lostsoulsoflauadafilms Reviews

Dressed to Kill (1980)

Safer than a sleeping pill. 😴

[2/10 · 3 July 2019]

Seriously, I was almost lights out before the elevator scene. Unlike many other reviewers, I don't like to use the 'H' word when discussing DePalma's films. DePalma doesn't come close. And those of you who think that Nancy Allen was GOOD? She was DePalma's WIFE for chrissakes. In fact, I feel that the entire film was miscast. I liked "Body Double" much better.

1969 (1988)

An embarrassment to the year 1969.

[1/10 · 6 May 2019]

Not even close to a decent TV Movie of the week. Robert Downer, Jr. is not an actor. He is just someone who appears to be in love with himself in front of a camera (cue any scene from "Back to School"). No wonder his life fell apart. Maybe he finally realized what a fool he was. The music almost seemed as if it was there in a desperate attempt to rescue a POS movie. It didn't work. Kiefer Sutherland is the only one I will give any nod to in this depressing mess.

They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970)

The Black Bullitt?

[3/10 · 10 February 2019]

If you are going to play on a character and a line from a successful film, you should try to make it a good film. Unfortunately, this film fails. For starters, Virgil Tibbs is now a San Francisco police detective with a family: completely different from the Virgil Tibbs we saw "In the Heat of the Night." I could forgive the differences if the film was well made. It was not. The cinematography is subpar as is the directing. Gordon Douglas was directing Little Rascals shorts after Bob McGowan retired. The difference in the quality of the Little Rascals was immediately apparent. He did a pretty good job with the two Fint films and a handful of others, but generally, his direction was unremarkable. A jazzy, Bullitt-like score by Quincy Jones failed to engage, excite and succeed as the Bullitt score by Lalo Schifrin. Another reviewer mentioned the "nicely staged" Bullitt-like 'chase' scene. Actually, it was terribly staged, looking not much better than a cheesy C.H.I.P.S. TV production chase. Very unsatisying film.

The Indian Runner (1991)

No 'art' film. Penn is no auteur.

[3/10 · 16 January 2019]

Had high hopes for this film. Almost unwatchable at times. Some of the camera moves don't work, and come off as amateurish. The two leads weren't believable as brothers. The choice of songs? They didn't fit at all. Very awkward. And comparing Penn to Cassavetes? That's like comparing Jeff Spicoli to Atticus Finch.