Month: February 2021

Rocky II

Rocky II is a 1979 movie directed by Sylvester Stallone.

Rocky II picks up where the classic leaves off. Rocky is essentially retired but struggles to find a purpose for his life. After continued goading from Apollo Creed, he agrees to a rematch. During his training, Adrian gives birth and slips into a coma.

THE BEST – Mickey’s Movie

Burgess Meredith is given more meaty scenes here and turns in a tremendous performance. His crusty Mickey snarls and callously rejects Rocky’s request to continue training. To show how damaged Rocky’s right eye is, Mickey viciously slaps him. Yet later in the movie, Mickey changes his mind and pushes Rocky to fight – even during Adrian’s time in a coma. Despite the flawed plot, Burgess shows some vulnerability and gives dimension to his character – his speech in the chapel is the most passionate part of the movie. Still, his trademark humor is on point – he declares “I don’t want to get mad in a biblical place” before he screams at Rocky.

THE BEST Part 2 – Rocky’s Job Interviews

Rocky II continues – and somewhat repeats – the natural arc of the title character as he navigates a post-fighting world. Rocky attempts different jobs, including a hauling meat, before looking for a “desk job.” While slightly over the top, his experience shooting a commercial is painful to watch. Rocky “doesn’t read so well” and is berated by an angry, flamboyant director.

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Phantom of the Paradise – Five Star Favorites

Phantom of the Paradise is a 1974 movie directed by Brian De Palma.

WHAT HAPPENS?

A disfigured composer trades his soul to an evil record producer to have his music heard.

ONE LINE REVIEW

Phantom of the Paradise is an eclectic, campy, bizarre, brilliant and beautiful work of art.

THE ACTORS

Paul Williams stars as the enigmatic record producer Swan, who is searching to find “a new sound” to open his rock theatre, The Paradise. Williams is a smarmy, manipulative creation – an ode to rock n’ roll Machiavellian power brokers. He easily discards as human collateral the pop sensations he creates. Yet, there’s a goofy vulnerability underlying his character – Williams lustfully grins as the Phantom’s murderous rampage causes a ratings sensation.

William Finley plays the Phantom, largely to comic effect. It’s a campy, physically ludicrous character in a movie that never takes itself too seriously. Finley contorts his awkward body into cramped, dystopian hallways and fires comic-shaped lightning bolts from among the rafters of Swan’s theatre.

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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is a 1999 movie directed by Jim Jarmusch.

WHAT HAPPENS?

A hit man who lives by an ancient Samurai code finds himself targeted by the Mafia.

ONE LINE REVIEW

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is an original, funny and spiritual take on identity and honor.

THE ACTORS

Forest Whitaker plays the title character, a loner who follows a Samurai code and raises pigeons. Whitaker blends a gentle stillness with the precise edge and violence of a killer. It’s a rare original character – Ghost Dog lives in a carefully cultivated ecosystem – one where his ancient philosophy governs his actions. When that system is disrupted, vengeance occurs. Whitaker gives a fascinating performance – his violent acts are internalized. There’s no fetishized style found in these actions – the character simply responds based on his code.

The supporting actors are an eclectic blend, featuring several veterans. Tough guy Henry Silva plays a corpse-like, cartoon-loving Mafia don. Cliff Gorman’s Sonny alternates between menacing and comic as he raps Flavor Flav lyrics. Isaach De Bankole is vibrant and animated as Raymond, Ghost Dog’s only friend. His exchanges with Whitaker are a highlight of the movie.

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Dark of the Sun

Dark of the Sun is a 1968 movie directed by Jack Cardiff.

A band of mercenaries travel across a hostile stretch of the Congo to steal 50 million dollars’ worth of diamonds. Greed and infighting foil the mission and leads to deadly consequences. Rod Taylor plays the grizzled but charismatic Captain Curry and Jim Brown is the cool, idealistic Sergeant Ruffo. Peter Carsten rounds out the cast as the scheming, vicious Captain Henlein. The movie boasts terrific action scenes throughout, highlighted by a train station shootout and two combat scenes featuring Taylor and Carsten.

THE BEST – Chainsaw Fights and Hand Grenades

The Nazi sympathizer Henlein wields a chainsaw against Taylor, which is a prelude to their wild chase and vicious brawl that ends the movie. Even more impressive is Taylor and Brown’s attack on a hotel full of native rebels.

THE WORST – A Very Complicated Emotional Relationship Among Mercenaries

The movie is fairly simple – or at least it should be. There’s a ton of action and Taylor and Brown are super cool leads. Mercenaries are hunting a diamond stash in the Congo, yet we hear Brown’s Ruffo getting way too deep on Taylor’s Curry: “He won’t give you that extra part of himself…..but he’s worth it.”

Ummmm……okay. So about those diamonds.

FOX FORCE FIVE RATING – 3.75/5

Dark of the Sun is a fun action movie featuring two solid leads. Unfortunately, the movie stumbles over its clumsy ideas of conscience. Yet, it’s still worth a watch.

Black Sunday

Black Sunday is a 1977 movie directed by John Frankenheimer.

WHAT HAPPENS?

A terrorist group attempts to blow up a blimp hovering over the Super Bowl.

ONE LINE REVIEW

Black Sunday is a distinctly original, sophisticated thriller.

THE ACTORS

Marthe Keller plays Dahlia, the mastermind of the Black September terrorist group that plots to set off a bomb during the Super Bowl. Her Dahlia is a fascinating character – she’s a cold-blooded killer obsessed with executing her deadly mission. Yet, she also exhibits a motherly touch towards the emotionally broken Lander, played by Bruce Dern. Dern is excellent as the former POW Lander – he’s essentially bipolar. He possesses a charm and feeble confidence before splintering into a sobbing mess.

THE DIRECTOR

The scope of what Frankenheimer pulled off in Black Sunday is phenomenal. The movie’s narrative and acting are impressively natural and efficient. When we see violent exchanges between terrorists and their victims, there’s no lengthy, clever dialogue or gratuitous torture – the Black September group is driven to complete its mission. The remarkable feat sees Frankenheimer filming amongst the mass of Super Bowl X. The real players, coaches and fans comprising the event are a backdrop to the movie’s terror plot. The game adds an element of realism and danger that is difficult to match.

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Accattone

Accattone is a 1961 movie directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini.

WHAT HAPPENS?

A pimp’s reality becomes a struggle after his prostitute goes to jail.

ONE LINE REVIEW

Accattone is an inventive, raw, funny portrait of a lost post-war generation.

THE ACTORS

Franco Citti plays Accattone, a pimp who floats through life. When his prostitute lands in jail, his life unravels. Citti brilliantly portrays this degradation, as his gold adornments are pawned off and the cocky youth transforms into a sullen shell. Citti’s acting is centralized in his expressive eyes – there’s both a spark of mad, cruel genius and a vacant depression. It’s an intriguing performance, as you want to empathize with Accattone’s fate – despite his often despicable actions.

THE DIRECTOR

Pasolini’s debut is impressive – you can feel his influence on Coppola and Scorcese. His camera cleanly pans to the faces of Accattone’s peers, revealing both their taunts and sadness. Pasolini makes brilliant use of the decaying, bombed out surroundings – Citti is often framed against washed out, sun-drenched isolation. Towards the movie’s end, Pasolini introduces some intriguing Neo-realist dream concepts before leaving the viewer with a jarring ending.

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The Yakuza

The Yakuza is a 1974 movie directed by Sydney Pollack.

An American detective travels to Japan to rescue his friend’s kidnapped daughter but finds himself the target of Yakuza operatives. Robert Mitchum stars as Harry Kilmer, a noir-styled, heavy-hearted hero. Mitchum’s easy, smoke-stained manner is interrupted by occasional bursts of violence as he and Ken Takakura’s Ken battle Yakuza soldiers. Takakura’s Ken is stoic and mostly silent throughout the movie. Yet in the cramped quarter combat scenes, he’s both efficient and brutal.

THE BEST – Honor

The code of honor is baked into Paul Shrader and Robert Towne’s script – Ken is bound to sacrifice himself out of duty – or “giri” – to Harry, while Harry finds himself committed to Brian Keith’s George. Mitchum’s Harry lingers in Tokyo despite Ken facing the brunt of the Yakuza’s revenge. There’s a nostalgic bent to this theme, as Mitchum’s World War II generation begins to fade and the Yakuza faces its own cultural reckoning.

THE WORST – Talking About Honor

But then again, it feels like Mitchum and Takakura have the same conversation regarding honor and obligation a dozen times.

THE WORST Part 2 – Harry Continually Messing Up April’s Life

Harry returns to Japan after decades to reunite with April, his one-time love and her daughter. They are both joyous to again see him. Then, he inadvertently causes destruction to their family before again leaving them.

Thanks a lot, Harry.

FOX FORCE FIVE RATING – 4/5

The Yakuza is a solid, thoughtful story that features terrific acting and action sequences. Mitchum and Takakura form an intriguing odd couple and the cinematography is a cool homage to noir thrillers of the past. Worth a watch.