Robert-87 Reviews

Ghost Story (1981)

Absorbing & Creepy Ghost Story

[8/10 · 12 February 1999]

Four men in the twilight of their lives begin to be haunted by an event that took place 50 years ago when they were young.

A son of one of the men finds himself being pulled into his father's past as events in his life collide with the events of 50 years ago. Creeping terror builds as the film draws to a shattering climax. Very well done.

Based on the best-seller by Peter Straub, this is a very underrated film. Featuring a strong cast led by Hollywood vets Fred Astaire, John Houseman, Melvin Douglas and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and newcomers Craig Wasson and Alice Krige. This film is in my opinion, one of the best in the horror genre.

Casualties of War (1989)

Fox and Penn are Brilliant in War Morality Tale

[9/10 · 29 January 1999]

Michael J. Fox turns in the performance of his career in this excellent film directed by Brian Depalma. Fox is perfectly cast as the idealistic young soldier who must come to terms with the brutality of war in his own squad led by an outstanding Sean Penn as Meserve.

The story follows this group on patrol and watching Sean Penn and his band of followers do whatever they want no matter what the consequences is truly frightening. Fox must stand up for what he believes in and in the process he goes up against Penn, his other squad members and his superior officers in this riveting story which is based on an actual incident.

With a haunting score and Oscar calibre performances from Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn, this film is very underrated and deserves a chance to be seen again. This one is a winner.

Dead Man's Walk (1996)

Great Prequel to "Lonesome Dove"

[27 January 1999]

In this prequel to "Lonesome Dove" based on the book by Larry McMurtry, we find a young Woodrow Call and Augustus Macrae just starting out as Texas Rangers and beginning to become men.

David Arquette is fantastic as the young Macrae and really captures the gestures and mannerisms that Robert Duvall put too such good use in Lonesome Dove. I was very impressed with his performance and had no trouble believing that he was the young Gus Macrae.

Johnny Lee Miller does not fare as well as the young Woodrow Call and it is hard to believe that this is the character that Tommy Lee Jones played in the original as there is little that ties their acting styles to the same role.

Visually, this is quite well done and comes the closest to Lonesome Dove in grittiness and open plain shots. The young Rangers are surrounded by eccentric characters played with great aplomb by the likes of Brian Dennehy, F.Murray Abraham, Keith Carradine, Harry Dean Stanton and Edward James Olmos.

Strong acting throughout and a crackling good story hilight this worthy sequel and it makes a fine addition to the lore that is Lonesome Dove.

Return to Lonesome Dove (1993)

Disappointing Network Sequel

[27 January 1999]

As soon as I heard that this show was being made I found out that the author of Lonesome Dove had no connection to this one and warning flags came up in my mind. Lonesome Dove is one of the most beloved mini-series in television history and folks this network sequel will never have that distinction.

Picking up right where Lonesome Dove left off and finding Jon Voight in the role played by Tommy Lee Jones in the original, I found it very hard to get into this show. While Voight is actually very good in this show, it just is not the same without Jones, Duvall and the others. The only big name from the original to appear in this turkey is Rick Schroder as Newt.

While featuring some good visuals and great work from William L. Peterson in a role that is supposed to be a Gus Macrae type but never really comes close, on the flip side, the story is ludicrous and Oliver Reed turns in one of the worst acting performances I have ever seen. I don't fault Mr. Reed, I fault the writers who have given him some of the worst lines you will hear in television history.

This is no return to Lonesome Dove but rather a full fledged stampede away from Lonesome Dove and should not be confused with Larry McMurtry's official sequel "Streets Of Laredo" which has been turned into a two-part mini-series and is much better than this offering.

Lonesome Dove (1989)

A Television Classic

[27 January 1999]

This is one of the finest programs I have seen on either the big or little screens. Knockout performances from Robert Duvall,Tommy Lee Jones, Frederic Forrest, Diane Lane, Robert Urich, Danny Glover, Anjelica Huston and Rick Shroder dominate the landscape in this faithful adaptation of Larry McMurty's Pulitzer Prize winning novel.

Encompassing every human emotion and balancing the drama with a liberal dose of Gus Macrae's fun-loving spirit and humour is what makes this series a breath taking adventure. It looks and feels so realistic that at times you feel like you are covered in blowing sand. Gritty and Dramatic, this is one show that must be seen. A 10 out of 10, it leaves you begging for more.

QB VII (1974)

First Rate Entertainment

[27 January 1999]

Strong acting and a blistering courtroom drama unfold in this six hour mini-series.

Ben Gazzara and Anthony Hopkins are fantastic and the make-up job on Anthony Hopkins is phenomenal as the artist has him look the way he does now and the show is 25 years old.

Very good entertainment that moves along at a rapid pace.

Who'll Stop the Rain (1978)

Great Book turned into a Great Movie

[9/10 · 25 January 1999]

The book was great and while I don't usually think Hollywood does a very good job translating the book into a movie in this case they have done an excellent job.

Nick Nolte is outstanding as Ray Hicks, a marine vet doing a favor for a buddy by smuggling 2 keys of pure heroin back into the U.S.A. When he gets stateside and goes to his buddy's wife to make the drop all hell breaks loose and Nolte tears up the screen. Also features an outstanding supporting cast with Michael Moriarty as Nolte's buddy John Converse, Tuesday Weld as Marge Converse, Anthony Zerbe as Antheil and Richard Masur and Ray Sharkey as Zerbe's henchmen. The ending is surrealistic and one of the most memorable finale's I have seen.

Rich Man, Poor Man (1976)

Nolte's Breakout Role in the Best Mini-Series Ever Made.

[25 January 1999]

This excellent mini-series was actually the first mini-series ever aired and is absolutely flawless from start to finish.

Featuring knockout performances from Nick Nolte as Tom Jordache, Peter Strauss as Rudy Jordache and Susan Blakely as Julie Prescott, this series begins on VE night in 1945 and we follow the three leads over the next three turbulent decades. This is the role that made Nolte a star and he turns in a blockbuster performance in this one. If you get the chance, SEE THIS ONE!

Also features a fine supporting cast with Ed Asner in an Emmy Award Winning performance as Axel Jordache and in one of the best villainous roles I have ever seen, William Smith as Falconetti.

Death Sentence (1974 TV Movie)

Nolte has a very small role in this one.

[4/10 · 25 January 1999]

This is a TV movie that has Nick Nolte in a minor role. He does not have many lines in this one. If I remember right, Chloris Leachman is actually the star of this film which is a predictable court room drama and is not indicative of Nolte's acting talents at all.

The box for this film has Nolte pictured on it but he is very seldom seen in this film.