Written by / 3/07/2016 / No comments / , , ,

RICHARD PRYOR IN 'SOME KIND OF HERO' W/ MARGOT KIDDER

Release date: 1982
If Richard Pryor had only shaved that signature, comfortable, A-list mustache during the important catapulting Vietnam sequence that, within the page-turning James Kirkwood novel SOME KIND OF HERO there's a lot more dramatic and fleshed-out situations than what we have here: a film in which the main character's capture (shown on the poster, VHS cover and trailers) while taking a neurotic leak in the jungles of Vietnam seem like yet-another Pryor comedy...

RIP Margot Kidder May/2018
Though Richard's Eddie Keller and his friendship with fellow American captive Vinnie, played by the always-dependable Ray Sharkey, is a worthy half-hour… including  and especially an intense moment where Eddie lays down the law to his initially unglued, "tough-guy pretentious" cellmate, who threatens Eddie's only friend, a returning mouse…

Then Pryor's rhythm transfers somewhat smoothly as another, far more important progression occurs, turning HERO into an awkward dark comedy back home when, after his personal life hits a few giganic snags, including a cheating wife, a sick mother and what he had to do back in Vietnam haunting his future, Eddie becomes a bumbling crook to get the money he deserved for serving, and sacrificing for, his country... Then he sets his sites on something more reliable...

With Caren Kaye
Which makes those semi-funny Pryor antics more dramatically legit in the final act, ultimately rendering this HERO worthwhile – the story now centering on one particular heist, ranging from government agents to lethal mobsters, bringing out a desperate turn from the standup/acting legend who had already proven himself worthy of real drama in the 1970’s... fans of HIT and BLUE COLLAR know this all too well.

Pryor Unpantsed
Released in 1982, there are several elements from that previous era including a groovy soulful soundtrack: this was supposed to be the post-Vietnam decade, after all (yet there is a 1980's undertone). So beneath the mainstream mainline lies an edgy vibe while Margot Kidder’s heartfelt hooker doesn’t slow the pace like love interests often can. Seeming like she's been around the block more than once, she helps rather than hinders an even more experienced, put-upon war veteran seeking overall revenge.

Meeker-looking Jason
RATING: ***1/2
TRIVIA: The same year character-actor Peter Jason played the bartender who says the “Black Russian” joke to Eddie Murphy in the hillbilly bar, Torchy's, in Walter Hill's classic 48 HRS, he messes with Richard Pryor in this movie… also in a bar!

Making the fantastic, still relevant performer the only actor not only to play a guy who rapes Marcia Brady (in Gary Graver's exploitation TEXAS LIGHTNING around the same time), but a jerk who attempts bullying two of the most popular black comic icons ever, and the tables turn literally each time, not in his favor • And blonde beauty Caren Kaye, later known as the title hottie in MY TUTOR, shared (when the particular screen capture was uploaded onto her wall by yours truly) that it was a long day's shoot, being pregnant and all.
Margot Kidder Some Kind of Hero Margot Kidder Richard Pryor Some Kind of Hero Richard Pryor
Share This Post :
Tags : , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

All Time Popular

Featured Post

FIONA FULLERTON, ERIN GERAGHTY & JULIE DAWN COLE IN 'ANGELS'

Fiona Fullerton in ANGELS Year: 1975-1976 First Season Rating: **** The 1975 British/BBC television series ANGELS is a character-driven stor...

WWW.CULTFILMFREAKS.COM

WWW.CULTFILMFREAKS.COM
Movie Reviews, Interviews, Articles and Pop Culture from White Heat to Blue City

RIP ACTOR KEN HUTCHISON

TOTAL HITS

Popular Trending

FOUNDED BY JAMES M. TATE

FOUNDED BY JAMES M. TATE
RANDOM QUOTE: "Yeah, and the devil serves lemonade, right?" David Proval, Kojak

FILM NOIR & NEO NOIR CRIME

FAVORITES SHORTLIST

1)OTLEY 2)HELL IS A CITY 3)ROBBERY 4)THE FEARMAKERS 5)CANYON PASSAGE 6)VIOLENT SATURDAY 7)HOT CARS 8)THE BREAK 9)THE CROWDED SKY 10)THE ROARING TWENTIES 11) ANATOMY OF A MURDER 12)CALCULATED RISK 13)SWEENEY TWO 14)RAIDERS FROM BENEATH THE SEA 15)HARDCORE 16)JUNGLE STREET 17)WHITE HEAT 18)AL CAPONE 19)MODEL SHOP 20)FALLEN ANGEL 21)SHARKS' TREASURE 22)THE ASPHALT JUNGLE 23)ASH WEDNESDAY 24)THE SYSTEM 25)AIR PATROL 26)THE STONE KILLER 27)SANDS OF THE KALAHARI 28)WILLIAM CONRAD'S BRAINSTORM 29)RIOT 30)THE MAN FROM LARAMIE FAVORITE ACTORS 1)DANA ANDREWS 2)JAMES CAGNEY 3)STANLEY BAKER 4)MARLON BRANDO 5)JACK NICHOLSON 6)CHARLES BRONSON 7)BURT REYNOLDS 8)WILLIAM LUCAS 9)TOM COURTENAY 10)GENE HACKMAN DIRECTORS 1)JACQUES TOURNEUR 2)RICHARD FLEISCHER 3)VAL GUEST 4)STANLEY KUBRICK 5)OTTO PREMINGER 6)ORSON WELLES 7)JOHN GUILLERMAN 8)JOHN LANDIS 9)SAM PECKINPAH 10)MICHAEL WINNER

BRITISH NEW WAVE CINEMA

RARITIES AND EXPLOITATION

HAMMER HORROR & THRILLER

Popular This Month

CHARLES BRONSON CINEMA

CINEMA OF DANA ANDREWS

WESTERN GENRE REVIEWS

PEAKING INTO THE SIXTIES

KICKING IN THE EIGHTIES

TALES AND REFLECTIONS

REVVING THE SEVENTIES

Most Popular Last Year