t-covino Reviews

The Girl in the Empty Grave (1977 TV Movie)

T.V. style movie that has a terrific Griffith and a improbably plot and a wacky air

[6/10 · 3 May 2014]

Girl in the Empty Grave (1977)

There is one reason to see this film—the performance of Andy Griffith. The plot is convoluted and a bit silly, the rest of the cast is purposely lightweight and even at times clownish, and the filming is routine. In fact, there is a quality not so different from television at the time, and Griffith was at this point known mostly for his 1960s t.v. show, the Andy Griffith Show. In fact, this movie is one of two based on a second t.v. series Griffith tried (and failed after two episodes) to launch in the 1970s.

But he's a great actor, and he sure feels comfortable as the country sheriff (that's includes all his famous t.v. roles). The movie here is peculiar because of its cheerful colorful homey feeling, even as they are dealing with a murder, and another, and then one that wasn't, etc. In that sense, it's almost a precursor to "Fargo." And you have to get into that cheerful irony to like it.

If Griffith is flawless and likable, the secondary characters are mostly really good, including an early role by the star of "Babe," James Cromwell. But one key actress, the woman of the title, takes t.v. acting too literally, and she's unconvincing just where an actress needs to be flawless in her lying and invention.

The plot involves so many preposterous propositions, it isn't quite worth even outlining. But its worth saying it's a weakness, because you want to follow all these cheerful lawmen doing their rural jobs. And if you do you'll raise an eyebrow or two. Or three, which is too bad.

Watch if for Griffith.

Annie Hall (1977)

Annie hall

[8 May 2013]

A very sweet love story. Its a really cool movie cause you just kinda watch there relationship grow and see all the ups and downs. As well as the kindness in the characters there is a lot of comedic relief throughout the film and subtle comedy. It was directed by woody allen and wrote by woody allen. It takes place in the city and really captures what it is like to live in the city. Both of the main actors do an excellent job at showing there emotions. It is a very real feeling movie and anyone who has gone through relationships can relate to the story. It has helped set the tone for romantic comedies today and i really enjoyed how genuinely real the movie felt.

Do the Right Thing (1989)

Do the Right thing

[10/10 · 8 May 2013]

I really enjoyed this movie. It shows the blindness people can have sometimes and how it is better to lead than follow. In this Drama in brooklyn a delivery boy mookie played by the director spike lee seems to be in the center of all the tension in the neghborhood. There is a very good cast in this movie. The characters do a really good job at acting like a person from the inner city by the way they talk and there manorisms. I really liked how the lighting had a yellow hue to it as to express the heat of the day in which the movie events all took place. I also liked how the radio host was a bit of a narraorator throughout the film. I really enjoyed it and liked the job spike lee did on this film i think its a must see.

Taxi Driver (1976)

Taxi Driver

[10/10 · 8 May 2013]

A very steller performance by Robert De Niro. He is an estranged ex vet who works the latenight shift as a taxi driver. He feels as if he has no real purpose after the war and has a tendency to find himself in trouble from his violent outlashes. Eventually he finds a prostitute whom he begins to care about and watch after. It starts to pick up a lot of pace at some points and also has some slow points.It also does a very good job of portraying the city environment to add to the realism. The lighting in scenes really helps set the mood. There are a lot of twists and scenes that keep you nailbitting. I think it is a great movie that should be seen by everyone.

Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Bonnie and Clyde

[8/10 · 8 May 2013]

Bonnie and Clyde is a very classic film which follows the story of the two ruthless bankrobbers.That actually terrorized the u.s. a couple decades before the movie came out. I Like how the movie is based off of factual people it gives it more of a sense of realism.Both actors do a great job at portraying the hardnose criminals as well as showing there love for each other and that they were willing to go against the world. The movie editing was done well as well as the scenes. The lighting in this film is very good to.both actors seemed to fit into their role perfectly it was a very enjoyable film to watch. I would recommended it to any crime drama movie lover.

The Graduate (1967)

The Graduate

[9/10 · 8 May 2013]

A very odd love story to say the least. It is quite the comic film in subtle ways and it has a lot of romantic twists. As Dustin Hoffmans character tries to dodge his bosses wife mrs robinson but at the same time he is falling for her daughter. Dustin Hoffman does as really good job at acting as a newly graduated college student trying to get on his feet and stay away from trouble.The film is very good at continuously filming and rotating in conversations. I like how the direct shoots his scenes and focuses on specific aspects to show you what the character is focusing on. I thought it was a good movie with a very good performance by Dustin Hoffman.

The Naked Kiss (1964)

the naked Kiss

[7/10 · 8 May 2013]

A story of a women trying to find redemption. Where she begins her new life she meets a man and slowly falls for him and he falls for her. Little does the man know kelly has a past which will catch up to her. She gets a new job and everything seems to be going well until an unexpected twist arises.The film is shot and edited very well and has a lot of smooth transitions. It seems to be slow in the beginning but gradually picks up.The lead roles in this film do a very good job. It is a story of trying to find happiness but it seems to never happen. Once everything seems alright another thing seems to go wrong. It was an solid film

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

Guess who's coming to dinner

[8/10 · 8 May 2013]

It is a very good film. It has a stong message behind it too for the time period and hits the issue head on. It is about a African American man and a caucasion women that fall in love without the consent of their parents. Which was a common issue of the time period in the 60's and America was just getting over the civil rights movement as well. It does a good job at shedding a new light upon the issue. Sidney Poitier does a great job as the lead role.The supporting cast does very superb as well. The color in the film is very vibrant and it is based in san diego a very vibrant city who was really proactive on political views and being allowed to express what you feel. It is a really good blend of old school meets new school and a movie that should be watched by everyone.

The Killing (1956)

The killing

[10/10 · 8 May 2013]

I really enjoyed watching this film. A Kubrick directed film with a lot of well known actors. A very intricate film that the viewer has to pay close attention too. I like how Kubrick pieces scenes together which all eventually form into one major storyline. It has a good mix of mystery and action. I Also like how it takes place at a raceway instead of a bank it is an untypical heist. It has a lot of planning behind as well as side stories for each of the characters. Showing you the story from each characters point of view. There a lot of unexpected turns to the film and a lot of great acting by the whole cast.One of my favorite classic films.

Mildred Pierce (1945)

mildred peirce

[10/10 · 8 May 2013]

After her cheating husband leaves her Mildred peirce is determined to be successful and independent. Her spoiled daughter does not really like her and creates a lot of obstacles for mildred as she trys to get back on her feet and utimatly become successful. For the time period it does a good job to show strong women. Which during the war took on a lot of so called "manly jobs" and had to become independently stable without the help of men so a lot of women from the time period could relate to Mildred. The film is shot very well and has a lot of good editing as well as a good supporting cast. The realism in this movie for the time period is very good.

Out of the Past (1947)

out of the past

[9/10 · 8 May 2013]

This film is about a private eye who has seemed to escape his past in the big city. He owns a gas station in a small town but eventually his past catches up to him and he is forced to go back where he left.It is a tale of corruption and mystery. It is a film noir so it is shot with very dark lighting to add to the suspense feel of the movie.I really enjoyed it for a film with a basic concept. Robert Mitchum does a great job at the lead roll and his supporting cast is good as well. The movie itself has a very mysterious feel too it. A lot of intense scenes which keep you on the edge of your seat.It is one of the best film noir movies I've scene.

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Signing in the rain

[4/10 · 8 May 2013]

I didn't like the film i thought it was drawn out way to long at the end when you already knew what was going to happen. Im not big on musicals though i thought the artistic aspect of the film was very cool. As well as the ability of the main character to act and dance. I liked how the film used colors as well certain scenes were very vibrant with colors to set the mood while others had a lot of grey in them. I thought the setup for the film was amazing though as well as the editingt. The scenes were immensely large and abstract. Though i don't like musicals i thought a lot of the film was interesting even though i didn't like the music there is a lot of visuals in the film i found to be cool.

Psycho (1960)

Psycho

[10/10 · 8 May 2013]

One of the most classic horror films in history. It is a Hitchcock film in which a beautiful women finds what she thinks is a very nice proper man but is wrong. He was abused and dominated by his mother as a child which lead him to become the Psycho.Hitchcock plays the code very well and uses different shots and angles to show the horror of his film instead of directly showing the killings. A scene that is almost always mentioned when talking about horror films is in this film the epic shower scene. Which has seemed to be adopted by a lot of horror films after Psycho was made. The story itself is pretty intricate for a horror film and i really enjoyed watching it.

Citizen Kane (1941)

Citizen Kane

[7/10 · 8 May 2013]

Is Orson Welles first feature film in which he acted wrote and produced. It has a lot of abstract and unique scene transitions and shots. A lot of new ways to shoot are introduced through this film. Orson also shows his acting expertise as well as his writing and directing. He is one of the first people in film to do all three and be successful at it. The film itself has a interesting plot with a lot of twists and mystery.The film exposes the audience to an auetur director who has complete control of all aspects because he also acts.It is all about finding the significance of a mans last dying words "rosebud". Very talented director,actor, writer, and a very good film.

Casablanca (1942)

casablanca

[8/10 · 8 May 2013]

It has a very good story of a careless man always looking out for himself eventually finding purpose.Played by Humphrey Bogart who does an excellent job in his role. There are a lot of foreign actors in this film as well. It was a great way to portray the message the director was trying to get across which was that the world needed Americas help during the war. This movie although iconic and well known can have its true purpose easily looked over by a viewer today. But back when the film was made it had a huge impact on the views of the war. The sets for each scene are done very well even though most take place in the main characters night club. It has a bit of an eerie feeling added to it from the dim lighting which increase the suspense of the film and add a shady feeling to it. All in all a classic film that should be seen by every movie lover.

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

The Maltese Falcon

[7/10 · 8 May 2013]

Humphrey Bogart plays the main character in this film which is a detective.This film really set him apart from other actors as a hard nosed character.This film helped jumpstart film noir. It has a lot of twist and turns in the film. The main character is always torn between a number of things including a women. The Film is full of a lot of intense scenes. Humphrey Bogart is a very round character in the film and is very good at a number of stuff. It is shot in low key lighting to add to the noir effect. It is full of suspense and tension. There is a very good supporting cast as well.The movie is full of mystery and suspicions a very solid film by Bogart.

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Grapes of wraith

[9/10 · 13 March 2013]

I enjoyed this movie a lot. It does a great job of portraying history and what it was like after the economic crash of United States. The main character is a very righteous man who has been through a lot and after serving a jail sentence comes home to find out his family is leaving his Oklahoma farm. They are off to California due to he dust storms and infertile farmland. On their journey they face many trials and tribulations in which the protagonist must help his family overcome in order to help them have a safe trip to California.throughout the film there is very epic scenes that are quite inspiring as well as very poetic and epic dialogue. There is a lot of substance to take from this film and it is very easy to feel for the characters in this which I think is awesome because it almost brings you back to that very same time period.

Stagecoach (1939)

Stagecoach

[8/10 · 13 March 2013]

Though there were westerns before stagecoach it still is a classic. The main character played by John Wayne is witty and fearless. It Is a good mix between action, comedy, and drama.it includes the feared Geronimo in it which I found pretty cool. It the environment in the film was done very well. The acting from the whole cast is perfect for a classic western of cowboys and Indians. There is a god mix of drama and romance into the film as well, it is pretty well rounded. So i feel like it can be enjoyed by most people. It also does a good job of making the film seem real and give the viewer a suspension of truth. It rolled smoothly through transitions and the editing was good for the time period.

Nothing Sacred (1937)

Nothing Scared

[7/10 · 11 March 2013]

A very witty comedy based in new york and the life of a reporter who seems to be coming up short. He can only get the job of writing obituaries in the paper and he is contanstantly trying to get back on his editors good side.It is a very good screwball comedy with romance as well as very good comedy through witty lines and funny actions by the characters.There's is a bit of a twist in the story when the main character realizes what is really going on but has to make a choice due to the fact he has fallen for the girl who is supposed to be his story.The musical part by Oscar Levant both mocks and celebrates the musical style that was being used during that time period.It is also possible to view in color because it was shot in technicolor so you can see what new york looked like back in the 30's which is pretty interesting.

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

A fugitive from a chain gang

[8/10 · 15 February 2013]

A great film for its time. It is one of the earliest films to incorporate dialogue. It also shows new forms of special effects not really seen in film yet during that time period. The sets in each scene play great importance throughout the film and are very well done in order to show the proper environment at the time.it does a very good job of portraying the life of a chain gang and the harsh life prisoners that worked in them lived. It also incorporates an underwater shot which I found pretty amazing for it being such an early film. A lot of new avenues in the way directors shoot scenes seem to be explored.it also glorifies a criminal which portrays the 30's well because of the crime wave where tally people found the criminal lifestyle interesting and exciting. Well this film does a good job of showing you the life of a fugitive during that time.

Frankenstein (1931)

Frankenstein

[9/10 · 15 February 2013]

The film does a very good job in every scene at giving off an Erie mood when necessary and the feelings of the characters. When something bad is about to happen or things are about to get worse the lighting of the scene seem to correlate with the mood. The acting in this film is done very well, Dr. Frankenstein is brilliant in the way he portrays his madness for creation. Boris Karloff is brilliant in his role of the monster as well. There are a lot of new camera shots introduced as well that really stand out and just the way it is filmed at some points can be scary. Throughout the film you don't know if you should hate the monster or feel sorry for him. The common question of nature vs. nurture arises at many points and of the film is quite epic to day the least. It is a definant classic that set the bar for future horror films to come.

Sunrise (1927)

Sunrise

[6/10 · 15 February 2013]

A good film of a man finding what is truly important to himself. He is enthralled in a world of controversy between two females while he is married. He also has a lot of battles within himself about what decision he should make. The actors do a great job of expressing themselves and are very theatrical throughout the film. Which helps because it is silent, even though it is silent it is still quite easy to follow the storyline. The sets in which they shoot the scenes are detailed for the time period and the music with the scenes flow together nicely. The music also helps you get the feel for the mood in each scene. The ending also has quite the twist. I'm not a big romance film person but I do think this film was done well and is worth watching.

The Circus (1928)

Circus

[7/10 · 12 February 2013]

Even though the film is silent it does well in explaining what exactly is happening. It is more comical than I expected due to the fact there is no talking but the characters do a very good job of expressing themselves and communicating with their bodies. The comedy all stemmed from the characters movements which i found to be pretty amazing it takes skilled actors to make people laugh without out saying jokes but just with body language. Charles Chaplin is pretty hilarious I'm this film and the supporting actors do a good job as well. Overall I was more impressed and entertained by the film then I thought I would be and the acting just seems to be on a completely different plane than the acting today it is a lot more theatrical and impressive even without words.