Month: July 2021

Killing Zoe

Killing Zoe is a 1993 movie directed by Roger Avary.

WHAT HAPPENS?

An American safecracker and a French junkie attempt to pull off a bank heist.

ONE LINE REVIEW

Killing Zoe is a quintessential, Tarantino-inspired 90’s gangster film.

THE ACTORS

Eric Stoltz leads an eclectic cast as American safecracker Zed. Stoltz inhabits the character with a laconic cool and basic humanity – a trait lacking in the band of criminals he joins with. Julie Delpy’s Zoe is used sparingly but her inspired performances critically bookend the story – she’s clearly Avary’s muse yet overcomes a narrowly defined role. Jean-Hugues Anglade rounds out the cast as the volatile, drug-addicted Eric – an outlandish role that he exuberantly fills.

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Switchblade Sisters

Switchblade Sisters is a 1975 movie directed by Jack Hill.

WHAT HAPPENS?

An inner city street gang faces pressures from the outside and inner turmoil.

ONE LINE REVIEW

Switchblade Sisters is a fun, stylish piece of essential 70’s exploitation.

THE ACTORS

Robbie Lee and Joanne Nail portray the antagonistic leads Lace and Maggie. Lee takes on a Marlon Brando-esque The Wild One vibe, albeit with a shrill, accusatory Brooklyn accent. Her Lace is the most interesting character and her tortured relationship with Asher Brauner’s leather-clad Dominic presents some opportunities for real acting. Nail is more style – her Maggie is the confident outcast who eventually takes over the gang. She’s given some fun action scenes to convince the audience of her grit – which produce mixed results.

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Heart Beat

Heart Beat is a 1980 movie directed by John Byrum.

Heart Beat tells the story of the relationship between Jack Kerouac, Neal Cassady and Carolyn Cassady. Nick Nolte plays the iconic Beat Generation muse, while John Heard portrays Kerouac and Sissy Spacek is Carolyn. While the story attempts to capture the intimacy of a complicated relationship, the movie does a disservice to the vibrancy and pulsing energy of Cassady found in Kerouac’s writing.

THE BEST – Jazz and Cars

Kerouac’s sprawling On the Road is considered an unfilmable novel, at least given its non-linear path and deep spiritual and metaphysical yearnings. However, in a pure visual sense – Kerouac’s book can be boiled down to jazz and cars. The characters furiously race across the country in stolen vehicles and channel their co-opted spirits in dope-steeped jazz clubs.

At least compared to the pale 2012 movie version of On the Road, Byrum manages to remember these basic tenants. The cars look fantastic and while the energy suffers, at least we see Cassady and Kerouac in clubs idolizing their heroes.

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Framed

Framed is a 1975 movie directed by Phil Karlson.

WHAT HAPPENS?

A gambler is set up by crooked cops and forced to survive a jail term. When he is released, he gains vengeance.

ONE LINE REVIEW

Framed is a brutal, vicious and essential 70s revenge flick.

THE ACTORS

Joe Don Baker is a commanding and physical lead. His Ron Lewis is an inherently likable character – he’s tough yet affable, charming and occasionally cheesy. He pulls off the difficult trick of appearing both natural and incredibly dangerous.

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