Nick-337 Reviews

Tender Mercies (1983)

the good things

[11 January 2004]

I was happy to see this film once again when it aired last night on CMT. It's certainly worthy of a second look, as you take something new away from it each time. Even though this was filmed during the urban cowboy era of the early 80s, it doesn't seem dated in its subject matter. Country music fans can draw their own conclusions as to who inspired some of the characters. Robert Duvall's burnt-out drunk Mac Sledge surely borrowed from Lefty Frizzell. Mac's singing style is eerily close to Lefty's and he even performs one of his songs in the film. Betty Buckley's country queen Dixie Scott is reminiscent of Dottie West. Perhaps the writer based his story on George Jones and Tammy Wynette's bitter divorce, Jones' subsequent alcoholism and redemption, and Tammy's raising of their daughter. Whatever the case, it has a wonderful message about loss making us appreciate the good things we're given in life. The final song playing while Tess Harper watches her husband and son tossing a football says it best.

I Love the '80s (2002)

I feel old!

[5 July 2003]

Very addictive and well produced series, but...I have a hard time believing that Beyonce and Leann Rimes remember anything from the '80s. It was cool to see some people who actually experienced the '80s like Lionel Richie, Tiffany, and Lisa-Lisa. I'm looking forward to "I love the '70s". Ten years from now will we be buying "sounds of the '90s" and reminiscing about the Clinton decade?

Gerhard Reinke's Wanderlust (2003– )

Jimmy Kimmel humor

[13 May 2003]

I wasn't surprised when I saw that Jimmy Kimmel is behind this show and crank yankers. Kimmel's brand of gross-out, bathroom humor is taking over the entertainment world, or so it seems. There is an odd fascination with male genitalia running through the show. Some examples are Gerhard's constant thong wearing, things spilling out of his speedos, pee shyness, masturbation terms, etc...certainly a long way from the man show's juggies. It can be stomach-churning at times, but also very hilarious.

Dawson's Creek (1998–2003)

pretty people...with problems

[24 April 2003]

Okay, so I avoided watching this show for five years. Now after having watched it on the superstation, I wish I'd have kept on avoiding it. The very first episode I watched had the students doing a class project. All the kids were skinny, cute, and popular with the exception of one fat boy. He ofcourse, wore thick glasses and just didn't fit in. The worst part of it however, was the way Dawson's friends ignored and even teased the obese boy. The popular girls shunned him and all the students laughed when he spoke in class. Nobody defended him and nobody even acknowledged anything was wrong. I cringed just watching the scene. Is this how Kevin Williamson thinks kids should treat each other? What kind of message did that send to young viewers? One would hope that the producers had more sensitivity on the subject of overweight kids who are teased and ostracized by their peers. What a difference it might have made if Pacey or Jen made an effort to befriend the unpopular boy, or atleast not laugh at him. Instead we are whisked away to another scene with the cool kids hanging out in a coffee house, or sitting by a campfire with their cute boyfriends, or endlessly analyzing their teenage romances. I see nothing worthwhile or groundbreaking about Dawson's Creek, just the same old story: the pretty people are the only ones who matter.

The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971)

funniest sitcom of the 60's

[14 November 2002]

The Hillbillies was the funniest show of the 60's. In fact, I'm in my 20's and I prefer the classics to the sitcom wasteland of today. I catch them atleast twice a day on TV Land and they always make me laugh hard. The best episodes were the ones where somebody (or some critter) drank Granny's moonshine by accident. Then the fun would really begin. I didn't see anyone mention Harriet MacGibbon as Mrs. Drysdale and that's a shame because she was hilarious, always getting into fights with Granny and fainting. The comedy team of Raymond Bailey and Nancy Kulp had some of the best chemistry in TV history. Their reactions as they played off each other (and off the Clampetts) were side-splitting. Drysdale and Hathaway were a major factor in the show's success. I agree with someone else who commented that Irene Ryan should be up there in the same class with Lucille Ball. It's tragic that her name is all but forgotten today. But Granny lives on in the hearts of her fans.

Carrie (1976)

the original and best

[10 November 2002]

Watching the TV remake of Carrie last week just made me miss the original version all the more. There were so many elements that made the 1976 movie a classic, but I will try to name just a few...

First of all, the original actresses could never be replaced. Sissy Spacek as Carrie White goes without saying. Sissy gave Carrie a child-like quality that no other actress can touch. You not only root for Spacek's Carrie, but you want to reach in and hug her. Equally irreplacable was Piper Laurie who brings a manic energy to her role as the religious-wacko Mrs. White. I loved how Piper and Sissy's southern accents enhanced their characters. I don't know if it was Stephen King's intention or not, but the way Carrie said "Momma" was just so southern. It was fun seeing Piper and Sissy reunited onscreen as southern sisters in the Grass Harp.

Two supporting actresses in the film who get little credit are Amy Irving and Betty Buckley. Irving brought an intelligent, thoughtful depth to the character of Sue Snell. Buckley as the caring gym teacher stole every scene she was in. One of the most touching moments was Miss Collins taking Carrie in front of the mirror and telling her that she is a pretty girl. Then the terrible realization on her face as she wonders if it is another cruel joke. And who didn't love it when Buckley slapped Nancy Allen's face?

Maybe the single most important element in Carrie is the suspense-building music. I can't express how perfectly the music framed every scene. It should have won an oscar for the soundtrack alone. The two beautiful themes still stick in my mind, "Born To Have It All" which was playing in the shower scene and "I Never Dreamed Someone Like You (Could Love Someone Like Me)" which Carrie and Tommy danced to at the prom. Even the cheesy band playing at the prom fit the mood just right with the lyrics, "The Devil's Got a Hold Of Your Soul".

Carrie is campy nostalgia. It really is a time capsule of that era in history. The polyester, the gym shorts and knee socks, the afros and farrah-hair just take you back to 1976. Where else can you see the stars of Welcome Back Kotter and Eight Is Enough in the same movie?

More Tales of the City (1998)

tried to hate it

[5 September 2002]

When I first saw this sequel a couple of years ago I tried to hate it. So many of the characters had been re-cast with new actors that it was jarring at first. Since then I have watched it a couple more times and I have to admit that I just love More Tales. It has grown on me. The writing is excellent and it is very addictive. My favorite character in this was Anna Madrigal played by Olympia Dukakis. The scenes where she reunites with Mother Mucca are quite touching and brought a tear to my eye. Bravo to Bravo for dusting off these gems every once in a while and making some new fans of Armistead Maupin.

The Beguiled (1971)

Beguiled by females

[2 September 2002]

I found the overall message that Clint Eastwood was trying to convey in this film was to be careful not to underestimate the fairer sex. Here we see a man wounded by the civil war, taken in and nursed back to health by this house full of women. The man wakes up in a paradise of young lovelies just there for the taking and he considers himself very lucky indeed. But then he gets greedy and wants to have his way with as many of them as possible. Soon he finds that those soft southern belles become cunning vixens when crossed. He forgets that women especially in a group will always stick together against a common enemy. In the end he learns his lesson the hard way and the consequences are downright deadly. Geraldine Page is amazing as the vengeful headmistress. Also notable was the little girl who turns evil when Clint Eastwood smashes her pet turtle.

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

Brad Pitt in his prime

[24 April 2002]

Recently I saw this again after many years and just one aspect of the film really stands out...Brad Pitt. I defy anyone (male or female) to watch this performance and not be mesmerized by Pitt's sheer animal magnetism. I dare say it was the most erotic portrayal by a male actor since Valentino. Heartthrobs Cruise and Banderas all but disappear when sharing the screen with Pitt. When "Vampire" came out in theaters it was such a phenomenon that thousands of Goth-kids around the country grew their hair out to try and look like Brad. But there was only one original. The sad thing is that he cut his hair soon afterwards and has never given another performance that burned up the screen like this one.

East of Eden (1955)

Forget the book, this is better!

[18 April 2002]

As Steinbeck himself admitted, Kazan's film was better than his novel. After having seen the 1981 mini-series I have to agree. The mini-series followed the book almost faithfully and the result was something so long and boring that it was unwatchable. The early years when Adam Trask met and married Kathy/Kate add nothing to the story of Cal and Aron, in fact it takes away from it. Kazan got it right in this 1955 film by making the viewer discover Kate as Cal discovers her, following that mysterious woman down the road. We lose our innocence along with young Cal as he comes to the terrible realization that his mother is evil and his father is a liar. What I love about this film is that there are no melodramatic tearful embraces between mother and son. Instead Cal has to hold back his affections for his hardened mother and his cold father. When the dam finally breaks inside Cal and the emotion comes pouring out of him it is heartbreaking and difficult to watch. James Dean is magnificent in his performance as Cal. Julie Harris was wonderful as Abra, the girl who tries to love and understand him. Raymond Massey and Jo Van Fleet were perfectly cast as the parents. This was one of the rare occasions when the movie far surpasses the book it was based on. People should stop comparing the two and take Steinbeck's word for it.

Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)

Honest and Accurate

[20 January 2002]

Coal Miner's Daughter spans the decades from 1948 Kentucky to the 1970's, when Loretta Lynn had a nervous breakdown and collapsed on stage. First off, the scenes in rural Kentucky are very familiar to anyone who grew up in the mountains at that time. My own grandmother had seven brothers and sisters, lived in a cabin, and married at age 15. So I've heard the stories of her growing up, and it's VERY close to what is depicted in this film. The Butcher Holler scenes are so realistic, they make you feel like you're right there. It wasn't like the Waltons, folks. This shows how it really was back then. I will always love Loretta for her honesty and I'm sure that many women can relate to her wedding night innocence. In fact she didn't know where the babies were coming from until the first four were born. By that time she was 18 years old. It was only after Loretta's father died in 1959 that she started singing in honky tonk bars. For anybody who loved the book as much as I did, I wish they would have shown how Loretta's career affected her children. By the time her twins were born she was on the road so much that she simply didn't have time to be an attentive mother. Success didn't bring lasting happiness. Loretta's busy career caused stress which led to her pill addiction and breakdown. The scenes of Nashville in the 1960's are very accurate and Loretta's friendship with Patsy Cline is fun to watch. Patsy was like a big sister and a mother figure to Loretta. She was brilliantly depicted by Beverly D' Angelo. Sissy Spacek became Loretta Lynn for this film and seeing is believing. She was very convincing as a 13-year-old. What an amazing performance. Tommy Lee Jones redeems the character of Doo for his bad behavior and in the end he is a supportive father and husband. Loretta's parents are portrayed very accurately by Levon Helm and Phyllis Boyens. I especially liked the mother's "squaw dance". Coal Miner's Daughter is a masterpiece as a song, a book, and especially a movie.

Seinfeld (1989–1998)

Who Cares?

[15 December 2001]

Seinfeld goes onto my long list of shows that somehow became popular but I never watched, never wanted to watch, and frankly never gave a second thought to. Also in the list are : MASH, All in the Family, 90210, Home Improvement, la law, Frasier, Friends, ER, NYPD Blue, Ally Mcbeal, Will & Grace and the Practice. They were all too boring to even sit through one episode without falling asleep. How they ever became hits I'll never know.

Family Album (1994)

totally unbelievable

[22 November 2001]

I've watched this mini-series a couple of times on lifetime. This has to be one of the most unbelievable storylines ever. The standard soap opera cliches are used - glamour, sex, adultery, teen pregnancy, and tragic deaths. The popular athletic son going off to die in Vietnam was so obvious you could see it coming a mile away. The other son is the token sensitive gay character struggling to come out *yawn*. The scene where the gay son discovers that his masculine blond roommate is gay was laughable. These two guys look like Ken dolls come to life. All of the actors appear to be from central casting for "pretty people". Maybe if more average looking actors had been cast it would have been more convincing, but I doubt it. Most of the actors can't act anyway. Jaclyn Smith is more wooden here than ever before. There are other problems with wardrobe and hair. It looks like 1994 when it's supposed to be 1968. I could go on and on. I wouldn't recommend this movie unless you have about four hours to kill watching some mediocre trash.

Somewhere in Time (1980)

Soulmates...Somewhere in Time

[8 October 2001]

For us hopeless romantics, this kind of love story gives us the feeling that our own soulmate might have lived in another time instead of our own. It is a pleasant little fantasy to get lost in for a couple of hours anyway. For someone who analyzes the small details in movies like myself, the story has many hidden twists and turns to figure out. For example, when you consider that Elise Mckenna was 85 years old when she died in 1972, why was Richard Collier a young man in college? Was he the reincarnation of the Richard she had loved 60 years earlier in 1912? Did Richard's time-traveling professor have some connection to Elise? Why did Elise's manager warn Elise of Richard's coming? If you get too concerned with these details then you miss the overall message of the film...true love never dies and true love is worth dying for.

Lace (1984)

the Height of 80's excess!

[27 June 2001]

"Lace" reminds me of "lifestyles of the rich and famous"...the Aaron Spelling soaps "Dynasty" & "Hotel"..."Sins" starring Joan Collins...and that tv-movie with Stephanie Powers where she plays her own twin and gets blown up on a yacht. But I have to say that "Lace" was the absolute pinnacle of greed, glitz and excess in the 1980's. I can remember this being on tv when I was a kid and it seemed great back then. Now I look back and gag at the decadence of it all. I think this movie was filmed in every major city in Europe, New York, and some of the middle east. The budget had to be incredible! It was totally unbelievable which woman turned out to be Lily's mother, a huge let-down. I have to say that the best reason for watching "Lace" is to see how incredibly sexy and young Pheobe Cates was back then. Hubba Hubba!

3 Women (1977)

I LOVE THIS MOVIE!

[23 June 2001]

I knew women who were just like the character of Millie - beauty shop big hair, recipes from ladies magazines, dresses made from McCall's patterns, tupperware, pigs in a blanket (yum!) - a unique view of 70's working class women represented in this film. Shelley Duvall is at her best here. This movie is in my personal top ten of all-time favorites. It's such a refreshing change from the big-budget dribble (Tom Hanks/Julia Roberts) that is in the theaters all the time. "Three Women" is so great because it is the antithesis of all that is Hollywood. Makes me want to move to the California desert.

Now and Then (1995)

Had potential, but falls flat

[31 May 2001]

I really looked forward to seeing this film when it was on CBS. It looked like it had all the makings for another classic story of remembering childhood adventures. This is not the case. These girls are cartoonish, rude and crude. I especially found Christina Ricci's character to be totally unlikable, and I usually like anything she's in. I suspect that the writer was an angry feminist because there's a definite undertone of man-bashing throughout the entire movie. All the male figures in the girl's lives are made to seem like abusive baffoons. The only male who gets a fair portrayal is crazy old Pete, the town's street bum. The film goes from bad to worse when the four girls return as grown-up women. Rosie O'Donnell is especially stone-faced and grumpy here. Rita Wilson is as whining and annoying as always. Melanie Griffith is the least obnoxious because she has like two whole lines. And worst of all is Demi Moore. The film totally falls apart right here as Demi tries unsuccessfully to squeeze a tender moment out of all this mess. The plot is so weak. It was never clearly explained as to what Demi's character's problems were. Why did she need to come home and sit in that tree house again? This is never revealed. But trust me, you won't care by this point anyway. The only thing "Now and Then" had going for it was the flashback to 1970. I kinda enjoyed seeing the old fashions and hearing the soundtrack which features artists like the Guess Who and the Jackson Five. I suggest buying the soundtrack and forget seeing this.

Designing Women (1986–1993)

Tornado Watch

[29 May 2001]

I just saw an episode of Designing Women entitled "Tornado Watch". In my opinion this was the best episode of the entire series. The writers and actors were at their peak of hilarity when they produced this little gem back in 1990. I've seen it many times and it never fails to make me laugh out loud. This particular episode had all the elements that made Designing Women one of the best television sitcoms in history. Dim-witted Charlene Stillfield makes a home video to send back to her hillbilly clan in Poplar Bluff. Aging beauty queen Suzanne Sugarbaker at her most 'PMS-on-a-diet' bitchy, shrieks "Happy Anniversary, Lois and Shimmy!" into Charlene's camcorder. Sassy single mother Mary Jo Shively is whining about some sexist pig again. Feminist Julia Sugarbaker is her usual cool-collected self but getting more frazzled by the minute. Ditzy senior-citizen Bernice Clifton drops by and so does Daddy Jones, an old mountain man. When Daddy breaks out the moonshine things really get zany. Ex-con Anthony Bouvier and his annoying girlfriend Vanessa groove to motown tunes in the background. It's an all-out madcap party. As Bernice and Daddy Jones dirty dance, Julia delivers the funniest line of the show, "I don't ever wanna see anything like this in my home again." Then, a nerdy client drunk on moonshine, strips down to bikini briefs and proceeds to sexually harass all the women. Luckily, a tornado rips through Sugarbaker's before things get too out of hand. The next day as everyone cleans up the mess, Charlene's outrageous home video airs on CNN...the perfect ending to this perfect episode. Many thanks to Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Jean Smart, Annie Potts, Meshach Taylor and Alice Ghostley for making us laugh for seven great seasons. Now we can see them all again everyday on Lifetime. Enjoy!

The Ice Storm (1997)

a little snapshot of suburbia in 1973

[20 May 2001]

After seeing 'the Ice Storm' several times I have decided it's one of my all-time favorites. When a film captivates me the way this one does, I have to love it even if the subject matter is disturbing. The characters are unsympathetic and even unlikable, but you just can't stop watching them get further entangled and deeper into trouble. The parents and the teenagers walk around in a numbed haze of 70's suburban boredom until a harsh reality wakes everyone from their slumber. Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, and Sigourney Weaver are convincing as 50's generation parents desperately trying to adjust to the sexual revolution of the 70's. Kevin Kline plays a middle-aged executive who goes temporarily insane with the free-love standards of the times. He truly loves his wife and kids but becomes recklessly involved with a neighbor's frigid wife, played by Sigourney Weaver. Joan Allen plays his repressed 'Donna Reed-ish' wife, who makes Thanksgiving dinner look lovely even though her life has become very ugly. Christina Ricci plays their sexually-curious daughter, who is way too interested in her boyfriend's little brother. Their goofy, nerdy son is played by Tobey Maguire, who ironically resembles a young Kevin Kline. The 1973-era nostalgia is great to watch for. I especially enjoyed the Jim Croce song "I Got a Name" which is skipping on an old vinyl-LP. The final scene leaves the viewer grasping for a resolution where there was never meant to be one. So what if it doesn't have an earth-shattering point to make, so what if the characters are miserable, so what if it doesn't have a happy ending...that's how real life is!

Maurice (1987)

A masterpiece

[6 May 2001]

Maurice is one of the finest films ever made. I was very moved by this emotional coming-of-age story. Hugh Grant was 26, James Wilby was 28, and Rupert Graves was only 23 at the time. The young actors brilliantly conveyed the agony and the ecstasy of first love, the excitement of that first touch, and the painful longing of youth. The cinematography, scenery, and period costumes were all perfect. The haunting musical score will bring you to tears. The superb supporting cast adds to the feeling of suspicion and tension. Maurice's sister, Clive's nosy butler, and the psychotherapist who tries to 'cure' Maurice all stand out. After I first saw this film on cable, I rushed out and bought a copy to add to my video collection- one of the best purchases I ever made. Maurice is the kind of movie that gives us all hope for beauty, romance, and true love in our own lives. A classic!

The Kids in the Hall (1988–2021)

Guilty Pleasure

[2 May 2001]

I was just watching KITH and when it went off I wondered what it is about this show that I love so much. First of all, it's one of those shows that's like a guilty pleasure. You might not admit to your friends and family that you watch it (because of the gay content and other freaky elements) but in private you gotta love this show. Secondly, it has a very intimate feel to it. You feel like you're the only one in the world watching it at that moment (definitely a 1:00 AM type of show) where as SNL and Mad TV have millions of people watching. I really couldn't change anything about KITH because it's perfect for what it is. I always laugh and feel better no matter how bad my day was after watching this show. I highly recommend it!

Saved by the Bell (1989–1992)

My generation's "Welcome Back Kotter"

[16 November 1999]

This show is a perfect time capsule of my high school years.Then the bittersweet day came in 1993 when the senior class of "Bayside High" graduated,which was only a few days from my graduation.Strangely enough,that was the same year the class on 90210 graduated.I felt like I grew up with those kids in a bizarre way.The original cast characters of Zack Morris,Kelly Kapowski,Jessie Spano,A.C. Slater,Screech Powers,Lisa Turtle and Mr.Belding were the best and the magic could never be recaptured on any of the sequels.I can watch the re-runs of the show now and laugh at how cheesy the acting and the clothes really were,yet still be entertained and glued to the screen until its over."Saved by the Bell" may very well be remembered as my generation's "Welcome Back Kotter" or "Happy Days".