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Reviews
Blue Collar (1978)
Overlooked gem
How many times can one film be reffered to as "underrated" here on IMDb? In the case of this film it can't be said enough. This is the kind of hard hitting, emotionally involving film that made the 70s such an amazing decade in screen history. The acting is superb; without a doubt Richard Pryor's finest effort. Harvel Kietel is his usual magnetic self and Yaphet Kotto is understated yet electric at the same time. Thie dialogue is unlike what you would hear coming out of Hollywood today, and thats too bad. It hits you in the gut and makes you wince; which is as it should be dealing with this material.If you have not yet done so SEE THIS FILM!
The Wolfman (2010)
Better than I had anticipated
Based on the less than flattering reviews, I avoided this film at the theater when it came out. I did, however rent it and was surprised. Being a great fan of the original Universal "Wolfman" I expected to be utterly disappointed. In some ways I definitely was but in others I was impressed. The film tries hard to invoke the "fog shrouded moors" of the original, even going so far as to place the film earlier, in Victorian times. I thought this aspect of the movie was very effective. The sets, both interior and exterior, are impressive. Also, the sense of doom and dread that pervaded the original is there. You know from the opening scene this is not a story with a happy ending. The acting is oddly flat; Im not sure why but no one involved seem to put much "oomph" into their performance. But there are some very effective and frightening scenes. Far more bloody than was necessary, of course, but that is the nature of modern horror films. Overall I enjoyed the movie much more than I anticipated. It's not on the level of "An American Werewolf in London" or even "The Howling" but its worth watching, in my opinion. And it's still better than "Ginger Snaps".
The Spirit (2008)
Will Eisner must be spinning in his grave
Having been a Spirit fan for almost 40 years, I was anticipating this film more than any other in a long while. When it came out the reviews were terrible, and several Spirit fans I know warned me not to see it. I took their advice and decided to wait till the DVD release. Finally I rented the film and sat down to watch; not expecting much. I was amazed at the sheer magnitude of ineptness this film displayed. There is so much wrong with this film that I don't know where to begin. Dialogue, editing, acting etc. are so amateurish that its hard to believe this came from a major studio. Frank Miller took Will Eisner's premise and turned it into something that defies the viewer to sit through it. I made it 42 minutes into the film before waving the white flag and giving up. Some reviewers on this site want you to believe this is some kind of tongue-in-cheek "so bad its good" kind of film. Its not. Its absolute dreck. If you enjoy Eisner's Spirit stories, which are superb entertainment, don't watch this film. Actually, even if you have never been exposed to the Spirit, DO NOT watch this cinematic trash. You have been warned!
Across the Universe (2007)
Beautifully flawed
Watching this film was an exhilarating experience. Not only was it consistently unpredictable, but it was one of those rare films that succeeds by wearing its heart on its sleeve, flaws and all. Were parts of it contrived? Definitely. Was it sometimes disjointed and poorly edited? Absolutely. Did I embrace it in spite of all this? Completely. Watching this film it is obvious that this was a labor of love by all concerned.There is a profound sense of joy abundant in this film; as if the actors, directors, set designers etc. were infused with a totality of inspiration. It would be easy to find fault with this movie. Yet it rises above all the flaws to emerge as a completely unique and engrossing cinematic treasure. In this way it reminds me of "Apocalypse Now", another film in which the glaring blemishes, born of inspiration,only serve to contribute to the sense of uniqueness and wonder at the effectiveness of the finished work of art. Immerse yourself in this film and you will be rewarded.
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
great example of escapist entertainment
"Creature" is rightly considered not just a classic horror film, but also a part American pop-culture. The filmmakers take a basically pedestrian "scientific expedition encounters monster" storyline and create a memorable piece of entertainment. The pacing is perfect, the acting is dead on for the genre and the monster himself elicits both shocks and pathos as the ultimate non-human anti-hero. Made long before the beginning of the modern environmental movement,the movie serves as a cautionary warning as to the encroachment of man into the natural world. This film is the perfect example of the ability of Hollywood to provide viewers with much needed escapism, even (or maybe especially) 50 years after its release.