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Reviews
A Patch of Blue (1965)
A love story even those who don't like love stories will like
I saw this beautiful, effecting film many, many years ago and remembered being so haunted by Elizabeth Hartman's performance as the fragile, lonely Selena and her horrible circumstances in a squalid, one-room rat trap she shares with her shrill mother and drunken grandfather. I shied away from watching it today on Turner Classic Movies, but was drawn in anyway by the irresistible story of a blind girl finding freedom and affection with a kind black man, played with gentle grace by the always outstanding Sidney Poitier. Their scenes together are so tender and sweet when compared with her real life in virtual lock up at home where she is constantly subjected to abuse and servitude by her rotten mother, played by Shelly Winters. The scene in which Gordon takes Selena shopping at a grocery store is priceless and when they sit down to a simple lunch of canned peaches and cottage cheese is a delight. And when Selena's grandfather comes to take her home from the park, Gordon sees Selena's horrible home life without ever having to step foot into her apartment. This movie is difficult to watch in some parts, and the tear factor is rather heavy. Any movie in which a music box is employed is going to make you cry. But it also makes the viewer hope. A true gem.
The Touch of Satan (1971)
The touch, the feel of Satan; the fabric of their lives
Meet the Stricklands, hard-working proprietors of the world's most labor intensive walnut ranch. There's sweaty Luther who in his spare time cooks up hard cider and sticks coffee cups to his upper lip. There's his wife, Molly, who collects pot holders and can boil a mean pot of water. Next is Melissa, who likes shopping for Carnation ice cream and spooking the town folk with her witchy ways and large forehead. Oh, and then there's lovable Lucinda, who's into doll collecting and dispatching farmers and police officers with pitch forks and meat hooks. One day, while tooling around in his pristine Maverick, rich boy Jody decides to take the road less traveled and ends up with these loons. What's worse, he falls in love with one of them. Luckily, it's not Luther. This is a B movie that gives B movies a bad name. The dialogue is nearly as unspeakable as the horrors offered up in hell, the lighting goes from too bright to pitch and there's absolutely no one to cheer for. It's easy to see why this "film" was such easy fodder for Mike and the 'bots on the Satellite of Love. It lends itself to such biting commentary.
Over the Hedge (2006)
Hammy Makes The Film
I was so entertained by this movie. I kept hearing that this is a movie you can take your whole family and while I was watching it, I wished I had my whole family with me. There are site gags and funny asides to make you laugh and comments on insta-subdivisions to make you think. Little Hammy, as voiced by the wondrously talented Steve Correl, makes the movie, but you also have Captain Kirk himself as a possum who loves to play possum and is so touched when his daughter seems to have inherited his knack for appearing to be roadkill. I wouldn't call this movie a classic just yet, but it will make you smile, laugh and be glad your debit card was swiped for something priceless.
The Thing That Couldn't Die (1958)
Sonny Corleone, dude
If you ever visited Shenandoah Acres as a child and wondered, could there be a worse vacation spot in the world? Well, you could have watched this movie and had your answer. Flavia (a.k.a. Fistula) Macintyre's dude ranch is often frequented by business casual Gordon, at least since resident water witch, Jessica, was 13. But Jessica can find much more than fresh spring water with that divining rod buried "tray-shure," lost jewelry, dead bodies, even a talisman that will keep her from dressing like a slut and raising drinks with a phony beat and a Suzanne Pleshette look-alike while hypnotized by a disembodied head. Evil, evil evil.