Sixteen Candles (1984)

I took Heather across the street to the Readings Town Square 14 to see tonight because she had not seen since she was 12. The movie was introduced by two Asian teenagers who were trying very hard to lead the crowd in a fun game of movie trivia, but it was made increasingly difficult by a row of women who were probably in their late 30's/early 40's but all acted much younger and much more immature. Plus, they all looked like they should be a Rollergirl team. I digress, the presentation itself was among the worst I've ever seen; a dvd blown up, stretched out, and so so so dark.  A movie should have presence on the big screen, should it not?

Roadgames (1981)

Re-watch. Love this movie and love showing it to people. Showed it to my friend Carthy tonight. He thoroughly enjoyed it.

Possession (1981)

Bizarre, passionate, and vibrant. Wicked wtf ending.

Summer School (1987)

Late night re-watch in honor of Fright-Rags new "Summer School" t-shirt.

The Hidden (1987)

Re-watch.  One of the benefits of moving to a new town is making new friends, though it's been a slow process.  One of the rewards though is being able to share your favorite things with new people.  This went over well.

Lookin' to Get Out (1982)

Directed by Hal Ashby and written by/starring Jon Voight, "Lookin' to Get Out" has all the makings of a forgotten gem, but in this case, there's a reason it's forgotten.  In some cases, when a movie has a deeply flawed character with few, if any, redeeming qualities, it is still possible to overcome the problem of having an unlikely lead.  In this movie though, it's just too hard.  Possibly due to the pacing which starts of cracklin' but quickly loses steam.  It's a catch-22, making a movie about a flawed character, but still investing the audience in that character. 

Positives:  cool opening credits, Burt Young, and the nice Vegas scenery.

The Color of Money (1986)

Watching this the other day for the first time on a double feature with "The Hustler" boded well for this one considering how ready I was for something a little more fast-paced at that point.  I'm as much of a Scorsese fan as anyone else.  This film, like "The Hustler," had it's moments and it fun seeing familiar faces pop-up like Forrest Whitaker and Iggy Pop.  Newman is very good in it, particularly in the 3rd act.  Cruise on the other hand just doesn't gel with Scorsese in my opinion, maybe it's the hair which is out of control.

 

Overall, I kind of felt the same about "The Color of Money" as I did the "The Hustler," solid, but nothing I'd watch again anytime soon.  In the realm of Scorsese, it felt particularly disappointing. 

    

White Dog (1982)

Re-watch:  I love this movie.  Co-written by Curtis Hanson ("L.A. Confidential") who got the job based on his script for one of my absolute favorite films, "The Silent Partner," "White Dog" famously fell victim to a timid studio and a fear-induced frenzy of unfounded racial outrage over the subject matter. As a result, the allegorical tale of an attack dog taught to hate black people, and the fight that ensues to save it's life by reteaching it, did not get a theatrical release until 1992 (not sure what exactly changed in that 10 years). "White Dog" is film filled with blood-fueled passion and gladiatorial intensity, crafted by an American master of matter-of-fact film-making.

Straight To Hell (1987)

So much fun!   Great cast including Joe Strummer, Sy Richardson, Courtney Love (original face), Dennis Hopper, Grace Jones, Jim Jarmusch, Shane MacGowan, & Elvis Costello.  Free-wheeling and cool-as-fuck.

A Blade In The Dark (1983)

I liked this a lot, it reminded me of the kind of Horror friends would make, shot on location in a single house.  The plot concerns a musician hired to score the soundtrack for Horror movie, working in a secluded house.  He meets strange people, some of which disappear and he fears have been murdered. 

The visuals and music are top notch Giallo stuff, the women are all very attractive, and the horrible English dubbing at times results in hilarious dialogue.  Fun stuff.

Breaking Glass (1980)

I'd been wanting to see this one for a long time now. For so long it's only been available on VHS, but recently it has also become available on Netflix. Honestly, on paper, this movie is really in my wheelhouse, I have a real soft spot for Punk/New Wave-themed films. The story is very similar to something like "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains," which is to say that it's about an idealistic female Punk vocalist who preaches rebellion, but eventually conforms to fit her own goals. Granted "Breaking Glass" is a little ambiguous about what exactly drives Breaking Glass' front-woman, Kate (played by musician Hazel O'Connor).

It's British, gritty, and doesn't have the "happy ending" tacked on the way "The Stains" does, which is nice. The lead performance by O'Connor is really remarkable and very believable. Her character's arc is well done, the film's soundtrack is good, and it's always nice to see a young Jonathan Pryce. I'm glad I finally got to see it, and I would like to watch it again in a theater someday, but I can't help but feel a little disappointed by it only because I didn't connect with it the same way I have with films like "The Stains and "Times Square."

--Popkoff

That Was Then...This Is Now (1985)

Well, I enjoyed this, mostly. When I sat down to watch it I had no idea it was a S.E. Hinton adaptation, but knowing that now, it make sense. It was updated to modern times, which is to say, the early 80's, which I suppose soured it in the minds of a lot of Hinton fans. I can understand that.

Some movies age well, others not so much. "That Was Then" for the most part has aged well, but there are a few scenes that are very hoaky, especially the sequence near the end where Emilio Estevez is being chased by the cops, not sure what was going on there. Really, the first 2/3rds are very solid, the last act though teeters between underwhelming and cheesy, and then in the last sequence, it completely succumbs to it's dairy-inclination.

A few tidbits: There's a really great scene involving the song "Jingle Bells." The film stars Craig Sheffer of "Nightbreed" & "Voyage of the Rock Aliens." It also has Larry B. Scott, also known as the gay guy from "Revenge of the Nerds." It's funny because there's a particularly awkward scene where Scott freestyles a rap while driving with Estevez & Sheffer (they provide the audience responses). The films representation of Hip Hop isn't much better than it's concept of Punks. Also, Morgan Freeman is totally in this movie.

It's worth a watch.

Frankenweenie (1984)

I enjoyed this very much. It of course had the promise of early Tim Burton on it's side, but there was also a Speilberg-ian quality to it, maybe that was aided by the presence of Barret Oliver (who always makes me think of 'The Twilight Zone Movie'). Great cast.

Crawlspace (1986)

"You've got to have a sense of humor, it makes life much easier if you can laugh." - Dr. Karl Gunther.

Well, he's no Patch Adams, but Klaus Kinski's Dr. Gunther does have some crazy ideas. Gunter runs an apartment building exclusively for women, equipped by the good doctor (and coincidentally son of a Nazi) with secret air-duct passageways, hidden torture rooms, and booby-trap-style murder devices. In the opening scene it is revealed that Gunther has a woman held hostage in a cage. Her tongue has been removed and she resembles a Holocaust victim.


Much of the movie consists of Kinski hiding in the air-ducts and spying on his tenants. One of the early scenes that cracked me up involved Kinski spying on a young aspiring singer as she cuts holes in her bra. The music builds ominously as a man enters the room, presumably without her knowledge, and forces her onto the bed. Kinski just watches as what looks like a rape is about to occur, and then the musical changes to a sexier theme and it's revealed not to be a rape at all, but merely complicated, intesne foreplay.


Kinski's character keeps a journal of his exploits, which is somewhat fortunate for Josef Steiner, a man who is investigating Dr. Gunther over the wrongful death of Steiner's brother, and several others. Will Steiner be able to stop the evil Dr. Gunther? Well, no, but he does have one of the best death scenes. Dr. Gunther ritualistically plays Russian Roulette every night to determine if his psychopathic destruction will continue, and thus far, he's undefeated. Every time he survives he punctuates it with the refrain, "so be it."


So how is it? Overall, I liked it a lot. At only 80 minutes long, it's efficient and effective. The last 20 minutes is especially good, escalating the tension with shock after shock (and swastika after swastika). By the time we reach the point where Klaus Kinski is gliding through the air-ducts on a trolley, full insanity has set in.


"Crawlspace" is directed by David Schmoeller, who also made the underrated "Tourist Trap." One last stray observation: Talia Balsam, who is the main victim (I guess that how you could describe her) in "Crawlspace" kind of reminded me of a female version of Jarvis Cocker for some reason, I think perhaps the hair or teeth?

--Popkoff

Smithereens (1982)

I've wanted to see this one for a while, it seems up my alley. Overall I liked it, although it's a little repetitive, but it nails the mood and cynicism, and has a great soundtrack (mostly featuring The Feelies). Like I said, on it's own merits I liked it, but I don't think it's as good as some other entries into this genre.

Erik the Viking (1989)

The opening scene of this movie is hilarious. Unfortunately it never reaches that height of hilarity again. It's not unfunny mind you, it just starts off BIG. Overall it's lighthearted fare, not a bad way to spend 90 minutes.

--Popkoff

Popeye (1980)

The wondrous joy of being a fan of Robert Altman is knowing that no matter what genre the film was he's directed, he was going to leave his unique stamp on it. Look at "Popeye," a family picture, partly financed by Disney, and it's weird as hell, complete with Altman's trademark dialogue mixing and regular leading lady, Shelly Duvall (who he apparently held out for though the studio wanted Gilda Radner).

I know this film gets panned often, but consider this: Could the casting be anymore perfect? Could the universe/town be anymore perfectly realized? If made today, could Hollywood do any better??



--Popkoff

Pennies from Heaven (1981)

I was considering showing this for the marathon, but decided on "New Low." George decided to show it instead. Still great.

My Review

--Popkoff

One from the Heart (1982)

Shamelessly romantic and carefully crafted, "One from the Heart" is truly a spectacle and an astounding achievement in set design. It was so awesome seeing a young Fredric Forrest tear up the screen, in as a romantic lead no less. Harry Dean Stanton's hair is out of control in this. Nastassja Kinski has circus talents?? Raul Julia and Teri Garr are both wonderful. Oh, and how hot is Teri Garr in this? I never knew I wanted to see her breasts until now. I LOVED it!!!



--Popkoff

The In Crowd (1988)

I really liked this. It would make a nice companion to the movie "Mischief." There's a showstopping dance off right in the middle of the movie.




--Popkoff