I first read about "RPM" in a book on bad movies. The review made note of the dated premise and baffling slang. Anthony Quinn plays a college president stymied by the striking student body and hooked on Ann- Margret's striking human body. And the book was right. "RPM" is bad.
Quinn is all wrong for this, but then, I never liked his face. So much of film is visual and Anthony Quinn's terribly inexpressive mug never conveys any emotion, never ever lets the audience in. It's not that he's bad looking- there are plenty of unattractive actors whose faces speak volumes- he just always looks exactly the same: mildly perturbed.
Here he plays hipster professor Paco, who has to stare down the self-righteous protesters at a West Coast university. And of course he's hit on all sides by clichéd slang: "square," "copout," "establishment." But neither he nor the guerrilla student body seem particularly passionate about their causes... they're simply reading the script.
Ann-Margret was still dripping with pheromones and raw sexuality at this point, and as a courtesy to all us edging males she shows us her exquisite breasts. Her character is a grad student and Paco's young lover, and she spends the vast majority of her screen time scrutinizing every aspect of Paco's hypocritical existence. Margret seems to understand how ridiculous and annoying her character is so she plays it with a wink to the audience... and her nipples go a long way toward helping us forgive her.
But the real problem with "RPM" is the direction by Staley Kramer. It is lifeless. It is dull. It shows a complete and utter lack of understanding of the subject matter, the youth culture, and the issues of the day. It renders the movie a hollow and useless experience. Sometimes the book on bad movies is right.
GRADE: D
Quinn is all wrong for this, but then, I never liked his face. So much of film is visual and Anthony Quinn's terribly inexpressive mug never conveys any emotion, never ever lets the audience in. It's not that he's bad looking- there are plenty of unattractive actors whose faces speak volumes- he just always looks exactly the same: mildly perturbed.
Here he plays hipster professor Paco, who has to stare down the self-righteous protesters at a West Coast university. And of course he's hit on all sides by clichéd slang: "square," "copout," "establishment." But neither he nor the guerrilla student body seem particularly passionate about their causes... they're simply reading the script.
Ann-Margret was still dripping with pheromones and raw sexuality at this point, and as a courtesy to all us edging males she shows us her exquisite breasts. Her character is a grad student and Paco's young lover, and she spends the vast majority of her screen time scrutinizing every aspect of Paco's hypocritical existence. Margret seems to understand how ridiculous and annoying her character is so she plays it with a wink to the audience... and her nipples go a long way toward helping us forgive her.
But the real problem with "RPM" is the direction by Staley Kramer. It is lifeless. It is dull. It shows a complete and utter lack of understanding of the subject matter, the youth culture, and the issues of the day. It renders the movie a hollow and useless experience. Sometimes the book on bad movies is right.
GRADE: D