STEVEN SPIELBERG PRESENTS A SPIDER JAWS 'ARACHNOPHOBIA'

<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZfJ4yLnO_QGGXO1TI2SmLsQhlv__6mvdqMxmWrDPnoFFS9ABl9hf74HMYjT1B-ivI61gqdZSBRwMrNi96B2uQVjbEKH6_N7xCNEIkce1vws0Zq-1X2-77WbLx1gK9O5Fj3vWzydzbtkk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-10-24+at+1.28.30+AM.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1277" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZfJ4yLnO_QGGXO1TI2SmLsQhlv__6mvdqMxmWrDPnoFFS9ABl9hf74HMYjT1B-ivI61gqdZSBRwMrNi96B2uQVjbEKH6_N7xCNEIkce1vws0Zq-1X2-77WbLx1gK9O5Fj3vWzydzbtkk/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-10-24+at+1.28.30+AM.jpeg" width="400"></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>What a doll this spider is in ARACHNOPHOBIA Year: 1990</u></td></tr> </tbody></table> Director Frank Marshall, a Steven Spielberg protégé, teams up with his mentor for this spider version of JAWS. But the first ten minutes provides a RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (that Marshall co-produced) déjà vu as renowned arachnid expert Julian Sands ventures into South America to discover a new form of creepy-crawlers...<br> <br> Along for the ride is whiny and reluctant photographer Mark L. Taylor, who’s so nervous and timid you know he’ll buy the farm. Not only that but one of the formidable spiders, that can paralyze and kill victims in one bite, hitches his coffin ride to a small town back in America, where Jeff Daniels and family have just moved in: Daniels a big city doctor with a fear of spiders (like Roy Schieder’s Chief Brody hated the water), and since the local doctor won’t retire, Daniels has only a few patients. And everyone he diagnoses, dies – a mystery to everyone but the audience, and providing a Noir like Wrong Man vibe, at least for a little while, and these are probably the film's best sequences, providing an infectious mystery vibe for the characters that the audience is in on. <br>

action, cori wellins, creature, frank marshall, harley jane kozak, horror, jeff daniels, john goodman, julian sands, nineties, peter jason, roy brocksmith, spiders, steven spielberg, stuart pankin, thriller

STEVEN SPIELBERG PRESENTS A SPIDER JAWS 'ARACHNOPHOBIA'

What a doll this spider is in ARACHNOPHOBIA Year: 1990 Director Frank Marshall, a Steven Spielberg protégé, teams up with his mentor fo...

WALTER MATTHAU AND ROBIN WILLIAMS STAR IN 'THE SURVIVORS'

<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0ImCNWSlohC_zytv9U33dNWYtUz8Ds8rm0KgVZlSjtc_4WmHdrKBmnsJBeZhC5w0jI1aTpZilZ_NskF7PTV1RSsbt8WtCBMJX2mF1WzUuhqflassTOtH8i3xwLEdzZZyfVUU8JTHASsw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-08-14+at+6.11.10+PM.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1600" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0ImCNWSlohC_zytv9U33dNWYtUz8Ds8rm0KgVZlSjtc_4WmHdrKBmnsJBeZhC5w0jI1aTpZilZ_NskF7PTV1RSsbt8WtCBMJX2mF1WzUuhqflassTOtH8i3xwLEdzZZyfVUU8JTHASsw/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-08-14+at+6.11.10+PM.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Title card for Michael Ritchie's THE SURVIVORS Year: 1983</u></td></tr> </tbody></table> In THE SURVIVORS,  Robin Williams and Walter Matthau make a pretty good team. And while this comedy isn't hilarious, it's very entertaining...<br> <br> The first half, anyway, where both unlucky losers lose their income... one his fancy job, the other his grungy gas station... and deal with a string of things-go-wrong-situations highlighted by a greasy spoon diner robbery that just might've inspired Quentin Tarantino's PULP FICTION: Cut to another familiar scene where Robin Williams, in the passenger's side of Matthau's car, points a safety-off handgun at the film's edgy third-tier character, a sitting duck (albeit not a vulnerable one) in the back seat who's a plot in itself: Jerry Reed plays the diner's holdup man who also claims to be a hired assassin and wants the only witness... Matthau... dead... or so he says...<br>

annie mcenroe, buddy, comedy, eighties, jerry reed, john goodman, joseph carberry, kristen vigard, michael ritchie, robin williams, walter matthau

WALTER MATTHAU AND ROBIN WILLIAMS STAR IN 'THE SURVIVORS'

Title card for Michael Ritchie's THE SURVIVORS Year: 1983 In THE SURVIVORS,  Robin Williams and Walter Matthau make a pretty good te...

GOODMAN CHANNELS BATES IN 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

<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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52wF90a-Qyc5VHuULWBQ1VTT4BllI-Zw0hKurVBXS3ifZRiSb3ORdp1_cQHFZeWwGKDWbJQbMb9QFz8MLFWg0ALLxfzKRtqRPCWxEzVxQd85iBezCmP2E7RCc2D5ryeg-6W2TzsD_K3o/s1600/1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52wF90a-Qyc5VHuULWBQ1VTT4BllI-Zw0hKurVBXS3ifZRiSb3ORdp1_cQHFZeWwGKDWbJQbMb9QFz8MLFWg0ALLxfzKRtqRPCWxEzVxQd85iBezCmP2E7RCc2D5ryeg-6W2TzsD_K3o/s640/1.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>release year: 2016 of 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE</u></td></tr> </tbody></table> Cable shows are the best thing going for the Millennial Generation, and in their own "watching everything for free on your Apple Laptop" way, this medium equals the motion pictures of yesterday with splendid storytelling, excellent special-effects, worthy character-development for characters worthy enough to even care about in the first place...<br>

horror, john goodman, suspense

GOODMAN CHANNELS BATES IN 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

release year: 2016 of 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE Cable shows are the best thing going for the Millennial Generation, and in their own "wat...

JOHN GOODMAN, CAMILLE CODURI & PETER O'TOOLE IN 'KING RALPH'

<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_22qN7jVe5O3dzyhS_BbLGPxWI0hb1iwVZjDL676m1W-UbsY2NEGtG6HXBEsa7IPhYAlQKNfCJ-je7Vj1C-ohZq4ieFZW64Lmjq5JGzWi4hwa_ZcH4_RwLtjqB53IgZyRDCesqvpTPA4/s1600/cr11.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_22qN7jVe5O3dzyhS_BbLGPxWI0hb1iwVZjDL676m1W-UbsY2NEGtG6HXBEsa7IPhYAlQKNfCJ-je7Vj1C-ohZq4ieFZW64Lmjq5JGzWi4hwa_ZcH4_RwLtjqB53IgZyRDCesqvpTPA4/w189-h320/cr11.jpg" width="189" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>1991 rating: ***</u></td></tr> </tbody></table>Spunky, extremely cute British actress Camille Corduri spices up what could have been a mediocre comedy film, again, set in England, only this one starts out surprisingly dark… When the entire Royal Family (no kids shown) are electrocuted during a outdoor photo session sudden a sudden rainstorm, the only heir – through a random royal tryst with a waitress – is an American wannabe musician named Ralph…<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Cdtd6Y3vn322-E9aebVxKF9kwptknsQT-YNgh3mHIfvNJV0w6yD5UbAFPXabADnbP9-JR2yIgRtoUQfREvlsAyhB8FsaK0NVnV4Dh5nHTfCKtBxlwFxiiKTrR4YxUExbQN8OdAyc89s/s1600/cr9.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Cdtd6Y3vn322-E9aebVxKF9kwptknsQT-YNgh3mHIfvNJV0w6yD5UbAFPXabADnbP9-JR2yIgRtoUQfREvlsAyhB8FsaK0NVnV4Dh5nHTfCKtBxlwFxiiKTrR4YxUExbQN8OdAyc89s/w142-h200/cr9.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Camille Coduri</u></td></tr> </tbody></table> Well he<i> is</i> a musician, and severely wants to be a good one, playing a dive lounge in Vegas: Bill Murray combined with Mark Russell and John's own future BLUES BROTHER 1999 character...<br /> <br /> Soon after the first number, he’s sought out by royal middleman Richard Griffiths, who brings the reluctant loser overseas to Peter O’Toole as Sir Cedric Charles Willingham, eventually becoming a John Gielgud to Ralph’s Arthur (including a fancy bathtub)… But fish outta water Ralph, moved to England to become, you got it, King, just can’t get into the prestigious role…<br /> <br /> <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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrGnosNneF5DgW3uHCjaPwUiwfIlMNpDG_K1N2Fso7-AMtrUus22Owa0H1KRTv5XM_rc95FqaxEmtkhbo7IQxWow87M4ZW8cLKpsyZGykqHQVg2w30aOMInN5x8LNhV-_HrX_z1MMSGI/s1600/crf.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrGnosNneF5DgW3uHCjaPwUiwfIlMNpDG_K1N2Fso7-AMtrUus22Owa0H1KRTv5XM_rc95FqaxEmtkhbo7IQxWow87M4ZW8cLKpsyZGykqHQVg2w30aOMInN5x8LNhV-_HrX_z1MMSGI/s1600/crf.jpg" width="192" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>A busty Camille</u></td></tr> </tbody></table> That’s Ralph, not Goodman, who dives into the part with zeal and often trying too hard: the actor seems a bit overwhelmed in a leading cinematic role after mostly providing support for others. John's a funny guy but doesn’t have that many good lines to shine with. This allows Peter O’Toole’s droll manner to inject sporadic humor, both defending and representing Britain’s class against the shabby American firebrand, each representing their culture…<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagd__A1aTsPmVfQ_WhYwhlA-Vme_SI4oZSh65uPpVHhAcVaBsFkCtl4GBGRIkdJEtusmONL7K8vaYjQkOH29b1ARHq9I4TFFeLZ6IR4gy_eBR7rphEd0xQF9YwyXxGCVyYHSr1ew71ko/s1600/cr1.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagd__A1aTsPmVfQ_WhYwhlA-Vme_SI4oZSh65uPpVHhAcVaBsFkCtl4GBGRIkdJEtusmONL7K8vaYjQkOH29b1ARHq9I4TFFeLZ6IR4gy_eBR7rphEd0xQF9YwyXxGCVyYHSr1ew71ko/s1600/cr1.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Reluctant showgirl</u></td></tr> </tbody></table> But our buxom centerpiece, Camille Corduri, helps once again: As a stripper who Ralph falls hopelessly in lust – and then love – with, she becomes the apple of his eye, turning him into a better, deeper man in the process... yeah, yeah, and all that Romantic Comedy jazz, but scenes with Goodman and Corduri surpass cliché and provide the rotund actor a chance to really act (BARTON FINK fans know he’s got more than potential), and, meanwhile, what's most important to us is our titular starlet Camille's Miranda, who battles guilt over being hired by antagonist John Hurt to get digs on the new King, allowing her to stretch beyond love interest and, now providing the audience two underdogs worth rooting for, the film rises slightly above the “common man out of his element” mainline, sprinkling some genuine humanity into the mix. Although the last act, when Ralph has to step up and get truly serious, derails the otherwise lightweight ride.<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xf-rXia4x4T-16w8CTb8PXXd6qdr6dwYmuRXcZS9AVh_M5OzNChO5ucrzv4xQnAuv7ufW965D3n-zC87ERanhUy946lw_bAqRv1LWkpy-c2S0vrc1Npa0QUNugqD5hN38LTsW-18Y3g/s1600/11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xf-rXia4x4T-16w8CTb8PXXd6qdr6dwYmuRXcZS9AVh_M5OzNChO5ucrzv4xQnAuv7ufW965D3n-zC87ERanhUy946lw_bAqRv1LWkpy-c2S0vrc1Npa0QUNugqD5hN38LTsW-18Y3g/s16000/11.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>John Goodman's Ralph knighted by the new King ala Peter O'Toole</u></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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUUv6-DEgRkfnRwvJIl7Ee6UaBsUPzlNQnqYYwwjTyqtkFwGiQkStbi06yBugj1VBzp7MJqvugQ4oUdFwBB3dAVLD6vN70yAqj0VfRKJEeC1SlreqsLkCWV0mQdrfMue9ZaT2asN0KpM/s1600/13.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUUv6-DEgRkfnRwvJIl7Ee6UaBsUPzlNQnqYYwwjTyqtkFwGiQkStbi06yBugj1VBzp7MJqvugQ4oUdFwBB3dAVLD6vN70yAqj0VfRKJEeC1SlreqsLkCWV0mQdrfMue9ZaT2asN0KpM/s16000/13.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>A proud former stripper/backmailed traitor looks on with Camille Coduri in KING RALPH</u></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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnYPZfHxXRaYap0AkbbIy04VgIdf71y5rr0PShmHji67XProgNr4X-kh7OqzDuCojnjWnj8GkYvDZ6fPWV_50zHOa64Z5huViWbszqc5HETK9yfsaYlN0IRsghHswmKskSYadN1uda4w/s1600/cr8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnYPZfHxXRaYap0AkbbIy04VgIdf71y5rr0PShmHji67XProgNr4X-kh7OqzDuCojnjWnj8GkYvDZ6fPWV_50zHOa64Z5huViWbszqc5HETK9yfsaYlN0IRsghHswmKskSYadN1uda4w/s16000/cr8.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>A Nice Pair NUNS ON THE RUN and KING RALPH both featuring Camille Coduri</u></td></tr> </tbody></table>

camille coduri, comedy, john goodman, john hurt, nineties, peter o'toole

JOHN GOODMAN, CAMILLE CODURI & PETER O'TOOLE IN 'KING RALPH'

1991 rating: *** Spunky, extremely cute British actress Camille Corduri spices up what could have been a mediocre comedy film, again, se...

GEORGE CLOONEY & MATT DAMON IN MONUMENTS MEN

<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPHRLlGjtiQkG1KwqZw0fcG5Q3csJ0udcUEPP-wYZ8Mac4iixk0X8SsLfrw-sL_bW1IYPrb9mo_vk_kUwaE6jGhpMPjrAGb1xzsp6146p6cPiogwLPmliUf-f-qCnaH_kv2jbjSh09ME/s1600/monuments-men.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPHRLlGjtiQkG1KwqZw0fcG5Q3csJ0udcUEPP-wYZ8Mac4iixk0X8SsLfrw-sL_bW1IYPrb9mo_vk_kUwaE6jGhpMPjrAGb1xzsp6146p6cPiogwLPmliUf-f-qCnaH_kv2jbjSh09ME/s320/monuments-men.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">year: 2014 rating: *</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <span style="background-color: white;">Sure, many are intrigued to watch a group of professionally educated art lovers attempting to save priceless paintings and sculptures from the Nazis during the Second World War, and yet there are a few others curious to witness, after over thirty years, an out of shape Bill Murray going through boot camp all over again...</span><br /> <br /> Well that’s the initial flaw of George Clooney’s MONUMENTS MEN… What could have been a colorful first act – that being the gathering up and transforming of an “unlikely” group of civilians into soldiers – is all but rushed during the opening credit montage: thus followed by their quick training and soon enough, the plot’s underway... <br /> <br /> The problem is we hardly even know these guys, and with a seemingly dangerous mission ahead, the unequipped yet idealistically intrepid characters should feel like old friends more than paper mache cutouts. <br /> <br /> Bill Murray and Bob Balaban are two extremely unique, wonderfully quirky actors not only wasted but given a love/hate anti-camaraderie so forced and unfunny, much of the subliminal attention will depend on John Goodman and his French sidekick, a young man with more passion in his optimistic smile than the script offers point or purpose.  <br /> <br /> Although the main “couple,” trumping even Cate Blanchett’s weak attempt as a love interest later on, is George Clooney’s mellow chieftain Frank Stokes, and Matt Damon as the buried-lead, James Granger… Clooney and Damon possess a sluggish comfort level of two workmates meeting for lunch after having devoured a large breakfast. But MEN aren’t the only problem…<br /> <br /> The MONUMENTS fail to grab our attention as well. First off, if you counted how many rationalizations are made about saving artwork when so many humans are dying, you might get dizzy. With an exception of a few untimely deaths along the way, the artifacts are lazily gathered like an afternoon garage sale shopping spree. With all the running around, there's hardly any threat, in any direction... And speaking of <i>direction</i>: Half the time it’s difficult to tell where we are, what we’re doing, or what each mission entails. <br /> <br /> You’ll hear a lot of comparisons with Quentin Tarantino’s INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, another <i>underdog in peril</i> WW2 flick that, in this reviewer’s opinion, also wastes an ensemble cast of ragtag heroes. But at least that portrait had a scene-stealing villain: These fellas could have used someone more than an off-screen historical tyrant to keep them on their toes...<br /> <br /> In fact, if it weren’t for the bombed-out buildings and sporadic gunfire, you’d forget there was even a war raging at all. And during one scene, Clooney's Frank looks at one of his men and says, "Got us a couple of trucks... Do I want to know how?" The answer is yes, we want to know how you got those trucks, and maybe we could have actually experienced it: That's called suspense... That's called a story.

2014, bill murray, bob balaban, cate blanchett, george clooney, john goodman, matt damon, war

GEORGE CLOONEY & MATT DAMON IN MONUMENTS MEN

year: 2014 rating: * Sure, many are intrigued to watch a group of professionally educated art lovers attempting to save priceless painti...

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS BY JOEL AND ETHAN COEN

<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSs0id962G0dOQ03fBVB_h5V83znG0b-JHdEQfrPmMLYgrveGVkcQdw4yJ1PFFLrhB9Gny6K9P3_KR4bHyanJM43LxktY4yR8rBBAIg7Ji5JOA5qXUCI96L-g__AI9ZhonqRbLkXVi0bk/s1600/inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSs0id962G0dOQ03fBVB_h5V83znG0b-JHdEQfrPmMLYgrveGVkcQdw4yJ1PFFLrhB9Gny6K9P3_KR4bHyanJM43LxktY4yR8rBBAIg7Ji5JOA5qXUCI96L-g__AI9ZhonqRbLkXVi0bk/s320/inside.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">year: 2013 rating: ****</td></tr> </tbody></table> Having reached the end of your rope, at least there’s not enough left for a noose… This could be the theme of the Coen Brother’s latest, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, about an unlucky early-1960's folk singer whose career isn’t exactly panning out...<br /> <br /> The film begins with Llewyn waking up at someone else’s pad. As he exits the apartment, the owner’s orange tabby escapes and the day goes progressively downhill… <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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsV_GNbUUjrJEqiWKZXBwRli6HwFyZcMDZuAcBf0Irq0_KlpYka9mXa6Ta5uAgtj4GMyZBtKnxOyq543ODPuAZTC2cmAsAdNvIRTPk1HI5zFpljCOEJxXSAiF-MYu-aHTgaI7ZrytSzs/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsV_GNbUUjrJEqiWKZXBwRli6HwFyZcMDZuAcBf0Irq0_KlpYka9mXa6Ta5uAgtj4GMyZBtKnxOyq543ODPuAZTC2cmAsAdNvIRTPk1HI5zFpljCOEJxXSAiF-MYu-aHTgaI7ZrytSzs/s1600/Picture+1.png" width="195" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Davis with Tabby</td></tr> </tbody></table> Like a grungy coin rolled down the street, a hapless, bearded Davis visits the places and people making up (and shaking up) his dreary life: From the local tavern where he performs to a very special girl he accidentally knocked up, we exist through the eyes of a title character who isn’t particularly nice... In that, the Coens have created a new sort of unapologetic, selfish anti-hero. Thus the best moments involve Davis’s smug reactions to the world around him, surpassing the pivotal Kerouacian road trip with a motor-mouthed John Goodman, providing more of a break than a purpose.<br /> <br /> Throughout this punctuating turmoil, set mostly in the cold New York/Greenwich Village wintertime, the one thing Llewyn can do is sing… Having lost his duo partner, he’s an un-discoverable solo act although his music, delivered beautifully by Oscar Issac himself, is heartfelt and world-weary, especially compared to an intentionally campy tune that will stick in your head longer than the good stuff. Perhaps this is intentional. If INSIDE has one purpose it’s to show a character with genuine talent, much too personal and private for the mainstream – an isolated curse befitting both the man and his music.

2013, coen brothers, john goodman, music, oscar issac, quirky

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS BY JOEL AND ETHAN COEN

year: 2013 rating: **** Having reached the end of your rope, at least there’s not enough left for a noose… This could be the theme of th...

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

<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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuI39O1_i2RpdArgBEJSZIZ4SqLm1XgC2yOI6eq3Rk4C0-sjGBAptUHWF5LxvYR4tNGeoWLs-Rsqu7DVgnXOeszuu0Dknk6h66xMI1Oz5JHr8OHlvJeDkcPRq7i6sOwziwmZwCiaIsx4p/s1600/Monsters-University.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuI39O1_i2RpdArgBEJSZIZ4SqLm1XgC2yOI6eq3Rk4C0-sjGBAptUHWF5LxvYR4tNGeoWLs-Rsqu7DVgnXOeszuu0Dknk6h66xMI1Oz5JHr8OHlvJeDkcPRq7i6sOwziwmZwCiaIsx4p/s640/Monsters-University.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">year: 2013 voices: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Helen Mirren, Steve Buscemi rating: *</td></tr> </tbody></table> Chalk this up as a completely worthless, meaningless, pointless prequel to the hit children’s movie MONSTERS INC that, with a creative plot and terrific voice-overs, was just as entertaining for adults... But why waste your chalk on such pitiful nonsense? (Added to that, the audience must first sit through a tedious short film dealing with two lustful umbrellas!) Here we follow the exploits of underdog monsters Mike and Sully; Mike, from a very young age, always looked at those nightmare-educing beasts in the grandiose fashion a human child views a professional athlete or fireman. During a field trip his excitement grows for these intrepid scaremongers… Fully intent on attending Monster’s University, as a teen he finally gets his wish.<br /> <br /> The place itself is giant and magical, and looks vividly awesome in 3D. Too bad, once inside, there are only rushed montage sequences of every college movie cliché, mostly taken from REVENGE OF THE NERDS... Mike, resembling a Mad Ball with legs and relying on books instead of gut instinct, and Sully, the big furry lovable beast with a roar like a thousand enraged lions, wind up part of a loser fraternity and compete in "Scare Games" to become recognized. There’s also a dash of HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE with a medieval style multilevel competition that, held before a crowd of screaming students, includes “sports” that a live audience would have difficulty keeping up with.<br /> <br /> The main problem is there's hardly any human children on board, so what’s the point of monsters trying to – or in this case, learning to – scare the wits out of them? The monsters themselves rate each other on how frightening they are; imagine only uptight women judging a bikini contest! The team of geeks banded with Mike and Sully are downright annoying, and there’s simply no plot nor any urgency for the team to accomplish their ultimate goal. If they win they’re well thought of… Big whoop! Having viewed this in a theater replete with children, all poised and ready to laugh their little heads off, it was apparent that, halfway through, even the crickets didn’t know how to react during this exercise in futility.

2013, alfred molina, billy crystal, children, computer animated, helen mirren, john goodman, steve buscemi

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

year: 2013 voices: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Helen Mirren, Steve Buscemi rating: * Chalk this up as a completely worthless, meaningle...

THE HANGOVER PART III

<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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqEqpYEynBBKcZPbwi6hH6maDfn7Of4E4bDYOhR7DpFchhLRgkMaQ9PiihThogXFjinNrDI1hIynP1XwsuDo1M9gu-QXGKtob6fAxL5wKAG19chPZsKkLTu8lGCUE_WK-zxH1OrWikCM1/s1600/the_hangover_part_3_movie-wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqEqpYEynBBKcZPbwi6hH6maDfn7Of4E4bDYOhR7DpFchhLRgkMaQ9PiihThogXFjinNrDI1hIynP1XwsuDo1M9gu-QXGKtob6fAxL5wKAG19chPZsKkLTu8lGCUE_WK-zxH1OrWikCM1/s640/the_hangover_part_3_movie-wide.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">year: 2013 cast: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, John Goodman, Ken Jeong rating: **1/2</td></tr> </tbody></table> Anyone who’s suffered a <i>real</i> hangover has probably moaned the words, “Never again.” Well in a cinematic sense, the same mistake has now been made twice, first with the limp HANGOVER PART II that borrowed much too closely from the original's template: three guys, having partied too hard, wake up with no memories of the night before and the complicated backtracking begins. Now part III has shoved the whole blackout device under the carpet. This time "The Wolf Pack" is sent on a mission by a mobster (John Goodman) to recover gold bars stolen by Mr. Chow. <br /> <br /> That’s the basic plot in a nutshell, and we start off with the three friends… Bradley Cooper’s reluctant leader, Phil; Ed Helms as the group’s guinea pig, Stu; and the flaky bearded man-child Alan played by Zach Galifianakis… venturing into Mexico to find the elusive Asian wacko, more of a formidably indestructible secret agent than a second-tier comic relief – and is given way too much screen time.<br /> <br /> Most of the capers… from robbing (what seems to be) Chow’s mansion in Mexico to, once the boys return to their roots in Las Vegas, climbing down the Caesars Palace Hotel penthouse using tied-up bed sheets… could have made up several decent trailers for a non-comedic thriller. Which is exactly what this third (and supposedly final) HANGOVER has to offer: a few action sequences and nothing more. So why waste time knocking the movie for not being funny when it never really tries to be? That is, until about fifteen seconds into the end credits: If you paid to see a comedy, this is your best bet.

2013, action, bradley cooper, comedy, ed helms, franchise, john goodman, sequel, zach galifianakis

THE HANGOVER PART III

year: 2013 cast: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, John Goodman, Ken Jeong rating: **1/2 Anyone who’s suffered a real hangov...

ARGO

<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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ymcl2VtfpQMUk8HSoBXCXCTYmf6NnJBWeOZT9spZA51t1Jm8amImwSS9Mwbsy-ytMpZwXjzgzTzaeplFW5dIBPsMvhWn6zJk4MDBed1RebwhZoMs4jRv-NzIDO5NnTPsxHQVc-E1WRku/s1600/d05cd8f0a5ef8e835cbc657591f87c7f-sc.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ymcl2VtfpQMUk8HSoBXCXCTYmf6NnJBWeOZT9spZA51t1Jm8amImwSS9Mwbsy-ytMpZwXjzgzTzaeplFW5dIBPsMvhWn6zJk4MDBed1RebwhZoMs4jRv-NzIDO5NnTPsxHQVc-E1WRku/w640-h399/d05cd8f0a5ef8e835cbc657591f87c7f-sc.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">year: 2012 cast: Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Bryan Cranston rating: **</td></tr> </tbody></table> ARGO, directed by and starring Ben Affleck, receiving rave reviews all across the board, has the makings of a great story – not only because it’s a true one: Declassified by the CIA since the nineties, dealing with the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis, it's not the Embassy hostages we’re centering on. There were six people who stealthily escaped the takeover, hiding in the Canadian ambassador's house. The CIA is at a loss – they have only one idea concerning bicycles and it’s not very bright.<br /> <br /> Enter Affleck’s Tony Mendez: we first see him waking up with an empty beer can on his dresser, so he’s got the makings of the typical maverick hero. While watching BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES on TV, Tony has an idea – become a producer of a bogus science fiction movie and, scouting a location in Iran, get the Americans out.<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCWLOBEO5thyoEC6i0uz8OSFCtjhos3w1IZwJSG96ut1Qpf7JGrBgVe2CAtxSM9ZbWMy_yNhJZVYSKg_Ca73pWsvCR5nlsueCMHvb4qXQPoDIiQkn7x-nOg4Gu0gugIOHptJnjUOHjEBA/s1600/battleplanetapeslc.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCWLOBEO5thyoEC6i0uz8OSFCtjhos3w1IZwJSG96ut1Qpf7JGrBgVe2CAtxSM9ZbWMy_yNhJZVYSKg_Ca73pWsvCR5nlsueCMHvb4qXQPoDIiQkn7x-nOg4Gu0gugIOHptJnjUOHjEBA/s320/battleplanetapeslc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Last Apes film sparked the fake movie idea</td></tr> </tbody></table> A fantastic premise and an opportunity to blend classic cult films with a modern thriller… And with John Goodman (as a makeup artist) and Alan Arkin (as a wry producer) on board the Hollywood end, ARGO just can’t miss… but it does. The six people that need saving have zero personality, making it hard to feel for their plight.<br /> <br /> Although we see clips of hangings and executions in Iran, there's hardly a vibe of impending danger or threat. While the clever aspects, mixing a fake press conference for the sci-fi flick with Iranians making real demands, are edited nicely, the movie-making scheme, which had so much potential, feels rushed. And Affleck himself lacks the edge of a central character, much less a heroic one.<br /> <br /> The best part is the last half hour as the seven (including Mendez), using fake passports as a Canadian production crew, move through an Iranian airport for the departing plane. Despite every “last minute” cliché thrown in the pot, as least there's SOME urgency. But with a lack of interesting or involving characters leading to the escape, ARGO falls short of the immense hype.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>

2012, alan arkin, ben affleck, biopic, john goodman, tate donovan, thriller

ARGO

year: 2012 cast: Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Bryan Cranston rating: ** ARGO, directed by and starring Ben Affleck, receiving ...

DENZEL WASHINGTON TAKES FLIGHT

<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5Fq-AqyJCP8FRho9U2TvoiME0o232K1vvurhmSDvQf6ZOfXROIb42eZrbYDgThAtCKNzryPI8Zep5YuMEc6GTF7yUuEurmeJzMC3Z7POr_8Sgwj-M5LkbdJRskq0D4Ni56mnUOmLw9Y/s1600/Picture+1.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5Fq-AqyJCP8FRho9U2TvoiME0o232K1vvurhmSDvQf6ZOfXROIb42eZrbYDgThAtCKNzryPI8Zep5YuMEc6GTF7yUuEurmeJzMC3Z7POr_8Sgwj-M5LkbdJRskq0D4Ni56mnUOmLw9Y/w123-h200/Picture+1.png" width="123" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">year: 2012 ***1/2</td></tr> </tbody></table> In the first five minutes of FLIGHT, we learn Denzel Washington’s commercial pilot Whip Whitaker is a man with a problem – he’s got a really bad hangover and needs to fly a plane. It’s his job, after all. He snorts some coke, struts down a hotel corridor to Traffic’s “Feelin’ Alright" by Joe Cocker and winds up aboard an airliner with more problems than he has.<br /> <br /> Director Robert Zemeckis provides two suspenseful scenes within the essential baseline: first when the plane takes off through a thunderstorm and then that crash we payed to see. And with the impressive special effects aside, most of the “action” remains in the cockpit as Whip takes creative measures, including turning the plane upside down, to avoid a nosedive. But FLIGHT doesn’t entirely live up to its name, or perhaps there's a double-meaning. Actually, most of the film takes place after the crash as Whip deals with two problems at the same time: his own alcoholism that could result in a really long prison sentence.<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE2mcw1sCSz6l0DQKMah2KsnbP5wDRu9D7RyHT5ky7lM_QBb33jj8eEbCDR7bXgOZtT5FcmzFx_PE1S7EUAu7x01VjRY6yJhYF3bVIrfG0-1TkFpYnpVlx5Z1OjqiBAsAeH4ksOb96ho/s1600/esq-flight-john-goodman-0313-mdn.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE2mcw1sCSz6l0DQKMah2KsnbP5wDRu9D7RyHT5ky7lM_QBb33jj8eEbCDR7bXgOZtT5FcmzFx_PE1S7EUAu7x01VjRY6yJhYF3bVIrfG0-1TkFpYnpVlx5Z1OjqiBAsAeH4ksOb96ho/w157-h320/esq-flight-john-goodman-0313-mdn.jpg" width="157" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JG</td></tr> </tbody></table> Whip's addiction issues and a steamy romance with a beautiful junky, wielding her own gritty story during the first act, would seem somewhat cliché without the impending court date continuously established by Union rep Bruce Greenwood and sneaky lawyer Don Cheadle, each trying their best to keep Whip sober long enough to skate outta trouble... here’s where the post-crash suspense occurs.<br /> <br /> John Goodman’s Harling Mays, a jovial drug dealer with his own theme song (The Stones' “Sympathy for the Devil”), tries too hard to steal scenes like only he can (redoing his ARACHNOPHOBIA scenes but as a dealer instead of an exterminator). Yet when he’s called back to save Whip from another hangover, you won’t help but smile, even for the wrong reasons... That's why he was cast, after all... <br /> <br /> While FLIGHT is ultimately an AA propoganda peice, there's plenty of pro-drug sentiment ala the 1970's or Quentin Tarantino: Only a cocky cokehead would take such a risk; nothing but the right amount of drugs and some groovy tunes can put <i>that</i> kinda swing in your step; and we learn an effective (yet expensive) hangover cure. But what really matters is Denzel Washington’s genuine performance that, despite the surrounding talent and apt direction, feels like a one-man show. He plays a narcissist with only one care in the world: himself. And with so much trouble lurking around the corner, this makes for an intriguing two hours where even the slow moments count.<br />

2012, bruce greenwood, denzel washington, don cheadle, john goodman, robert zemeckis

DENZEL WASHINGTON TAKES FLIGHT

year: 2012 ***1/2 In the first five minutes of FLIGHT, we learn Denzel Washington’s commercial pilot Whip Whitaker is a man with a probl...

JEFF DANIELS STARS IN ARACHNOPHOBIA

<a href="http://www.cultfilmfreaks.com/2019/10/arach.html">CLICK FOR THE NEW HOME OF ARACHNOPHOBIA</a><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6axLbokpQT3BD15JGeVv1KaEhnPBOFMfyfnD7Mt3pRsh6_lF7q06V7Cl2V-v_WyNWYVyuFrgxinnOc9cS_IwvpTNk1x4naCB2KOKIiMmMEkC5xvAmKxO679uUPipRJ64YRBo0VK5uDR4/s1600/title00_200408903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6axLbokpQT3BD15JGeVv1KaEhnPBOFMfyfnD7Mt3pRsh6_lF7q06V7Cl2V-v_WyNWYVyuFrgxinnOc9cS_IwvpTNk1x4naCB2KOKIiMmMEkC5xvAmKxO679uUPipRJ64YRBo0VK5uDR4/s320/title00_200408903.jpg" width="314" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">year: 1990 director: Frank Marshall</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI5nMFeo9pjEoauFSxVeRGB8HqHwvJdEWKnHRzPeAZgaHG0-qyoMujHlL_EL6wCbYEn7pDra5tGLvfbh2vFElYUC8ciTtIfRgmEERDs-GgRAOpIGhFWX1qoONTYpneYgCoT4qcfr5j2E/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-12-24+at+11.11.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI5nMFeo9pjEoauFSxVeRGB8HqHwvJdEWKnHRzPeAZgaHG0-qyoMujHlL_EL6wCbYEn7pDra5tGLvfbh2vFElYUC8ciTtIfRgmEERDs-GgRAOpIGhFWX1qoONTYpneYgCoT4qcfr5j2E/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-12-24+at+11.11.58+PM.png" width="217" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex P. Keaton and a spider</td></tr> </tbody></table>

creature, frank marshall, horror, john goodman, julian sands, nineties, peter jason, steven spielberg

JEFF DANIELS STARS IN ARACHNOPHOBIA

CLICK FOR THE NEW HOME OF ARACHNOPHOBIA year: 1990 director: Frank Marshall Alex P. Keaton and a spider

THE ARTIST

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimO2sTx08fKdfHGOQ_cm8ojfTcfrPVLY7L4IvQTp2EL0FOMZy5ncdW3hJEET_v6jRtL7SoOOPhAYLKfyZ4CN-WIaYJlDQXZZ80JN0ta5T-oIo-U1kaBYAUdnrKloS0htvNxu_-3xIFTQVJ/s1600/The-Artist-Pic-1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691380887781774274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimO2sTx08fKdfHGOQ_cm8ojfTcfrPVLY7L4IvQTp2EL0FOMZy5ncdW3hJEET_v6jRtL7SoOOPhAYLKfyZ4CN-WIaYJlDQXZZ80JN0ta5T-oIo-U1kaBYAUdnrKloS0htvNxu_-3xIFTQVJ/s320/The-Artist-Pic-1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 315px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">title: </span>THE ARTIST<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">year:</span> 2011<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">cast:</span> Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">rating:</span> ****<br /> <br /> Silent films, as we all know, are a thing of the past… Yet with all the noisy, cliché ridden big budget flicks lately, something like THE ARTIST is long overdue. Story centers on a silent film era swashbuckler George Valentin, who mugs his way through his signature movies like a true… artist. He’s a bit carried away with himself but isn’t smug about it: He’s proudly on top of his game and that’s that. Enter the gorgeous Peppy Miller, who, as a climbing bit player/extra, lives up to her first name with classic beauty to match. She winds up the dance partner in one of Valentin’s movies, and thus begins a subliminal love story that words needn’t explain in this unique film by writer/director Michel Hazanavicius that uses title cards, melodramatic music, and facial expressions to replace dialog. A few offbeat scenes that involve Valentin – after Talking Pictures i.e. Talkies make his career defunct – hallucinating fictional characters and hearing actual noises seem too much a TWILIGHT ZONE episode. But the movie never strays too far from the simple story of a man past his prime and a woman who’s not only beginning to shine, but with a “secret” that might give our hero a second chance… if he can get past his own navel. Familiar faces include John Goodman as a Hal Roach type director, James Cromwell as a faithful butler, and Penelope Anne Miller as Valentin’s bitter wife. But the show truly belongs to imports Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo, whose energetic turns are splendid gifts for classic film buffs: they not only convey every emotion possible but dance like the actors and actresses from the golden age of cinema: without seeming like an imitation and/or a homage to the real thing. But the best performer might just be Uggo as Valentin’s trick-laden terrier, embodying his on-screen co-star, off-screen best friend, and much more. If there were only an Oscar for animals, he’d beat that War Horse by a long shot.

john goodman, oscar nominated 2012, tens

THE ARTIST

title: THE ARTIST year: 2011 cast: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo rating: **** Silent films, as we all know, are a thing of the past… ...

SPIELBERG & DREYFUSS RETURN WITH ALWAYS

<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QEIGkhOENLvh-SCCxXGNksLHU6AE27TcfoltWgXtVIOokozWPbjenxpeuzj-kbFwh7j1sr-GsbDUpKy4bgI3dCiNyj35PMHORzBjbTUYpVblZWqi99Ql4jvbQfF12LO1BjDtyEnCzPVe/s1600/alwaystrio.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681275527903762002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QEIGkhOENLvh-SCCxXGNksLHU6AE27TcfoltWgXtVIOokozWPbjenxpeuzj-kbFwh7j1sr-GsbDUpKy4bgI3dCiNyj35PMHORzBjbTUYpVblZWqi99Ql4jvbQfF12LO1BjDtyEnCzPVe/s200/alwaystrio.jpg" style="float: right; height: 167px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1989 rating: *1/2</td></tr> </tbody></table> During the 1970’s, Steven Spielberg and Richard Dreyfuss made a great team. The intense little actor played a likable shark expert in JAWS and a suburban alien-obsessed dad in CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND... Ten years later, they attempt to rekindle that magic. And although there’s some good use of The Spielberg Touch… flowing camerawork weaving in and out of glorious special effects… this is a romance that tries too hard to pull heartstrings.<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-7-dpfkxxZD6hv2PIBWvwJp0y0ixGpg8KcDkT95XycI7a4CLXmtoe5Z8eNFD0gU5f3xtwY-K02p-me_rHZ7UtCwg-4c9weVorL2oqKX2jFGHcYGd1Qh4ZPbLD2QJi6_zXy_JJWxvgHA/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-10-18+at+4.23.14+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-7-dpfkxxZD6hv2PIBWvwJp0y0ixGpg8KcDkT95XycI7a4CLXmtoe5Z8eNFD0gU5f3xtwY-K02p-me_rHZ7UtCwg-4c9weVorL2oqKX2jFGHcYGd1Qh4ZPbLD2QJi6_zXy_JJWxvgHA/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-10-18+at+4.23.14+AM.png" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodman and Johnson</td></tr> </tbody></table> Dreyfuss and sidekick John Goodman are firefighting pilots with a dangerous job. Dreyfuss is a daredevil who, with each venture, risks his life more than necessary. The first thirty minutes consists of Holly Hunter, Dreyfus’s girlfriend who works ground control, and Goodman trying to tell their friend he’s taking too many chances: All this occurs between sappy dialog and the building of a relationship that wasn’t very special to begin with. That is, until Dreyfus is killed and, while wandering around a earth-based purgatory, New Age angel Audrey Hepburn gives him an afterlife mission: to help a handsome young pilot, Brad Johnson, earn his wings.<br /> <br /> Johnson’s true aim is to win over Holly Hunter – turning an interesting twist into a wasted subplot. Dreyfuss, as a ghost, seems more like a creepy stalker, placing thoughts into people’s minds to maneuver their choices – especially Hunter, who he won’t let go of. Meanwhile, he reluctantly helps Johnson… who unsuccessfully balances a suave yet dorky character… become a great pilot.<br /> <br /> Holly Hunter, while being a cute, spunky actress, is miscast as an ingénue every man desires, especially the much too perfect Johnson. Goodman does his usual fat funny guy, but to an annoying level – he and everyone else seem to be playing for opening night audiences. And like Dreyfus goes so overboard with forced sentimentality you’ll wish the shark had got him or that those aliens never brought him home. The Ariel shots, while filmed beautifully (especially the pivotal death scene), are simply used as breaks from an overlong Hallmark Card: And the best news, Steven Spielberg would thankfully end his creative mid-life crisis after HOOK and get back to business at hand with JURASSIC PARK, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and especially SCHINDLER'S LIST.

eighties, john goodman, richard dreyfuss, romance, steven spielberg

SPIELBERG & DREYFUSS RETURN WITH ALWAYS

1989 rating: *1/2 During the 1970’s, Steven Spielberg and Richard Dreyfuss made a great team. The intense little actor played a likable ...

YOU DON'T KNOW JACK

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55K8WqXuCXnQNdPotwZQu-cQhKBxKvzLAvpBmguzVRASZBH_ASI_NXYWPrB0VylBp2OR7Tr0I5IDCb6QU9OQ1Xg20EG4azNo6uvvRFHlfCTaB4OWiyiruumI_gnCaBRmEx0HvOk7Vt0A/s1600/al_pacino_you_don__t_know_jack_by_donvito62-d2zaarc.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561201030563832418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55K8WqXuCXnQNdPotwZQu-cQhKBxKvzLAvpBmguzVRASZBH_ASI_NXYWPrB0VylBp2OR7Tr0I5IDCb6QU9OQ1Xg20EG4azNo6uvvRFHlfCTaB4OWiyiruumI_gnCaBRmEx0HvOk7Vt0A/s200/al_pacino_you_don__t_know_jack_by_donvito62-d2zaarc.png" style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 183px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: pointer" /></a><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">title: </span>YOU DON'T KNOW JACK<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">year:</span> 2010<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">cast: </span>Al Pacino, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Brenda Vaccaro<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">rating: </span>**<br /><br />Although parts of this biopic of Jack Kevorkian are interesting, it's as dull as any propaganda can be. Al Pacino looks, and sounds, the part: but in playing a famous (or infamous) person the director's obviously praising, it's more a one-note impersonation than reality. The good guys, including Jack and his cohorts, are proud, enlightened and flawless; while the bad guys <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">aren't</span> the big stalking media who named him "Doctor Death," but a small fraction of over-the-top Christians. The direction by Barry Levinson flows decently enough, but the story of a man this controversial needs balance to work.

al pacino, biopic, john goodman, susan sarandon, tens

YOU DON'T KNOW JACK

title: YOU DON'T KNOW JACK year: 2010 cast: Al Pacino, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Brenda Vaccaro rating: ** Although parts of this b...