Change Your Image
vestutoinglish
Reviews
McMillan & Wife: An Elementary Case of Murder (1972)
The Disappearing Baby.
We watched "McMillan and Wife", "Columbo", and "McCloud" as a family all the time and never questioned any episode, but one.
In season 1 episode 7(8) -"The Elementary Case of Murder" 1971 - Sally McMillan is pregnant. Entire scenes are devoted to that fact. And then....nothing. POOF!
The baby's GONE!
No birth. No explanation. No nothing! What?
How did this even get by anybody?? How?
Talk about your Television Mysteries....
Quantum Leap (1989)
It's Now Been Thirty Years...
...and even though Scott Bakula is on "NCIS New Orleans" and Dean Stockwell is retired there still must be a huge Fan Base big enough to bring them back for a two-hour movie. C'mon "Powers That Be"...bring some originality to TV. If networks thought bringing back horrible shows like "Will and Grace" would work (which it failed miserably) then give "Quantum Leap" a chance. We're waiting!
#BlackAF (2020)
Broke My Heart
Trying to be clever and funny, but only making that cavern wider and deeper between cultures.
Trying to be hip, smart, "woke" ..but only showing the world how angry some folks can be without trying to understand any other point of view. I watch and enjoy "Mixedish", not so much "Blackish", but only because that show is a cartoon. So, make up your mind producers, writers, actors and directors. Are you angry or just don't know what "#blackAF" is supposed to be? Because all I see is a foul mouthed head of a family who hates.
Ohayô (1959)
NOT Quite What I Was Expecting.
I agree with a former submitter here, it is the, "skimpiest of plots" with "two young brothers taking a vow of silence until their parents buy them a television." Yet - it is mainly the subject of language, attentiveness, and intelligence. It is subtly beautiful with each shot is perfectly framed with an excellent use of depth that highlights exactly what the director wants you to see and giving you plenty of space to focus and it is truly a fine introduction for younger viewers to the magnificence of international cinema. BUT - that being said .... it has the most horrible, blatant, ridiculous message screaming at the viewer: "HEY! Let's be rude, impolite, spoiled and bully our parents until we get what we want!" No thanks. I was nearly 10 years old when this movie came out in 1960 and even then I KNEW acting like this was so wrong. Then, as now, if children acted like the two brothers in this movie - HELLO MILITARY SCHOOL!
Gentleman's Fate (1931)
This Was a Great Teaching on Early "Talkies".
Earlier this morning I was watching a movie on TCM from 1931 - "Gentleman's Fate". It was the first "talkie" that John Gilbert did after reigning as the matinée idol of the "silents", and the fateful movie that revealed his nasally throated voice, sadly. Yet, it was a great teaching on how movies struggled with sound after being quiet for many years.
The awkward moves and scene flows of each actor, and no music rising or lowering under scenes, made for an interesting movie.
In my opinion though, the best part in the whole flick was when a character was coming down the stairs obviously intoxicated.
The "dame" who sees him is cracking and eating walnuts and asks,
"Hey. Are you plastered?" In which he replies, "Plastered? Sistah ... I'm Stuccoed!" Another character enters the scene as the drunkard leaves. The "dame" reaches out her hand to offer the cracked walnuts and says, "...nuts?"
He looks at the drunk struggling to climb back up the stairs, looks back at her and just nods..."...yes".
Ya just can't get dialog like that anymore! Loved it.
The Angel Levine (1970)
What a Shame.
Okay. I was just out of high school in 1970 when this movie came out and I remember how hip, edgy, and off-kilter certain directors and actors tried to be in the 1970's and into the 1980's ... this movie must have been one of those movies. Good grief, do not waste your time. And waste is the operative word here. Not only of time but of actors, particularly Zero Mostel, Ida Kaminska, and Milo O'Shea. This could have been such a wonderful movie with heart and love, but those in power chose to take the low road. Maybe (since it was 1970) drugs were involved - I would not be surprised. I understand this was based on a short story by Bernard Malamud from 1955 and the original story had a much more upbeat ending. I could see this being much more along the line of Paddy Chayefsky's "Marty", if there had been someone with a better vision. Too bad. Perhaps someone will remake this with the author's original intent. Hopefully.