Movie review - "The Glory Guys" (1965) **

 The films of Levy-Gardner-Laven aren't particularly well remembered now and weren't that highly regarded in their day but there were a bunch of them including this one. It's a Western very much in John Ford mode - it's about a cavalry troop at a fort, with a dogged captain, some glory hunters and incompetents, boozy Irish sergeant, etc.

Instead of John Wayne there's Tom Tryon, who is handsome and all that but is simply too wooden; instead of Victor McLaglen as the Irish sergeant there's James Caan, of all people, who should've played the Tryon role; instead of Henry Fonda or Richard Widmark as the scout there's Harve Presnell. They throw in a brawl.

The cast also includes Stefanie Powers (fought over by Tryon and Presnell), Michael Anderson Jr, Wayne Rogers. Good on Laven for giving young actors a go.

The script was written by Sam Peckinpah who had worked with Laven in television. Laven directed, and tries to channel Ford - rituals, farewells at the fort, long shots of men on horseback. Some of the colour photography is pleasing.  It's a decent story - a version of the Custer story with Tryon playing a version of Reno/Benteen.

But it's done in by a cast who all feel wrong. Presnell in particular looks out of place but Tryon runs a close second.

If only Peckinpah had directed!

Movie review - "Tick, Tick.. Boom!" (2021) ***

 Jonathan Larson's story is one of the great romances of Broadway - struggling composer who made Rent then died. Andrew Garfield's performance was deservedly acclaimed - nervy, jumpy, wild, driven, talented. Alexndra Shipp is a star who just needs the right vehicle. It's fun to see Vanessa Hudgens a a singer (they could've given her something to play) and even more fun to have Bradley Whitford as Steven Sondheim.

Warm, affectionate and full of talent. It still felt stagey - the story telling devices (cutting back to Garfield/Larson telling his story in a show etc). More could've been done on the central conflict - like we never really believe Garfield is going to leave showbusiness - and the central relationships (would've been good if we'd seen more of the history of him and his BFF and GF, even in montage -these don't come alive).

Still, a lot of talent and heart on display.

Movie review - "Goodnight My Love" (1972) **1/2

 One of the first 70s film noir throw backs - a Chandler-esque tale set in 1946 with Richard Boone and Michael Dunn endearing as a pair of private eyes looking for the ex of Barbara Bain.

This got writer-director Peter Hymans a lot of attention. It's got annoying soft focus photography, decent production values, strong cast (including Victor Buono, Gianni Russ). Very strong cast.

I drifted in and out of this. Maybe I wasn't focused. Maybe it was me. I wasn't that into it. I wish Dunn's part had been bigger. It's fun. Not awesome. Hyams said it was overpraised but hose reviews did lead to him having the opportunity to direct features.

Movie review - "Top Gun Maverick" (2022) ****

 A great long-delay sequel - because time has passed, so Anthony Edwards' son can grow up and be a believable pilot, and Val Kilmer's real life illness can dovetail in a moving way.

It's a shame they didn't explain away Kelly MgGillis - they may as well have recast, or got her to play Kilmer's wife. The love plot with Jennifer Connelly feels a little sketchy - like, who is she? I know they give a backstory but it's a shame she just pours drinks? (The black officer character could've been female and had the romance). But she's the beard and like the first one was a romance with Kilmer this one is a father-son love story with Miles Teller. (This movie is less campy than the original - no Don Simpson?)

The rest is splendid. Wonderful scenes. Better script than the first (though the first created the world). The first was a sports movie with a very unconvincing climax. This makes the final mission integral and the whole course is about that mission.

Cribs from The Right Stuff (opening testing sequence, fabulous idea - they should've brought back Ed Harris at the end), Squadron 633/Star Wars/Dam Buster (final attack), The Bridges at Tokyo Ri (being shot down).

Fun up and comers. Cruise's age looks weird. Rousing moments. Really fun big screen spectacular.

Book review - "Liarmouth" by John Waters (2022)

 Waters' first novel is as close as we're going to get to a Divine film these days - it's the tale of a crime spree by Martha, a chronic liar, which involves a man obssessed with her, her daughter and various other nutballs. Plenty of filth and deviancy some of it quite funny - it is pure Waters. I wanted a little more plot and variation and got tired after a while. A better short story.

The Australian films of 1969

 When exactly did the Australian film revival begin? Stork in 1971? Naked Bunyip in 1970? Bazza McKenzie in 1972? In terms of public acceptance, yes.

Then there was the year of 1969. Gorton was in. TV quotas were in effect. There was a rising cultural nationalism, so it seemed. Homicide was a hugely popular show. As was Bellbird. Riptide sold.

So there was the adhoc films of 1969. Consider these

* Adam's Woman

* Age of Consent - Michael Powell returns to Australia after They're a Weird Mob. A good screenwriter, interesting source material, international star, sexy subject matter. 

*Colour Me Dead - one of three Reg Goldsworthy productions, all with B grade international stars.

*The Intruders - big screen version of Skippy. Public didn't go for it.

*It Takes All Kinds - more Reg Goldsworthy.

*Jack and Jill: A Postscript - Philip Adams goes to the movies.

*Little Jungle Boy/Strange Holiday - two Mendes Brown productions.

*Marinetti - an Albie Thoms joint. 

*Ned Kelly - big name director and big music star

*Rise and Fall of Squizzy Taylor

*The Set

*Three to Go (some of it filmed in 1969)

* Two Thousand Weeks - Tim Burstall's famous navel gazing flop.

* You Can't See Round Corners - cheap knock off of the TV series. Actually a good idea because you could condense the story for a film, and colour gave it a reason to do it

Movie - "Rollerball" (1975) ***

 James Caan was perhaps the most "jock"-ish of Hollywood 70s stars (along with Burt Reynolds and Warren Beatty) so he is perfect to play the champion athlete of the future, star of a violent game. The future here is meant to be chilling but no poverty or war doesn't sound too bad and are we really better off with Caan hanging on to his career? You could've told the story with poverty and war still existing.

Caan is excellent. Strong support from John Housman and John Beck and Maud Adams is very effective. Jewison does superb sport sequences. I wish he'd done more on the non sports stuff. Relationships between Caan and Beck is clear ditto Caan and Adams. But the rest felt undeveloped - Caan's stand, his position in society. His battle isn't quite dramatised.

Death Race 2000 is a better, more fun film.

Movie review - "Rabbit Run" (1970) *1/2 (warning: spoilers)

 There was a vogue around this time to film unfilmable novels - this, Portnoy's Complaint, Take a Nice Girl Like You, etc. Maybe this was filmable - it doesn't work here. It's by John Updike who I've never read, sorry John, but I'm prepared to accept is great. I think the novel's treatment of sex was especially appealing in the Eisenhower era. Maybe not so much in 1970. Maybe also not so much under the direction of Jack Smight.

James Caan would seem to be ideal in the lead - who is a former high school basketball star struggling with life as a grown up. And he's not bad. But maybe they needed to cast someone who played the subtext more - nervy, insecure, someone like Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate (I guess I'm saying "cast Jewish"... but if not Jewish then more insecure.)

In the "plot" Caan is married to pregnant shrewish Carrie Snodgrass,deals with his old coach Jack Albertson, hooks up with young Anjanette Comer (like the night after leaving his wife). He goes back to the wife when she has the baby, the wife accidentally kills the baby (an unconvincing doll but a stressful sequence - they killed a kid in Caan's Cinderella Liberty too.

Look, the film has a go. Doesn't get there. I think it was beyond Jack Smight, director, and the adapter. Struggles from not being set in period. Gives Comer a chance. I can see why Caan was attracted to it.

But a film like this everything needs to wor, and that's not the case here.

Book review - "Flashman and the Tiger" by George MacDonald Fraser (1999)

 So frustrating. Three Flashman stories - a long one, basically a novella, and two short. Only one, about the Tranby Croft affair, feels like a genuine stand alone story. The other two feel like ideas for full novels that Fraser abandoned. I may be unfair, but it's what it feels like.

To make it worse there's constant references to earlier, better novels, and the stories contain teasers/trailers of adventures we (or at least I) would rather be reading about: Flashman trying to rescue Maximilian from Mexico, Flashman with Gordon at Khartoum (we get a trailer of him with Woseley and the first story ends with him going off to the Sudan with Gordon), Flashman in the Zulu Wars (we get a description of Isandhlwana which is exciting and a glimpse of Rorke's Draft but it's unsatisfying).

For the adventures themselves:

"Road to Charing Cross" - Flashman has to save the life of Emperor Franz Josef, and deals with the son of Rudi Von Stanberg. Some of this is alright - there's some excellent action during the assassination sequence (pointlessly cut short with Flashman being knocked out... why not play it out?) and the final duel with Rudi Jnr is superb with Flashman in genuine peril (but he's saved by a deux ex machina super woman). Flashman being old and getting passed over has some novelty.

"The Subtleties of Baccarat" - the Tranby Croft affair. A tight self contained story which isn't bad. Fraser was always strong at sporting contests.

"Flashman and the Tiger" - exciting battles in Zulu land, although it later crosses the streams by having Flashman meet Tiger Jack Moran of the Sherlock Holmes stories... and later encounter Holmes and Watson. The finale where Holmes continually misses the point about Flashman is funny - but it is weird that characters from separate universes mix. I enjoyed the Oscar Wilde cameo and the use of Flashman's granddaughter Selina - I just wish it had been a proper Zulu novel

Movie review - "TR Baskin" (1971) **1/2

 Peter Hyams' first script he wrote actually got sold and made. He became known for action-y pics/thrillers so it's a surprise to find this work is basically a woman's picture. I guess that's the best description, even though it starts with two men (which I think is the problem). The opening credits are Peter Boyle arriving in Chicago - he meets up with acquaintance James Caan who sets him up with a hooker... Candice Bergen. Boyle can't get it up but he hits it off with Bergen and she tells him her life story.

I thought this would be a film about how a woman became a prostitute but it's not because Bergen's not a prostitute, not really - she's a small town gal who moves to the big city and has various adventures. She goes on a few dates, experiences working in a firm, makes friends with Marcia Rodd (who is great - she was in Little Murders). One hour in she meets Caan and falls in love I guess over an afternoon and he gives her money and she's so insulted she becomes a prostitute... I think...

Look, that's one of the film's problems, it never seems to have a theme. It's a collection of incidents and scenes, some of them funny. I think it needed to focus more on her relationships, something with progression - there's one with Boyle, and Caan (though he comes in too late), and I think we needed to see her mother.

Also it's a film about a woman written by a man in an original script and directed by a man, Herbert Ross. Bergen wasn't quite up to the role, although she looks terrific.

But it's a stylish movie, it takes a swing from the fences - the fact it got made is quite remarkable.

Movie review - "Appointment with a Shadow" (1957) **

A film noir from Universal which gave a meaty lead role to George Nader, stepping in for Jeffrey Hunter who was going to star but fell ill.

Nader is an alcoholic journo whose wife wants him to give up drinking. She gives him a tip from her brother (Brian Keith) that a major crim is in town, with plastic surgery, and will be arrested. He turns up, sees the gangster shot dead by the cops (after drawing his gun, this isn't a corruption story), but then spots the real gangster. Problem is, because he's a boozer, no one believes him.

That's not a bad idea for a film. Alec Coppel worked on the script. It's quite gloomy. As if Ray Milland from The Lost Weekend was thrown into a thriller. But not bad. 

George Nader rises to the occasion even though Brian Keith who plays the cop would probably have been better in the lead. Joanna More does her best in the Jane Wyman part as the "c'mon you can do it" girlfriend. Virginia Field has more fun as a stripper who knows the gangster.

The alcohol stuff is interesting but this is a programmer. It lacks an extra twist or two - like say making the baddie or his stripper gal an alcoholic, or having someone force booze into Nader.

Still it was interesting. Richard Carlson, better known as an actor, directed.

Movie review - "2000 Weeks" (1969) **

 A famed production - Tim Burstall's first feature, hyped at the time (apparently) then critically reviled and rejected by audiences. Colin Bennett bagged it which is apparently a thing in Melbourne because he wrote for (gasp) The Age. A look at reviews of Australian TV drama in the 1950s and 1960s though shows critics can't be relied upon to support local product. 

It's heavily influenced by swinging sixties cinema - jazzy music, moving camera, sexiness (the opening sequence has Mark McManus having sex with Jeanie Drynan), flashbacks to his childhood. It's the sort of film that feels as though it should be in French,

I'm being a bit mean. It's a bold attempt to do something. An arthouse Australian film that deals with cultural issues. It is the sort of thing that David Williamson would cover so effectively - mid life crises amongst the chattering classes, with infidelity, jealousy, male competitiveness - but he had that wonderful vicious humour and sense of story that's lacking here. Burstall wasn't a natural screenwriter - nor, based on this, was co-scribe Patrick Ryan.

There's glimpse of bare backs and shoulders and a bit of nipple. I wondered that if Burstall had gone the whole hog and put in proper nudity he would've had a hit. He certainly learned that lesson. It was probably too early in the late sixties - a few years later it was on for young and old.

Incidentally the superb Oz movies website makes an argument in favour of B60sennett's review, reprinting it in full (see here). I still think that review is super super mean. Still, there's no denying this doesn't hit the mark. It's long. And dull. And really problematic - I mean Mark McManus punches his wife after she admits to rooting someone else, then she takes off her clothes (that's when we get the nipple) and I think their relationship is rejuvenated? Is that right?

It has some strong things. Jeanie Drynan is beautiful - real movie star beautiful. The black and white photography is nice. It takes a big swing.

TV review - "Smash" (2011) (first three eps) **

 Curious to see this after reading some articles about its troubled production. I get what they were going for. I like a backstage show. Some decent characters - Jack Davenport is strong, as is Deborah Messing. But it's sluggish. Slow. The two ingenues feel wrong. It lacks the zip and fun of Glee. That moved and popped around and had story. This seems so... I don't know. Forced. Serious. Something. I can understand why the show leant towards Ellis the assistant he at least has some life in him.

Movie review - "I Mobster" (1958) ** (re-watching)

 I watched this again because I recalled Quentin Tarantino gave it a good review but part way through realised he was praising Machine Gun Kelly not this. This isn't bad it's just overly familiar: the rise and fall of a gangster, played by Steve Cochran, a handsome, accomplished actor who simply doesn't hold the screen the way that Charles Bronson did. 

In fairness the character isn't that interesting - ambitious and that's it - and he's surrounded by so many dull stock elements: ruthless boss (the guy from Stalag 17), loving gal, whiny immigrant parents.

It has a jazzy soundtrack, a bit of action. Roger Corman keeps things moving. Steve Fisher wrote the script. Lili St Cyr does a strip tease that feels inserted in.

It's just not that good.

This was part of that "revived gangster movie" cycle of the late 1950s that included Al Capone and The Untouchables. See Machine Gun Kelly instead.

Movie review - "Starman" (1984) **1/2

 More serious John Carpenter movie with Jeff Bridges excellent as an alien who arrives on Earth and takes the form of Karen Allen's dead husband. It's played very seriously, like a love story, with Allen going for the emotion.

Bridges underplays nicely when the temptation must have been to do muppet acting. I've got to admit - I found this movie kind of boring. I wanted to enjoy it more than I did. Allen and Bridges' relationship lacked snap and kick. She's not bad, she's clearly thought about her performance - they don't have much chemistry and their adventures aren't that interesting: some rednecks, a man who gives them some pie. She's gloomy and he's a man child. Richard Jaekel looks as though he wants to cut loose with some madness but never can. Charles Martin Smith is the decent scientist.

This was nice. Just dull.

Script review - "Proof of Life" by Tony Gilroy

 The film wasn't a bit hit but I remember it fondly- how well cast was Russell Crowe and David Caruso, how miscast was Meg Ryan. She gives a good performance but she was too big a star for the role who is just willowy really. Needed an Ingrid Bergman passive type "I can't make up my mind".

The script is fun to read, a page turner, interesting world, romantic center, the K and R blokes are funny. Terry and Alice sleep together in this version - apparently that ws filmed. Good to cut. The kidnapped American is a bit obnoxious yelling at his kidnappers.

Script review - "Duplicity" by Tony Gilroy (warning: spoilers)

 A joy to read because of Gilroy's style, it's use of double dashes, short paragraphs, snappy dialogue, non-linear presentation, cleverness and terrific star parts. It's maybe too clever - I didn't quite get what was going on after a while.

I got to admit I didn't like it that they got played at the end. I wanted them to triumph. Ending was a downer.

Movie review - "Vampires" (1998) ***

 A return to form for John Carpenter after some iffy movies. This is a jaunty tale of vampire hunters in the South West, a modern day Western with James Woods as the bounty hunter equivalent out for baddies. He has a posse which is wiped out (the film's best sequence), except for Woods and Daniel Baldwin.

Baldwin gives the film some camp appeal, with his chubby cheeks and faux macho posturing. His "romance", I guess, with hooker Sheryl Lee, who is bitten by the head vampire is very rapey and awkward (he takes off her clothes and chains her to the bed and they fall in love). Lee is beautiful but looks downright uncomfortable in a lot of scenes.

Woods is another attraction with his method intensity and leather jacket. He seems to be having the time of his life. He is given a priest sidekick - no reflection on that actor but I wish the sidekick had been a nun.

I think the other flaw for me was the relationships between Lee and Baldwin and Woods and Baldwin. These are is the emotional core of the film - if this had worked I feel the movie would be remembered more fondly.

Still it's a solid story, and is basically well done by Carpenter.

Movie review - "Elvis" (1979) ***

 John Carpenter fans focus on his horror/sci fi/action output but he always said it was making this that made him a real director - although a TV movie it was a delux one, involving lots of locations, sets and jumps in time. It's an affectionate, loving recreation of Elvis' life with Kurt Russell very strong in the title role. Shelley Winters offers some old time star power/ham as his ma, and it's fun to see various actors from Grease in it, like Crater Face as a bigot who wants to give Elvis a haircut, and Potzy who plays Nick Adams. Joe Mantegna is in this!

Red West is given very very sympathetic treatment. So too Priscilla (played by Kurt Russell's wife IRL). This isn't surprising.

This is an enjoyable tale. I did find myself tuning out from time to time - it's very long. We see a bit of Tom Parker and the movies. There's cute stuff like Elvis on a date with Natalie Wood. I always remembered the ending with him singing 'Glory Glory Hallelujah'. Carpenter does a fine job.

Book review - Rumpole#4 - "Rumpole for the Defence" by John Mortimer (1982)

 Very very strong book.

"Rumpole and the Confession of Guilt" - Rumpole and his young son Nick - they have an ethical discussion which depresses Rumpole which is odd because his character is in the right. Nice that Hilda comes to his defence.

"Rumpole and the Gentle Art of Blackmail" - a male hooker (basically) is accused of blackmailing an Oxford star. Mortimer has fun with the world of Oxford and sexual hypocrisy. I always loved how Hilda learned to blackmail her husband.

"Rumpole and the Dear Departed" - Rumpole hilariously gets involved with a will dispute - it's fraud and involves a no-nonsense nurse communicating with the dead.  Great fun.

"Rumpole and the Rotten Apple" - Rumpole defends a corrupt cop - or is he? Fresh take.

"Rumpole and the Expert Witness" - Rumpole defends a doctor accused of killing his wife. The doctor is the son of an expert in the Penge Bungalow Murders. A chilling ending. Mortimer could do the more serious takes as well.

"Rumpole and the Spirit of Christmas" - Rumpole is outfoxed by a slimy prosecutor in a short story.

"Rumpole and the Boat People" - Rumpole defends an old mate of Hilda's, a sea side mystery.

Book review - "Flashman and the Angel of the Lord" by George MacDonald Fraser

 I think most Flashman fans, hearing Flashman was on his way back to America, were excited - would this be his Civil War tale so often alluded to, where he changed sides, worked for Lincoln, helped resolve the war... or his experiences with Wild Bill Hickock... but no, this one is an account of a small scale incident, though an admittedly interesting one: John Brown's Raid. Brown is a fascinating story (and character) but not really big enough for a whole Flashman - or at least so says I, used to Flashman adventures that entailed wars and massive campaigns. Also this book has far too much of Flashman's attitude on race and too much time spent on the black agent,Joe. It just goes on and on.

I mean it's not badly written, the observations are lively and the action (when it comes) is fine. But there's too little of it. Not enough twists, spectacle, cleverness. Some of it felt lazy like Flashman sneaking off during the Brown siege and rooting this black woman then coming back. The story is bodgy. The weakest Flashman to date, even more so than Flashman and the Dragon. Ok, Fraser didn't want to do Civil War but if only he'd done one on the Mexican American War, Khartoum, Zulu War...

Movie review - "Eyes of Laura Mars" (1978) **1/2

 I was reluctant to see this because John Carpenter, who wrote the original script, said his work was needlessly changed, and I'm prepared to believe that (Carpenter was on a hot streak as a writer around this time). But it has charm, of a sorts, especially in its depiction of hedonistic late 70s New York, with fashion photographer Faye Dunaway shooting violent art shots of models (including the lovely Darlanne Fluegel) and her assistant, puffy haired Rene Auberjonois. 

There's also Tommy Lee Jones as the hunky cop, Barbra Streisand on the soundtrack (producer Jon Peters bought the script as a vehicle for her - she opted out but provided a song), stylish photography, Brad Dourif as a loony, Raul Julia as a gigolo type. Everyone looks as though they are on their way to Studio 54.

I'm not a big fan of giallo but there's not too much violence.

I would've preferred the original script was shot starring Roberta Collins, which was Jack Harris' original plan. Still, this is of interest.

(I gather this was Dunaway's big pay day movie after making Network. I understand she wanted big payday movies that focused on her but in hindsight she should've focused on just working on higher end projects. In fairness, this film didn't hurt her - Mommie Dearest is what turned her in to a joke.)

Movie review - "Another Man, Another Chance" (1977) ***

 James Caan always had the soul of an artist, which he at times struggled to reconcile with the lure of being a big star. This is one for the art column: Claude Lelouch (A Man and a Woman) makes a film in the US, with Caan in the lead. It's mostly in English but has a lot in French. Genevieve Bujold comes out West with her photographer husband; Caan has a ranch with his pregnant wife. Both spouses wind up killed but not until an hour in, so their deaths mean something.

It's nicely shot, full of long takes, and devotes plenty of time to its star. Caan loved making it. I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I was at first reluctant, with its present day opening and scenes in 1870 Paris. But then I got in its rhythms. It's a little like McCabe and Mrs Miller - not a lot but a little - in that it sort of ambles but then there's this outburst of violence. Like we see Caan work, and talk with his wife, and go to town, and kiss, and argue and hang out... then she's raped and killed. and Bujold and her husband travel, and set up shop, and work as a photographer... then he's killed.

Bujold's husband is the most interesting character - someone trying to make it as a new profession. Caan is very good as a vet/cowboy who tries to be a decent person - he is touching in pursuit of Bujold Bujold is beautiful but doesn't seem to have much of a character. There's nice scenes between Caan and his son - Caan dumps him with Susan Tyrell's school teacher but stays in touch a lot.

I dont think this is a classic and can see why it wasn't a hit but it was engaging.

Book review - "Flashman and the Mountain of Light" by George MacDonald Fraser (1990)

 Improvement on Flashman and the Draagon because it has a meatier, cohesive shape - the first Sikh War. And while it deals with a British success (never as much fun for Flashmans) it has a different slant - the rulers of the Punjab conspire with the British for the Sikh army to lose, forcing Flashman to get involved in strategy. This is fresh.

There are colourful characters - the American mercenaries - but a lot of it felt same-y: the northwest frontier setting, the various intrigues at court, the sex mad native ruler. I know it's all true, it just felt same-y. And this time I wish Fraser had started doing Flashmans in different locations: Khartoum, Zululand, Mexico. It's also stressful that Hardinge doesn't like Flashman - although that is at least different.

It's a solid entry, mind.

Book review - "Flashman and the Dragon" by George MacDonald Fraser (1985)

 The first poor Flashman. The setting is terrific, ditto the research. Flashman is as funny as ever. Memorable characters.

The main thing is the storyline which is so stop-start. In the run of excellent Flashmans, from Flash for Freedom to Flashman and the Redskins, Flashman would be thrown into deadly peril then struggle to get out. This feels like a collection of short stories. Flashman gets involved in gun running - resolved. Flashman meets a female pirate - they have sex, she's gone. Flashman visits the Taiping Kingdom - resolved. Flashman goes on the Peking expedition -then captured, then is released... then is captured again and meets the Empress... this is interesting... but then it too is quite easily resolved.

I think these were all fixable. Flashman should not have been able to get to safety. Put him in constant peril - that's where the other books were strong. This one has too much pressure relief.

Also Flashman isn't as entertaining during successful missions. He's at his best in amidst disaster - Afghanistan, Little Big Horn, Charge of the Light Brigade, Cawnpore. The march on Peking was basically successful.

It lacks an introductory scene in England. I think that would've helped.

Movie review - "Cinderella Liberty" (1973) *** (warning: spoilers)

 A sleeper. This has been overlooked in film buffdom by The Last Detail by the same writer - it's a similar ish look at life in the peacetime Navy among the lower ranks, people who shlep along. This is a romance between James Caan and prostitute Marsha Mason. Mason is quite racy here going topless and what not - this seemed to launch her as a star but she took time off and then got pigeon holed as a Neil Simon specialist.

This is long - it ambles, goes for over two hours. But it's effective. When they introduced the baby my heart sunk because I got the feeling they'd kill off the kid and I was right. Still, powerful and good obstacle.

My favourite bits were the inane chats the sailors had. This felt so true. As did Eli Wallach's ageing veteran unable to do anything else, and the medical stuff ups, and the red tape.

Book review - "Flashman and the Redskins" by George MacDonald Fraser (1982) (warning: spoilers)

 Excellent Flashman. Truly epic sweep.  Two parts, leaping time. More heart than normal because of the son reveal. Flashman is a bit of a dill to get caught up in Mrs Candy's plan - that didn't quite ring true despite all Fraser's attempts to justify it. Very funny. Thrilling action - chases through the desert, Bents Fort, the epic Battle of Little Big Horn. Splendid characters - Custer, Mangas Colorado, Kit Carson. This is one of the best. Flashman does a genuinely really mean thing in this - selling Cleonie - which he hasn't done for  a while.

Movie review - "Kiss Me Goodbye" (1982) **

 Attempt at making a Topper/Blithe Spirit type comedy - smart New Yorkers, stars, comic ghosts. Sally Field is the woman whose ex James Caan, a Bob Fosse type choreographer, haunts her old house. Jeff Bridges is the Bill Pullman.

The film is set up to be funny - there are wacky best friends, old dames (Claire Trevor as Field's mother). The cast try - try too hard, no one's funny and they're all trying. Caan even tap dances a bit. He played a few showmen in his day.

The second half of the film is geared far too much to Jeff Bridges when it needed to focus on Fields. It also lacks a subplot - like they are knocking down the house, or Field has a project, or Caan gets Field to do a show or something. Caan in particular looks haplessly passive. And the dialogue isn't funny. I kept wishing Neil Simon had done a polish on this.

Directed by Robert Mulligan.

Movie review - "Ride Like a Girl" (2019) **1/2

 A good old big commercial Oz film - great story, exploitable elements (true story, horse race), heart (dead mum, Down Syndrome brother), top line behind the scenes talent, top cast. Jill Bilcock's credit is interesting. The big moment - the final race - is curiously lacking. Best performance from the brother.

Movie review - "Funny Lady" (1975) **

 Done with gloss but it feels old fashioned for 1975. It's very much in that 20th Century Fox musical mode - a true story heavily fictionalised with plenty of production numbers. I didn't recognise any of the songs. Barbra Streisand fans will like it, with all the songs and outfits and jokes. The bulk of the plot is a squabbling rom com with James Caan, hamming it up with Babs, as Billy Rose. These two are fun. Omar Sharif adds a dash of drama as her ex.

I didn't really like it but it wasn't made for me.

Book review - "Making Tootsie"

 Interesting-ish account of the making of the now classic comedy, famed at the time for its on set clashes between Sydney Pollack and Dustin Hoffman. Reading about it sounds exhausting. A lot of Hoffman's behaviour looking back is worrying - auditioning women for parts in the film, "flirting" with everyone. The chapter on Teri Garr is touching - she seemed to be on the cusp of major stardom.

Movie review - "Journey to Shiloh" (1968) ** (warning: spoilers)

 A Western seemingly made with the main goal of showing off Universal's contract roster.  The cast is headed by James Caan, relaxed and confident but in an absurdly distracting wig. He plays the leader of seven cowboys who are riding from Texas to join the Confederate Army.

The seven are made up of Caan, Don Stroud, Harrison Ford, Jan Michael Vincent, Don Stroud, Paul Petersen and Michael Burns - that's not a bad hit rate from the Universal casting director. Ford gets a close up at the beginning but then I forgot him. Vincent overacts his death scene.

It's shot in that cheap ugly Universal style - clearly on the backlot. There's quite a decent little romance between Caan and Tisha Sterling. Caan gets to kick a little arse but is always undermined by his wig.

The film gets points for killing off six of the seven. You do feel Caan has been through the wars.  Some bits seem flat out dumb like the soldiers realising the South supports slavery.

The novelty of the cast is the only real reason to watch this

Movie review - "Harry and Walter Go to New York" (1976) *

 Cripes The Sing has a lot to answer for - Lucky Lady, Nickelodeon, this. It was probably heaps of fun to make. James Caan and Elliot Gould look like they're having fun as a song and dance duo who are like a low rent Hope and Crosby - only without really defined personas (Caan is dumb and confident, Gould, dumb and not as confident). They use their routines to pick pockets. They go to prison, wind up with classy thief Michael Caine. I think there's something about revenge. The film throws in Diane Keaton as a feisty woman, and Lesley Ann Warren as Caine's dolly bird.

I liked seeing Caan and Gould do songs but the film was annoying. Wacky music. Dumb plot, Not developed. Lacks focus. You could have cut out Caine's character - Caine is charming and pulls focus. The film doesn't get going until an hour in when they decide to rob a bank. 

The robbery sequence is painfully unfunny. Charles Durning is in it. Burt Young. Oh it was terrible.

Book review - "Flashman's Lady" (1977) by George MacDonald Fraser

 Terrific stuff from Fraser. Sometimes this gets overlooked in my memory with Flashman's 3-5 but this one is brilliant too. You sense Flashman is in true peril going up Borneo and then in Madagascar. Giving Elspeth a larger role is a fresh take, including diary entries and comments from her sister. There's also a lovely opening section about cricket, meeting Tom Brown and playing at Lords, with a superb double wicket match. The scene visiting the execution did feel a little random (the time spent on it in the book) and the bookie's voice was perhaps given too much page space. Those a minor gripes in a Flashman classic.

This really is the best formula for the books: opening sequence in England, with a sports type sequence, then adventures in one exotic part of the world, then adventures in another exotic part of the world, constantly pair Flashman with famous nutters. A treat.

Movie review - "Escape from New York" (1981) **** (re-watching)

 Why not watch it again? Getting creaky as the years go on. But Kurt Russell is great, the weirdness works - the oddness of the town, the deserted streets, the show that's performed, the spooky people, the music.

Movie review - "Comes a Horseman" (1978) **

 Beware genre films made by people too cool for that genre. That's what this feels like. "Ooh let's set it in the 1940s and explore character and not have caricatures". The thing is the base situation is so stock - evil land baron (Jason Robards) wants to kick feisty woman (Jane Fonda) off land and she's helped by hunky man (James Caan). There's a grizzled sidekick (Richard Farnsworth) plus a partner of Caan's (Mark Harmon, young and charismatic) to get killed early on.

Nothing wrong with that plot, however old - having Robards in debt to oil company isn't that much of a new twist - the main problem is the film is drained of excitement. There's no sexual tension or romance between Fonda and Caan, they're just in scenes together then they get together (the only character to exude warmth is Farnsworth). There's no excitement - the baddies poke around then occasionally flare up. Every now and then they throw in a bit of violence - Harmon is killed, then Caan punches someone in a bar, some bank guy is randomly killed, at the end Robards gets all melodrama villain conking out Fonda and Caan and putting them in a  closet and setting the house on fire, then they come galloping back and... oh it's silly. Until then it's dull.

Beautifully shot. The acting is fine. Robarts is excellent. Just dull. Like an Australian film.

Movie review - "Submarine X-1" (1968) **

 Walter Mirsch produced a bunch of these war films in the 60s - shot in England, medium budget, imported American star. Here it's James Caan, doing professional work but seeming bored. He's right to be bored. It's not a very good movie - something about prepping for a submarine raid. It's darkly lit (at least the copy I saw was) and I couldn't tell the supporting cast apart - full of nondescript British actors. Caan plays a Canadian. I couldn't really follow what was going on - well, actually I could, they were going on a mission to blow something up, it was more I didn't care.