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Reviews
The Dead Zone (1983)
Hamfisted acting but can't beat the ending!
On a second viewing in 2023, after seeing it in the 80s, I hadn't remembered how much overacting there was in this movie. And the "introduction" of the main character's psychic ability is revealed rather heavy-handedly -- not much subtlety in the writing. The movie moves at a pretty rapid pace but I think it might have played out better if the politician storyline was fleshed out more with a bit more depth of character. But Christopher Walker stands out above the others in the film who all seem like they're playing for a TV Movie of the Week. BUT, even with the negatives, I give it a 7 rating because it's all worth it for the ending which is genius.
The Search for General Tso (2014)
One of my favorite documentaries
It takes real skill as a director to pull together interviews, history, and engaging graphics on a rather mundane subject and make such an intriguing, humorous, and overall entertaining documentary. The graphics are such a great part of the documentary tying in the different time periods. The editing is to be commended due to it's is sharpness in capturing the best parts of numerous interviews in the U. S., Taiwan, and in Hunan province itself. I think a documentary is best when it is good storytelling regardless of subject matter, and to me this doc delivers with exceedingly good storytelling.
The Cotton Club (1984)
Disjointed, lacks a sense of flow in both storyline and performances
I think Coppola should have looked at what Fosse did so successfully with Cabaret. Coppola is attempting the same thing: mixing performances and storyline but does it in such a way that they mostly compete with each other rather than compliment each other. Fosse did it so well in Cabaret mixing the two seamlessly. In my opinion, Coppola's efforts fall flat. And the performances by Lane and Gere, to me, fall flat as well. I don't see any chemistry between the two. Hines is the only main character with whom there is a connection. And Fred Gwynne kills it in his role. He really is a good choice for the film. Wished his character were fleshed out more.
Europa (1991)
Underrated excellent film
The film is so unusual and outstanding in so many ways -- a period of time rarely portrayed in a film (immediate postwar 1945 Germany), gripping cinematography, and what is so important to me in rating a film -- is it predictable? This film, like my other favorites Vertigo, and Fellini's 8 1/2, is definitely enjoyably unpredictable from beginning to end.
Mars Needs Women (1968)
Best Pre-Credit intro EVER!
C'mon, you have to see this tounge firmly planted in cheek. A very fun, innocent romp into a time when teenagers paid a quarter for a Saturday matinee b-movie sci-fi feature. Yvonne Craig is pretty good with the dialogue she's been given. A very fun film to add lots of comments to while viewing with friends á la Mystery Science Theater 3k.