Written by / 4/03/2020 / No comments / , , , , , , , ,

TIM MATHESON IS A BOWLING 'DREAMER' WITH SUSAN BLAKELY

Tim Matheson and Susan Blakely in DREAMER Year: 1979
Quickly following a retro opening-credit montage of the unique and antique history of the sport of bowling, you’d think the motion picture was about to end...

With the kind of gloriously climactic energy composer Bill Conti gave to Rocky Balboa's final bout in the two films made, we have Tim Matheson, as a character named DREAMER, winning a tournament as victorious music blares.
Tim Matheson as Dreamer as DREAMER
But Dreamer’s just a regular guy who works as a mechanic for a bowling alley owned by a ball-busting boss (played by the always-jovially antagonistic character-actor Richard B. Shull). His best friend and mentor, the Obi Wan Kenobi or Burgess Meredith of the story, is Jack Warden’s Harry, who, with plans of buying his own alley, isn’t the only dreamer on board.

This mellow character-driven sports film, given a breezy theme song by Jimmy Buffett to counter the brassy Conti soundtrack, is full of individuals either wanting to get out or are perfectly content within the cozy confides of small town living...The alley itself is like a world to the viewer…
Susan Blakely and Tim Matheson in DREAMER
Writer/Director Noel Nosseck really makes the grungy joint feel like a home away from home. Much of the plot has Dreamer trying to qualify for a tournament, which could possibly end the film with the same glory it began: but with higher stakes and more payoff.

His energetic girlfriend Karen, played by Emmy winning actress Susan Blakely… looking equally hot in a sundress as she does a sleeve-less teal green t-shirt… wants him more satisfied with real life than dreams. She’s defiantly no Adrian. “Yo, Karen” wouldn’t have the same ring to it.
Susan Blakely in DREAMER
Not very patient of her boyfriend’s ambitions, she doesn’t take crap from Dreamer or anyone else for that matter. The boss can’t boss her around and one of her tantrums even causes old Harry to suffer a heart attack. But it takes a great actress to bring such a flawed character to life, providing more genuine layers than your usual pretty love interest.

There are moments of downtime… a few plodding scenes where the characters aren’t quite sure if this is a comedy or drama… but the side-cast helps keep the pace, making the residents seem like genuine folk.
Matt Clark and Mews (Marya Smalls) in DREAMER
Matt Clark's Spider is a regular in the pool hall/bar area, flirting with every girl till he eventually realizes Mews Small’s spunky waitress Elaine might be for keeps.

But the real star is Tim Matheson, both known for his awesome supporting roles (FLETCH, MAGNUM FORCE) or a main character sharing space with an equally important ensemble cast (ANIMAL HOUSE, 1941): Here he’s cool, confident and vulnerable as an underdog hero: you’ll be damn glad to have him as the central leading man the whole way through.
Susan Blakely in DREAMER
Susan Blakely in DREAMER with Tim Matheson
Susan Blakely in DREAMER with Tim Matheson
Tim Matheson in DREAMER with Susan Blakely
Mews (Mayra) Smalls in DREAMER
Mews (Mayra) Smalls in DREAMER w/ Matt Clark
Mews (Mayra) Smalls in DREAMER with Azizi Johari
Mews (Mayra) Smalls in DREAMER
Susan Blakely in DREAMER with Jack Warden
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

ROBERT BEATTY WITH TERRY MOORE IN 'POSTMARK FOR DANGER'

Title: POSTMARK FOR DANGER Year: 1955 Rating: ** Twenty years before Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, involving a first-act wher...

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: "The Love Generation... Vicious little creeps!" Peter Strauss, Rich Man Poor Man

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)JUNGLE STREET 9)THE CROWDED SKY 10)THE ROARING TWENTIES 11) ANATOMY OF A MURDER 12)SHARKS' TREASURE 13)SWEENEY TWO 14)RAIDERS FROM BENEATH THE SEA 15)HARDCORE 16)THE BREAK 17)WHITE HEAT 18)AL CAPONE 19)HIDDEN FEAR 20)FALLEN ANGEL 21)NIGHT CREATURES 22)THE ASPHALT JUNGLE 23)ASH WEDNESDAY 24)THE SYSTEM 25)AIR PATROL 26)THE STONE KILLER 27)EASY LIVING 28)WILLIAM CONRAD'S BRAINSTORM 29)FRENZY 30)THE MAN FROM LARAMIE 1)DANA ANDREWS 2)JAMES CAGNEY 3)STANLEY BAKER 4)MARLON BRANDO 5)CHARLES BRONSON1)VIRGINIA MAYO 2)SUE LYON 3)GENE TIERNEY 4)MERRY ANDERS 5)FAYE DUNAWAY 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)JOHN CARPENTER 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

FOR HORROR MOVIE REVIEWS

Most Popular Last Year

RETURN TO THE HOMEPAGE