Blaxploitation as community theatre: anyone who bemoans the incompetence of, say, "Disco 9000" should get a load of this. Not only is it shot almost entirely in master shot, but the master shots in question are frequently badly framed - off center, too much head room, hello there boom mic. Thus, the magic of cinema can do little for the worst fight choreography I've ever seen - every punch and kick lands a visible ten inches away from its target, and the director always shoots the exchange from the most unflattering angle available. Sometimes they try to deal with this by speeding up the film, to ridiculous effect; sometimes it looks like they intended to speed up the film but forgot/didn't bother, so that the fisticuffs resemble a lethargic dress rehearsal. And why is Fink trying to shoot fights when he can't even stage an exit - every time someone leaves the frame it looks like they're going to run into the cameraman. The acting isn't the problem, but it isn't the solution either, in spite of the presence of Rory Calhoun and the legendary (?!) Smedly Schmergel. The songs are the best thing about it, funky in a gawky low-budget way, especially during the big climax. Which leads inexorably to a 'twist' ending that is so tossed-off you almost miss it, and if you did miss it, it would definitely not spoil your evening anyway.
Review of Velvet Smooth
