Movie review - "FX2: The Deadly Art of Illusion" (1991) **

 Not very good. Lots of early 90s hair, tinny soundtrack music, really uninspired story. It lacks the clear drive of the first one and hardly has any fun tricks with special effects. The film seems unsure whether Brian Dennehy or Bryan Brown is the hero... it should be Brown but then Dennehy's date is killed and he goes for it. There's little buddy comedy between them. The part of Brown's girlfriend and her son is important at first then forgotten.

I know this was a difficult shoot for director Richard Franklin. There's little of old old style and panache. This experience drove him back to Australia.

The film feels totally unsure of itself.

Movie review - "Zelig" (1983) ***1/2

 Woody Allen has become such a lazy filmmaker over the past 20 years it's hard at times to remember when he took genuine risks, in script and direction. This is a bold quasi-documentary look at a chameleon like figure.

Technically it's a wonder - the merging of real and fake footage is excellent. Occasionally Allen betrays himself going for the gag over character, falling into his old Love and Death trap.

Mia Farrow is very sweet.Maybe the piece could've done with another fleshed out support character or two.

Movie review - "Adventures in the B Trade" by Brian Trenchard Smith

 Warm, affectionate, highly entertaining memoir. Goes off on tangents (as the author himself admits), and not all will be gripped by the technical detail. But an invaluable look at BTS's life and times... and his movies. I was struck how much of his career was a struggle (even when established in Australia he had a rough few years working in the US). He was fired off films, ignored by agents, fired by agents, suffered consistent lack of respect... but ploughed on. He had a strong entrepreneurial streak and was smart enough to have a day job (cutting trailers). And an ability to keep things on time and budget is not to be sneezed at.

He never had a big fat hit to push him to the next level - not even, say, a Psycho II that Richard Franklin had. I wonder what it was. Maybe lack of taste/material. Just bad luck?

I will say that he should've done Dark Age and Les Patterson Saves the World wouldn't have hurt him. And I really really wish Siege of Sydney had gotten up.

Movie review - "Husbands and Wives" (1992) ****1/2

 Woody was really hanging his dick out on this one.A remarkable piece of work - self exposing, fierce, honest, bold. All his flaws are on display though not endorsed... he would lose this skill/desire.  I love how at this stage he was keen on experimenting with visual looks... he would lose that skill/desire.

The lead performances are superb. Sydney Pollack is magnificent in one of his biggest parts as a successful businessman looking for meaning with a fair streak of c**t in him. The woman who plays his aerobics instructor girlfriend is terrific and their domestic violence scene is fantastic. Mia Farrow is superb - ditto Liam Neeson, Judy Davis, Woody himself, Juliette Lewis.

Every now and then you go 'hang on, Woody is that how it is".... the nasty depiction of Mia Farrow's passive aggressiveness, showing Lewis to be a middle aged man-hungry mantrap. But he puts it out there.

Movie review - "Bullets over Broadway" (1994) ****

 Lots of fun. One of Allen's best scripts - I wish he'd work with Doug McGrath again - and a superb cast, including John Cusack (pretentious Greenwich Village artiste), Diane Weist (grand dame of theatre), Chazz Palmenteri (gangster who has a gift for writing), Jennifer Tilly (bimbo... Allen used this trope too many times but she's very funny).

I felt it actually wasn't that well directed - it needed snap and energy but there's these long takes and it felt flabby. That's just my thoughts, anyway.

Book review - "Serenade" by James M. Cain

 Full throated melodrama about a really racist American hiding out in Mexico making derogatory statements about the locals who has a relationship with an Indian woman. The guy could've been a killer/gangster, it's written that way, but actually he's an opera singer and he goes back to America with the girl, gets a Hollywood contract (there's lots of talks about contract) and is tempted back to a gay life by a producer who is killed by the woman... Lots of plot, always something happening. It didn't work for me but I can see why it was optioned for the movies (turned into a Mario Lanza film).

Book review - "Pictures at a Revolution" by Mark Harris

 A great idea - a look at the making of the five films nominated for Best Picture in 1967, the birth of the New Hollywood. It helps all the films were all so different - Dr Doolittle, old school Fox musical yet also New Hollywood in a way because it was bloated in a post Sound of Music Way; In the Heat of the Night, which is a race movie so they can explore Sidney Poitier's career; Guess Who's Coming to Dinner which is also race but had Tracy and Hepburn; The Graduate, which is a youth movie; Bonnie and Clyde, a fresh take on an old genre that led to a major passing of the guard among critics.

The people involved play up their struggles as most Hollywood story tellers do ("I was down and out", "no one thought we'd be successful", "It was my last chance"). Dustin Hoffman pinched Katherine Ross' arse during rehearsals "to get a reaction"... talk about a red flag.

I wound up having surprising respect for Stanley Kramer sticking to his bland vision for Dinner.

Could you tell a story about years in Australian cinema? Not really the same. Maybe 1975.

Movie review - "Love and Death" (1975) ***1/2

 This was really fun. For me it was the best Woody Allen film to date. The humour felt more grounded. It was about something - life of a man in Napoleonic era. Diane Keaton is given a bigger part and makes it gold.

Sometimes it's too gaggy - they go for gags over character. Sometimes too silly.

But generally very good. Looks great - I wish he hadn't stayed in New York for so long after this. The historical slant is fantastic. Some classic moments.

Movie review - "Sleeper" (1973) ***

 Woody Allen used to put in effort. I'm not a massive fan of this film... maybe I saw it too late in life or something.. but it's imaginative and has some funny moments. It's unusual in Allen's oeuvre in that it involves sci fi and a lot of big prop gags. But it does have his first solid on screen relationship with a woman (played by Diane Keaton)... this was on top of Play It Again Sam of course, which he didn't direct.

Keaton is lovely - gorgeous and lots of fun. The film doesn't fully work for me but I can get why it has fans.

Movie review - "Hotel Sorrento" (1993) ***

 I used to love this film... time has passed and it doesn't speak to me as much. I think the issues have passed... it's a very Anglo Australian look at Australia, and the disparity in wealth seems to be a bigger issue (I'm sure someone's written a thesis on the relationship between superiority in culture and superiority in economics).

It's not the fault of the movie or play - pieces are of their time. It affects this piece because it's a thesis play rather than a character driven piece: there's the English expat sister, the American expat sister,the stay at home Aussie sister, the old Aussie, the Aussie intellectual... The most character driven stuff is the teenager feeling bad his granddad drowned and a reveal that a sister had an affair with the dead husband... which isn't really exploited.

A lot of the dialogue feels on the nose. It is well made. Nice use of music. I did get into its rhythms. 

Very well acted on the whole. John Hargreaves and Joan Plowright almost steal the film; it's a fine final role for Hargreaves, who inhabits his character fully. Ray Barrett is very good. Oh, they're all good.

Movie review - "Suddenly Last Summer" (1959) ***1/2

 Ripe campy melodrama which I enjoyed a lot.  There's actually not a lot of story when you think about it - Elizabeth Taylor saw a Bad Thing Happen and is affected by it - and that is spun out for a decent running time. But it works because the three leads are all film stars having a high old time. Kate Hepburn and Liz acted their arses off, chewing the scenery, Monty Clift does dogged decency well (the accident adds to his character).

I think Gore Vidal did a very good script of Tennessee Williams' play... long scenes, literate, funny. Mankiewicz lets the action breathe.

Movie review - "Interiors" (1978) ***

 I'll admit this is my "broccoli" Woody Allen. I admire it. Know it's good for me. But it doesn't do it for me.

The ambition was wonderful. Gutsy move. He doesn't take these risks anymore.

Extremely well acted. How good wasDiane Keaton? Mary Beth Hurt is excellent as well. Geraldine Page, Maureen Stapleton. Kristin Griffith is good too though she has a less well fleshed out part - the hot sister, who suffers a rape attempt from Richard Jordan (a striking scene).

People talk in slightly expressionistic dialogue which takes a little time to get used to.

Allen later said he wished he'd introduced Maureen Stapleton's character earlier. He was right. I also wish he'd resolved more subplots (eg Jordan-Keaton, Hurt-Sam Waterston).

Beautiful photography and production design.

I think my main problem with the movie is this... it felt skin deep. Page was a perfectionist, Jordan is a bitter critic, Hurt is lost,Griffith insecure, Stapleton loud... and that's about it.

I enjoyed it. Admired it. But it's broccoli.

Movie review - "Crimes and Misdemeanours" (1989) *****

 So good. So incredibly good. Tight. Smart. Funny. Sad. Grown up. 

Alan Alda's slimy producer is a sensation. Mia Farrow is lovely in a not-much role. Woody very good in a more dramatic part - though he is married when pursuing Farrow, my heart didn't break for him that much. Joanna Gleeson's grumpy faced wife is very good. 

Martin Landau is sublime, as is Anjelica Huston (admittedly another in Allen's long, long line of bitches be crazy, but still very good) and Jerry Orbach (whose sad eyed resignation as he deals with his snobby brother is a marvel of acting).

I even like the random grace notes of the sub sub plot involving Allen's sister. Maybe not so much him taking his young teen niece to movies. (Was that how it started with Soo Yi? Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

It's a masterpiece. No wonder Woody returned to the well several times in films such as Match Point and Cassandra's Dream.

Movie review - "Take the Money and Run" (1969) **1/2

 Some funny lines. Janet Margolin is lovely. It's too much just on Woody. He would later realise his strengths at exploring character relationships. For instance, Louise Lasser has a brief scene as the fan of Allen's character... that would've been great for a whole subplot.

The ambling joke-joke-joke structure did get wearying after a while even though the film did hit on the tropes of the criminal genre (parents, wife, capture, escape from prison) it doesn't tell a story.

But for a first effort not bad.

Movie review - "Bananas" (1971) ***

 This comedy has a great idea - Woody Allen goes to south America heartbroken and winds up leading a revolution. Some very funny jokes, and I love the banter with Louise lasser. I wish her part had been bigger and that she'd gone to south America with him. The main issue with the film for me is the lack of relationships the lead character has... the revolutionaries he deals with are sketchy as are the people in the US. It wouldn't have been too hard to personalise a villain, use the love interest more, use a best friend more.

Allen would learn all these lessons. And it is funny.

His hair is very messy. The messiest of any comedy star?

Movie review - "Stardust Memories" (1980) ***1/2

 Most Woody Allen films I re-watch I find my opinion hasn't changed. This one I like more. I think a lot of people feel that way. When it came out I get the impression people were offended by its depiction of Woody Allen fans.

Time has passed and now we can appreciate its boldness, the confidence of its visual look, the grotesques are entertaining. It is navel gazing and rips off Fellini shamelessly but interesting and some of it is very funny and moving.

Charlotte Rampling is superb as Allen's (literally) crazy ex. Jessica Harper's potential girlfriend is a more typical Allen nutter (one in a long, long line of Allen women who had an affair with her college professor) - but Rampling has genuine pain and is scary and moving and wonderful. It's a performance as good as Cate Blanchett's in Blue Jasmine. There's entertaining turns from people like Tony Roberts as himself and Daniel Stern. Sharon Stone blows a kiss at the beginning.

Full of fascinating personal insights to Allen's life and things that have unexpected resonance: deciding to be with a sensible woman who has young kids, him picking up cast members (it's how he meets Rampling), Rampling accusing him of wanting her 13 year old cousin.

It's superbly designed, shot and edited.

Movie review - "Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask)" (1972) **1/2

 Anthology movie consisting of seven sketches. A big hit for Woody Allen. Eveyone's got their own favourites. Woody Allen as a jester is a fun concept and that bit has some okay moments. Gene Wilder is hilarious falling for a sheep (why didn't he and Allen work together again? Wilder does Allen's work perfectly). The European cinema sketch is dull. Lou Jacobi in a woman's dress is awful. I wasn't wild about 'What's My Perversion' but I know lots liked it. I enjoyed Woody in an old dark house with John Carradine as a mad scientist. And the last sketch with Tony Randall, Burt Reynolds, etc is a masterpiece.

Apparently Elliot Gould once optioned the book before selling it to UA, who gave it to Allen. Gould would've been great in this - indeed in any Allen film. It's a shame they haven't worked together. I think Allen wanted him for Deconstructing Harry.

Book review - "Public Enemies" by Bryan Burroughs

 Exhaustively researched. Gripping - especially bits around the deaths of the various gangsters. Shows how the various famous people interconnected. Also how Dillinger invented the gangster movie tropes: the swaggering, cheerful, super smart crim, with a psycho gang member (Baby Face Nelson). Lots I didn't know like how Purvis stuffed up so often and the sheer trial and error undertaken by the FBI. Very good book.

Movie review - "From Noon Til Three" (1976) **

 I saw this after listening to an enthusiastic recommendation from a Quentin Tarantino interview, knowing how iffy his taste can be. It was one of his 70s attempts to do something a little different - this was written and directed by Frank Gilroy.

It's a bright idea that could have worked as a gangster movie: Charles Bronson is an outlaw who spends an afternoon with Jill Ireland, who then cashes in on the notoriety to such a degree than Bronson finds himself frozen out of his own history.

I'd classify this has a half success. I really love that Bronson tries here, and clearly made this film to give Jill Ireland a decent role. Ireland tries but simply isn't up to it. I mean imagine, I don't know,Faye Dunaway or Katherine Hepburn or Vanessa Redgrave or... anyone who was a better actor, really. I don't mean to be mean, truly. It's great they had a swing.

Bronson is far more animated than he was in so many of his seventies films. He didn't feel quite right but it was a good try.

The film feels as though it leans towards Preston Sturges territory but lacks something. Maybe stronger support roles - parts like Ireland's maid and Bronson's former gang members feel as though they should have been bigger. It's a satire of society's glamorisation of crime... I feel society needed to be personified.

It's a pleasing tune they wrote for this film and this actually would form the basis of a decent musical.

Movie review - "Hannah and Her Sisters" (1986) ***** (re-watching)

 Better than so many of his later films for several reasons. It has more story - a three girl movie (with the girls being sisters) plus a strong comic subplot involving Woody Allen. Allen's comic timing as a performer is fresh and fast - as he got older he got slower and less fun to watch. The material hadn't been as mined much - he was involved with Mia Farrow, drawing heavily on her family, so the material had freshness. He had friends and colleagues then... it doesn't feel that way now. The device of changing POV works wonderfully - why didn't he return to it? 

It all works. Mia Farrow is splendid as the, well, Mia Farrow sister, Barbara Hershey is terrific, Diane Weist sensational, Woody's never been better, Michael Caine and Max Von Sydow are always good, Daniel Stern is hilarious, fun to see Carrie Fisher, Sam Waterston is memorably snag-gy slimy.

It's just a brilliant film. Have always loved it. Still love it.

Book review - "Legends of the Fall" by Jim Harrison

 Lots of plot shoved in. Covers a lot of years. The character of Tristan must've been catnip to actors - swashbuckling, hot tempered, violent, vagabond, sexy (also really highly abusive). Female characters are rough sketches. A decent read. I didn't mind the film version though no one seems to talk much about it now.

Book review - "Raoul Walsh" by Marilyn Ann Moss (2011)

 Surprising in a way it took so long for someone to do a decent bio on Walsh, but then he's been overshadowed by figures such as Ford and Hawks. This is a good book - it's hefty but then Walsh had a hefty career (I mean, he learned from DW Griffith and was in Birth of a Nation).

On a personal level he wasn't that fascinating - lost the eye, an actor, a tall tale teller, some dud marriages, a tendency to sue for the love of causing mischief, was into horses, politically conservative, earned a lot of money but never seemed to have enough.

His great period was at Warner Bros of course - all those great movies with Errol Flynn and Bogart. A shame he never worked with Flynn again after Silver City. Last movie was with Troy Donahue - actually Walsh worked a lot with teen idols.

Entertaining read.

 

Book review - "Peter O'Toole" by Robert Sellers

 Not a bad book on a great actor. Seems to rely a  lot on other biographies. Nonetheless, interesting.

Movie review - "The Barefoot Contessa" (1954) ***

 Fascinating, flawed piece. Mankiewicz's attempt to do a cinematic All About Eve or his own version of The Bad and the Beautiful - it actually feels most like the latter, which was a version of Citizen Kane. This starts at a funeral of a movie star (Ava Gardner) and tells the story of her life, ish.

There's some memorable dialogue and acting and it was enjoyable, despite Mankiewicz's dodgy sexual politics - I know he used to root actresses with mental health issues eg Judy Garland.

It feels as though it needed an edit - the part played by Humphrey Bogart (who looks like he's dying) surely should have been combined with Edmund O'Brien and that character should surely be in love with Gardner and impregnate her.

There's not a lot of depth to Gardner's character, is there? She wants to fall in love before having sex. Marries an impotent man. Is there anything more?

Her character doesn't deserve to die. She is lonely. And gets shot because she has an affair. That feels so unfair. All the men live.

Key support roles feel undercast - Warren Stevens as Howard Hughes type, Marius Gordin as a Aly Khan type. (These roles feel as though they should be merged too). It takes some fun swipes at admittedly easy targets - film people, the idle rich, aristocrats.

Movie review - Panther#9 - "Son of the Pink Panther" (1993) **

 Blake Edwards tries again this time with Roberto Begnini who actually isn't bad. The repeats of Herbert Lom and Burt Kwok maybe hinder him more than help as does an uninspired plot with Robert Davi kidnapping a princess. This is terrorism-y and doesn't feel inherently Pink Panther.

Nice to see Claudia Cardinale, I guess. The film isn't bad as a Begnini vehicle. As a Pink Panther movie it's uninspired. Tired storyline. Feels very European - there's no English or American characters. Davi feels miscast.

Movie review - "Manhattan Murder Mystery" (1993) **** (re-watching)

 So much fun. Why doesn't Allen work more with Marshall Brickman and Diane Keaton? So nice to see him in a film where he plays against someone his own age, and with friends. Decent murder. Lots of fun. Works in a theme. Angelica Huston and Alan Alda shine in support roles... but everyone is good.

Movie review - "Shadows and Fog" (1992) **** (re-watching)

 Surprised how so few people got this film. Wasn't it obvious? German expressionism of the 20s, with some Kafka, pointing at Antisemitism, vigilantism... it's one of Allen's most political films. It's also very funny with Woody ideally cast and in great form as a scared little man, and a very strong all star support cast.

Beautifully shot and designed, genuinely scary. The world is a mixture of the cold (the streets) and the warm (the brothel, the circus). I love the friendship between Allen and Farrow. I do wish they'd caught the killer at the end.

Movie review - Pink Panther#8 - "Curse of the Pink Panther" (1983) *

Ted Wass had his moment in the sun, with this and Sheena. It was a rough ask for him to step into Sellers' shoes - Dudley Moore, who was offered it, would've been more ideal. Ditto Rowan Atkinson.

Wass tries. I think Blake Edwards was trying to turn him into Harold Lloyd. That's not a bad idea in theory.

But it's not a very good movie. You're always conscious of Sellers. It's hard for Wass. He doesn't get that much screen time.

Joanna Lumley plays a different role. I'm glad Herbert Lom got a paycheck as well as David Niven and Capucine. And Robert Wagner. Hilarious for Roger Moore at the end. It's all very retro - a throwback to the 60s with Lom and Burt Kwouk. Wass didn't really have a chance.

Book review - "Revenge" by Jim Harrison

 I can see why Hollywood loved this novella. Not long, well written, lots of violence, simple story, lots of themes, great hero role, people being manly, two showy male parts (Cochrane and Tibby), sexy babe part (the wife), colourful support parts. The Mexican characters really go out of their way to help Cochrane.

The final film version was very faithful. I enjoyed it. Female part isn't much. But an emotional experience to read.

Book review - "Pauline Kael' By Brian Kellow

 Superb book. I wondered if a look at a film critic's life could be interesting but Kael mattered, I guess - not massively but she helped people get reputations (she helped Altman, maybe not Lamont Johnson or Irving Kershner).

Kael has an interesting personal narrative. Really interesting. Younger daughter of large Jewish immigrant family who... raised chickens! Moved to San Francisco. Super smart. Never really found the right place in the world. Had a daughter out of wedlock to a bisexual man who was never in the picture. Had a short marriage. Found her place working in a cinema and writing about movies. Financially struggled until got the New Yorker gig. Even then it wasn't super well paid and only six months of the year (she shared with Penelope Gilliat) - she had to supplement with her books and lecture tours. (I'm surprised she didn't do more full length pieces like the one she did on Cary Grant). 

Kael comes across exactly as you'd expect. Demanding, mean, brilliant, kind at times, a mini tyrant, an overpowering mother, a devoted grandmother. Her daughter comes across a little vague - I'm sympathetic to Kellow.

He does heaps of research, does excellent analysis of the writing and reviews. The tales of the petty feuds with other critics (John Simon, the boozy Penelope Gilliat, Andrew Sarris, etc) are hilarious. Directors would send her mean letters and/or suck up. Actors did the same - even Streisand! No wonder they had egos.

Some touching moments too like her final days and also when she and George Roy Hill ran into each other both suffering Parkinsons and swapped notes.

Great book.

Book review - "Five Came Back" by Mark Harris

 Excellent look at the war career of top directors. A lot I was already familiar with but some stuff was fresh. The filmmakers spent a lot of time on these documentaries. They are lively characters - George Stevens whose life was changed, party boy John Huston, angsty Frank Capra, driven William Wyler. Entertaining.

Movie review - "Alice" (1990) **

 This film has a lot of fans. It's beautiful to look at, has an all star cast (who are rarely given close ups so you could be unaware of that fact), some imagination...

But the bulk of the plot is about married Mia Farrow deciding whether to root Joe Mantegna and spending ages to do it. I don't think Allen quite nailed the focus. The film came alive at time - when she was invisible, at the end in montage when she decides to be a do gooder, Bernadette Peters as a muse. Those were brief times. The bulk of it is her deciding whether to root someone and then trying to do it. For me the film didn't get its "spine" right.

But it has its fans.

Cast includes Blythe Danner (Farrow's sister), Cybill Shepherd (old friend), Bill Hurt (husband), Elle MacPherson (random hot woman in lingere), Judy Davis (Mantegna's ex), Alex Baldwin (ex), James Toback (!) (professor).

Movie review - "Another Woman" (1988) ****

 Everyone has their random Woody Allen favourites, this is one of mine - a drama which for me brings it all together. He uses many familiar tropes but does them well.

Casting Gena Rowlands in the lead gives it freshness because she seems harsh, she is older - it's about turning fifty. Having older people in the movie feels different - Blythe Danner (old friend), Ian Holm, Betty Buckley.

I loved Martha Plimpton as Holm's daughter, Holm ("I accept your condemnation"), Sandy Dennis as an intense actor, Harris Yulin as Rowland's failure brother. Just great to see less familiar actor in these roles.

I loved the jumping around in time and the use of "Gymnopedie" one of my favourite pieces.

I really like this movie. Always had. I works for me in a way that September didn't. Maybe it's the focus on the one person.

Random aside: the film is about a cold person learning to embrace passion. We would see how this would impact Woody's life in a big way in a few years... Also the lead based on him has a step daughter who thinks she's (he's) awesome.

Book review - "Double Indemnity" by James M Cain (warning: spoilers)

 Never read any James Cain before. It was excellent. Tight. Quick. Same story as the film.. until the ending. Walter falls for Lori, the Italian boyfriend turns out to be investigating Phyllis, Phyllis killed some kids to get access to money, Keyes lets Walter go to not embarass the company.. but books him in on a boat with Phyllis and they decide to kill themselves. (You could do a sequel!)

Box office at Warner Bros 1948

 

Box office at Warner Bros 1949

 

Warner Bros Box Office 1950

 

Book review - "The Getaway" by Jim Thompson (1958) (warning: spoilers)

 Tough book - tougher than the movies which soften Doc's character. Here he's still a superstar (charismatic, smart,sexy... I feel it was written for Bogart)... but he shoots dead more innocent people (guards, a person whose car he wants, three members of the coast guard). Carol is a baby doll.

The story is basically the same it's just Doc and Carol are more ruthless. Benyon for instance is less bad here. 

The big difference is the ending. there's a great character, a Ma Barker type. I'm surprised she didn't turn up in adaptations.

Not as surprised by the fact the didn't include the bit where Doc and Carol go to hell, basically. This is amazing. And makes this actually a moral book in its own way.

Movie review - "Broadway Danny Rose" (1984) ***

 Sweet. Charming. Low key. Hits its target. I think Allen really got jazzed writing for Mia Farrow. Invented an "archetype" - the "Broadway Danny Rose" type agent. Lovely photography. A good time.

Movie review - "September" (1987) **1/2

 The one that Woody Allen kept re filming.  It's like a filmed play but devised for film so it works. No one talks like a real human, it's expressionistic dialogue but once I got used to it, it was fine.

Funny to hear Elaine Strich make a crack about Errol Flynn not being interested in her because she was too old at 16.

Well acted. Sam Waterston's hitting on Diane Wiest was creepy - his articulation was too pronounced or something. It was just uncomfortable.

The big reveal - Mia shot the dude not mum - feels sort of thrown away. It's as if the film is building up to a big climax - her suiciding, cracking up, something - but doesn't go there. I guess Chekhov doesn't go there either and this is based on that.

Also I get that Woody wanted to make a self contained film but it's frustrating that this is set in the country and we never have a look outside.

Movie review - Panther#6 - "Revenge of the Pink Panther" (1978) **

 A bigger role for Cato and some funny stuff but a lazy set up - Robert Webber decides to kill Clouseau to prove that he's tough... I mean, what's that? Dyan Cannon is always good but she doesn't have much to play - "the girl". Lesley Anne Downe's spy in the previous film was a lot more fun. Give Clouseau a girlfriend with difference - Herbert Lom's wife or something.

I didn't like this as much as the previous two.

Book review - "Butch Cassidy" by Charles Leehrson (2020)

 Entertaining book on the famous outlaw. Written in that slightly smart arse Sports Illustrated style I'm not a huge fan of, but there is decent scholarship there. Talks a lot about the movie, inevitably. Doesn't talk a lot about Ethel (etta) Place. A moving narrative.

Movie review - Pink Panther#7 - "Trail of the Pink Panther" (1983) *1/2

 Jeez, Blake, did you need the money that badly?

It is nice to see outtakes from other Panther movies that we hadn't seen before - even if that would've been better suited for a doco. But when they start showing old clips the film got annoying.

Random plot lines like Joanna Lumley becoming important half way through, Robert Loggia as a mafia boss. I liked that David Niven and Capucine got married. Sad that Niven had to be dubbed.

I didn't mind this for the first bit but it was increasingly annoying as it went on. It's just so greedy.

Book review - "Pretty Boy Floyd" by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana (1994)

 Originally a film script this is a tragi comedy, I guess, a laid back, historically accurate (it seemed to me) account of Floyd's life and times. Went for a bit long and I didn't really engage with any characters except Ruby his wife during her period of abandonment. The end was exciting.