This is a great illustration of the decadence of that Marquis de Sade’s work. The costumes and the decors are great, and the story is a compelling one, but the acitng is over-the-top in such a way that it is laughable. I always found Franco’s work entertaining, but it sure is not everyone’s cup of tea.
Rating: «««
Nine-year-old Richard Lestrange and
seven-year-old Emmeline Lestrange find themselves shipwrecked on a South Pacific
island with the ship’s cook for only adult supervision. Soon, the former cook
dies, leaving the two kids to fend for themselves. As they hit puberty and
discover their own bodies and each other’s, Richard and Emmeline fall in love,
start a relationship and bear a child.
I remember that, when I was a kid, this film was considered to be a naughty one by my older relatives. Looking at it now close to the age of 50, I must say that it is pretty tame. It was meant to entice, but it merely teases, as much of everything is hidden away. Considering Brooke Shields’ age at the time, though, I guess it is better that way.
The visuals of the scenery are majestic, no doubt about that. Unfortunately, the bad acting and the extremely unrealistic storytelling makes this film tough to enjoy by today’s standards. It was cool to have a blast from the past for a moment, but this did not age well.
Rating: ««
Eddie Adams is high school dropout
still living with his parents in Torrance, California. While working as a
dishwasher in a Reseda nightclub, he is spotted by porn filmmaker Jack Horner.
With his natural good looks and the perfect physical attributes for the job,
Eddie becomes a massive star in the porn industry, under the assumed name of
Dirk Diggler. His fame brings him money and everything he could ever desire,
but the fall from grace comes quick enough as the adulation goes to his head,
while drugs affect his senses.
This is a great film, and it was so nice to revisit it so many years later. With a great cast, compelling characters, and effective storytelling, it is hard to find faults in this one. All things considered, this is one of these movies that I could watch again and again.
Rating: «««««
This is an older comedy special by
comic Louis C.K.. Here, he discusses the single life, dumb thoughts, parenthood,
cell phones, flying on planes and much more. I love Louis C.K.’s comedy. He has
a weird and off-beat way of looking at things, and I dig it. This particular
show is no exception. It started and ended strong. There was a lull in the middle,
but, overall, very entertaining.
Rating: ««««
Lee Harker is a young
FBI agent who is tasked to help solve the case of a series of murder-suicides
that have been happening for decades within families in the
Oregon area. An occultist is suspected to be involved in the crimes without
being present at the scene, and the case brings Lee Harker back to her own
childhood.
First off, kudos to Nicolas Cage for the comeback role. He is amazing here. He is almost unrecognizable at first. Maika Monroe is also very good. Osgood Perkins was also very efficient in creating an atmosphere that surrounds you and never lets you out until the movie is done.
The only fault I can find here is in the promotion. Many sold this film as the scariest thing ever made. I mean, it is creepy and very entertaining. But, the scariest thing ever made? Not so much.
Rating: ««««
Joseph Smith is an
ex-soldier still traumatized about what he survived in Afghanistan. Now an
alcoholic living the homeless life in London, he squats an apartment he knows
to be unoccupied for a few months. He befriends a young nun who was good to
him, offering him food. He starts to work for the organized crime, to get some
money to provide to his ex-wife and his daughter. He also seeks revenge on a
businessman who kills prostitutes.
This movie offers a good deal of thrilling action, but it still has a lot more substance, story-wise, than most Jason Statham cinematic vehicles. Nonetheless, there seems to be a lack of focus to bring this one to the next level. It is entertaining, but it could have been so much better.
Rating: «««
This film is based on the memoir of the same name published in 1978 by Ingebord Day, under the pen name of Elizabeth McNeil.
The magic of this erotic drama cashes in largely on the amazing on-screen chemistry between Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke. Erotic films dealing with S & M have sort of become in fashion, in the last few years, but, unlike many others, 9 ½ Weeks has a compelling story dealing with characters that are believable. You can see them as real people and not caricatures. Kudos to the actors for pulling that off and to the filmmakers for bringing it out of them.
And that striptease to the music of Joe Cocker will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Rating: ««««
Two separate families
are looking to get on a talk show called Jerry to discuss their personal
problems and their messy relationships.
In this film, talk show host Jerry Springer plays a fictionalized version of himself, hosting a show similar to the one he hosted for years. I guess Hollywood was looking to bank on the success of the show at the time to make a buck, but this is a mess of a movie. Sure, the pointless nudity is fun and a few lines were funny, but this is so easily skippable. I saw it for free, so I don’t feel so guilty.
Rating: ««
This music
documentary covers the life and career of Steven Van Zandt AKA Little Steven
AKA Miami Steve, though his various musical projects and bands and his
political activism, showing his impact on the production of music that will
travel through the years.
I mostly knew Van Zandt for being a part of Bruce Springsteen’s E. Street Band and from playing an important role in The Sopranos, so this documentary was very informative for me. I had no idea about the amount of music he has either written or produced.
This film has now become one of my favorite music documentaries out there. It is so informative and so well done, with some interviews with such legends as Van Zandt himself, Springsteen, McCartney and Bill Wyman. I plan on watching this one again down the line. I love hearing from people who love the music so much.
Rating: «««««
Ray Breslin is still operating his security company, with a team of
men working under him. He must go back into action to save a few of his men,
who are now locked up in this high-tech prison. In the process, Breslin has to
face off with a former employee he had to let go for not following the rules.
This is such a mess of a film. Stallone and Bautista did a good job, but the rest of the characters are so weak and uninteresting, I doubt it is really the actor’s fault. The story itself is a mish-mash of nonsensical business. It is just so convoluted. Business picks up in the end when Breslin gets involved a little more in the story, but it is not enough to save the movie from being avoidable.
Rating: ««
In the early 1950’s,
Peter Appleton is a young screenwriter in Hollywood. His life and career then
fall apart, as he is accused of having communist ties. After a night of drinking,
he gets into a car accident. His car crashes into the river, and Peter drifts
off, banging his head along the way. He is found on the beach by and old man
and his dog, near the little town of Lawson, California. In town, he is
mistaken for Luke Trimble, a local young man who went missing during the war.
This movie has its charm. The aspect of the movie theatre and of cinema makes me very nostalgic. There is a lot of sweetness in The Majestic, and the acting is pretty good. The movie is a little too long though, as the story takes many detours. The point is a little heavily made in the end, but, overall, it is a decent movie for what it is.
Rating: «««
Sandy Patterson is an
accountant living in Denver, Colorado. His identity is stolen by a Florida
woman who cons him into giving her his private information over the phone. He
is told by the police that it could take quite a bit of time to clear his name.
With a young wife, a daughter and another kid on the way, he decides to travel
to the Sunshine State to track down the woman who is the source of all his troubles
and bring her to justice.
The premise is silly and the story plods along with too many detours, but the on-screen chemistry between Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, the two main stars, and their respective performances, made this movie quite bearable in the end.
Rating: «««
Cameron Poe is a
former Army Ranger who was sent to jail for accidently killing a man in self defense
during a fight with a few drunken men. Eight years later, he is set for release
and he is being transported by plane to get back to his wife and the young
daughter he never met. During the flight, the plane is overtaken by the
high-risk convicts inside. While keeping a low profile and seeming cooperative
with the dangerous criminals, Poe has to spring into action in an attempt to
finally make it home.
This is such a good action film. The story is compelling and the cast is filled with talented folks playing their roles quite well. Sure, believability was not a priority. Sure, this film was never destined to win awards. But, it never took itself seriously, which can be so charming. There is some good action, some funny lines and a satisfying conclusion. Overall, a very good thrill-ride of a flick!
Rating: ««««
Axel Foley is still a
police detective in Detroit and he is still involved in some mischief. When he finds
out that the lives of his daughter Jane and his best friend Billy Rosewood are
being threatened back in Beverly Hills, Axel travels back to California to
handle the matter and to reconnect with his past.
This fourth installment in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise relies heavily on the nostalgia factor, with the music and the old characters. While it doesn’t make for a fresh film, it still manages to entertain. It is a fun flick and it is a hell of a lot better than Beverly Hills Cop 3. I was amused.
Rating: «««
Ray Breslin is a former prosecutor who now operates a business where
he tests the security in various prisons by getting himself locked in under a
fake identity and then trying to escape. He is recruited to test the security
in a super secretive prison for very dangerous criminals. Once inside, he realizes
that he has been trapped and lied to. He solicits the help of another inmate,
Emil Rottmayer, to help plan his escape this prison located on a boat in the
middle of the ocean.
The main attraction here is seeing Stallone and Schwarzenneger together in lead roles. This is a decent action film. It is nothing too original, but it does the job on entertaining while it lasts. I must admit the ending was less than satisfying.
Rating: «««
