Movie review - "Bad Boys" (1983) **1/2

 Most of the films Barry Spikings made at EMI Films seemed to be financed with the Oscars in mind. This did do wonders for the career of Sean Penn, who is very good as a crook in juvey, but it's not much of a movie.

It's based on old Warner Bros crime films, with a modern juvey twist. So all the cliches are there - tough kid but hopeful of reform, evil other gangster (Esai Morale), sweet girl (Ally Sheedy), girl is raped by Morales (an unwelcome new twist), Morales winds up in the same prison. There's a gruff warden, an ex gang member turned counsellor (Reni Santoni),  a wisecracking ethnic sidekick for Penn, an escape, a sadist prisoner.

Fine acting. Morales has a lot of charisma, ditto Clancy Brown, Sheedy very likeable. 

No sound track surprisingly. Maybe this would've worked better as a black movie. Rick Rosenthal doesn't make the material come alive. 

Movie review - "True Crime" (1999) **1/2

 Solid, not that well remembered Clint Eastwood journo drama where he's rescuing a black man on death row. There's people like Denis Leary and James Wood in it along with Mary McCormack. Clint shags a woman and there's talk of him shagging other women.

The plot is an episode of a TV series really - race aagainst time, innocent man, etc. Some affecting death row stuff but that's about it. 

Movie review - "Times Square" (1980) **1/2

 One of Robert Stigwood's string of flops post Grease/Saturday Night Fever this at least has a cult. It's about two teen girls who run away together and bum around in Times Square. Robin Johnson is working class and angry Trini Lopez is the daughter of a politician - who is meant to be a prick and I assume was but my sympathies were with him, though that's not surprising as a dad.

The film was supposedly cut about by Stigwood - who after all had fired the original director of Saturday Night Fever. A love affair between the girls was cut - the movie actually doesn't need it though I can understand why it's removal was upsetting for those dying for some queer representation. 

The involvement of Tim Curry as this all seeing wise deejay who comments on the girls and meets them is a little annoying. He is charismatic and fun it's just his character doesn't feel real.

I like the girls and the punk rock aesthetic and the music. The movie doesn't quite work, and pushes it at 1 hour 50 minutes, but is worth watching. 

 

Movie review - "Frances" (1982) **

 Key teammembers  behind Elephant Man - the writers, the producer, Mel Brooks - try another biopic, and it should be great (Frances Farmer) and there are elements of greatness (the performances of Jessica Lange and Kim Stanley) but it's boring. And annoying. And darkly lit.

The Sam Shepherd character is annoying - not real and he kept popping up to say things. It's never clear why Farmer is collapsing just that she has a bad time and has a bit of a mouth on her.

I think the filmmakers didn't "get" her. So they do "nightmarish" scenes - Frances cracking up, going nuts in the shower, being lobotomised. How is it her parents' fault?

Comes alive during the Clifford Odets bit. 

 

Patrick Swayze Top Ten

1) Dirty Dancing (1987) - perfect for this kind of role

2) Ghost (1990) - again, great to counter balance a female star

3) Red Dawn (1984) - from his sensible elder brother period

4) The Outsiders (1983) - see above

5) Roadhouse (1989) - JG can't compete

6) Point Break (1991) - masterpiece - his career went into freefall after this

7)  North and South (1985) - forgotten now but a big deal in its day

8) Donnie Darko (2001) - a rare decent credit post 1991

9) Blood Brother episode of MASH (1981) - great ep, good credit

10) Skatetown USA (1979) - put in for fun 

It's so weird how his luck turned so much after he became a star. The booze, I assume. Chasing the money. Hollywood not believing him. He should've made musicals. 

Movie review - "Second Thoughts" (1983) *

 Excuse my French but f*ck this movie and f*ck Larry Turman for directing it and Barry Spikings for investing in it for EMI Films. Craig Wasson has a fling with Lucie Arnaz who decides to abort so he kidnaps her. It's played as a drama.

Nice views of Santa Fe and the actors do their best but the film can get stuffed. 

It is fun to see Larry David pop up as a lawyer. 

Movie review - "The Elephant Man" (1980) ****1/2

 This movie feels forgotten now but one time it was a big deal. Crucial to David Lynch's career. Beautifully shot and handled. Some Hollywood touches - night porter villain for instance - but it works dramatically. Perfect acting, from Anthony Hopkins' decent doctor and Wendy Hiller's empathetic nurse to John Hurt's sensitive work. Splendid make up.

One of the best things EMI Films and Mel Brooks ever did. And Lynch.