cult film freak: September 2014

Written by James M. Tate / 9/29/2014 / 1 Comment / 2014 , bill hader , indie , kristen wiig , luke wilson , quirky

REVIEW OF THE SKELETON TWINS

2014, bill hader, indie, kristen wiig, luke wilson, quirky

REVIEW OF THE SKELETON TWINS

2014 rating: **1/2 Begins somewhat like LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE without the little miss, and not much sunshine as Bill Hader’s Milo, a gay ...

Written by James M. Tate / 9/28/2014 / No comments / bagful

EXTREMELY ECLECTIC BAGFUL OF MOVIE REVIEWS

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuThkEVPEjM/VChCwPE-9eI/AAAAAAAAjwE/S9ugFLFEAQo/s1600/Picture%2B22.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuThkEVPEjM/VChCwPE-9eI/AAAAAAAAjwE/S9ugFLFEAQo/s1600/Picture%2B22.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1988 ***</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>LESS THAN ZERO:</b> For anyone who's read the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, wherein the title 
isn't a message, this is a pretty big disappointment... But as an MTV-era 
anti-drug flick it's not bad thanks to Robert Downey Jr. as the only 
character who matters, a coke addicted sheister in way over his head...<br />
<br />
He owes fifty grand to a dealer, played by the capably villainous James Spader with the equally intimidating Michael Bowen as a muscular henchman, and is constantly rescued by 
his closest friends: Andrew McCarthy who, as Downey's estranged buddy returning 
from Ivy League college, provides an ambiguous perspective to the party-life... And 
Jami Gertz is their beautiful lass, a model snorting loads of coke yet is a nun
 compared to Downey.<br />
<br />
The pros are anything concerning RDJ's downfall; 
the cons are windswept sex scenes between McCarthy and Gertz that seem 
out of a Madonna video.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWmHJkf6Jp0/VCg6Y2rt_7I/AAAAAAAAjts/BPawnn9IYFc/s1600/Picture%2B3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWmHJkf6Jp0/VCg6Y2rt_7I/AAAAAAAAjts/BPawnn9IYFc/s1600/Picture%2B3.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1975 ***</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>ROOSTER COGBURN:</b> John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn is back. He's playing the Oscar-winning TRUE GRIT character to the hilt: giving his fans what they paid for. 
Which the movie does decently enough, adding Katharine Hepburn as a 
minister's daughter who, in her own way, is as tough as he is: her and Wayne provide AFRICAN QUEEN style banter throughout. <br />
<br />
Along 
with an Indian teen they head after a gaggle of baddies who killed 
Kate's dad and stole a stagecoach full of explosives, led by 
bloodthirsty Richard Jordan and including Anthony Zerbe, Jack Colvin, 
and Cult Film Freak favorite, Paul Koslo.<br />
<br />
The action occurs in pockets between bouncy, 
subliminally-romantic banter by the two leads, and everything balances 
nicely, consummated by a terrific finale as Rooster takes out the 
villains with a literal bang. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wQpbcwKZq9U/VCg6tad8I4I/AAAAAAAAjt0/IQhDmM2D99c/s1600/Picture%2B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wQpbcwKZq9U/VCg6tad8I4I/AAAAAAAAjt0/IQhDmM2D99c/s1600/Picture%2B1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1972 **</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>JOE KIDD:</b> With an exception of one scene involving Clint Eastwood, as a gunslinger
 hired to catch a Mexican revolutionary, elaborately escaping from a 
lookout post, this is a sluggish Western that lacks Eastwood's usual 
action and Elmore Leonard's wit, charm and creative twists...<br />
<br />
The bad guys
 are top-notch actors including Robert Duvall, Paul Koslo and Don 
Stroud, but have little to do except stand around, not smiling. 
Fake-mustached John Saxon is laughable as the sought-after Bandito, and 
even the scenery is bland and lackluster.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQJqxI3SBD4/VCg7Ju0ViJI/AAAAAAAAjt8/G1Nr92_zNHQ/s1600/Picture%2B4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQJqxI3SBD4/VCg7Ju0ViJI/AAAAAAAAjt8/G1Nr92_zNHQ/s1600/Picture%2B4.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010 *</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>WALL STREET 2: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS:</b> Michael Douglas returns as Gordon Gekko, the villainous love-to-hate 
stock market pirate from Oliver Stone's original outing, a lightweight 
classic starring Charlie Sheen as a climber who learns from Gekko how to
 cut corners and make a ton of money.<br />
<br />
In that film, Gekko convinces us 
that greed is good. Now, eight years after being released from prison 
for insider-trading, he's not so sure... of anything. He has a book to 
sell, but heaven knows what it's about since Gekko doesn't preach good 
or evil. The Man is an ambiguously vacant bore, just like Shai LaBeouf, resembling a college freshman playing broker, engaged to Gekko's 
estranged, mopey daughter.<br />
<br />
Douglas provides a 
side-character role, advising Shia on overthrowing evil Josh Brolin, 
whose one-dimensional baddie is a weak replacement for the young 
Gekko... but there's no seduction into power: just a dully conceived, 
revenge-driven motive without any purpose. And the stock market crash of
 2008, shown during the third act, adds nothing to the overall 
nothingness. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qnWmxkxtWYg/VCg7gvd8TdI/AAAAAAAAjuE/dXfGLUTMVxc/s1600/Picture%2B5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qnWmxkxtWYg/VCg7gvd8TdI/AAAAAAAAjuE/dXfGLUTMVxc/s1600/Picture%2B5.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1971 **</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>THE OMEGA MAN:</b> For a last man on earth film, there's sure a lot of people around...<br />
<br />
Charlton Heston either mumbles or screams his way through an apocalyptic
 disease-caused future with a group of fanatical white-haired albinos 
that, once night falls, are constantly on his back. Then he meets a 
dozen normal humans including Paul Koslo and sexy Rosiland Cash, and a 
good versus infected-evil battle ensues.<br />
<br />
Heston's character, a doctor 
with the only cure, should have had more isolation from the start to 
feel his solitude and separation. Instead, within the first five minutes
 he's gunning down baddies like any sci-fi/action flick, which this is a
 mediocre version of.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O4gl21qKOkA/VCg728uNvwI/AAAAAAAAjuM/WRgNAgSlgu8/s1600/Picture%2B6.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O4gl21qKOkA/VCg728uNvwI/AAAAAAAAjuM/WRgNAgSlgu8/s1600/Picture%2B6.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1980 **</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>THE LONG RIDERS:</b> How could a film directed by action-guru Walter Hill and starring real 
life brothers Carradine, Quaid and Keach not live up to its incredible reputation? A few reasons...<br />
<br />
One, the opening feels like the middle: a bank robbery/introduction to 
the gang, primarily bloodthirsty, gun-happy Dennis Quaid. Perhaps this 
is to separate the murderer from the other outlaws, all depicted as 
misunderstood saints... yet another problem...<br />
<br />
While many outlaw flicks 
lionize the historically depicted antagonists, this goes too far: 
leaving the characters completely uninteresting.<br />
<br />
Walter Hill provides a 
few brief action scenes, but mostly we get alluring landscapes and dull,
 overlong conversations with our dusty heroes and their gals (the same 
problem would occur in Michael Mann's HEAT). Hill tries so hard to show 
the diamonds in the rough there's hardly any rough at all.  <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ymq_rnbPO1E/VCg8Orjgi-I/AAAAAAAAjuU/xQRNBhzj5j0/s1600/Picture%2B7.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ymq_rnbPO1E/VCg8Orjgi-I/AAAAAAAAjuU/xQRNBhzj5j0/s1600/Picture%2B7.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1974 ***</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>I DISMEMBER MAMA:</b> An awesome yet very misleading title. POOR ALBERT AND LITTLE ANNIE, the original 
name, is what the movie is about, involving a mother-spun yet dashing 
psycho, Albert, who escapes from a mental hospital and returns home to 
kill: but mommy's not around.<br />
<br />
He slaughters the maid and afterwards, her
 eleven year old daughter, Annie, stops by and the rest is a field trip 
as Albert takes Annie on train rides, boat rides, then to a hotel after a
 contrived marriage.<br />
<br />
Sound sick? Surprisingly, it isn't. Albert despises
 adult women because they are, in his mind, sexually evil. But Annie, 
being young and innocent, is beyond that "curse" and their friendship is
 actually quite innocent. Although, what makes this film suspenseful is the 
question: when will he turn against her? Then the climactic foot chase 
into a mannequin shop provides icing on a very bizarre cake... that 
isn't for everyone.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FREEYZqOPX0/VCg8vTzw8QI/AAAAAAAAjuc/5TKk_Rt5Guw/s1600/Picture%2B9.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FREEYZqOPX0/VCg8vTzw8QI/AAAAAAAAjuc/5TKk_Rt5Guw/s1600/Picture%2B9.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1985 rating: ****1/2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>AFTER HOURS: </b>The underrated Griffin Dunne stars in a dark comedy Film Noir homage 
involving a bored word processor who takes a bad luck odyssey on a 
lonesome evening...<br />
<br />
He leaves his lonely apartment and following the 
"rabbit" (Rosanna Arquette) into artsy Soho, New York, and is eventually
 accused of many things he didn't do: all the while connecting with 
various woman, each unluckier than the next. Martin Scorsese directs 
with fanatic precision, but it's Dunne's ride.<br />
<br />
Not only
 does he deliver some of the funniest glib humor ever, but as he's 
progressively unravelled his frustrated irritation turns to panicked 
desperation: making this one of the most entertaining performances in 
the history of cinema. And that's no exaggeration.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iVfpCV8Lo4E/VCg9LOTah3I/AAAAAAAAjuk/0ch8eabVQCM/s1600/Picture%2B8.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iVfpCV8Lo4E/VCg9LOTah3I/AAAAAAAAjuk/0ch8eabVQCM/s1600/Picture%2B8.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1983 ****1/2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>THE KING OF COMEDY:</b> For anyone who thinks Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorsese can only do thug
 movies together, this'll whack that theory for good: Robert DeNiro 
plays Rupert Pufkin, a fervently driven autograph seeker who, after 
"accidentally" spending ten minutes with his hero Jerry Lewis (playing Jerry Langford, a cross between himself and Johnny Carson) fantasizes 
about becoming just as famous: and then some.<br />
<br />
DeNiro's stubborn attempts
 to try reconnecting with Langford (to do standup on his show) at his 
plush office building are wonderfully awkward. Jerry's brilliance shines
 when he's acting within Pufkin's reveries. Meanwhile, the grossly engrossing Sandra Bernhart, who 
eventually becomes DeNiro's partner-in-crime... taking it upon herself 
to "seduce" the kidnapped Jerry in her condo... not only steals her 
scenes but owns them completely. And for Jerry Lewis, this is a dynamic performance. Not just playing "himself," as it were, an impatient perfectionist dropping the most of the physical gags that made him a celebrity, but Jerry's subtle moments of vulnerability during Pufkin's fantasies: reveries of being more famous than the famous talk show host.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EQV4DPaz5Pw/VCg9e9ZrT-I/AAAAAAAAjus/aUecaqxh4CI/s1600/Picture%2B10.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EQV4DPaz5Pw/VCg9e9ZrT-I/AAAAAAAAjus/aUecaqxh4CI/s1600/Picture%2B10.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2001 *1/2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>GHOSTS OF MARS:</b> The first twenty minutes, as a group of soldiers ride a train into a 
desolate town on the Planet Mars to decipher who's decapitating people, 
is fairly decent, but then the action begins and there's simply too much
 of it.<br />
<br />
The bad guys are vampires resembling rejects from CATS, and most
 of the good guys, especially Jason Statham, become annoying and 
cliched...<br />
<br />
And although Ice Cube, as a badass prisoner... the red herring 
until the real menace is discovered... is horribly out of place, 
delivering his lines with no energy or realism, star Natasha Henstridge 
keeps the viewer interested, that is, if they choose to keep watching: 
which can be a chore.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ps6Nukp0NqE/VCg-B0ru-ZI/AAAAAAAAju8/jDhm6OPNmBY/s1600/Picture%2B11.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ps6Nukp0NqE/VCg-B0ru-ZI/AAAAAAAAju8/jDhm6OPNmBY/s1600/Picture%2B11.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1986 ***</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>HEARTBREAK RIDGE:</b> What's not to like about a Clint Eastwood movie where he's a gruff, 
no-nonsense Marine Sergeant sent back to his old platoon to whip the new
 recruits into shape?<br />
<br />
Well the recruits, for one, unrealistically acting
 like rebels in detention class instead of soldiers, especially Mario 
Van Peebles as a guitar-slinging rapper, one of the most annoying 
characters in film history. Although even he comes around eventually.<br />
<br />
But it's Eastwood alone who makes this DIRTY DOZENesque flick worth 
watching. Especially the boot camp scenes where he whips the jerks into shape, far exceeding the rather rushed military campaign finale. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ETC6HvNDKcw/VCg-hjGMMUI/AAAAAAAAjvE/tGyzwVHtauI/s1600/Picture%2B20.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ETC6HvNDKcw/VCg-hjGMMUI/AAAAAAAAjvE/tGyzwVHtauI/s1600/Picture%2B20.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1981 **1/2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>CHEECH AND CHONG'S NICE DREAMS:</b> After filming most of this, Cheech & Chong's third film, 
director Tommy Chong shot more scenes involving goofball cops, bringing 
back Stacy Keach as Sgt. Stedanko, who was very important and downright hilariously serious the first 
time around.<br />
<br />
But Keach remains in his office, smoking pot that slowly 
turns him into a reptile while Peter Jason and Tim Rossovitch take over 
as the bumbling stakeout dudes. Their comedy doesn't compare to Keach 
and Mills Watson; and the dialogue between Cheech and Chong is limp and 
for the most part, unfunny ("Cops smell like donuts and coffee"), but 
there's a naturally laidback quality to their escapades.<br />
<br />
Although the 
last half, in a luxury hotel, plays out like a slapstick Blake Edwards 
film, and then the "peak" at a loony ward ends with a whimper, it's a 
semi-decent buzz overall.<br />
<br />
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fGGNEW7T1gY/VCg_R_HANQI/AAAAAAAAjvM/0AztwxaZjJs/s1600/Picture%2B12.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fGGNEW7T1gY/VCg_R_HANQI/AAAAAAAAjvM/0AztwxaZjJs/s1600/Picture%2B12.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1995 **1/2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED:</b> John Carpenter attempted a horribly hokey science-fiction tale, 
and in that, succeeded. The cast includes actors known for franchise 
films...</div>
<div>
<br />
Featuring the likable likes of Christopher SUPERMAN Reeves, Mark STAR WARS Hamill, Kirstie LOOK WHO'S TALKING Alley, Michael EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS Pare, and Linda CROC DUNDEE Kozlowski as residents 
of a town hit by a blackout that mysteriously impregnates the women, 
nine months later giving birth on the same night to a bevy of alien children who, a
 few years later, become albino megaminds.<br />
<br />
Despite the 
good cast, most of the acting is subpar, especially Mark Hamill who, as a
 preacher, delivers lines as if he too were possessed. The children, on 
the other hand, perform decently enough, but are held back by cheesy FX 
as their eyes radiate, taking away any real threat they might've had 
otherwise.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8aKHe8UHoKQ/VCg_w1CjEvI/AAAAAAAAjvU/FLrpsla9xR0/s1600/Picture%2B14.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8aKHe8UHoKQ/VCg_w1CjEvI/AAAAAAAAjvU/FLrpsla9xR0/s1600/Picture%2B14.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1974 ***</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>EARTHQUAKE:</b> A disaster film with everything, including tons of involving melodrama 
leading up to the big shake that has some great special effects even for
 the early seventies.<br />
<br />
Charlton Heston leads an all-star cast (but 
without too many cooks) as Los Angeles gets destroyed. The 
buildings that don't fall crumble during the aftershock and what's bad 
turns worse, and the suspense always sustains.<br />
<br />
One plot involving 
Marjoe Gortner as a demented store clerk/National Guardsman holding 
Victoria Principal (donning the worst wig in cinematic history) hostage 
adds some unintentionally fun camp to the overall catastrophe... A does SHAFT 
Richard Roundtree as a wannabe Evil Knievel and a cameo by Walter 
Matthau as a drunk.<br />
<br />
But it's George Kennedy, as a strong willed cop, who
 steals the show. And beware of the horrendous final five minutes, all but crumbling everything else.   <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qzi5OMVXhp0/VChAn8R9DEI/AAAAAAAAjvk/okmvDbRLx-U/s1600/Picture%2B16.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qzi5OMVXhp0/VChAn8R9DEI/AAAAAAAAjvk/okmvDbRLx-U/s1600/Picture%2B16.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1980 ****1/2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>ATLANTIC CITY:</b> A thoroughly brilliant film centering on an aged caretaker, played by veteran icon Burt 
Lancaster, of an bed-ridden gangster's moll... He always wanted to be a thug but
 merely ran numbers, and still runs numbers, in a dying town called 
ATLANTIC CITY: on the verge of a revamp where the past will be erased 
forever.<br />
<br />
Add to that Susan Sarandon as a casino worker and her 
good-for-nothing husband, Robert Joy, who wanders into town with a bag 
of stolen cocaine: setting everything in motion. Lancaster and 
Sarrandon's friendship turned romance is very nice...<br />
<br />
But it's the chemistry 
between Lancaster and Joy, the wannabe mobster and the wannabe player, who gives the old-timer his first step in 
becoming a true heavy, that really shines, providing blunt humor and dark suspense.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6qFuHErE_g/VChBGdnWzFI/AAAAAAAAjvs/bvue-fZVvjY/s1600/Picture%2B17.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6qFuHErE_g/VChBGdnWzFI/AAAAAAAAjvs/bvue-fZVvjY/s1600/Picture%2B17.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1977 **1/2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>THE MAIN EVENT:</b> In this corner, Ryan O'Neal, who, after starring in BARRY LYNDON and THE
 DRIVER, is slumming in a romantic comedy...<br />
<br />
And in this corner, Barbra 
Streisand, doing what she does best: playing a neurotic woman with a 
one-liner for everything... Her attempts at Woody Allen is in droves, and 
for the most part, this film works decently enough...<br />
<br />
At least during the 
first half as Streisand, playing an executive who loses all her worth 
except a tax-shelter fighter far from his prime, turns O'Neal from 
cowardly loser to a hopeful champion: where she can get all her money 
back and hopefully, fall in love.  <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-4zb8XGscs/VChBfrDperI/AAAAAAAAjv0/fxO-lr-aRc0/s1600/Picture%2B18.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-4zb8XGscs/VChBfrDperI/AAAAAAAAjv0/fxO-lr-aRc0/s1600/Picture%2B18.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1985 **</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>THE NEW KIDS:</b> The first twenty minutes, as we're introduced to teenage sister and 
brother Lori Loughlin and Shannon Presby who, after military father Tom 
Atkins dies off screen, move to their uncle's house built alongside his 
off-highway carnival, is pretty good.<br />
<br />
But when they go to the new local 
school things get way too over-the-top involving a group of totalitarian
 bullies lead by drug-dealing James Spader, psychotic John Philbin and 
some other jerks, none of whom seem very threatening.<br />
<br />
But the climax, as
 siblings battle bullies in the vacant carnival, makes up for the 
muddled middle, somewhat. Directed by FRIDAY THE 13TH's Sean S. 
Cunninghan, these KIDS, in a cinematic sense, have a real identity crisis.  </div>

bagful

EXTREMELY ECLECTIC BAGFUL OF MOVIE REVIEWS

1988 *** LESS THAN ZERO: For anyone who's read the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, wherein the title isn't a message, this is a pr...

Written by James M. Tate / 9/26/2014 / No comments / 2014 , chloë grace moretz , denzel washington

DENZEL WASHINGTON IN THE EQUALIZER

2014, chloë grace moretz, denzel washington

DENZEL WASHINGTON IN THE EQUALIZER

2014 rating: *** A combination of TAXI DRIVER and the 1980’s TV-series namesake, THE EQUALIZER pits Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall ag...

Written by James M. Tate / 9/24/2014 / No comments / adam driver , ensemble , jane fonda , jason bateman , rose byrne , tina fey

JASON BATEMAN IN THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZO3I05N7Wc/VCGrpcEJ_3I/AAAAAAAAjsA/N29Hki3i31M/s1600/MV5BMjkzNzQ2NDMyNl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTY3MTcxMjE%40._V1_SY759_SX512_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZO3I05N7Wc/VCGrpcEJ_3I/AAAAAAAAjsA/N29Hki3i31M/s1600/MV5BMjkzNzQ2NDMyNl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTY3MTcxMjE%40._V1_SY759_SX512_AL_.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2014 rating: **1/2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While seeming like another AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, where an eclectic lot reunites after the death of a beloved yet mysterious patriarch, both films are reminiscent inspirations of THE BIG CHILL… A collection of polar opposites gathered in one place where personalities collide, but in an ultimately optimistic, life-affirming sense… The usual. <br />
<br />
In SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, Bradley Cooper went to the nuthouse after catching his wife having sex with another man – so let’s give Jason Bateman’s Judd Altman some credit… He keeps it all inside, and remains pretty cool, but is forced to spend a week with people he’d much rather avoid… An equal penance, maybe.<br />
<br />
Judd is the clean slate main character, allowing the other family members to shine and/or attempt stealing scenes, especially black sheep little (yet very tall) brother Philip, played by Adam Driver, who gets all the best lines but there’s something missing. His wild card is too forced, contrived. And Bateman relies on his usual glib reactions for every unpredictable element... <br />
<br />
Which also includes blunt advice from Tina Fey’s Wendy, his older sister and a somewhat wasted character throughout, given a quickie affair with a neighbor that amounts to little. Tina deserved better. And their famous author mom, Hillary, who has a brand new set of breasts and a secret revealed later on… Veteran actress Jane Fonda, in playing a woman too open-minded to everything around her, isn't very interesting. <br />
<br />
While the situations are often humorous, and the dialogue is natural and laidback, this particular reunion feels a bit staged, showcasing an American family the director assumes we know more than we actually do. Never given a chance to delve into these people beyond their lusty one-liners and worldly bantler, it’s like over-hearing a party next door instead of actually attending.

adam driver, ensemble, jane fonda, jason bateman, rose byrne, tina fey

JASON BATEMAN IN THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU

2014 rating: **1/2 While seeming like another AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, where an eclectic lot reunites after the death of a beloved yet myst...

Written by James M. Tate / 9/23/2014 / No comments / comedy , dudley moore , dustin hoffman , eddie murphy , eighties , warren beatty

DUDLEY MOORE IN 'BEST DEFENSE' FEATURING EDDIE MURPHY

comedy, dudley moore, dustin hoffman, eddie murphy, eighties, warren beatty

DUDLEY MOORE IN 'BEST DEFENSE' FEATURING EDDIE MURPHY

Great Book, actually... SCORE: ** Starting with 48 HRS and following up with TRADING PLACES and then peaking with BEVERLY HILLS COP, Edd...

Written by James M. Tate / 9/21/2014 / No comments / 2014 , liam neeson , neo noir , suspense

LIAM NEESON IN A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES

2014, liam neeson, neo noir, suspense

LIAM NEESON IN A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES

year: 2014 rating: *** Beginning with the colorfully blood-drenched aesthetic reminiscent of PULP FICTION, and taking place during the e...

Written by James M. Tate / 9/20/2014 / No comments / 2014 , action , apocalyptic future

REVIEW OF THE MAZE RUNNER

2014, action, apocalyptic future

REVIEW OF THE MAZE RUNNER

year: 2014 rating: *** A busy hybrid of CUBE, NO ESCAPE and even KING KONG… plus all those dystopic-future adaptations like THE HUNGER G...

Written by James M. Tate / 9/19/2014 / No comments / 2014 , horror , kevin smith

KEVIN SMITH DIRECTS MICHAEL PARKS & JUSTIN LONG IN 'TUSK'

2014, horror, kevin smith

KEVIN SMITH DIRECTS MICHAEL PARKS & JUSTIN LONG IN 'TUSK'

year: 2014 rating: *** “It’s such a fine line between stupid and, uh, clever,” said a member of the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Ta...

Written by James M. Tate / 9/18/2014 / No comments / 2014

DOLPHIN TALE 2 & NO GOOD DEED & LOVE IS STRANGE

2014

DOLPHIN TALE 2 & NO GOOD DEED & LOVE IS STRANGE

year: 2014 rating: ***1/2 DOLPHIN TALE 2: That’s right, two… literally… as in, there are two dolphins now… Actually, wait... Make that ...

Written by James M. Tate / 9/16/2014 / No comments / bagful , cult , fifties

AN EXTREMELY BLOODY BAGFUL OF LOW BUDGET FLICKS

bagful, cult, fifties

AN EXTREMELY BLOODY BAGFUL OF LOW BUDGET FLICKS

1954 rating: ***1/2 THEM: "When man entered the Atomic Age he opened a door into a new world... What we'll eventually find in...

Written by James M. Tate / 9/14/2014 / No comments / marquee

POP CULTURE CONTRABAND: MOVIE MARQUEE SPOTTING

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aBe5VJs52Iw/U4y4d9aNZaI/AAAAAAAAfkU/oSQgmkQCVzE/s1600/title00_103954576.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aBe5VJs52Iw/U4y4d9aNZaI/AAAAAAAAfkU/oSQgmkQCVzE/s1600/title00_103954576.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Take all the money, but no wire hangers."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When you're watching a movie, especially an older one, it's fun to spot a marquee in the background, which, for pop culture fanatics, is like archeology... Marquee hunting provides a backdrop into pop culture history, serving as a time capsule within a time capsule: The best marquees to discover are the real thing, yet there are other examples where they're created specifically for the film... Both types are included in the list below...<br />
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<br />
<b>MOMMIE DEAREST IN BLUE THUNDER:</b> In the 1983 Roy Scheider action flick BLUE THUNDER, two bad guys are about to rob a store... And if
 you glance to the far right you can see that MOMMIE DEAREST is 
playing... Although the marquee is blurry you can also see part of Faye 
Dunaway's name...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-66BGZsFTtxY/VBIWyUjEqKI/AAAAAAAAjlA/4IK02MG9r3E/s1600/lists.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-66BGZsFTtxY/VBIWyUjEqKI/AAAAAAAAjlA/4IK02MG9r3E/s1600/lists.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>SO WELCOME TO THE FIRST JOURNEY OF FINDING MARQUEES IN MOVIES</u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NweHLtsh8Jc/VBXfkW7t3GI/AAAAAAAAjno/IhK1cTSNEKM/s1600/title00_211416356.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NweHLtsh8Jc/VBXfkW7t3GI/AAAAAAAAjno/IhK1cTSNEKM/s320/title00_211416356.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stallone saving Dolly from Leibman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>THE RIGHT STUFF & TO BE OR NOT TO BE IN RHINESTONE:</b><br />
<br />
The late Bob Clark's RHINESTONE is one of the worst movies of all time, 
but it's a guilty pleasure too. Sylvester Stallone is a cab driver who's
 taught to be a country singer by Dolly Parton... <br />
<br />
If he can't win over an unruly crowd, Dolly has to sleep with Ron Leibman... <br />
<br />
In this scene, as a 
lovestruck Sly rides a horse to rescue his damsel, a marquee for THE 
RIGHT STUFF and Mel Brook's TO BE OR NOT TO BE is visible. Also included is DC CAB, THE MAN WHO LOVED WOMEN, TWO OF A KIND, and something that ends with NEVER... <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-fx0Nq6moE/TwYkmhm8RuI/AAAAAAAADqA/meHu_xu4fzY/s1600/title00_101625160.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-fx0Nq6moE/TwYkmhm8RuI/AAAAAAAADqA/meHu_xu4fzY/s1600/title00_101625160.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"We can walk down the street, or see my ex girlfriend in a movie."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJB6P1kZCyE/VBIYo2DdDRI/AAAAAAAAjlM/tItXf5DmU1M/s1600/HALLOWEEN-305.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJB6P1kZCyE/VBIYo2DdDRI/AAAAAAAAjlM/tItXf5DmU1M/s200/HALLOWEEN-305.png" width="167" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacey Nelkin in H3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>HALLOWEEN 3: SEASON OF THE WITCH IN BROADWAY DANNY ROSE:</b> Here's a marque spotting with some significance of the romantic 
nature, and involves robbing the cradle... Anyone who's seen Woody Allen's MANHATTAN will remember that 
Mariel Hemingway played a seventeen-year old girl that Woody dates...<br />
<br />
The character Hemingway plays is named Tracy, and her subtle performance
 garnered Ernest Hemingway's granddaughter a best supporting Oscar nomination. But 
this isn't about Mariel, it's about another young, beautiful actress 
named Stacey Nelkin, whom the MANHATTAN ingenue Tracy is based on...<br />
<br />
Woody, in his forties, had an affair with the sixteen-year old Nelkin, 
who'd later star in HALLOWEEN III: THE SEASON OF THE WITCH with Tom 
Atkins... And as Allen crosses the street in his subtle masterpiece, 
BROADWAY DANNY ROSE, you can see the marquee of his ex-girlfriend's new 
flick (this being 1983) along with Larry Cohen's monster movie Q: THE 
WINGED SERPENT, snake logo and all.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MeEtcP4oYN4/VBXeUL2y_FI/AAAAAAAAjnc/ABbEpWj9y88/s1600/photo-98.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="447" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MeEtcP4oYN4/VBXeUL2y_FI/AAAAAAAAjnc/ABbEpWj9y88/s640/photo-98.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Forget the double feature, let's get stalked and hunted by Stephen McHattie instead."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<b>THE BLUE LAGOON & CHINA SYNDROME IN DEATH VALLEY: </b>In the cult horror/suspense
 flick DEATH VALLEY, poor Peter Billingsley has to move from New York to
 Arizona, and as soon as the plane lands, he and mom joins mom's 
boyfriend (Paul LeMat) on a road trip towards the Grand Canyon...<br />
<br />
Before
 that, they pass a theater marquee where THE BLUE LAGOON is 
playing with THE CHINA SYNDROME... An exploitation and a political 
thriller to fill up the afternoon... But they have other things to do: The movies would have been a lot safer...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-vqHiu_VGM/UyIE_AKBvsI/AAAAAAAAdtI/zQzAZTQIONE/s1600/1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-vqHiu_VGM/UyIE_AKBvsI/AAAAAAAAdtI/zQzAZTQIONE/s1600/1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'll come back once the first movie is finished..."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>HIS GIRL FRIDAY & FREAKS IN THE WORLD'S GREATEST DAD:</b> This post is important to difarinciate two kinds of movie marquees spotted in motion 
pictures, as teased upon in the intro...<br />
<br />
The best to find are actual 
marquees caught on film, but there are the 
contrived marquees made especially for the movie... Not as vintage but 
still kinda cool...<br />
<br />
Like in the case of Bobcat 
Goldthwait's THE WORLD'S GREATEST DAD starring the late Robin Williams, a creative indie flick... And here, Robin walks by a very eclectic double bill...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdLIH8R5A2A/VBXdcyiqC3I/AAAAAAAAjnU/MIR5mOwxYCY/s1600/h1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdLIH8R5A2A/VBXdcyiqC3I/AAAAAAAAjnU/MIR5mOwxYCY/s1600/h1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Gonna fly into the theater..."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>ROCKY II & ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ IN HERO AT LARGE:</b> In the John Ritter comedy HERO AT LARGE, where John 
plays an actor who takes a gig playing a superhero outside a theater, 
and then winds up fighting crime and becomes a, you know, hero...<br />
<br />
During
 one shot several marquees are visible: one for ROCKY II and an Oliver 
Reed flick called THE BROOD, and below is a marquee Clint Eastwood 
feature ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bIvctqGPXZw/Uxyti0BMzbI/AAAAAAAAdg8/pu270NMMePg/s1600/h2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bIvctqGPXZw/Uxyti0BMzbI/AAAAAAAAdg8/pu270NMMePg/s1600/h2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marquee for ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ultgF2MXl_w/UxyntjFdPvI/AAAAAAAAdfc/1MAGmVG8Ib4/s1600/4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ultgF2MXl_w/UxyntjFdPvI/AAAAAAAAdfc/1MAGmVG8Ib4/s1600/4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"You talkin' to me, blurry marqee? Are you talkin' to me?" </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>BUSTIN' LOOSE IN THE KING OF COMEDY:</b> In KING OF COMEDY, Martin Scorsese and once partner in creativity Robert De Niro's most 
underrated and bizarre movie, De Niro's Rupert Pufkin is arguing with 
Sandra Bernhardt on the streets of NEW YORK...<br />
<br />
Behind Rupert the marquee
 for the Richard Pryor comedy BUSTIN' LOOSE can be seen...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFdy_erjxpw/T-rkRVN59dI/AAAAAAAAIKY/z9S72zrescA/s1600/1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFdy_erjxpw/T-rkRVN59dI/AAAAAAAAIKY/z9S72zrescA/s1600/1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>And now some marquees from ANGEL... starting with OCTOPUSSY</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u5tN3XH3Vo0/T-ri6Sz7ywI/AAAAAAAAIJ0/5y6Fon-a1KI/s1600/2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u5tN3XH3Vo0/T-ri6Sz7ywI/AAAAAAAAIJ0/5y6Fon-a1KI/s1600/2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BLUE THUNDER MARQUEE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gHpMKbPm_JQ/T-rjD2YBkUI/AAAAAAAAIKQ/76KYfoQ6o-g/s1600/4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gHpMKbPm_JQ/T-rjD2YBkUI/AAAAAAAAIKQ/76KYfoQ6o-g/s1600/4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FLASHDANCE POSTER</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GJDWrazjgQU/T-rjDmtZ31I/AAAAAAAAIKI/xbsRlxA1lvI/s1600/3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GJDWrazjgQU/T-rjDmtZ31I/AAAAAAAAIKI/xbsRlxA1lvI/s1600/3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Why walk the streets with so many great movies playing?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>RANDOM MARQUEES IN ANGEL: </b>The 1984 cult classic ANGEL... starring
 Donna Wilkes and centering on an honor student moonlighting as a hooker... takes 
place on Hollywood Blvd where there's plenty of marquees...<br />
<br />
These include, as you've already witnessed: OCTOPUSSY, BLUE THUNDER, RETURN OF THE JEDI and a poster of FLASHDANCE.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mxWCOj87CXM/T7nxAN9b3MI/AAAAAAAAHV0/vDa77-Nkp00/s1600/title00_003006977.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mxWCOj87CXM/T7nxAN9b3MI/AAAAAAAAHV0/vDa77-Nkp00/s1600/title00_003006977.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Put down that speed... Let's watch a terrible sequel!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>STAYING ALIVE IN REPO MAN:</b> A marquee for SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER sequel STAYING ALIVE is visible... Very ironic mixing two opposite genres... <br />
<br />
REPO MAN is a movie about a punk rocker, and STAYING ALIVE is not only a sequel to a disco staple, but is the most famous disco song: and punkers detest that kind of music... <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kNiUWtyUsTc/T6v9-LzzNlI/AAAAAAAAHKc/84c96LuaSmQ/s1600/title00_000233696.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kNiUWtyUsTc/T6v9-LzzNlI/AAAAAAAAHKc/84c96LuaSmQ/s1600/title00_000233696.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The movie to the left seems a lot more exciting, least judging by the title..."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH IN PRIME CUT:</b> As Lee Marvin leaves Chicago in the crime flick PRIME CUT we can spot, on the left, a marquee for the horror/suspense LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH...<br />
<br />
And the marquee on the right reads EDGAR ALLEN POE'S MURDER IN THE RUE MORGUE staring Jason Robards.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--oQleoVH6Ys/TxX7iMaDq9I/AAAAAAAAEAM/cq5VYnCkDqI/s1600/pep1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--oQleoVH6Ys/TxX7iMaDq9I/AAAAAAAAEAM/cq5VYnCkDqI/s1600/pep1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lady on the swing below the Chevy ad...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>PEPSODENT GIRL IN THE ORIGINAL KING KONG: </b>The 1933 blockbuster KING KONG is known for iconic imagery, like 
prehistoric dinosaurs and of course a giant gorilla and biplanes flying 
around the Empire State Building and a lot more, but what always stands 
out, before any of the other stuff, is the Pepsodent Advertisment with 
the girl on the swing. (For nostalgia's sake, Peter Jackson even used it in his reboot.)<br />
<br />
And below, an ad from the James Cagney melodrama TAXI for good measure...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xPr2QNak6IU/TxX_eazrGMI/AAAAAAAAEA0/fJzjCaw9nNE/s1600/title00_144002118.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="453" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xPr2QNak6IU/TxX_eazrGMI/AAAAAAAAEA0/fJzjCaw9nNE/s640/title00_144002118.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"You dirty rat... Let's go to the pictures."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UBfXtLqqUIE/TwZahc9U1oI/AAAAAAAADss/8M4v9E52PKY/s1600/title00_181442504.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UBfXtLqqUIE/TwZahc9U1oI/AAAAAAAADss/8M4v9E52PKY/s1600/title00_181442504.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A handsome, contrived marquee to serve the time period</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>THE BIRDS IN TIN MEN: </b>Forget
 RAIN MAN... Director Barry 
Levinson's best movie is TIN MEN, a comedy/drama about aluminum siding 
salesman Danny DeVito and Richard Dreyfuss battling each other, but 
there's a lot more to the character-driven story set in the early 
1960's...<br />
<br />
1963 to be exact as this marquee of the famous Hitchock movie 
clues us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qtP9kLsoyWc/TwYkX2tnPtI/AAAAAAAADps/Ei1B_AkdmiU/s1600/65t.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qtP9kLsoyWc/TwYkX2tnPtI/AAAAAAAADps/Ei1B_AkdmiU/s1600/65t.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"We can stare at pizza, or go see THE EVIL DEAD."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>THE EVIL DEAD & LONE WOLF McQUADE IN SPLASH: </b>In director Ron Howard's hit rom-com SPLASH, Daryl Hannah's mermaid is given 
her name Madison since she and Tom Hanks are standing on that particular
 street corner, and that's the first thing she reads... But imagine if she'd seen the marquee for LONE WOLF McQUADE first... A double bill along with RAIDERS OF THE 
LOST ARK.<br />
<br />
And as shown above, when the couple watch a pizza maker, an EVIL 
DEAD marquee is visible in the background, along with XTRO.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dQxuTfoznm0/TwYkYbeytvI/AAAAAAAADp0/FER_om8H7TY/s1600/title00_104201282.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="521" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dQxuTfoznm0/TwYkYbeytvI/AAAAAAAADp0/FER_om8H7TY/s640/title00_104201282.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Forget about streetlights, you dizzy mermaid... Let's watch some Chuck Norris!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nnBuNx98bNY/TwYkxGPaOLI/AAAAAAAADqM/oT3calTgzac/s1600/title00_200343829.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nnBuNx98bNY/TwYkxGPaOLI/AAAAAAAADqM/oT3calTgzac/s1600/title00_200343829.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This marquee looks timeworn-blended into the urban neighborhood...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>ENTER TH DRAGON IN BLOODBROTHERS: </b>In the Robert Mulligan drama BLOODBROTHERS, starring Paul Sorvino, 
who'd later rule the local mob in the Martin Scorsese GOODFELLAS...Tony
 La Bianco, the white rabbit leading Gene Hackman to the big bust in THE
 FRENCH CONNECTION...<br />
<br />
And a young and edgy Richard Gere, who takes his little brother to the movies. And what a 
movie!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d78RK2yZ7bU/TwYj78uiWwI/AAAAAAAADpU/XXmcHS70hcQ/s1600/title01_225248369.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d78RK2yZ7bU/TwYj78uiWwI/AAAAAAAADpU/XXmcHS70hcQ/s200/title01_225248369.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
DRAGONSLAYER poster</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>RANDOM MOVIE POSTERS IN SUMMER RENTAL:</b> Okay so we'll finish up with posters inside the theaters. Sure, they're not marquees, but it's all in the same family... Speaking of which, the 1985 family comedy SUMMER RENTAL was John Candy's first starring 
role...<br />
<br />
His daughter, played by the lovely Kerri Green 
from LUCAS and THE GOONIES, stands in a movie theater where posters of 
UNCOMMON VALOR, 
FOOTLOOSE, DRAGONSLAYER... And outside the theater, a poster of TOP SECRET! (and again 
FOOTLOOSE) can be spotted in the rain. And two connections for Candy's RENTAL wife, Karen Austin, who was on NIGHT COURT with John Larroquette, and John was in STRIPES with Candy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QbuWjfEUksU/V4LAIXh66tI/AAAAAAAAtdc/qP0QDz6V978HdpmP-aDa3JrjNiK3d6TBgCLcB/s1600/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QbuWjfEUksU/V4LAIXh66tI/AAAAAAAAtdc/qP0QDz6V978HdpmP-aDa3JrjNiK3d6TBgCLcB/s1600/1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A winder shot of Kerri Green against a DRAGONSLAYER poster, directed by the CORVETTE SUMMER guy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x-U2hFTLt9w/V4LAI64dTAI/AAAAAAAAtdk/nG50smytDRc8Y94XjHdWoqT9DBW53J3rQCLcB/s1600/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x-U2hFTLt9w/V4LAI64dTAI/AAAAAAAAtdk/nG50smytDRc8Y94XjHdWoqT9DBW53J3rQCLcB/s1600/2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Larroquette, the foil for John Candy in STRIPES, seems to move in on his wife and family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8auhHTRcHnw/V4LAIz0g94I/AAAAAAAAtdg/XSZN0c4SPNEFkaNe5eiPtUhzflo_aILQQCLcB/s1600/3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8auhHTRcHnw/V4LAIz0g94I/AAAAAAAAtdg/XSZN0c4SPNEFkaNe5eiPtUhzflo_aILQQCLcB/s1600/3.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karen Austin, a really cute kid and son Joey Lawrence with UNCOMMON VALOR and FOOTLOOSE posters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x8CfYprc0Hc/V4LAPbnz2YI/AAAAAAAAtdo/SGWlL70411EgXuiQy9Z-evHxB2074nwdgCLcB/s1600/4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x8CfYprc0Hc/V4LAPbnz2YI/AAAAAAAAtdo/SGWlL70411EgXuiQy9Z-evHxB2074nwdgCLcB/s1600/4.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over to the right, hard to see, is a FRIDAY THE 13TH poster where it says JASON and then words beneath</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wZwXfONcdwg/V4LAQdhrEEI/AAAAAAAAtdw/uIHXFB_X3Nc1JMu0GdrU6QboksrHA6QFQCLcB/s1600/5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wZwXfONcdwg/V4LAQdhrEEI/AAAAAAAAtdw/uIHXFB_X3Nc1JMu0GdrU6QboksrHA6QFQCLcB/s1600/5.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With so many of Green, here's a close-up on a beautiful starlet Karen Austin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LHrN_awJjA8/V4LAQpP_eXI/AAAAAAAAtds/5vEt_Vlka7g1VACdyP6LhBxpcQ9RbNoXQCLcB/s1600/8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LHrN_awJjA8/V4LAQpP_eXI/AAAAAAAAtds/5vEt_Vlka7g1VACdyP6LhBxpcQ9RbNoXQCLcB/s1600/8.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Larroquette and Karen Austin spent a year doing NIGHT COURT together</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HmCY_-e0K5k/TwYj7WNK4vI/AAAAAAAADpM/XJVq3c5zc94/s1600/title01_225117620.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HmCY_-e0K5k/TwYj7WNK4vI/AAAAAAAADpM/XJVq3c5zc94/s640/title01_225117620.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> UNCOMMON VALOR and FOOTLOOSE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_nDDVHz1Fs/Tw31JiSruPI/AAAAAAAADw0/W8RtD_dOfaQ/s1600/title01_22515571+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_nDDVHz1Fs/Tw31JiSruPI/AAAAAAAADw0/W8RtD_dOfaQ/s640/title01_22515571+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">STAY TUNED FOR MORE MARQUEES SPOTTED IN MOVIES...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DJ9yYbb5sG8/WTUVd3ycM4I/AAAAAAAAx7A/T0uuvmUncPUGZozv1XDPSSZ61_EpHf_MACLcB/s1600/wh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="960" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DJ9yYbb5sG8/WTUVd3ycM4I/AAAAAAAAx7A/T0uuvmUncPUGZozv1XDPSSZ61_EpHf_MACLcB/s1600/wh.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just added, June 4th 2017... Another from Prime Cut, the William Holden flick, THE REVENGERS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>

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