wperkins Reviews

The Truth About Houdini (1971 TV Movie)

Dated, but still quite good

[8/10 · 2 May 2021]

This came out in 1971,so a lot of the editing will remind you of old newscasts. However, this is still a fascinating look at one of the most amazing entertainers of his or any age. All of the basics are covered, from Houdini's career in vaudeville, to his mastery of escapeology, his marriage, his debunking of spiritualism, his penchant for self promotion, and even his careers in both aviation and silent movies.

Particularly impressive is The Amazing Randi, who still has dark hair here (!) and talks at length about Houdini's showmanship, professionalism, and compassion. Also, this includes footage from some of Houdini's silent films, which I'd never seen before. Fascinating!

One last thing: this is currently streaming on Amazon Prime under the title The Magic of Houdini, which is also the name of another documentary about Houdini that debuted in 1998.

Hooper (1978)

A refreshing Reynolds sleepwalk

[29 May 2003]

You're not going to find a moving story about a man coming to terms with his own mortality here, but from just a look at the cover of the DVD, you probably weren't expecting it. What we have here is a very pleasant diversion that never takes itself too seriously. Just before things start to get a little too sentimental, someone always jumps off a tall building or flips the car he's driving. Overall, the film has a nice pace. The gags (as in slapstick) are occasionally hilarious, and the gags (as in stunts) are outstanding--I believe this film holds the record for longest rocket car jump. And Burt is his usual self, so utterly unself conscious, he can deliver lines like, "If you don't try to do any stunts, I won't try to do any acting." Make of that what you will. ;-)

The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972)

Texas--as it wishes it was

[12 February 2003]

The real-life Judge Roy Bean, the law west of the Pecos, was a legendary figure who pulled off numerous publicity stunts for "his" town of Langtry, meanwhile administering a little justice along the way. If you'ver ever watched Northern Exposure, a good comparison might be Barry Corbin's Maurice Minnifield. That being said, the real Judge Bean pales in comparison to the legend that has built up over the years. That legend is what Huston concerns himself with, and it serves him well. The film is very episodic in nature, and for the first half, it does not disappoint. Paul Newman's first scene, where he's beaten, left for dead, and returns to wreck vengeance on every last one of his attackers sets the tone for the rest of the film. This is high mythology, tall tales at their best; you get the impression that this is how we Texans really wish our history read--colorful, eclectic, ruthless at times, and occasionally downright bizarre. From beer drinking bears to albino bandits, it's certainly interesting.

That being said, the film definitely takes a melancholy tone as civilization comes to Langtry. With it comes the disdain for such colorful characters as Bean, who seemingly has no place in the new, modern world. It's sad, but makes for an especially poignant ending. Newman's Judge is a blustering wonder; other standouts include Anthony Perkins, Ned Beatty, Roddy McDowell, and a very young and fetching Victoria Principal. Also making cameos are Jacqueline Bissett, Stacy Keach, Ava Gardner, and even the director himself.

All in all, a funny, touching film.

Club Paradise (1986)

An enjoyable rental, if not a Great Movie

[11 December 2002]

This is a very enjoyable film, even if it doesn't always deliver the gut-laughs that you might expect. While I can only give it a six or a seven, I always think of it with a smile; it's definitely just as funny or funnier than the average comedy coming out today.

Part of my affinity for this movie is the cast. Robin Williams, as you would only expect, is his manic self here, a fish-out-of-water ex-Chicago fireman, struggling to open a low rent tourist resort in a banana republic. He's got some funny bits, and his throwaway ad lib's are better than most other actors' scripted lines.

The real bonus, though, is the rest of the cast. Jimmy Cliff, the original reggae superstar, stars as Williams'musician business partner (how's _that_ for authenticity?). Peter O'Toole swills drinks and purses his lips around his extra long cigarette holder,while spitting out his cynical, glib observations regarding the tropical paradise/hellhole.

But some of the funniest moments here are provided by several veterans of SCTV. Andrea Martin plays a pampered wife, most definitely out of her element in Williams' accomodations, while Rick Moranis and Eugene Levy are hilarious playing two slaughterhouse workers trying to score, in more ways than one. Some of the drug humor connected with their characters is every bit as funny as anything Cheech & Chong attempted.

Additionally, Brian Doyle-Murray, Twiggy, and Adolph Caesar round out a very busy cast. The story moves along quickly, the music is great, and the whole thing makes a great accompaniment for your favorite bag of microwave popcorn.

6-7 stars.

Listen to Me (1989)

Memories of Los Angeles

[2/10 · 13 November 2002]

I was living in Southern California when this film came out. It wasn't the first choice for me and my group of about five friends; however, it wasn't sold out on that particular Saturday night, so we bought tickets.

To explain the title of this review: While I was living in LA, I had the opportunity to see several films that just didn't make it into wide release. This was one of them; others included The Chocolate Wars (a bit overwrought), Some Girls (very nice work), and Track 29 (just plain weird). I soon grew to appreciate living in SoCal for the ability to see films that don't make it to the rest of the country until they catch them on cable at 3:30 am.

Many of these films probably just didn't play well before the test audiences; hence, no wide release. But Listen to Me was just plain bad, the kind of film that teaches you about filmmaking by showing how not to do it. The acting was inexplicable; the plot, unrealistic (how many college students greet debate with the same enthusiasm they have for football?); the pacing, bumpy; the dialogue, unbelievable. I couldn't shake the impression that what this film needed was somebody with the experience to catch these flaws; instead, Listen to Me seemed like it was made by beginners. The fact that the film's plot deals with such a heavy issue as abortion only highlighted the shallowness of the movie.

And this film pretty much nixed Kirk Cameron's career on the big screen. Make of that what you will.

Donnie Darko (2001)

Intriguing--and that's the bottom line

[10 June 2002]

I found this movie really quite good. I wouldn't go so far as to gushingly give it 10 stars, but 8? Or a strong 7? Easily. Unfortunately, Donnie Darko has polarized people into taking a strong position about the film without really giving it a lot of thought. The film's biggest problem is that it doesn't want to pigeonhole itself into any one genre--I've read reviews of Donnie Darko where it is described as science fiction, psychological thriller, coming-of-age story, or all three, rolled into one. While this genre-bending is also one of the film's strengths, it puts off some people who want a clear picture of what they're dealing with. Donnie Darko is a highly detailed work of imagination, which does make the viewer work a little more than the average film.

To be sure, the film's plot could confuse some people. If films like Pulp Fiction, Memento, Mulholland Drive, or Brazil just confuse you, then Donnie Darko may be more work than it's worth. Personally, I admired the circular nature of the plot; it added to the overall tone of the film.

And what a tone it is. 80s icons like Drew Barrymore and Patrick Swayze pierce the surreal moodiness that seems to follow Donnie. Comic performances from Beth Grant and Jake Gyllenhaal (in the title role) keep things very lively. Adding to all of this are the special effects; while they aren't elaborate, they perfectly evoke Donnie's dilemma, and by extension, our own: Is Donnie crazy, or is the world coming to an end?

A little 80s nostalgia (not the over the top sort in The Wedding Singer or That 80s Show), an eerie sense of what's about to happen, and a fantastic performance by Jake Gyllenhaal make this worth a look.

Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–1975)

Excellent show; brief run

[3 January 2002]

Despite being only a half hour in length, this show was consistently good. Several of the plots were just as intricate as the original series; a few of them revisited old locations (the "Shore Leave" planet; the "Guardian of Forever") and characters (Harry Mudd) from the original series. The show was easily head and shoulders above the rest of the Saturday morning lineup.

The only real problem I had with the series is that so few of them were made (just 22); NBC simply ran the same episodes again and again. It turns out that the reason was the show's audience--children, mostly preteens, who were willing to watch the same episodes repeatedly.

All in all, it was exciting to see a new Star Trek series just four years after the original was cancelled. After this, it would be six years before the somewhat lackluster Star Trek: The Motion Picture and over a decade before the next series. Consider this a fitting coda for fans of the original series.

Fight Club (1999)

"Full of sound and fury...

[3/10 · 1 May 2000]

...signifying nothing." Nah, it wasn't that bad, just terrifically disappointing. The movie's first half hour does a great job exploring the hollow nature of modern life, such as the scene where Norton's living room is gradually "furnished" with items right out of the catalog, complete with their price and description. Yes, we've seen it before, but Norton's performance in the first part of the film brings the script to life. And then along comes a solid dose of Hollywood machismo, wrapped up in a buff, Brad Pitt package. Now here's what I have a real problem with: all these young men find salvation through beating each other senseless. Okay, athletic competition has long served that purpose; remember varsity football? But it only goes so far...and the movie's only half over. What does that leave: a paramilitary organization (!?!?), a weak ending, and an attempt to turn bonding-through-brutality into a way of life. No doubt, it sells tickets, but it defeats its own purpose. Norton's character has been destroyed by modern life; it's a shame that all that's left him is destroying others' bodies. And apartments. And credit ratings. Ho hum.

Fist of Legend (1994)

Tremendous Story, Tremendous Kung Fu

[7/10 · 1 April 2000]

I rarely watch martial arts films, mainly because one must sift through too many poor plots, poor editing, and poor acting to enjoy fight scenes that are too few and far between. Fists of Legend avoids all three of these, and the fight scenes, which would stand out in even the worst martial arts movie, here shine like diamonds. As an actor, Jet Li is convincing; as a fighter, this movie will show you ten times the acrobatic, physics-defying style that his appearance in Lethal Weapon IV only suggested. A brief word about my rating: I gave this film a seven (7), but only by comparing it to _all_ films. As a martial arts film, this is definitely a ten (10), on a par with Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon and Jackie Chan's Drunken Master II. My only criticism is that the movie does seem lengthy at times; but trust me: you'll be grateful for this the second time you watch it. And the third....

Blade Runner (1982)

Cyberpunk before the fact

[9/10 · 19 January 2000]

I rated this a nine, which some will think a bit much; devotees of this film will find it heresy. Still, the film isn't perfect. Neither Harrison Ford nor Sean Young particularly enjoyed the film, a few holes in the plot are easily evident, and some of it looks, well...dated (especially all of the Atari signs).

Nevertheless, the movie achieves a haunting, film-noir synthesis of lighting, F/X, Vangelis' soundtrack, and all of those wonderful cityscapes. Back when Laser Discs were all the rage, this movie sold more copies in that format than any other. The reason is simple: it's easy to lose yourself in this film. Perhaps too easy, given the wild cult status of this film

I don't know how this film has been selling in DVD format, but I give it a nine for the same reason it enjoys cult status: unlike most science fiction, this film poses some uncomfortable questions that don't resolve into easy answers. Fun to watch, and impressive to look at.

Ator, the Fighting Eagle (1982)

Simply hideous, simply hilarious

[1/10 · 7 January 2000]

I too saw this when it first came out at the theatre. Ten minutes into the film, a Friday night packed house was beginning its exodus towards the door. Those of us that stayed did so for the same reasons people stare at car wrecks. What I found surprising is that however little you think you know about filmmaking, watching something this bad reveals reminds you what you do know. The effects were non-existent (how many times can you slash and gash as someone with a sword without any blood being spilt?), the acting was embarassing (particulary the love interest), and the finale was the most anti-climactic conflict I've ever seen (Trust me: the first time you see this, you will be hysterical with laughter). I'm curious: does anyone know if this was ever "reviewed" by the MST3K regulars?

Last Year at Marienbad (1961)

The Persistence of Memory

[13 June 1999]

The title of Dali's best known work is an apt description of this film. A man meets a woman at a European spa and tries to convince her (and himself) that they met one year ago. While the plot is simple, its presentation is not. I first saw L'annee derniere a Marienbad while taking a French Film class in college. Of the dozen or so films we watched, Marienbad has stayed with me the longest. The nameless protagonist's memories repeat, sometimes minutely changed, sometimes not. The same organ motifs echo again and again, all against the backdrop of elegant hallways and sitting rooms. Through all this, the man attempts to spirit the woman away from her husband/companion, while at the same time establish once and for all what happened last year and what did not. More than any other film, Marienbad has shown me the difference between American film conventions and what else is possible. While so many American releases are rigidly plot driven, Marienbad uses film as a tool for exploration and introspection. Instead of linear story telling, director Resnais allows his characters to explore the details of what may be memory or just imagination. Against a detached, almost stoical background of extras and cool interiors, Delphin Seyrig and Giorgio Albertazzi display a sharp contrast of passion, pleading, and denial. I agree with a previous reviewer that much of the look of Marienbad has been appropriated by commercials for perfume; however, if you haven't seen this film before, you most likely have never seen anything quite so surreal.

Circle of Friends (1995)

A great look at being young in Ireland

[29 May 1999]

I just finished reading the book and I can't wait to see the film again. While the film adds a few scenes, as well as a less ambiguous, more feel-good ending, the movie stays remarkably close to the book's sense of Irish society, and its ins and outs. What most impressed me about the book _and_ the film was that both managed to tell a grand story and not just another "The Ugly Duckling." This film contained an intricate plot, well-devloped characters, and a rich sense of humour.