bwo Reviews

Arlington Road (1999)

Overacting Gold Medal

[5/10 · 4 August 1999]

In the near future, aspiring actors will be able to obtain training DVDs containing actual examples of the myriad thespian techniques. The section on "over-acting" will contain segments from Jeff Bridges' performance in Arlington Road which can be called "forceful" only if your definition is "shouts and screams incessantly". Painful. Just painful.

The movie? If you watch it, then (re)watch "The Game". Kindred spirits, in that they string dozens of improbable coincidences together to achieve a surprise ending. Yes, the endings were each a surprise, but at what cost to intelligence and common sense? Perhaps IMBd should implement a new section for each entry: Improbable Coincidence Checklist.

World War III (1982)

Quite Enjoyable

[21 July 1999]

Enjoyed it all those years ago. Would really like to see it run again. Rock Hudson's final scene showed some of his finest acting, and the fact that Brian Keith spoke fluent Russian blew me away.

The Hired Hand (1971)

Haunting Music, Unpretentious

[10/10 · 20 May 1999]

One of my favourite films, it glamorizes nothing of the period, which truly had little glamor. The dialog; the clothing; the imagery; the overall storyline; all aspects of the film point to the hardships and plainness of the time. Fonda's genius lies in the fact that although the film is harsh, it is not bleak. Hard to believe that this is the same actor/director who walked through Easy Rider just a few years prior.

And the music! It has haunted me all these years. I sometimes play the movie while working, just to listen to Bruce Langhorne's brilliant score. I would love to find a copy of the soundtrack.