fabio61 Reviews

The Shining (1980)

Moody Kubrick Masterpiece

[17 April 2003]

Despite a considerable deviation from Stephen King's book, this film manages to hypnotize the viewer. Stanley Kubrick creates a beautiful, desolate and creepy world at the Overlook Hotel. A lot of credit for creating the mood in this film must be given to the music, which packs an emotional punch. I can't imagine a better choice for the unhappily married alcoholic psycho-dad, than Jack Nicholson. His timing, facial and body expressions are vintage Jack, which he puts to good use in many memorable scenes. Shelly Duvall is a strange choice and a seeming mismatch as the timid wife, often overplaying the look of horror on her face, but she plays the role pretty well trying to stay one step ahead of her unravelling husband, while keeping her clairvoyant son from slipping too deep into his alter ego. Danny Lloyd does a very good job as the 6 year old with the 'very great talent'. Scatman Crothers & Joe Turkel give good solid supporting performances but Philip Stone does as especially good job as Grady, who informs Jack Torrence, in a terrific scene in the men's room, of how things are going to have to be. If you're expecting a true Stephen King horror flick, well that's not really what this is. Kubrick took liberties with the book no question. But it stands on it's own as a terrific film.

The Swimmer (1968)

Dreamlike story of a man who relives his past

[9/10 · 22 March 2002]

This is a terrific little movie about a middle aged man who shows up at an old friends house on the other side of town, in his swimming trunks, and decides to swim thru each neighbors swimming pool all the way to his house.

He stops and talks to most of these people and in the process, he revisits some old ghosts and his life is revealed to us in this one afternoon. You get a sense where the movie is headed especially towards the end.

Well worth the effort to see this one.

North by Northwest (1959)

Great Hitchcock film

[22 March 2002]

How anyone could not love this film is beyond me. Suave Madison Ave. man Cary Grant is mistaken for a spy, and then it's one great memorable scene after another, and the locations are as much a part of the film as the actors. The Plaza Hotel, The U.N., Grand Central Station, Mt. Rushmore, etc. Also there is not a single forgettable scene in the film. The crop dusting scene is by now the most identifying sequence in the picture. No director could pull off that scene today. It's beautifully paced. Hitchcock took time in the film to give the viewer a sense of isolation and inescapability. Even if you don't buy it, it's great entertainment. Also, the auction house scene is a hoot! James Mason is at his villainous best, and Eva Marie Saint is the cool irresistible blonde playing both sides of the street. If you've never seen this film, by all means rent it and then buy it. If you've already seen it, you probably already own it.

Psycho (1998)

Tepid but passable remake of the original

[8 September 2001]

Despite some fine effects by Gus Van Zant, this movie just falls flat of what it could have been. The main problem is a very weak performance by Vince Vaughn as Bates, who has none of the timing required for the part of a neurotic momma's boy. Ann Heche isn't much better as a woman on the run. There's just no life in her character. Julianne Moore is a bit over the top as Heche's searching sister but gives a good performance I think. Wm H Macy is the only other bright spot as the PI Arbogast. The supporting cast is also rather weak, with Robert Forster, who was so good in 'Jackie Brown', practically phoning it in as the psychiatrist. I found the famous shower scene quite good and more vicious than the original. The original music was also re-recorded as is missing the impact it should have. Overall it's not that bad of a film, but the actors just don't do it justice, and Hitch would have been disappointed.

The Andromeda Strain (1971)

One of the best Sci-Fi movies ever made

[9/10 · 8 September 2001]

This is a truly top-notch film, which never once insults your intelligence. Four top scientists are assembled to unravel the mystery of a deadly substance that has fallen to earth inside a satellite. An entire town, where it was found, is wiped out save for a crying baby and a wino. The survivors and the satellite are taken to a state of the art biological research facility to figure out what the substance is, how it works, and why it killed the townspeople and just as importantly, why it didn't kill the two survivors. Arthur Hill is perfect as the Nobel Laureate Dr. Stone. David Wayne, Kate Reid and James Olson are all quite good as his team. This film covers the entire range of the scientific realm from technology, to politics, to Murphy's law, to scientists egos. Of course the technology in the film is dated (1971), but the interaction between the team members is entertaining and Murphy's Law rears it's head at every turn. The supporting cast is particularly good, and Robert Wise's direction is on the money. Read the book and watch the film!

The Andromeda Strain (1971)

One of the best Sci-Fi movies ever made

[9/10 · 8 September 2001]

This is a truly top-notch film, which never once insults your intelligence. Four top scientists are assembled to unravel the mystery of a deadly substance that has fallen to earth inside a satellite. An entire town, where it was found, is wiped out save for a crying baby and a wino. The survivors and the satellite are taken to a state of the art biological research facility to figure out what the substance is, how it works, and why it killed the townspeople and just as importantly, why it didn't kill the two survivors. Arthur Hill is perfect as the Nobel Laureate Dr. Stone. David Wayne, Kate Reid and James Olson are all quite good as his team. This film covers the entire range of the scientific realm from technology, to politics, to Murphy's law, to scientists egos. Of course the technology in the film is dated (1971), but the interaction between the team members is entertaining and Murphy's Law rears it's head at every turn. The supporting cast is particularly good, and Roberts Wise's direction is on the money. Read the book and watch the film!

A Cold Night's Death (1973 TV Movie)

Very good TV movie

[8/10 · 31 August 2001]

This is a good film to watch on a long winter evening. Two primate behavior scientists arrive at a mountain top research station to find their predecessor frozen to death under strange circumstances. As they settle in, one of them dwells on the mystery of the frozen colleague, while the other goes right to work on the monkeys. Then they begin to slowly unravel somewhat like Jack Torrence in 'The Shining'. The whole film is held together nicely by Wallach and Culp, and the sense of austere isolation is pulled off beautifully.

Mirage (1965)

Remarkably good Hitchcock type mystery/thriller

[9/10 · 31 August 2001]

This is a terrific film well done from all aspects. The use of flashbacks are a great touch as an amnesiac, played by Gregory Peck, desperately tries to figure out his predicament and piece together the last 2 years of his life. Matthau is great, as always, as the PI trying to help him out. The scenes in the Psychiatrist's office alone are worth the effort to see this film.

Salem's Lot (1979)

Very well done horror classic

[8/10 · 29 August 2001]

This is a terrific movie for any fan of horror or even movies in general. David Soul is pretty good in the lead. James Mason is brilliant as usual. The supporting cast does a fine job as a small town populace. Tobe Hooper does himself proud setting the mood and pacing the film with a half dozen sub-plots in motion at once. The Vampire in the movie is not a hokey Romanian cliche, but a truly disturbing human looking demonic creature. A really well done job. Any material by Stephen King should be enough to hold you and this movie is no exception. I have seen it repeatedly over the last 3 years and have not tired of it. I highly recommend it.