cosmicly Reviews

Sucker Punch (2011)

If you like the Music, you'll like the Movie

[8/10 · 19 May 2013]

Michelle Pfeiffer once commented that "the Music adds 50% to a Movie." If you do the math, that means that about one-third of the Movie experience is comprised of the Music.

Although this film takes quite a few risks, the choice of Music is not at all risky, but rather consists of some tried and true classics: tunes immortalized by the Eurythmics, Roxy Music, Queen, the Beatles, the Smiths, Sugarcubes, Jefferson Airplane and Iggy Pop--plus some Mozart.

A pleasant twist includes performances of some of the songs by cast members Emily Browning and Carla Gugino.

Otherwise, the formula for the film is a fairly straightforward "Video Game" theme with the usual array of young and hot female action heroines: three with the "Skinny Blonde Look" that everyone in Hollywood loves (Emily Browning, Jena Malone and Abbie Cornish) and two with the currently popular "Exotic Raven-Haired" beauty (Vanessa Hudgens and Jamie Chung).

So check it out if you like the Music, if you like Video Games, and if you like hot women in the roles of action heroines.

Edge of Darkness (2010)

Not the most popular, but certainly one of Mel Gibson's best

[8/10 · 8 December 2012]

In Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground, the writer describes a scale of human activity with the "Man of Consciousness" at one extreme and the "Man of Action" at the other extreme. A striking example of the "Man of Action" is the historically arrogant and self-obsessed Napoleon, who focused on results without regard to ethics or morality or even any meaningful significance beyond glory and self-aggrandizement.

In Edge of Darkness, Mel Gibson plays a hard nosed Boston cop whose daughter has been viciously murdered and he reacts as the ultimate "Man of Action," an Avenging Angel with no pretense of Justice, or "just doing his job." He is hell bent on revenge for the murder of his only child, and he is--in today's terms of constant overstatement and habitual exaggeration-- completely Off the Scale; on a scale of 1 to 10 he is at least a 12 or 13 in his determination and focus.

Action oriented males will not rank this performance by Mel Gibson on a par with the Mad Max or Lethal Weapon heroics; and swooning females will certainly not find this performance as sexy as Braveheart. But for sheer determination and raw power, Thomas Craven ranks side by side with the finest performances of Mel Gibson's career.

And a truly extraordinary job by Ray Winstone as Darius Jedburgh amplifies the impact of this highly underrated movie.

For those who find the plot and portrayals as too "over the top" and overdone, I would simply pose this question: If you had a wonderful child, an only child, a loving child, who was gunned down in a murder that was either totally senseless or diabolically conspiratorial, how would you react? Honestly, what would you REALLY do?

D.E.B.S. (2004)

What seems like FLUFF actually deals with some Universal Themes

[9/10 · 6 August 2012]

At first blush, D.E.B.S. may seem like the sort of superficial sexual exploitation movie that used to flood Drive-In Theatres (aka "Passion Pits" and "Lust Lots") forty or fifty years ago.

And undoubtedly, any proponent of California Proposition 8 (which bans same-sex marriage) will find this movie's favorable portrayal of a "lesbian love affair" highly offensive and downright immoral.

But D.E.B.S. has three things going for it, and those three things help to explain the large number of favorable reviews of D.E.B.S. on IMDb.

1) Controversy aside, D.E.B.S. is a fantastic "buddy" film. The lengths to which Scud will go-- to help his friend Lucy to heal her broken heart and to win the object of her love-- is truly heartwarming. And the recurring cattiness and rivalry among the D.E.B.S. throughout the film is trumped--indeed totally nullified--when Max tells Lucy "If you break her heart I will hunt you down and kill you."

2) The acting in D.E.B.S. is remarkable, and in fact it is astounding to see so many terrific performances in such a low budget film. A movie with this sort of budget is generally characterized by nauseous doses of "over acting," but in this film, each and every performer seems inspired to treat their parts not only with humor but also with a "labor of love" spirit which helps to explain why so many people genuinely enjoy this film.

3) And while it is doubtful that anti-gay audiences would ever be able to view this film objectively, the fact is that some timeless universal themes are treated with precision and directness: How important is it for people to be honest with themselves? Are professional values more valid than personal values? And in the final analysis, is it a myth or a reality that Love can conquer all?

Darkness Falls (1999)

Tense, Taut, Heavy Drama

[10/10 · 9 November 2011]

Tense, taut, heavy cinema that is not so much a crime drama as a morality tale. Primarily a story about a smug aristocratic type who arrogantly indulges in the seven deadly sins with a sense of impunity--but Judgment Day is coming.

Excellent acting, surgically precise directing, and a relentlessly gripping story. Definitely not light hearted entertainment, but absolutely essential for serious film fans. This dark tale is somewhat relieved, perhaps even redeemed, by the notion that even the most hideous of evils can be miraculously transformed into an affirmation of life, and the ultimate power of goodness and justice.

Wonderfully enhanced by the scenic beauty of the Isle of Man, the gravitas of Ray Winstone, and the classic beauty of the lovely Sherilyn Fenn.

Jumper (2008)

What would you do?

[15 September 2011]

Imagine that you are a young guy (Hayden Christensen) with the power to go anywhere in the world, just by thinking about it. Anywhere. Inside a bank vault; atop the Sphinx or the Eiffel Tower; next to the most beautiful women in the world in the most exclusive clubs in the world.

Would you use your power as a "Jumper" to help humanity? Or would you use your power to pursue the Good Life for your own pleasure and gratification?

Would you use your power to charm the most attractive women in every country in the world? Or would you use your power to charm your first love, your childhood sweetheart? Tough decision. Especially if your childhood sweetheart is petite, sweet and incredibly gorgeous (think Rachel Bilson).

The main obstacle to your happiness is a group of fanatical religious zealots called the Paladins, who are led by the arrogant and self- righteous Roland (Samuel L. Jackson) and who believe that Jumpers must be hunted down and destroyed because they are an abomination against God.

Put your coin in the slot, climb aboard, and hold on tight. You are in for a wild ride.

2 Brothers & a Bride (2003)

Down To Earth Story About Unconventional Approach To Romance

[13 September 2011]

This film is a down to earth story about two farm boy brothers who live with their "Old Ma" who does their cooking, cleaning and advising.

The older brother, Jake (Tim Blake Nelson), is a stereotypical farmer: honest, hard working, not at all flashy, the kind of guy most women find boring.

The younger brother, Josh (David Arquette), is every woman's dream: a man who needs to be MOTHERED.

When their "Old Ma" dies, the guys are desperate for someone to keep house and cook for them. They head to Saint-Petersburg, Russia on a romance tour with a real life company known as A Foreign Affair.

The strength of this film is that it is as honest as the character Jake. It depicts the exciting potential of romance across cultures that exist thousands of miles apart. It shows the sincere seekers of love and marriage and family life; but it also shows the gold digging women who are mainly interested in financial gain; and it also shows the lecherous guys who are less suited for a romance tour than they are for a "perverted sex tour" to Bangkok, Thailand.

All in all, a film that is very well done, and genuine. One particular highlight is the character of journalist Angela Beck, excellently played by Emily Mortimer, whom some may recognize as the woman to whom Val Kilmer gives a cross containing a microchip, the newlywed wife whose unfaithful husband already has a girlfriend, in the movie "The Saint." And her name may be familiar to fans of "Rumpole of the Bailey." Emily's father John Mortimer is the author of the Rumpole stories.

The Fugitive (1963–1967)

Stephen King Called "The Fugitive" The Greatest TV Show...

[5 August 2011]

And although everyone has their own favorite TV show, "The Fugitive" is definitely a worthy candidate for anyone's list.

The show has an excellent premise: a doctor is unjustly convicted of the murder of his wife; en route to the "death house" he manages to escape after a train wreck; he roams the United States in search of the one-armed man who is the real killer; and all the while he is relentlessly pursued by a police lieutenant "obsessed with his capture." The show is a cross between 1) The famous Dr. Sam Sheppard murder case in Cleveland (although the show's creator Roy Huggins consistently and adamantly denied this) and 2) Victor Hugo's classic "Les Miserables" (which Roy Huggins readily admitted).

David Janssen is perfectly cast as the lead character Dr. Richard Kimble; the script writing for each and every episode is superb; and the music for each episode matches form and content magnificently.

But what stands out most, for me, are the unforgettable performances by the guest stars.

--Sandy Dennis as a feisty mountain girl who dreams of making something of herself in the Big City

--Eileen Heckart as a Catholic nun who is experiencing a crisis of faith

--Ed Begley as a crippled and embittered college law professor who arranges, for his class of law students, a mock trial of Richard Kimble

--Brenda Scott as a fisherman's teenage daughter who develops a monstrous crush on Richard Kimble, and she won't let him leave until she gets "her kiss"

--Janis Paige as a popular and enigmatic singer who plunges into rudeness and alcohol as a response to her terminal disease

--Angie Dickinson as the sister of a crippled man (Robert Duvall) who receives physical and mental therapy from Dr. Kimble

--Bruce Dern, Sharon Farrell and R.G. Armstrong as the leaders of a backwoods moonshine community that gives a hard time to Dr. Kimble and an even harder time to Lieutenant Gerard (Barry Morse)

--Jack Klugman as a guilt-ridden trucking company owner who is constantly pressured financially by the widow (Geraldine Brooks) of a trucker whose death he caused

--Laura Devon as a beautiful but illiterate girlfriend of a con man; she gets tutored by Dr. Kimble and blossoms into a genuine "Fair Lady"

--Antoinette Bower as beautiful woman who is perceived as a curse and a deadly jinx to men in a small fishing town

--Jacqueline Scott as Dr. Kimble's loyal sister, Richard Anderson as Dr. Kimble's brother-in-law, and Diane Baker as Dr. Kimble's love

--These unforgettable characters, and so many, many more, convince me that Stephen King is correct. "The Fugitive" is indeed the greatest TV show of all time.

Baseball (1994–2010)

Great series, with one recurring annoyance...

[2 August 2011]

...that annoyance is the "butchering" of the lyrics of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game." Over and over, we hear "buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks" (plural) instead of the correct "buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack" (singular).

Even the beautifully melodic version by Carly Simon contains this error.

Otherwise, the series is a wonderful tribute to Baseball, with a focus on the amazing characters who have played the game; with the theme of Baseball as a mirror reflecting the hopes and dreams and social changes in America; with the mellifluous voice of John Chancellor narrating; with humor and inspiration and surprisingly analytical insights from Ted Williams and Bob Feller and Buck O'Neil; and with the bittersweet undercurrent that Baseball generates unforgettable moments of excitement and joy and triumph, but it is fundamentally dominated by humbling experiences, disappointment and failure.

If any character from Greek Mythology can be identified with Baseball, it most certainly has to be Sisyphus--rolling the gigantic stone up the mountain, only to have it roll back down upon him. But he keeps rolling nonetheless.

Hard Eight (1996)

The term "Underrated" is overly used regarding movies, BUT...

[10/10 · 14 May 2011]

I cannot think of any movie that I have ever seen which was more "underrated" when it was released than "Hard Eight." I say this because of what happened to the film when it was released at a downtown San Diego theater. On opening day, it was scheduled to be shown five times. But absolutely NO ONE showed up for the first show, and every other screening that day, except for one, was canceled. And the film was not shown again after the first day.

I found this very surprising, because when I had seen the trailer for "Hard Eight," I was captivated by the glimpses at the characters, and I was mesmerized by the soundtrack. And when I saw the film in its entirety, I was very, very impressed.

One of the strengths of this film is the careful casting that was done for even the smallest of roles. Nathaniel Cooper's restroom attendant and Michael J. Rowe's pit boss are seen for only the briefest of moments, but they leave a lasting and indelible impression for their realistic portrayals. And Melora Walters, in a split second portrayal of a panicked reaction, is unforgettable. So even those tiny roles make it clear that this film was meticulously cast as a labor of love.

Philip Seymour Hoffman has a small role as a craps player taunting an old timer. But that small role gives a promising look at the talent of a future Oscar winner (Best Actor for "Capote").

In the lead roles, though, we get backward and forward looks at talent of the highest order. Philip Baker Hall echoes a bit of his mob character Sidney from "Midnight Run," and Samuel L. Jackson echoes even more of his hit-man Jules from "Pulp Fiction." Watching the smooth performances of John C. Reilly and Gwynneth Paltrow leaves the viewer aching for more, which will be delivered several years later by John C. Reilly in his Oscar-nominated performance in "Chicago" and by Gwynneth Paltrow in her Oscar-winning performance in "Shakespeare In Love."

The dismal box office failure of "Hard Eight" at the time of its release has been completely offset by the steamrolling cult following that has developed over the years.

This truly UNDERRATED film is gradually being recognized for the true gem that it is.

The Rockford Files: The No-Cut Contract (1976) Season 2, Episode 15

GOOF: "The horse could be OUT OF Secretariat..."

[10/10 · 1 May 2011]

At the beginning of the episode, Angel is describing a scam involving a fake thoroughbred pedigree for a foal. Angel says "The horse could be out of Secretariat. That's not impossible, is it?" In fact, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.

In thoroughbred terms, a foal is BY a sire (a stallion/male horse), and OUT OF a dam (a mare/female horse). So although a foal could be BY Secretariat, it is impossible for a foal to ever be OUT OF Secretariat.

But that "goof" aside, "The No-Cut Contract" is a very entertaining episode of The Rockford Files. Even the supporting cast in this episode is exceptional, with NFL great Dick Butkus; Wayne Tippit who plays Agent Dan Shore not only in this episode, but in two other notable episodes of Rockford files, including a touching tribute to Gretchen Corbett's Beth Davenport in "A Portrait of Elizabeth"; and Milt Kogan, who plays various characters in other Rockford episodes, including Angel's brother-in-law Aaron in "The Empty Frame."

Jailbait (1993 Video)

Surprisingly Good Acting For A "Straight To Video" Type Movie

[7/10 · 28 March 2011]

Police, like doctors, are not supposed to let their personal feelings get involved with the people they serve. But sometimes there are human feelings so strong that they get in the way of professional rules and regulations. "Jailbait" revolves around the conflict that Detective Lee Teffler (C. Thomas Howell) experiences as he becomes the Knight In Shining Armor to a Midwestern girl (Renee Humphrey) who comes to Hollywood looking for her sister (Krista Errickson)--an aspiring singer who has become a hooker as well as a suspect in a murder case that Detective Teffler is investigating.

Another suspect in the murder case is Teffler's boyhood friend (David Labiosa) --they used to raise hell on the streets together-- who has taken a different path from the one chosen by Teffler. Rather than becoming a policeman like Teffler, his boyhood friend has become a cold, creepy, ruthless and sadistic criminal who specializes in white slavery.

The performances in "Jailbait" are surprisingly good for a "straight to video" type movie. Although not necessarily achieving Super Stardom, this is a group of actors worth watching for their talent, and for the heart that they put into their performances.

TRIVIA FANS may be interested to know that: 1) Krista Errickson went on to a distinguished career as a journalist and film maker.

2) Leslie Harter went on to get married to (and have 2 children with) "Back To The Future" director Bob Zemeckis.

Emperor of the North (1973)

Is "Emperor Of The North" Superficial Or Deep?

[8/10 · 21 March 2011]

Fans of "Emperor Of The North" may disagree on whether this film is superficial or deep, and they may enjoy it for different reasons.

Fans who like this movie on a "superficial" level will certainly enjoy the sometimes slapstick comedy, and the gags that are perpetrated by the hobos in their quest to ride the railroad trains for free. It is certainly legitimate to see the movie as primarily an elaborate, albeit thoroughly enjoyable, bar room joke.

Fans who like this movie on a "deeper" level will see the battle between Shack (Ernest Borgnine) and A No. 1 (Lee Marvin) as a classic struggle between the "haves" and the "have nots," the "cops" and the "robbers," the "establishment" and the "rebels," or as the ultimate battle for Alpha Male supremacy.

However you view this movie, it is a worthwhile look at life during the Great Depression, and how it plays out for a large portion of the population who became homeless through little or no fault of their own.

Breezy (1973)

A film ahead of its time?

[10/10 · 19 January 2011]

This film is so very, very good. It is a mystery why it was not a bigger hit, and not more lauded by the critics.

One possible explanation is that the subject matter was something that critics and audiences just could not "feel comfortable with." For a generation fatigued by the changes that they were trying to understand and accept--relationships between people of different religions, relationships between people of different races--it may have just been too much to ask of them, to accept a relationship between people of such different ages.

It was not until a generation later, with a movie like Pretty Woman, that an age-difference love story would become palatable, even fun and enjoyable, to watch and root for.

'Tis a pity, because anyone who missed this movie has missed one of the most remarkable performances ever given by a young actress. If you do have a chance to see it, Kay Lenz will have you smirking and smiling and chuckling and laughing and, in the end, singing the old Elvis Presley tune "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You."

Sideways (2004)

The main character is really.....

[7/10 · 17 January 2011]

Most of the people who like this movie feel that the the Central California Wine Country was simply a "backdrop" for a story about middle age angst.

And curiously, when the film was released in Italy, it was entitled "Un Viaggio con Jack," which implies that first and foremost it is a "buddy movie," and that Miles's friendship with Jack--as illuminated by this one week pre-wedding adventure--is at the core.

Although I respect both viewpoints, I would argue that wrapped in a "buddy story" inside a "romantic drama" within a "fear of aging and failure tale" is first and foremost an Ode to the Wonders of the Central California Wine Country.

Author Rex Pickett clearly fell in love with the region while he was researching his book. And rather than the region being a "backdrop" for the story of the characters, it is the other way around. The story of the characters is a "backdrop" for a tribute to the region.

It is a well known fact that people fall in love with cities and towns and small islands. San Francisco, Venice, New York, Paris, Acapulco, Saint Petersburg, Hawaii, and so many, many other irresistible places are literally Objects of Love for people who adore them, get to know them, and want to spend their lives with them and grow old with them.

So it is with SIDEWAYS. The characters are fascinating, the exceptional rendering of the unavoidable "cold feet" and "buyer's remorse" that afflicts soon-to-be-weds is unforgettable. But at the heart of this movie is an invitation to come to know the extraordinary culture of the Central California Coast that revolves around wine, the quest to appreciate the "living nature" of wine, an appreciation of living close to the land, and a reverence for everything special about the history of the region--the Missions, the Vineyards, and a spirit of pride and hospitality that is perhaps rivaled only by the undeniable warmth of the people who live along the Mediterranean Sea.

Exotica (1994)

What Could Have Been Superficial Is Astonishingly Deep

[8/10 · 3 August 2010]

What might seem at first to be a superficial story about middle aged guys seeking escape in the exotic world of young and beautiful strippers is actually a deep and intricately woven story of intersecting lives. And those seemingly ordinary lives are charged with extraordinary catastrophe.

Excellent directing by Atom Egoyan. Superb acting by Mia Kirshner, Elias Koteas, Bruce Greenwood and Don McKellar. And the power of the film is amplified by an unforgettable soundtrack that includes the haunting lament of Leonard Cohen's classic "Everybody Knows."

At the denouement, we are left with an abiding sense of cosmic ache, and a hope that there is truth in Dostoevsky's assertion that "our evils are expiated by suffering."

Inside Daisy Clover (1965)

Confined and Boxed In

[10/10 · 3 November 2005]

Every time I watch this movie, I am more and more impressed with the range of ability that Natalie Wood exhibits. Terrific job on her part. As for the story itself, what really strikes me about "Inside Daisy Clover" is the countless times that she is alone, confined and boxed in. The entire time that Daisy is trying to break loose and make a noise in the world, she continuously finds herself practically jailed. The little booth where she makes her first records, the tiny shop where she sells star photos, the claustrophobic cabin she shares with "The Dealer," the sound room where she dubs "The Circus Is A Wacky World"--all of these create a sense of suffocation. With Daisy constantly placed in these pressure cookers, you just have to believe that sooner or later she is going to explode!

Harrigan and Son (1960– )

Very realistic show

[27 July 2005]

This show was very realistic, and I'm surprised it did not last longer. My favorite episode was one in which Harrigan, Sr. taught a very important lesson to Harrigan, Jr. Junior was conducting his case very professionally, following the technical aspects of the law, and losing pathetically.

Harrigan, Sr., stepped in, and he proceeded to play to the prejudices of the jury. The defendant was a relative of some family, the plaintiff was from a certain place, etc. And he turned the case around, and won.

Junior complained bitterly, afterward, that if that's what was needed to successfully practice law, then he wanted no part of it. Senior reminded him that you cannot change human nature, and the practice of law was not a matter of dead words in books, but rather the living reactions of real human beings.

I would not be surprised if Johnny Cochran saw this episode, and learned from it.

From Here to Eternity (1979)

Natalie Wood's Golden Globe Winning Performance

[10/10 · 2 May 2005]

Natalie Wood's Golden Globe Winning Performance makes this mini series worth watching. Natalie brings heart and sensuality to a complex character torn between desire and propriety, frustrated in a loveless marriage but unable to abandon the trappings of status.

What makes Natalie's performance most memorable is her subtlety. In an era where "over the top" acting seems to get the most recognition, Natalie keeps her tumultuous feelings simmering below the surface, like a volcano threatening to erupt, but controlled enough to simply "glow red." You can see the intense heat in her charcoal eyes. Natalie's ambivalence makes her moments with William Devane all the more powerful.

Try to see the uncut six episode version--you will miss a lot if you only see the 110 minute version.

The Third Man (1949)

I admit, up front, that this is my all-time favorite movie

[11 October 2004]

I must dismiss my bias, up front, by telling all of you that this is my all-time favorite movie. For me, it crystallizes the ultimate Hamletiam predicament, the tearing apart that occurs that when your best-loved best friend turns out to be a rotten scoundrel. An opportunistic person whose lust for wealth tramples on the medical needs of wounded soldiers, pregnant women and suffering children. This movie is filled with comic relief moments, but what makes it excel is the ultimate test of the moral dilemma. What do we choose, an amazingly and seductively appealing friend who happens to destroy lives with his greed, or an obnoxious bureaucracy that just happens to be morally right in this case?

One comment on the moral cloudiness of the current generation. I would bet anything that more viewers side with Harry Lime, today, than against him...

Stealing Christmas (2003 TV Movie)

A deeper story than you might think

[10/10 · 6 December 2003]

While "Stealing Christmas" might easily have been just another cliched warm and fuzzy holiday tale, exceptional performances by Lea Thompson and Tony Danza raise the dramatic level and clear the way for a revelation of the underlying moral conflict. Betrayal of trust is the one transgression that has no redeeming value; Lea Thompson is the angel who turns Tony Danza's cynical heart away from the brink of betrayal, and touches his heart in a way that makes it impossible to betray the trust that has been placed in him by the simple hearted town folk--and the trust of Lea herself.

In an era of movies that myopically portray love exclusively in the form of passionate, nude bedroom scenes, "Stealing Christmas" provides a refreshing view of love between two people primarily as mutual respect, admiration, and most of all, acceptance of each others' faults.

I, the Jury (1982)

Hot off the griddle!

[10/10 · 14 September 2003]

The scene where Armand Assante shoves the bad guy's face onto the hot griddle ranks right up with the dentist "Is it safe?" scene in Marathon Man. It is unique, and it makes you cringe any time you think of this movie.

The mark of a true "tough" guy is that he will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. Armand Assante's Mike Hammer is one of the best portrayals in that regard.

Freddy vs. Jason (2003)

Despite laughable overacting and no brainer script

[15 August 2003]

Despite laughable overacting by the entire cast and a no brainer script, this cheesy flick will delight fans of Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, and World Wrestling Entertainment with its gore, glitzy special effects, and the heavyweight matchup between Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger. May the best monster win!