, and particularly Noah Beery, Jr. give fine support as members of Doolin’s gang. George Duning and Paul Sawtell co-scored the film.
In real life, Doolin's gang, known as The Oklahombres, committed a number of bank and train robberies in Oklahoma before Doolin was captured by sheriff Bill Tilghman. Doolin escaped but was eventually killed by a posse.
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