Bad writing. Bad directiong. Bad continuity. Bad acting. Just an overall terrible production that is only watchable by fans of beto the bomb.. In a long line of dissapoints from HBO which was excellent at one time. Truly sad.
Reviews
7 Reviews
North Dallas Forty
(1979)
Blast from the past with deep meaning.
27 November 2018
This film came out in 1979, right before the start of the NFL season.
The NFL was incredibly popular, but had a dark side that was not well known.
It was not long after this film that the infamous "Player's Strike" was conducted, almost 40 years ago. Since then the NFL has changed so much, player's Union, the salaries of the players, and become even more corporate then it was back then. Very telling moment, when the coach tells the players to be sure to take off their hats during the national anthem. This was a long time ago.
Nick Nolte was fantastic as Phil Elliot. He got across to people that do not like sports, what he got out of playing. A tragic figure, he was not corporate enough, for the system.
Mac Davis was also excellent. He did a "Dandy Don Meredith" imitation that was awesome. Furthermore, the singer was built well enough, that he even looked like he could play, ..even naked.
Bo Svensson, was also awesome. At one point, a bullying brute, to a comedic star, then to a suffering victim.
Lastly, believe it or not, being 21 when this came out, my favorite character was that played by the infamous, LYLE ALZADO! A real player, known for his off field antics, "Cruzin' with the Tuz", the only current player that comes close and not very is, Rob Grownkoski. He harkins back to the age when you could really enjoy the off field antics of the players.
Alzado gave the best speech of the whole film after the loss in Chicago. After Coach Johnson criticized, Jo Bob, for not studying tendencies, his character OW, goes off on him. Most notably the line, "When we say its a game, you says its a business. When we say it's a business, you say it's a game". "I want to get some feeling"... That little soliloquy, really put the NFL in perspective, which would be addressed in the years to come.
On a personal note, I was in college and going to medical school when this came out. I graduated Medical school as all the changes in medicine really got going, turning it into a business. For me, "when we say it's a business, you say it's an art and science". When we say it's an art and science, you say it's a business". Almost 40 years after its release, the similarities to the profession I would be entering are still striking to me.
Nick Nolte was fantastic as Phil Elliot. He got across to people that do not like sports, what he got out of playing. A tragic figure, he was not corporate enough, for the system.
Mac Davis was also excellent. He did a "Dandy Don Meredith" imitation that was awesome. Furthermore, the singer was built well enough, that he even looked like he could play, ..even naked.
Bo Svensson, was also awesome. At one point, a bullying brute, to a comedic star, then to a suffering victim.
Lastly, believe it or not, being 21 when this came out, my favorite character was that played by the infamous, LYLE ALZADO! A real player, known for his off field antics, "Cruzin' with the Tuz", the only current player that comes close and not very is, Rob Grownkoski. He harkins back to the age when you could really enjoy the off field antics of the players.
Alzado gave the best speech of the whole film after the loss in Chicago. After Coach Johnson criticized, Jo Bob, for not studying tendencies, his character OW, goes off on him. Most notably the line, "When we say its a game, you says its a business. When we say it's a business, you say it's a game". "I want to get some feeling"... That little soliloquy, really put the NFL in perspective, which would be addressed in the years to come.
On a personal note, I was in college and going to medical school when this came out. I graduated Medical school as all the changes in medicine really got going, turning it into a business. For me, "when we say it's a business, you say it's an art and science". When we say it's an art and science, you say it's a business". Almost 40 years after its release, the similarities to the profession I would be entering are still striking to me.
Fortress
(2012 Video)
Excellent Low Budget WW2 Movie
12 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This film was clearly made on a shoe string budget.
The sets.
The CGI. No stars, or even close to stars, and guys that seemed to just recently gotten into the biz'....
Yet...It works.
Excellent action sequences that pull you in right from the start, and finish the movie with the best of it.
Is a little slow after the beginning, but that part really fleshes out the characters in it, with excellent character development which shines through at the conclusion.
No this is not "SAVEING PRIVATE RYAN", but this script and story line deserved more of a budget. I do not blame the producers for that, I blame Hollywood. Unless you are "Steven Spielberg", WW2 films are passé...interests are elsewhere. No comment.
The film has been completely ignored by the "Premium" satellite channels, such as HBO etc... When I think of the total crap they air, at my expense, then disrespect something like this 2011 film it really pisses me off.
The only way I was able to view this was that for a short period last year, some one up loaded a very poor technical quality copy of it to YouTube. What little I could make of it really intrigued me though, and I bought the DVD.
It was well worth the money.
Thank you, JASON MCKINLEY, BRIAN THOMPSON, ADAM KLEIN, and Jerry Buteyn for producing this film and getting it out there. BAYYOU PICTURES ROCKS!! By the way, for the haters, watch the closing credits of the movie. They had the foresight to address you in advance. Here is an internet thank you though. Great little film.
The sets.
The CGI. No stars, or even close to stars, and guys that seemed to just recently gotten into the biz'....
Yet...It works.
Excellent action sequences that pull you in right from the start, and finish the movie with the best of it.
Is a little slow after the beginning, but that part really fleshes out the characters in it, with excellent character development which shines through at the conclusion.
No this is not "SAVEING PRIVATE RYAN", but this script and story line deserved more of a budget. I do not blame the producers for that, I blame Hollywood. Unless you are "Steven Spielberg", WW2 films are passé...interests are elsewhere. No comment.
The film has been completely ignored by the "Premium" satellite channels, such as HBO etc... When I think of the total crap they air, at my expense, then disrespect something like this 2011 film it really pisses me off.
The only way I was able to view this was that for a short period last year, some one up loaded a very poor technical quality copy of it to YouTube. What little I could make of it really intrigued me though, and I bought the DVD.
It was well worth the money.
Thank you, JASON MCKINLEY, BRIAN THOMPSON, ADAM KLEIN, and Jerry Buteyn for producing this film and getting it out there. BAYYOU PICTURES ROCKS!! By the way, for the haters, watch the closing credits of the movie. They had the foresight to address you in advance. Here is an internet thank you though. Great little film.
A Christmas to Remember
(1978 TV Movie)
Awesome Made for TV Christmas Movie
29 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This film is a true hidden gem. It never is televised, and I was able to see it for the first time in over 30 years a few years ago, buy purchasing an old VHS tape of it.
In the 1970s, there were some very bad TV movies, but also some very good TV movies. This is one of the very good ones. It's setting is rural Minnesota, during the depression, and 12 years after the end of WW1. It combines the side effects of the loss of a loved one in the war, with the effects of the depression on Americans at that time. A young boy is sent to live with his grandparents on a farm, because his parents can no longer care and feed for him. When he arrives, after traveling alone, he meets his grandparents for the first time in his life. He must not only deal with being a city boy trying to acclimate to farm life, but a grandfather still not over the death of a son.
Through love, perseverance and a supernatural force, his acceptance culminates on Christmas morning.
The film has excellent production values, and a fantastic cast including Joanne Woodward, Eva Marie Saint, and Jason Robards who is fantastic as the grandfather.
I try to watch this every Christmas. A limiting feature to this films more national acceptance, is that 38 years after it first aired, the effects of WW1, and memories of the depression are much less prevalent. I watched it with my 90 something in laws, and I think it hit home a little too much. It was just so well done.
I highly recommend this rare classic with a great story, great actors with fantastic and heart warming performances. A real Christmas treat.
In the 1970s, there were some very bad TV movies, but also some very good TV movies. This is one of the very good ones. It's setting is rural Minnesota, during the depression, and 12 years after the end of WW1. It combines the side effects of the loss of a loved one in the war, with the effects of the depression on Americans at that time. A young boy is sent to live with his grandparents on a farm, because his parents can no longer care and feed for him. When he arrives, after traveling alone, he meets his grandparents for the first time in his life. He must not only deal with being a city boy trying to acclimate to farm life, but a grandfather still not over the death of a son.
Through love, perseverance and a supernatural force, his acceptance culminates on Christmas morning.
The film has excellent production values, and a fantastic cast including Joanne Woodward, Eva Marie Saint, and Jason Robards who is fantastic as the grandfather.
I try to watch this every Christmas. A limiting feature to this films more national acceptance, is that 38 years after it first aired, the effects of WW1, and memories of the depression are much less prevalent. I watched it with my 90 something in laws, and I think it hit home a little too much. It was just so well done.
I highly recommend this rare classic with a great story, great actors with fantastic and heart warming performances. A real Christmas treat.
Undercover Brother
(2002)
awesome satire
6 November 2016
Totally enjoyed this film. Put together at a time of promoting racial harmony, has gags and jokes performed by African American actors..who can do it..to perfection. If you are offended by this film, you need to get a life. It is awesome. Only problem with this film was that there wasn't a sequel. Eddy was hilarious, Dave chapel was fantastic, Aunjanue Ellis and Denise Richards were drop dead stunning, as well as funny. Chi McBride totally nailed the 1970s police chief character. Gary Anthony Williams was awesome as 'Smart Brother. Chris Kattan, and Neil Patrick Harris were very good as well, but the "Brother Hood" members just ruled,they were great. Well done, Malcom D Lee.
Windwalker
(1980)
True Hidden Gem
29 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Excellent western from 1980. Great acting, and dialogue. Cinematography to anyone who has been out in the American west, is a visual treat from beginning to end. Not a gritty, "docudrama", as some here would like, but a heart tugging, spiritual journey and love story that ends similarly to another 1980 fantasy, "Somewhere in Time".
Yes, this film is a throwback to another, kinder time in films when children as well as adults could watch something that brings tears to everyone's eyes at the end...score and all.
I pay a large amount of money for DIRECTV's premium package. The vast majority of it, is directed at people like the guy, and his girlfriend whom hated this film, in these comments..to me, garbage. I consider this a gift to be have been able to watch on Starz Encore Western. A hidden gem, amid allot of trash.
Yes, this film is a throwback to another, kinder time in films when children as well as adults could watch something that brings tears to everyone's eyes at the end...score and all.
I pay a large amount of money for DIRECTV's premium package. The vast majority of it, is directed at people like the guy, and his girlfriend whom hated this film, in these comments..to me, garbage. I consider this a gift to be have been able to watch on Starz Encore Western. A hidden gem, amid allot of trash.
Go Tell the Spartans
(1978)
Early Viet Nam war film
26 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Low budget and looks more like a TV movie then major motion picture, partially financed by the political conscious star.
One of the first Vietnam war movies to come out after the end of the conflict. Therefore had difficulties with funding and not well received in theaters when it came out. We had, had enough about Vietnam.
However, very accurate in portrayal of early war, yes including the firearms used. The corruption in the south Vietnamese military, The US walking right into the same places as the French, and not fighting WW2 again. The population, at war with each other and us in the middle, and the effectiveness of "female" Vietcong soldiers, here portrayed by the actress that just a few years later would go on to play "Kwang Lee", on the TV series "Night Court". Yes a pleasant surprise of a film, that tried to tell a story people didn't want to hear yet, when it came out.
One of the first Vietnam war movies to come out after the end of the conflict. Therefore had difficulties with funding and not well received in theaters when it came out. We had, had enough about Vietnam.
However, very accurate in portrayal of early war, yes including the firearms used. The corruption in the south Vietnamese military, The US walking right into the same places as the French, and not fighting WW2 again. The population, at war with each other and us in the middle, and the effectiveness of "female" Vietcong soldiers, here portrayed by the actress that just a few years later would go on to play "Kwang Lee", on the TV series "Night Court". Yes a pleasant surprise of a film, that tried to tell a story people didn't want to hear yet, when it came out.
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