moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Apr 3, 2020 16:39:58 GMT -5
Who's That Girl (1987)
Synopsis: The story of a street-smart girl who is falsely accused of murdering her boyfriend and is sent to jail. After being released, she meets a man who is supposed to make sure she gets on her bus back to Philadelphia and convinces him to help her catch those responsible for her confinement. At the same time, the man is transporting a jungle cat and preparing for his wedding, a la Bringing Up Baby.
How this film entered my consciousness: Madonna made a huge impression on me as a small, MTV-viewing child. Everything she did was iconic and it was a big deal when this movie came out, though it fizzled almost immediately.
Film Highlights:
1. The opening animation sequence (see below) by April March is delightful and actually important to the plot. It also sets the cartoon tone that they try to maintain throughout the film with mixed success.
2. Griffin Dunne's Steve Carrell energy nearly saves this, at times - with deadpan delivery, silly physical comedy, and genuine charm.
3. Murray the Patagonian felis is cute and eats chicken nuggets.
4. This thing is packed with great character actors, bit players, and moments like the cops making out at the end and Buck the delivery man admitting that he couldn't be more stupid.
Film Lowlights:
1. Madonna's character is such an asshole. Like, she's not just a screwball, she's a psychopath. I didn't really have a problem with her vocal affectation if that's what she wanted to do with the character, but they needed to giver her more moments of likability, rather than just relying on the fact that she's Madonna. She doesn't behave like a romcom love interest so much as a hyperactive 9-year-old.
2. I know they're going for live action cartoon, but some implausibilities particularly stick out, like like a tenement building in Harlem having sprinklers, or a Rolls Royce getting stripped with the hood ornament still intact, OR said car getting hotwired on 5th avenue right in front of Cartier. Also, there are entirely too few police officers chasing our leads. By the end, they should have a Blues-Brothers-finale squadron of police after them.
3. In general, the screenplay has problems. Some parts of this movie are Disorderlies-level braindead, but others are Midnight-Run-level funny and entertaining. I feel like with a more experienced director, this could have actually been good.
Soundtrack Highlights:
1. Causing a Commotion is a great opening number
2. Who's that Girl is an underrated jam
3. Scritti Politi!
4. Coati Mundi (who also plays the villain) may have been the Pitbull of his day...
Soundtrack Lowlights: None of it is bad if you love 80s dance music as much as I do, but the rest of the soundtrack is pretty uninspired.
How much coke were these people on? New York yuppies AND downtown types? Boatloads, I'm sure. Or, to quote the Youtube comments on Todd in the Shadow's review: "this should be renamed Desperately Seeking Ritalin"
Is it worth your time? Possibly! There is the germ of a good movie here - possibly two or three. I actually laughed in the first 5 minutes and throughout - it's just all over the place. I would rate it way above something like Tapeheads or Disorderlies, perhaps even with Desperately Seeking Susan, but below Married to the Mob. Or to put it another way, if you enjoy the acting challenges on Rupaul's Drag Race, you might enjoy this.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on May 25, 2020 15:09:36 GMT -5
Dudes (1987)
Synopsis: A Western revenge story in a contemporary setting, its plot concerns three punk rockers from New York City who attempt to make their way to California. When one of them is murdered by a vicious gang leader, the other two, played by Jon Cryer and Daniel Roebuck, find themselves fish out of water as they pursue the murderer from Arizona to Montana, assisted by a tow truck driver. How this film entered my consciousness: I never heard of this until songstarliner recommended it. I love Jon Cryer though, and the premise is mighty intriguing. Film Highlights: 1. The casting*: Jon Cryer always watchable and the more flamboyant outfits you can put him in the better. Lee Ving is also excellent as the villain and Daniel Roebuck is a likable sidekick who gets some nice moments during the action sequences. 2. Everything involving Daredelvis is awesome. If this movie wanted to be a comedy, they should have given more screen time to kooky characters encountered on the road. 3. The final showdown is great, starting with the leads following the bad guys into a theater screening Jesse James (1939), Fritz Lang's first Hollywood film and one of the best Westerns ever made ( though it did lead to stricter regulations against animal cruelty). Cryer's costume also pays homage to Tyrone Power's Jesse, along with Lee Ving's shout to the horse "get out!" in imitation of Henry Fonda's Nebraskan twang. Seriously, Jesse James and its sequel The Return of Frank James are so good... Film Lowlights: 1. Amazon classifies this movie as an Adventure, Comedy and it could have been that. Unfortunately, the screenplay can't decide if it wants to be My Cousin Vinny, Easy Rider, or an action-oriented Western. As a result, the direction is all over the place. The film opens with a broadly comedic fight scene involving a Chinese waiter and the human form of Goon from Heathcliff. Once we're on the road, things get existential and then SPOILER: Flea's character gets killed - not kidnapped, as in a conventional comedy, but shot in the head for no reason (aside from poor acting? scheduling problems?). That, along with a prolonged sequence of a man being gored by a bull, are way too dark to even attempt to call this comedy. Some of the early scenes ask us to find humor in rednecks being violent, but there's NOTHING funny about violent rednecks. Stupid rednecks, sure - that's the whole premise behind the Smokey & the Bandit franchise, IIRC - but violent rednecks are monsters from Deliverance to Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The only thing in this whole movie I laughed at was Hezekiah, the drunken old coot in jail singing Sting and lamenting the death of the Kennedys. 2. For an R-rated, violent film about NYC punks headed to LA across the desert, the lack of drug use is just bizarre. Not only would it help explain characters' hallucinations (and the less-than-PC implications of those visions) but it would make a lot more sense as a motivating factor for leaving New York, a reason to go to LA (as it is in Easy Rider), or a way to entrap the villains. 3. The employment of Native Americans isn't terrible, but it also isn't great. On one hand, I checked the credits and they cast actual indigenous people, which is commendable. Daniel Roebuck's identification with Native Americans via his mohawk is amusing, if wrongheaded. And the Navajo girl at the beginning is both cute and helpful. However, there's still the elements of one-dimensionality and playing dress-up that don't sit well with me. An indigenous love interest might have helped. Soundtrack Highlights: 1. I really enjoyed the opening number "Urban Struggle" by the Vandals, which set a promising tone for the whole movie. 2. "Rock N Roll Outlaw" by Rose Tattoo / Keel is a nice pick for the opening credits. 3. Jane's Addiction "Mountain Song" has always been a favorite and it's well-used as our heroes drive through Monument Valley. Soundtrack Lowlights: None, really. Without a budget for The Clash, The Cramps, or Christian Death, this soundtrack is still pretty solid. You've got WASP doing "Show No Mercy" and a Megadeth cover of "These Boots are Made for Walking"...what more do you want? How much coke were these people on? Methinks cocaine would have been a little too rich for this crew. Perhaps some combo of meth and mescaline? Is it worth your time? Yes, if you're the type of person who can sit through middling Westerns just for Jon Cryer. If so, I'm guessing Pete Davidson also floats your boat. *notable exception is the love interest, a charisma-free Canadian actress to whom I kept referring as the poor man's Bonnie Bedelia
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Post by songstarliner on May 25, 2020 19:54:49 GMT -5
moimoi It wasn't me! I've never heard of this film. Maybe you're thinking of Suburbia.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Sept 13, 2020 16:28:00 GMT -5
super-secret bonus entry!Vibes (1988)
Synopsis: A pair of psychics get roped into a scheme to find mysterious treasure in the Andes. How this film entered my consciousness: I must confess, though I remember this as Cyndi Lauper's wacky star vehicle to rival Who's That Girl, it completely escaped my notice when I was planning this thread - possibly because the soundtrack doesn't have any songs by Lauper (aside from the one that plays at the end, which was not on the soundtrack for some reason). It only popped back into my consciousness when Amazon recommended it due to my viewings of so many similar 80s pop star vehicles for this thread. Film Highlights: 1. Llamas! The film takes place in the Ecuadoran Andes, so they are present from the opening sequence with their fuzzy faces. 2. The cast is pretty strong across the board: Jeff Goldblum is basically playing himself, which makes him an appealing, if unconventional lead; Cyndi Lauper is much more likable than Madonna and looks pretty cool, though her acting is just as amateurish; Peter Falk anchors the whole thing; Julian Sands shows up as the predictable villain, Van Dyke Parks has a bit part in the beginning (fulfilling my requirement of two musicians in non-cameo roles); and a very young Steve Buscemi even pops up as a perfect scumbag ex-boyfriend. 3. The screenplay is actually not bad. There are a lot of one-liners and improvised jokes like (what I assume is Goldblum's) “We’re escaping – and pretty flamboyantly I might add!” They were aiming for 80s supernatural adventure romcom in the vein of Romancing the Stone and that's exactly what you get, only with offbeat leads doing silly things like expertly handling firearms. Film Lowlights: 1. The pedestrian direction (by Ken Kwapis of Follow that Bird fame) ruins this movie. You can tell the actors are doing the best they can, but both the action and comedy come across dull. 2. Goldblum and Lauper are fun on their own, but together, zippo. The leads have zero chemistry with each other and there is probably no way that could be overcome. Soundtrack Highlights: 1. Cyndi Lauper's one soundtrack contribution (that is not on the official soundtrack) instantly amps up the fun, even if they lyrics have nothing to do with the movie 2. The Andean music used in the opening credits and when they arrive in Ecuador is lovely. Soundtrack Lowlights: 1. As mentioned, this movie really, really needed Cyndi Lauper songs. Did she get shafted by Spielberg for her work on The Goonies? 2. James Horner's score is fine for epic action stuff, but strangely disappears at the climax of the movie. How much coke were these people on? Well, they were in the Andes. If only the director had partook... Is it worth your time? Honestly? If you're a fan of Goldblum or Lauper, it's not bad. It held my attention more than half the movies on this list, so yeah, possibly?
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Nov 7, 2020 21:06:38 GMT -5
Footloose (1984)
Synopsis: A teenager from Chicago moves to a small Midwestern town where he attempts to overturn a ban on dancing enacted by a local minister.
How this film entered my consciousness: This was perhaps THE monster soundtrack of the 80s. Cocktail (ew) was also pretty huge, but this was the first one I can remember everyone listening to all the time. My brother had the soundtrack on cassette, though we were both far, far too young to see the movie.
Film Highlights:
1. From the opening scene, Lithgow tears it up. He is perfectly cast and strikes just the right balance between benignly paternalistic, internally conflicted, and calculating. Diane Wiest does a good job as his wife, too.
2. Kevin Bacon dancing out his anger will never not be entertaining, even if it is kind of ripped off of Flashdance.
3. I like the supporting cast, including Chris Penn as the obviously-closeted Willard, John Loughlin as the affable, Lee-Pace-esque Woody, and even Sarah Jessica Parker as the spunky sidekick Rusty (the only one who convincingly dances like a teenager).
Film Lowlights:
1. I do not appreciate all the foot closeups in the opening. I'm not into feet. The glitter version of the theme at the end is much, much better.
2. I love Shalamar, but "Dancing in the Sheets" is not a strong enough song for the opening "dance" (heavy quotations) number. It's really gawky and embarrassing, like something out of Grease. I was afraid the whole movie was going to be similarly cringey, but it's actually much worse.
3. The screenplay is terrible. Like, I see how it's modeled on Rebel Without a Cause with the sexy brooding new kid, stealing the rival's girlfriend, playing 'chicken' etc. but you can't just turn that into a fun musical! (And yes, I know they turned this into a stage musical) Ariel is damaged. A dance number is not going to cure her self-destructive impulses. There's no comedy (unless you count lame white dancing), no romance, really. Everything around the very brief musical interludes is absolutely joyless.
Soundtrack Highlights:
1. "Let's Hear It for the Boy" is one of the best singles of the early 80s. A roller-skating jam.
2. Kenny Loggin's theme is a rollicking good time, and inspired by true events, in case you didn't know
3. I'm convinced the keyboards on "Waiting for a Girl Like You" inspired the entire Italians Do It Better record label. That's pretty much the only thing that distinguishes it from "I Wanna Know What Love Is".
Soundtrack Lowlights:
1. Ugh, if I never hear "Almost Paradise" again, I will be a happy moi. Exceptionally rancid cheese. The electric guitar version that accompanies the first kissing scene is brief, but excruciating.
2. I don't hate stuff like "Holding Out for a Hero" or "Hurts So Good" but the rest of the soundtrack is just tolerable - as lacking in highlights as in stinkbombs.
How much coke were these people on? If there was any coke on this set, I'm thinking it was passed among the younger cast members - looking at you, Robert Downey Jr's girlfriend...
Is it worth your time? Only the soundtrack...And then, only the Loggins stuff and Deniece Williams...Yeah, no.
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Crash Test Dumbass
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Post by Crash Test Dumbass on Nov 8, 2020 10:51:34 GMT -5
3. I'm convinced the keyboards on "Waiting for a Girl Like You" inspired the entire Italians Do It Better record label. That's pretty much the only thing that distinguishes it from "I Wanna Know What Love Is". I thought the keyboardist on both songs was Thomas Dolby, but he was only on Waiting; I Wanna Know was played by Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins. TMDR did play the keys on another Foreigner song, Urgent, and collaborated with Bailey on a Thompson Twins album, so the circle is unbroken.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Nov 27, 2020 22:20:05 GMT -5
The Last Dragon (1985) Synopsis: Set in New York City, the movie follows a martial artist named Leroy Green (also known as "Bruce Leeroy"), who has dreams of becoming a great martial artist like his idol Bruce Lee. His master explains that he has reached the final level of martial arts accomplishment known as "The Last Dragon." Martial artists who reach this final level are said to be able to concentrate such mystical energy into their hands that they begin to glow. Only a true martial arts master would be able to exhibit "The Glow" over his entire body. Leroy doesn't fully understand and, in possession of a medal supposedly belonging to Bruce Lee, Leroy embarks upon a spiritual journey to find Master Sum Dum Goy, whom his master claims can help Leroy unlock the power of "The Glow." How this film entered my consciousness: Somehow I always thought this was a fantasy about a mystical quest in the East like The Golden Child. Little did I know it would be twice as charming on less than half the budget. Props to celebith for nominating and to everybody who voted to make this our November bootleg theatre selection. Film Highlights: 1. Sho-nuff's intro is legendary 2. Our leading man Taimak is cute and not a bad actor. It's a shame he didn't do more, considering this was a hit. I hope he can find his way into a new action franchise like the John Wick films. 3. There are many fine jackets in this film, but William H. Macy's jacket is my favorite because it's William H. Macy. 4. Leroy's little brother may be 'mature' for his age, but he's also fly AF with his leather pants, porkpie hat, ringer tee, and boombox. (RIP Leo O'Brien) Film Lowlights: 1. When it comes to stereotypes and cultural appropriation, this film is constantly skating on thin ice. 1985 and cocaine are the only excuses I can offer for why it still works, though. 2. The main villain (aka dime-store Dan Hedaya) is super annoying. I would have traded his screentime for mo' Sho-nuff. Soundtrack Highlights: 1. Legendary soundtrack composer Willie Hutch's secondary theme song "The Glow" 2. Debarge! (I loved this song when I was a kid; had no idea it was on this soundtrack) 3. Stevie Wonder's "Upset Stomach" 4. Willie Hutch and the Temptations are killing the Italo-disco on "Inside You" Soundtrack Lowlights: 1. The imitation Duran Duran x Rockwell theme song performed by one Dwight David, which I'm guessing was written to cut Willie Hutch out of royalties or something. 2. Faith Prince does a surprisingly good job as 'Not Cyndi Lauper' but her first song absolutely stinks. 3. "Sukiyaki Hot Sake Sue" is full-on cringe. How much coke were these people on? The music industry associations did not bode well for the long-term health of all involved. Given the documented struggles of Vanity, El Debarge, and others, let's just say a tragic amount. Is it worth your time? Sho nuff! As I said in the chat, this has a gonzo, Zoolander sort of energy to it. Do you want to see fights in pizza shops? Keisha Knight Pulliam in her prime? Sum Dum Goy? Aside from the weird bit of drama between the villain and his muse, this movie knows exactly what it's supposed to be and it delivers.
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Post by Nudeviking on Apr 6, 2021 21:18:03 GMT -5
Streets of Fire (1984)Synopsis: It is described in its opening credits and posters as "A Rock & Roll Fable". The film is a mix of musical, action, neo-noir, drama, and comedy, with elements of retro-1950s woven into then-current 1980s themes. It stars Michael Paré as a mercenary who returns home to rescue his ex-girlfriend (Diane Lane) who has been kidnapped by the leader of a biker gang (Willem Dafoe). How this film entered my consciousness: I have only passing familiarity through podcasts such as "How Did This Get Made?". Apparently ACM and Floyd think quite highly of it. Film Highlights 1. Oh my god, the fight sequences in this movie are hilarious - way sillier than the Amitabh Bachchan movies we used to imitate as kids. AND, they are constant. Everyone in this movie is belligerent for no reason. Hammers!!! Also, flaming motorcycles everywhere. 2. Willam Dafoe is one fabulous degenerate - he could be straight out of in Sin City. In fact, I wonder if this movie inspired Frank Miller... 3. Rick Moranis! Robert Townsend! Dottie from PeeWee's Big Adventure! I have no idea why these people were cast, but I'm here for it! 4. Apparently all the sets were built on Lower Wacker Drive (in Chicago) - which is pretty ingenious. Film Lowlights: 1. (not really a lowlight) It appears that this screenplay was written by an adolescent - possibly Max Fischer from Rushmore - but this time the incoherence doesn't bother me. I'm just along for the cockamamie ride. 2. I really wish the androgynous stripper at the biker club had turned out be a dude. That would have been a delightful subversion of expectations. 3. This movie is filled with good actors (and Michael Pare) who appear to have been instructed not to act. Very flat line readings throughout. Soundtrack Highlights: 1. Opening track "Nowhere Fast" has a great buzzing riff and high, Bonnie-Tyler drama. 2. "Countdown to Love" the sweet do-wop song performed by "The Sorrels" 3. "Deeper and Deeper" the Fixx song that runs over the end credits. Soundtrack Lowlights: 1. Ugh, I hate that soft rock radio staple "I Can Dream About You", though it does look and sound better in the film. This version suggests that someone wrote this for Michael Jackson or the 80s Jackson Five, but they turned it down. 2. "Tonight Is What It Means to Be Young" has incredible production, but it's just...too...much. Maybe it would be better if the vocals weren't right at the tippy top of the session singer's range? It just sounds strenuous. How much coke were these people on? Given the number of record industry people involved (Jimmy Iovine, Jim Steinman (the guy behind Meatloaf), Tom Petty, Bob Seger, Ry Cooder, STEVIE NICKS) an incalculable amount. Is it worth your time? Yes, a thousand times yes! Immediately after this I listened to the HDTGM podcast on it and I urged my brother to re-watch it with me. I just happened upon this movie by accident on Netflix the other day and it now might be my favorite movie of all time. The thing that was shocking to me is that I'd somehow never even heard of it in spite of my fondness for other weird, overly stylistic 80s cult action movies. Like this did not get played all the time on TV in the late 80s/early 90s the way Flash Gordon and Buckaroo Banzai did which is kind of a shame because it's wild. I'm also glad that I wasn't the only one who thought they were going to have the androgynous stripper turn out to be a guy.
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Post by kitchin on Apr 11, 2021 3:41:05 GMT -5
There's likely a couple of flicks with Sting that may qualify here (I can't remember what if any soundtrack they had though since it's between 20-34 years since I've seen either). In Plenty (1985), an adaptation of a play about a former WW2 spy's ennui in postwar Britain, he plays a Dixieland jazz loving hipster love interest to Meryl Streep. I'd assume there's a decent amount of Boots Randolph style Dixieland jazz in it. And of course in Dune (1984) he plays the skinny/rape-y Harkonnen nephew. I'd assume it has an interesting soundtrack being a Lynch flick. If nothing else it inspired the "Move Any Mountain" video by the Shamen (though that's likely 1991) Spoilers. If I ever ran a film festival, I would program Plenty and Runaway Train, not for both coming out in 1985, but for representing the alpha and omega of despair and hope. Plenty was adapted by David Hare from his own play, and I'm partial to movies made from plays. I'm also partial to any Meryl Streep film before she sold out to comedy. (See also: Jack Nicholson. Although she did deserve a break from misery drama, we lost out as an audience.) Fred Schepisi directed, so all involved sport impeccable credentials, along with actors Charles Dance, Sam Neill, John Gielgud for Heaven's sake, Tracey Ullman. I don't remember Hugh Laurie, but he did later television work with Hare: Roadkill, a BBC/PBS political affair. The reviews were decidedly mixed for Plenty. Aside from its origins in theater, it had other obstacles to overcome in the realm of the critics, which depend more on the senses of smell and taste than sight and sound. First, Hare is vaguely from the "kitchen-sink" tradition of British drama, and the theme of the play is very British and shopworn: the disillusionment of the postwar, socially, mentally, financially, romantically. Sorry sentimentalism just hiding in skillful English turns. Streep's excitement and subsequent recurrent breakdowns, stretching from the early 1940's to the dismal late 70's, serve as an allegory for the national narrative, says every review. Somehow I missed that part, which was undoubtedly the author's intent, and took it all as a study in psychological fatalism, in both sense of the word. There seems to be no hope without extinguishing her character, and in the end her character is extinguished anyway. A second handicap for Plenty was that Streep was known for the recent French Lieutenant's Woman, which shared some plot points; and Sophies's Choice, which shared its misery. The countervailing charisma that makes those grand, Streep's youth in French Lieutenant, and Streep's spiraling with Kevin Kline in Sophie, is here dimmer in light for sure. But Plenty suited me, and a film stands on its own. This movie will probably never make it to Criterion, and I don't see it on streaming services. Even photos are rare online. None of those actress sites that screencap every scene or frame. The ones I'm missing most are her scenes with Sting, who plays a younger man whose affair with her in her waning days can only be described as sordid, without any of the moral implications. Their bedclothed meetings are in Blackpool, portrayed as a miserable seaside last resort, after her glamorous life in the French Resistance (sort of), as a wife in the British India service, and in glittering London-and-country middle years. Yet all those undone by the outward and inward accusations of failure unremitted by cold English sympathy or earnest uxory by Sam Neill (as I recall it). So here last is Sting, beautiful and curt. Like the war, dashing. The scene I miss most comes near the end, just a small Blackpool inn house standing alone on the landscape (cinematography by Ian Baker). You'll not find a picture of that, just this glamour shot of of the well-dressed Sting and Streep. It's one of the finest performances by a musician, as surprising as Mick Jagger as the mad bell ringer in Fitzcarraldo - am I thinking of the right movie? It puts to shame Tom Waits in his supposed roles, or even Bowie in Absolute Beginners.
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Post by kitchin on Apr 11, 2021 3:56:47 GMT -5
I don't recall Sting playing a musician in Plenty, but maybe that's how she meets him? For the ultimate in a faintly ridiculous jazz guy, turn to 1963 with Steve McQueen and Natalie Wood eking it out in New York, Love With the Proper Stranger. Then 2016 with Ryan Gosling in La La Land. Both recommended!
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Apr 25, 2021 22:57:27 GMT -5
Krush Groove (1985)
Synopsis: The film is based on the early days of Def Jam Recordings and up-and-coming record producer Russell Simmons (renamed Russell Walker in the film), featuring countless performances and cameos from the early days of hip hop. How this film entered my consciousness: Krush Groove features heavily in Def Jam/early hip hop lore, so I'm not sure when exactly it entered my consciousness, but probably around the time it came out, since I was a devoted watcher of Yo! MTV Raps as a child. Film Highlights: 1. Fastidious dressing. Not only does Kool Rock Ski iron his shoelaces, but Run DMC work at the carwash with shower caps covering their hats. Sheila E also looks amazing in her "Holly Rock" and "Krush Groovin" ensembles. 2. Rick Rubin is kind of a natural, and I wish they had used his comedic chops more. Run and Kurtis Blow also do well with the dramatic stuff. Why couldn't they have made movies instead of the Fat Boys? 3. Cameos like Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde ( Andre Harrell & Alonzo Brown) and LL Cool J (both of whom do delightful breakdances over the end credits), as well as Donnie Simpson as the talent show MC and Chris Rock as an extra. Film Lowlights: 1. Fetal pig dissection Seeing it on camera, I'm so glad I managed to get a perfect score on my AP Bio exam without having to do it! 2. The screenplay is...kind of incoherent? Like, the love triangle between Blair Underwood, Run, and Sheila E doesn't really make sense. Sheila E doesn't have chemistry with either of the leads, so the love scene shoehorned at the end (set to Force MD's "Tender Love") is thankfully brief, but head-scratching. Adding the Gap Band singing "Love Triangle" over the next scene when Run comes in to confront them does not help, considering that this is happening in the last 10 minutes of the film and must be resolved in literally the next scene. 3. Karen, Sheila E's manager, is such a Karen - if WOCs could be 'Karens'. Soundtrack Highlights: 1. The Fat Boys doing "Don't You Dog Me" in the high school stairwell, Fame-style is charming. "Pump It Up" is also smooth and even "All You Can Eat" is pretty funky - though I feel sorry for everyone involved in filming their performance at Sbarro. I think they had the best character arc culminating in their eponymous anthem "Fat Boys". 2. Sheila E's performances of "A Love Bizarre" and "Holly Rock" are great, even with the awkward pantomiming to Prince's parts. 3. Run DMC's "It's Like That" is electrifying - pretty much everything they do here is great. 4. "Feel The Spin" by Debbie Harry is a nice solo deep cut. Soundtrack Lowlights: 1. The Beastie Boys' "She's On It" has not aged well, though their look and attitude is 1000% white influencer in 2021. 2. New Edition doing "My Secret" is kind of frenetic and amateurish, which I guess is convincing for the movie's talent competition, but I wish they had done a better song, like "Cool It Now" How much coke were these people on? There was probably some around (looking at you, Rubin, and Jellybean Benitez) but I'm guessing weed was the drug of choice. Is it worth your time? For the performances, yes; for the plot, absolutely not.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on May 9, 2021 14:18:03 GMT -5
Married to the Mob (1988)
Synopsis: In this crime comedy/romance, Michelle Pfeiffer stars as Angela de Marco, a gangster's widow from Brooklyn, opposite Matthew Modine as the undercover FBI agent assigned the task of investigating her mafia connections. How this film entered my consciousness: This is one of many rated R movies that, as a child, I wanted to see just from the commercial. The funky, urban production design and soundtrack (curated by David Byrne) are great - Jonathan Demme at his peak. This irreverent take on mob life also proved fertile ground for the Sopranos, which I also loved - I love all things organized crime. Film Highlights: 1. Every supporting player in this movie is a heavy hitter: Dean Stockwell (who got an Oscar nomination for his role in a mob comedy!), Alec Baldwin, Mercedes Ruehl, Oliver Platt, Nancy Travis, Joan Cusack (of course) - plus David Johansen as a priest and Chris Isaack as a hitman just for funsies. Todd Solondz is also listed in the credits for a bit part. 2. The mob wives' wardrobe is [chef's kiss] 80s 'couture' 3. Demme's NYC is diverse, quirky, and real. It's grimy and full of perverts, but also colorful and fun - with Jamaican beauty salons, live samba music, men who play the spoons on the sidewalk, and do-wop groups. Film Lowlights: 1. I'm pretty sure the movie starts in Jersey and Jersey sucks. 2. Matthew Modine is an interesting casting choice for the romantic lead - although he's quite likeable, I wonder if he's just a bit too fresh-faced to convincingly play an FBI agent falling for a mob widow. He's a bit of a manic pixie dream boy when he's not doing cop stuff. Soundtrack Highlights: All of them? I mean, look at this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Married_to_the_Mob_(soundtrack) Doesn't even include The Pixies "Isla De Encanta" which plays over the end credits. 1. Bizarre. Fucking. Love. Triangle. Within the first 10 minutes of the movie! 2. Jane Child (remember her?) - Welcome to the Real World 3. Debbie Harry's cover of " Liar Liar" is pretty fun Soundtrack Lowlights: I'm not sure there are any. Rosemary Clooney's "Mambo Italiano" is rife with stereotype, but that's also kind of the point - it sets the comedic tone perfectly. How much coke were these people on? Again, we're talking downtown NYC in the 80s. I'm sure there was some premium shit floating around. Is it worth your time? YES! This is what Desperately Seeking Susan wanted to be. This is an 80s classic up there with Midnight Run, Down & Out in Beverly Hills, Throw Momma from the Train, etc.
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Post by pantsgoblin on Jun 4, 2021 11:54:49 GMT -5
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Jul 4, 2021 14:36:08 GMT -5
Hairspray (1988)Synopsis: Set in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, the film revolves around self-proclaimed "pleasantly plump" teenager Tracy Turnblad as she pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation. How this film entered my consciousness: I'm pretty sure I saw this as soon as it was showing on cable TV - mid-to-late 90s. I'm not sure I knew who John Waters was - in fact this was probably my introduction to him when 'independent' films became all the rage. Film Highlights: 1. Jerry Stiller! Why is he so delightful? Ruth Brown as Motormouth Maybelle is the shit. Debbie Harry is great as a villain. Plus too many great cameos (Ric Ocasek as a sandal-wearing beatnik, John Waters as a quack psychiatrist, etc.) to count. 2. The fashion in this movie is impeccable. It's full 60s revival with an 80s color sensibility. Just a feast for the eyes. 3. The movie has a really great message about acceptance - of different races, sizes, and self-presentations. It's a really positive film and I'm loathe to find any lowlights. It even culminates in a huge, cathartic, and passionately performed dance sequence involving the whole cast ("The Roach"/"The Bug"), punctuated by a flying wig-bomb! It all just WORKS. Film Lowlights: 1. (not really a lowlight) Divine plays her role as Tracy's mother completely straight (so-to-speak). This is impressive as a piece of acting, but it also makes her character kind of flat - especially contrasted with Debbie Harry as the villainous Velma Von Tussle. 2. (not really a lowlight) The humor in this movie can be quite dark - for example, the R-word is used liberally and there's a lot of intentionally cringey racism on display. This may be jarring to some viewers, though I think the Strangers With Candy tone is spot-on for satirizing the time period. Soundtrack Highlights: 1. The Madison number - Tracy's first star turn - looks really fun. 2. I do love " Town Without Pity" and it foreshadows the the central narrative conflict well. 3. "You'll Lose a Good Thing" by Barbara Lynn 4. The dirty boogie to "Hide and Seek" by Bunker Hill 5. "Foot Stompin" by The Flares over the end credits Soundtrack Lowlights: None. Even the title track is a clever riff on "Grease" with its celebration of a product much-maligned in the environmentally-conscious late 80s/early 9-s. How much coke were these people on? I think coke was a little too rich for folks' blood on this one. Maybe some good reefer though? Is it worth your time? Of course! John Waters got so much out his budget on this one: great sets, iconic costumes, a killer soundtrack, AND a star-studded cast.
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Post by Dr. Rumak on Jul 7, 2021 18:01:41 GMT -5
How this film entered my consciousness: I'm pretty sure I saw this as soon as it was showing on cable TV - mid-to-late 90s. I'm not sure I knew who John Waters was - in fact this was probably my introduction to him when 'independent' films became all the rage. I remember this coming out in the theater, and I definitely had never heard of John Waters before then. We didn't have cable TV, but my mom asked my Uncle to tape it for her from his cable, but then discovered as we watched it that she confused it with Shampoo, which is what she meant to see. This movie, along with Heathers, Chinatown, The Princess Bride and Dirty Harry became films I saw multiple times in my Junior or Senior years simply because I had them on video from my Uncle taping them. I've still never seen Shampoo.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Jul 24, 2021 14:12:51 GMT -5
Smithereens (1982)
Synopsis: Per the Criterion DVD: The film follows a narcissistic young woman from New Jersey who comes to New York City to join the waning punk subculture, only to find that she's gravitated towards Los Angeles; in order to pay her way across country, she engages in a number of parasitic relationships, shifting her allegiances to new "friends" in an ongoing effort to ultimately endear herself to someone who will finance her desired lifestyle. How this film entered my consciousness: Madonna said she liked this movie in interviews about Desperately Seeking Susan. Also, I sense there was a naming trend in the early 80s with this film, the New Jersey band, and The Smiths across the pond forming around this time. Film Highlights: 1. I want to steal these women’s wardrobes and attitudes. I’m definitely going to use these color schemes as wardrobe inspiration. 2. The lighting and cinematography are unique and evocative – it reminds me of Scorsese’s Mean Streets in a lot of ways. Film Lowlights: 1. There’s nothing to like about the protagonist except her clothes. Maybe that’s the point, but it doesn’t make for an enjoyable viewing experience. I just didn’t care about anything happening to the characters. 2. Richard Hell is cool-looking, but not a good actor. Soundtrack Highlights: 1. The Feelies’ soundtrack really nails the vibe of this. 2. Pac-Man sound effects into “Moody” by ESG 3. “Devious Woman” by Singers & Players deftly encapsulates the themes of the film Soundtrack Lowlights - not really? How much coke were these people on? Oh, I doubt DIYers could afford coke. I’m guessing this was a smack set, although curiously it’s not depicted in the film. Is it worth your time? If you’re a film geek.
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Post by moimoi on Jan 1, 2022 16:09:12 GMT -5
Staying Alive (1983)Synopsis: The sequel to Saturday Night Fever in which Tony Manero pursues his dream of being a dancer in Manhattan. How this film entered my consciousness: I think I heard the How Did This Get Made podcast on this or I saw clips of it on some VH1 I Love the 80s episode. I've only seen Saturday Night Fever in its entirety maybe once, and that might have been edited for television a long time ago. I am, however, a big fan of the Bee Gees' soundtrack. Film Highlights: 1. Travolta is FIT. He looks great as filmed by Stallone. 2. Cynthia Rhodes as the jilted girlfriend isn't bad at all. In fact, she gives a good performance of "Finding Out the Hard Way". 3. Tony's mother? The background characters at the flophouse? The cinematography and production value is good and generally Stallone is a fine director, the problem is... Film Lowlights: 1. The screenplay is SHIT. At various points I kept wondering why this is even a movie. Tony is professionally successful after a couple years of standard showbiz struggle (being a waiter, lots of rejection from casting agents) and he has a supportive partner and family. The central conflict is this...love triangle I guess?...between the totally unlikable and uninterested British dancer Laura, Tony, and his girlfriend Jackie that he treats like shit but she forgives him. Even his big break comes not as some twist of fate, but because his romantic rival, the director, recognizes his brilliance and gives him a pep talk. Basically, Tony's ego is wounded a bit, but he triumphs and gets everything he wants in the end. 2. Late 70s/early 80s aerobic style choreography will never not look lame to me and this movie is wall to wall with people gyrating to cheesy synths and electric guitars. Surely, this is not what Merce Cunningham and Twyla Tharp had in mind. And no, it does not work as camp. All the non-Bee Gees music and dance in this movie is strange and ugly. 3. It seems like everyone involved--including those involved with the original--didn't understand the appeal of the original. Like, sure, Saturday Night Fever is light on plot, but it evokes a unique and interesting setting with realistic characters. The world of Staying Alive is really shallow and Tony does not fit there, so it makes no sense to focus the whole thing in the world of Manhattan dance. A good movie would have seen Tony Manero chewed up and spit out by 80s Manhattan or at least, finding some hope and strength in his Bay Ridge roots. Soundtrack Highlights: All the Bee Gees' contributions Soundtrack Lowlights: Anything not by the Bee Gees How much coke were these people on? I'm guessing it was some cocktail of amyl nitrite, cocaine, marijuana, Dexamyl, dextroamphetamine, meprobamate, and secobarbital, as favored by Bob Fosse. Is it worth your time? Maybe if you want to jerk off to oiled-up John Travolta, but even I would probably enjoy gay porn more.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Sept 23, 2022 21:11:02 GMT -5
Winter is coming and I have buddies who want to join me in this crazy endeavor, so watch this space! Also I'm adding Gregory's Girl, starring Clare Grogan of Altered Images, to the list...
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Post by Floyd D Barber on Oct 12, 2022 13:01:26 GMT -5
Winter is coming and I have buddies who want to join me in this crazy endeavor, so watch this space! Also I'm adding Gregory's Girl, starring Clare Grogan of Altered Images, to the list... Anything that might bring "Gregory's Girl" to the attention of a wider audience is good and should be encouraged.* * see also "Local Hero"
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Mar 4, 2023 1:08:54 GMT -5
Slaves of New York (1989)Synopsis: Based on the stories Slaves of New York by Tama Janowitz, the film follows the lives of struggling artists in New York City during the mid-1980s. How this film entered my consciousness: I remember seeing this soundtrack pop up in the video credits to some of the best dance music of the era. It seemed like the kind of fun, colorful, fashionable thing I was into at that age (see Married to the Mob - a FAR superior film), but again, I was thwarted by the R-rating. Film Highlights: 1. Bernadette Peters is charming AF and her performance almost saves this disaster. There are also great supporting turns from Mary Beth Hurt, Stanley Tucci, Mercedes Ruhl, and Steve Buscemi. 2. Character actor Louis Guss (who you'll remember from The Godfather, Moonstruck, and The Golden Girls) has some great lines as an NYC landlord: "If you don't want it I have 70 people who do" and "You are my least favorite human!" 3. The fashion in this movie, provided by Stephen Sprouse, Moschino, and others, is IMPECCABLE. Film Lowlights: 1. The screenplay, which was adapted by the author (in the red dress above) for Andy Warhol before his death led to Merchant Ivory somehow getting a crack at it, is ATROCIOUSLY BAD. This could have been a light romantic comedy in the vein of Desperately Seeking Susan or Married to the Mob, but it's a colossal misfire. Unfunny, tedious, nonsensical in places. Sex in the City with no jokes. Just 99% dogshit. 2. There are questionable production decisions, such as use of split screen, overlapping scenes, and goofy transitions that exacerbate the screenplay's problems rather than fix them. I think of what a Stephen Frears or Jonathan Demme could have done with this--like, where is the noise, energy, and humor of downtown NYC? 3. Too much bad acting. I suspect half the cast have rich relatives that helped finance the film. 3. Too many motherfuckers with ponytails, including Jake Ryan from 16 Candles (who doesn't look bad with his hair down, but still). Also, too many shots of feet. Soundtrack Highlights: 1. Inner City - Good Life 2. Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance 3. Was Not Was - Dad I'm in Jail -- This was one of the best music cues in the movie, along with 4. Eurythmics "I Need A Man" over a shot of a racoon eating out of a dumpster 5. Johann Carlo's cabaret performance of "Say Hi To Your Guy For Me" 6. Joe Leeway of the Thompson Twins' camp performance of "Mother Dearest" as Johnny Jalouse (his named character makes my criteria for this thread) 7. This iconic drag performance of the Supremes' "Love Is Like an Itching In My Heart" 8. Iggy Pop "Fall In Love With Me" Soundtrack Lowlights: Boy George's solo track "Girlfriend" is kind of cheesy and underwritten How Much Coke Were These People On? Coke, smack, and other narcotics are the only explanation for this film's existence. I think the whole production might have been a front for dealers to launder money. Is It Worth Your Time? Much like Smithereens, only for fashion inspiration. I'm kind of tempted to rewrite the screenplay and update it to present day, since I'm reading the book for my reading challenge and pretty much all of the themes still resonate.
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Post by moimoi on Nov 27, 2023 17:35:00 GMT -5
Before resuming my survey, it has come to my attention that I need to make the following adds: Light of Day (1987) - starring Joan Jett Xanadu (1980) - starring Olivia Newton John Yentl (1983) - starring Barbra Streisand
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Post by pantsgoblin on Nov 28, 2023 13:49:32 GMT -5
Before resuming my survey, it has come to my attention that I need to make the following adds: Light of Day (1987) - starring Joan Jett Xanadu (1980) - starring Olivia Newton John Yentl (1983) - starring Barbra Streisand Light of Day has a curious music credit. The soundtrack features a cover of Buddy Holly's "True Love Ways" by some band called The Problems and one of the arrangers was a pre- Pretty Hate Machine Trent Reznor.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Dec 2, 2023 0:18:46 GMT -5
Dirty Dancing (1987)Synopsis: Frances "Baby" Houseman (Grey), a young Jewish woman falls in love with dance instructor Johnny Castle (Swayze) at a Catskills resort. How this film entered my consciousness: My older cousin wanted to see this when it came out and asked my dad to take us, but my dad said no because of the the title and the R-rating (which seems pretty tame now). Despite it becoming a huge hit/cultural milestone, I've never had any desire to watch it myself. Film Highlights: 1. flouncy dresses - I always like these in movies from the 60s 2. Broadway legend Jerry Orbach as the dad Film Lowlights: 1. The dialogue and performances are as wooden as the log they balance on. About 20 minutes in, I found that I didn't care about anything that was happening to anyone on screen. The director appeared to think you could convey all the story's emotion through close-ups of gyrating pelvises. 2. The screenplay is confusing and bad. The voiceover that disappears after the opening was sorely needed to explain why Baby acts like a character in an Indian movie. It drove me nuts that she didn't bother to explain to her father that Robbie was the bad guy even after he got with her sister. This would have also cleared up her dad's bad perception of Johnny, so it was just dumb of her not to speak up. Also, the dramatic stakes actually diminish by the third act instead of increase--we start out with a botched abortion and end up with...a talent show? 3. The ending is lame and contrived. The Footloose group dance at the end was completely unearned and really all the dance sequences were very try-hard. None of these people seemed to have fun nor to be fun. Soundtrack Highlights: 1. that certain moment in "Time of My Life" that makes the whole song worth listening to 2. " Love Man" by Otis Redding following "Do You Love Me" by the Contours 3. "Hungry Eyes" is a fucking jam 4. " Cry to Me" by Solomon Burke following "These Arms of Mine" by Otis Redding Soundtrack Lowlights: 1. I cannot stand "Big Girls Don't Cry" 2. Merry Clayton is an extremely accomplished singer, but "Yes" comes across as imitation Pointer Sisters/Patti Labelle. I wish they had given her something better. 3. This movie is only the first instance of white people ruining "Love is Strange" with lame awkwardness, but at least they're not in blackface! How much coke were these people on? Not enough. Much like Footloose, this movie is far less fun than its title promises. Is it worth your time? Honestly, no. Unless you really miss Patrick Swayze, you're better off just listening to the soundtrack.
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Post by moimoi on Dec 3, 2023 1:19:42 GMT -5
BONUS ENTRY: Eddie & the Cruisers (1983)Synopsis: A TV reporter named Maggie Foley investigates the mysterious disappearance of cult rock star Eddie Wilson. Flashbacks dramatize Eddie's life and the rise and fall of his rock and roll band, Eddie and the Cruisers. How this film entered my consciousness: Honestly, I don't remember. Maybe VH1 showed it? Film Highlights: 1. The film has a fine cast (and when I say fine, I particularly mean the young Tom Berenger, who steals this movie out from under Michael Pare), including Ellen Barkin and Joe Pantoliano. 2. The premise--kind of a rock n' roll Citizen Kane (or Velvet Goldmine)--is intriguing and this had the potential to be a good mystery/thriller Film Lowlights: 1. Total lack of dramatic tension. There isn't much of a story and the way it's told is kind of plodding and half-assed. 2. I suppose I can buy the E-Street-esque stylings of the Beaver Brown band as 60s music, but there is an implausibility to Eddie's character being this Rimbaud-inspired visionary while fronting a bar band in Jersey. Soundtrack Highlights: 1. " Runaway" for the organ solo 2. I think I like "Wild Summer Nights" slightly better than "On the Dark Side" 4. The postpunk score for the last act of the film is actually pretty good, particularly the bit they use in the trailerSoundtrack Lowlights: 1. the schlocky nightclub performance of "Oldies But Goodies Remind Me of You" 2. the repetition of the same three songs at every Cruisers performance--I know they were supposed to be short-lived, but I wish they'd thrown in some more demos of Wordman's songs or something How much coke were these people on? A lot, according to Ellen Barkin (per Wikipedia). I have reason to believe this was another mob-fronted production, based on how inexperienced the producers were and how quickly this film and its sequel were pulled from theaters Is it worth your time? Only if you want to re-cut it into a better film.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Dec 8, 2023 21:18:01 GMT -5
Straight to Hell (1987)Synopsis: The film has been called a parody of Spaghetti Westerns and concerns a gang of criminals who become stranded in the desert, where they stumble upon a surreal Western town full of coffee-addicted killers. The film is based on Giulio Questi's Spaghetti Western film Django Kill... If You Live, Shoot! (1967), which Cox was given permission to adapt. How this film entered my consciousness: I'm pretty sure I learned about this one from Facets. Film Highlights: 1. The cinematography is fantastic and the action sequences all look cool. Tarantino is clearly indebted on the aesthetic side. 2. The absurdist non-cursing and coffee addiction 3. Grace Jones looks AMAZING. Really, everybody looks pretty amazing and iconic. I told my brother this would be great if you adapted this into a comic and fleshed out the plot and characters, because the character designs are all so good. Film Lowlights: 1. COURTNEY. LOVE. All she does is whine and yell in a baby doll dress. Why did Cox give her so much screentime in the beginning? 2. Complete incoherence. It's obvious this movie was written in 3 days as a lark. It has the same problem as Tapeheads: comedy doesn't land if there are no straight characters Soundtrack Highlights: 1. The entire cast's rendition of Danny Boy and a song about hot dogs (the Strummer co-written "Salsa y Ketchup") 2. "Evil Darling" by Joe Strummer 3. "If I Should Fall From Grace with God" by Shane McGowan 4. really the whole soundtrack is strong Soundtrack Lowlights: One of the cast's few non-singers doing a camp performance of "Delilah" in a terrible wig? Actually, this could have been quite funny if the rest of the film made any sense. How much coke were these people on? Dennis Hopper was on set, so I'd guess he was holding. Is it worth your time? Watch this instead.
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Post by moimoi on Dec 16, 2023 21:46:57 GMT -5
Xanadu (1980)
Synopsis: Loosely based on the 1947 Rita Hayworth vehicle Down to Earth, it's the story of the Greek muse Terpsichore coming to earth and inspiring a starving artist before she must return to the heavens. How this film entered my consciousness: How Did This Get Made didn't do this one justice, I think. Film Highlights: 1. Gene Kelly's charisma radiates from the screen, especially against the wet rag leading man whose name I cannot be bothered to look up. 2. The "All Over the World" number doesn't have much going on musically, but visually, it's some of the craziest shit I've ever seen. And it's hilarious. 3. The final sequence with "Xanadu", "Fool Country" and "Magic" features a whole circus troupe, from jugglers to lasso artists. I sincerely wonder if this inspired the SNL writers' various iterations of "What Up With That" 4. Star wipes! And other cheesy-but-totally-appropriate-for-this visual effects. Film Lowlights: 1. This movie would have been so much better if the story was told from Terpsichore's perspective. From the rando artist's perspective, Terpsichore is just a blank object of desire and first two acts of the story have no build-up to the 3rd act conflict. 2. Michael Peck is a godawful actor and totally deserved his Razzie. Soundtrack Highlights: 1. "I'm Alive" opens the film with basically an ELO music video starring Pan's People + ONJ. It's nonsense but at least it's well-choreographed. 2. "Whenever You're Away from Me" - Gene Kelly and ONJ's dance duet. It's a pretty good song and the performance is utterly charming. 3. "Suddenly" - Cliff Richard and ONJ's roller disco ballad, although it's kind of BS that Sir Cliff doesn't appear. 4. "Dancin" - The Tubes' duet with ONJ looks like it's going to be a train wreck, but actually works in the end--especially with what appears to be a cast of thousands selling the rock/swing fusion. Soundtrack Lowlights: 1. "Don't Walk Away" doesn't make any sense as the soundtrack to an elaborate Don Bluth animated sequence. 2. The placement of "Suspended In Time" also makes no sense as it should have been ONJ's 3rd act declaration of love, not some random SFX sequence. How much coke were these people on? If the coke budget was commensurate with the production budget, an UNGODLY amount. Is it worth your time? Um, yeah...? It's NUTS. Cuckoo-bananas. Grade A EXCESS. Just don't expect a story.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Dec 22, 2023 23:07:09 GMT -5
Absolute Beginners (1986)Synopsis: This British musical film is adapted from Colin MacInnes' book about life in late 1950s London and features much fascinating stunt casting of musicians including David Bowie, Ray Davies, Sade, Sandie Shaw, Slim Gaillard, and others. How this film entered my consciousness: I knew this mainly for the soundtrack, which is excellent, since I don't think the film was really released in the U.S. Film Highlights: 1. Bless Julien Temple. This movie has the cocaine-addled pacing of a Ken Russell movie. So much is happening onscreen at any given time that you can't look away for a second. It totally holds your attention. 2. The cinematography and choreography are FANTASTIC. It's just breathtaking to look at. 3. There's an actual interesting plot here, culled from strong source material. Film Lowlights: 1. There are a couple crane shots where the camera is visibly shaking. A surprising rookie mistake. 2. Heavy voiceover and dialogue from the book don't make sense if you haven't read the book. They even have the audacity to talk over The Style Council, which is one of the best songs on the whole soundtrack. 3. In general, the film is just too...busy. There are too many characters and not a strong narrative arc. The characters aren't well-developed and most of the performances rely on stunt casting to register (ie. Ray Davies singing a very Ray Davies song, Bowie acting like an alien, etc.) Soundtrack Highlights: 1. All the jazz and incidental music by Gil Evans is fantastic 2. Have You Ever Had It Blue - The Style Council 3. The Selling Out number is just the kind of excess I'm here for 4. Bowie tap dancing effortlessly to "That's Motivation" 5. "Killer Blow" by Sade Soundtrack Lowlights: 1. "Having It All" is one of the character development songs, but unfortunately Patsy Kensit CANNOT sing. 2. Generally, the songs written for the movie are lackluster, while the soundtrack selections are great. They should have just scrapped the original songs and let the artists perform their hits (especially Ray Davies and Paul Weller, since they did it for Sade and Bowie). How much coke were these people on? Plenty, I'm sure given the ambition of this project. It would explain the pink socks and other bizarro/sinister elements sprinkled throughout. Is it worth your time? Yes! I want to watch it again after reading the books to see if it holds together a bit better, but I really appreciated what Temple was trying to do here. Perhaps the studio meddled too much or not enough, but there's a lot of good stuff here.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Jan 14, 2024 17:45:26 GMT -5
Gregory's Girl (1982)
Synopsis: Gregory Underwood is an awkward teenager who plays on his school football team and develops an unrequited crush on the new star player, a girl named Dorothy.
How this film entered my consciousness: I think I was watching some British pop culture documentary on Youtube and they talked about Clare Grogan and how cool she was.
Film Highlights:
1. I like the brightness of the cinematography and the gentle tone. It reminds me of when I was a middle school English teacher in rural Japan.
2. Madeline, Gregory's little sister, is the spiritual cousin of Kelly MacDonald's character in Trainspotting: poised and wise beyond her years. She steals every scene she's in--really all the elementary schoolers in this are great.
3. Everyone is well-cast and the dialogue is naturalistic.
Film Lowlights:
1. Despite the gentle tone, you do get the sense that the school faculty are engaged in various inappropriate relations with students. It's also creepy how the window cleaner kid checks out Madeline.
2. Aside from Gregory, there's so little character development that it can be hard to tell characters apart. I really wish Clare Grogan's character didn't just kind of come out of nowhere. She should have had more scenes to establish that she was cool.
Soundtrack Highlights:
1. I like the jazzy track that plays while Gregory is laying on the bench with Susan.
2. I guess the little soccer dance that Dorothy does with her coach?
Soundtrack Lowlights:
TBH, the soundtrack is not very good. The opening/closing theme is straight out of an after school special. Thankfully it is used sparingly.
How much coke were these people on? Absolutely none.
Is it worth your time? Yes, but it's pretty slight. It's no Say Anything.
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Post by Floyd D Barber on Jan 22, 2024 20:15:01 GMT -5
Gregory's Girl (1982)Synopsis: Gregory Underwood is an awkward teenager who plays on his school football team and develops an unrequited crush on the new star player, a girl named Dorothy. How this film entered my consciousness: I think I was watching some British pop culture documentary on Youtube and they talked about Clare Grogan and how cool she was. Film Highlights: 1. I like the brightness of the cinematography and the gentle tone. It reminds me of when I was a middle school English teacher in rural Japan. 2. Madeline, Gregory's little sister, is the spiritual cousin of Kelly MacDonald's character in Trainspotting: poised and wise beyond her years. She steals every scene she's in--really all the elementary schoolers in this are great. 3. Everyone is well-cast and the dialogue is naturalistic. Film Lowlights: 1. Despite the gentle tone, you do get the sense that the school faculty are engaged in various inappropriate relations with students. It's also creepy how the window cleaner kid checks out Madeline. 2. Aside from Gregory, there's so little character development that it can be hard to tell characters apart. I really wish Clare Grogan's character didn't just kind of come out of nowhere. She should have had more scenes to establish that she was cool. Soundtrack Highlights: 1. I like the jazzy track that plays while Gregory is laying on the bench with Susan. 2. I guess the little soccer dance that Dorothy does with her coach? Soundtrack Lowlights: TBH, the soundtrack is not very good. The opening/closing theme is straight out of an after school special. Thankfully it is used sparingly. How much coke were these people on? Absolutely none. Is it worth your time? Yes, but it's pretty slight. It's no Say Anything. It doesn't fall into the category of movies in this thread, but this film's director, Bill Forsyth also made Local Hero, one of my all-time favorite movies. I apologize for this off topic comment, but I can't miss any chance to recommend Local Hero to people. Edit: Sorry, I see I mentioned Local Hero in a comment above.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on May 2, 2024 22:47:51 GMT -5
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