Movie review - "The Golden Arrow" (1962) **

 The axing of his TV show saw Tab Hunter make his inevitable way to Italy, like so many faded stars of his era. He never got his groove back but he stayed in leads for the next decade.

This has great production values and gorgeous colour. The story is in fits and starts, never quite gets its tone - part fantasy, part Robin Hood. There's some comic genies, one would've done. Rosanna Podessta is pretty as the girl the rest of the cast is indistinguished.

It looks fantastic. Hunter is alright but not quite comfortable in this world. It's weird - Tony Curtis and Rock Hudson suited it more. In his defence he's dubbed. But also he was looking like an ageing juvenile now.

Movie review - "The Steel Lady" (1953) **1/2

 Low budget action adventure which benefits from a decent idea - four American oil men crash in the desert, dig up an old German tank from WW2 and drive it to a nearby French fort... unaware it contains jewels. But nearby Arabs are aware.

Rod Cameron, John Dehner and Leonard from Community are three tough guys, with Tab Hunter as the fourth. The combo works - Dehner is the dodgy one, going a litte Fred C Dobbs, but not dumb. Hunter is protected, mostly sitting and listening to the others. They should've given him a romance in the Arab tent. And they should've had them pick up an Arab in the village to complicate things. Maybe Leonard could've been a woman.

This was a pretty good movie though. The villains are smart. There's action. Decent actors.

Edward Small Top Ten

 I haven't seen even half his huge output but here's a possible top ten:

1) The Son of Monte Cristo (1940) - I actually prefer it to the Count due to George Sanders

2) Last of the Mohicians (1936) - Michael Mann paid tribute to the quality of this

3)Witness for the Prosecution (1957) - look not really a Small film but I'll give it to him

4) Abroad with Two Yanks (1943) - a fun comedy for Aussies

5) The Man in the Iron Mask (1939) - Louis Hayward becomes a kind of star

6) The Corsican Brothers (1941) - really fun swashbuckler

7) T Men (1947) - excellent noir 

8) Greenage Summer (1961) - like Witness, not really a Small film but what the heck

9) The Tower of London (1962) - a Corman film, he clashed with Small, but I liked it

10) South of Pago Pago (1941) - fun south sea melo

Movie review - "King Rat" (1965) **1/2

 I get why they hired Bryan Forbes to make it - he was "hot" at the time. Clavell's novel had sold well. POW films had worked eg The Great Escape.

The novel from memory was a good read. This is done with intelligence and taste. It's just a bit... I dont know, lifeless. Obsessed with being tasteful of something.

The novel had a specific theme - how the king survived. Survivalism. The friendship between Marlowe and the King. 

That's sort of here. But one senses Forbes is more interested in incidentals. Sweat. Actors being skinny. Actors acting. Emoting. Signficance.

The actors are fine - George Segal (a showy, key part for him), James Fox, Tom Courtenay, John Mills. Reg Lye is on hand to play an Aussie. There's some Americans in it too but I wasn't as familiar with them. 

It's a long movie. It's done with class. I can see why no one went to see it though. As David Shipman wrote, you can tell the movie really wants an Oscar.

Movie review - "Roxie Hart" (1942) ***

 I know I'm projecting but this film feels as though it wants to be a musical - everyone bursts into song in one scene, and in another Ginger Rogers does a dance, and it just always feels like people want to sing.

It's a fun tale, quite cynical. They added George Montgomery to be pure of heart, as a journalist who loves Roxie (Ginger) but he mostly just watches her, and narrates the story... he doesn't influence the narrative. The ending which reveals they got married and had six kids with another on the way is kind of depressing.

Ginger is having a great time. The perm isn't very attractive. I didn't mind the censor changes.

I'm not a massive fan of this story but it is fun and cynicism ages well.

Book review - " Strictly Dynamite The Sensational Life of Lupe Velez" by Eve Golden

 I'm mostly familiar with Velez as a punchline in various Hollywood stories - rooting Gary Cooper, marrying Johnny Weismuller, Mexican Spitfire movies being on a double bill with Magnificent Ambersons, suicide in Kenneth Anger's book. So I'm glad Golden gave her a bio.

She did a good job. There's probably a few too many reviews and recaps but a strong picture does emerge. Velez was lively, fun, nice, with a sex drive... she became a star quite quickly (stage appearance, then picked in The Gaucho) and Golden argues she had potential to do more than she did. I haven't seen enough of her work to comment but she definitely kept employed for her life as a name, which is not be be sneezed at.

Golden admits that Velez maybe wasn't her own best ally - she kept leaping from bad relationship to relationship, was involved in domestic violence situatiosn - but the author makes a good case as to Velez films to check out, which I will. She made a lot of them and not many are well known.

The ending is moving. The suicide seems to have  caused by a number of things - pregnant, getting old, career going downhill.

Book review - "Wild Bill Wellman : Hollywood rebel" by William Wellman Jnr

 Not bad look at the life of the should-be-better-known director. I would've liked more personal insight and memoir of the writer's relationship him being his son. It waffles on a bit - for example there's a lot of plot recapping. The book could've done with a more vigorous edit.

Still, Wellman's an interesting guy - war service, great skill as a director. He seemed to make a classic every five films or so.

Movie review - "Track of the Cat" (1954) **1/2

 Disappointing! It starts so well, with this great melodramatic missed up family in the 1900s and a panther on the loose. Bob Mitchum is causing trouble amongst his family, there's two brothers, William Hopper and Tab Hunter, and Hunter wants to marry the older Diana Lynn, and mum Beulah Bondi is a crone and dad's a boozer and sister Teresa Wright is bitter and it's all very William Inge. 

But the problem is Hopper and Mitchum gohunting for the cat then come back home and we're stuck at home with Bondi, Hunter and the others. It's all stagnant and there's too much Acting and the scenes don't progress. They needed to be all out there hunting for the cat, Mitchum messing with Hunter's head and so on... it dissipates the drama. Philip Tonge as the dad has endless scenes boozing and prattling. There neeed to be a gal hot for Mitchum.

Interesting use of colour and it is unconvientional. Hunter works in these callow torn youth roles, Mitchum is ideal, Bondi is fun... I just wish they'd knocked the story into shape.

Movie review - "The Lawless" (1950) ***

 Pine-Thomas' only real attempt to make a "critics' picture" is pretty good, helped by some quality talent - Daniel Mainwaring wrote the script, based on his novel, and Joseph Losey directed. It uses some Paramount stars, Macdonald Carey and Gail Russell, who are effective. Russell's sad eyes suit the role.

It's about prejudice against Mexicans in a California border town. The emphasis is on white Carey, a journalist, who doesn't really have skin in the game... but I recognise that sort of compromise is needed to make the movie work.

There's a satisfying riot and a good deal of intelligence. It's a shame they had to rely on a "fake rape" narrative and a kindly rich white man to come along at the end and fix things. Tab Hunter has a small part - it was his debut.

Movie review - "Lafayette Escadrille" (1958) **

 William Wellman's passion project, sometimes called his last movie even though he made Darby's Rangers after (it was released first because this was held up so Warners could launch a record label for Tab Hunter).

Hunter is fine in the lead. I know Wellman wanted James Dean and Paul Newman. Hunter isn't the issue. The female lead doesn't help but she isn't the issue either.

The problem is the story. I was confused why Wellman struggled to get this made til I saw it... it's about a man who goes to fly in France in World War One... then punches out a French officer and deserts and hangs out with his hooker girlfriend most of the time planning his escape. This, in a war film. Why would anyone want to go see that?

It's not the ending. (Changed from the original where Hunter was support to die. Or the title. Or the stars. It was making a flying film about a flyer who spends most of the film trying not to fly.

That story is only fine if it's a subplot. Tell the story of a heroic pilot and Hunter is the best friend. Or three guys - make it a three guy movie like three girl movies.

There's only one big flying /fighting sequence at the end. It needed more flying. That final battle is the best thing about it but it's too short.

The support cast includes people like David Janssen and Clint Eastwood but so do a lot of old movies, some starring Francis.

Movie review - "It: Chapter Two" (2019) **1/2

 A drop in quality. The adults aren't as good actors as the kids - Bill Hader is outstanding and James Ransome quite good but everyone else seems disinterested (Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy) or just not up to it. There's no chemistry, sense of the group, or personal drama.

Why get at least some good actors and not have them interact with drama? From memory there were subplots with the novel - Chastain had this abusive husband who came after her, and McAvoy was going to leave his wife who crashed the mission, and there was a love triangle between McAvoy and Jay Ryan.

That's cut out. Instead there's a bunch of ordinary set pieces and a bloated finale. The running time is so long. They would've been better off cutting the running time, increasing spookiness and having more character interaction, like a love triangle. Why have that dumb thing where a character's suicide is heroic instead of being terrifying? That's dumb.

I did enjoy the cameos from Steven King and Peter Bogdanovich and there's some nice shocks and Hader is amazing.

Movie review - "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" (2004) **1/2

 Terry Gilliam lite - not bad, episodic storyline, Jim Carrey having fun. Aussie Emily Browning is the main young girl. I haven't read the books. Entertaining support cast - Tim Spall, Meryl Steep, etc.

Movie review - "It" (2017) ****

 They nailed. The kids are genuiely young so the stakes are huge. Great set pieces. Stranger Things took a lot of from. Very spooky. Powerful.

Movie review - "Buddies" (1983) **

 A film I wanted to like more than I did. There's a lot of good things. Locations. Beautiful photography. The world of sapphire prospecting. The cast - though no real stars (Colin Friels, Harold Hopkins)- are amiable. But it's not very good. It's confusing. It's a film of bits rather than something cohesive. I guess so was Sunday Too Far Away but that was anchored by the tight shearing shed setting, rich character studies, the tragedy of Jack Thompson's character.

The film needed some unifying plot structure, for me at least. It could've been the Lisa Peers-Friels romance but that is undeveloped. Or Norman Kaye throwing it in. Or some sort of ticking clock.

Movie review - "Prince Valiant" (1954) **1/2

 It's classy. in a way - Dudley Nichols wrote the script, Henry Hathaway directed. The story suits CinemaScope. Nicely shot. Fox thre money at it. The story is solid - exciled prince joins court of King Arthur.

Janet Leigh and James Mason suit this world. Robert Wagner did not - he was never much as an action hero or in period costume. His performance/wig has been much mocked, though he's clearly trying. Sterling Hayden is just as miscast as Gawain - awkward with the dialogue.

TV review - "Love Life" Season 2 (2021) ***

I can see why it wasn't as popular as the first. The lead guy isn't a star in the way Anna Kendrick was... I think Jessica Williams is a star and she would've brought them in, but I recognise they wanted to tell the male story.

On the male thing... it was maybe too honest in its depiction of men! In season one Anna is always looking for love... In this one the guy gets sick of his wife pretty quick and has an emotional affair. He meets the one, Jessica Williams, but it takes a bunch of episodes for them to get together.

Maybe the lead could've been dealt a few more curve balls - like if Becca had had the baby and it was disabled, or just had the baby, or he'd fallen out with his friends. Or something.

Some of the writing is terrific though. The acting can't be faulted. It's smart entertainment, easy to watch.

Movie review - "Chicago" (2002) ***1/2

 Props to them for making it and turning it into a big hit  and getting all those Oscars. It's cast well enough - stronger in the support than the leads, though it's super fun to see people singing and dancing. Richard Gere has a good time but I wish John Travolta had played the part. Rene Zellweger and Catherine Zeta Jones can't be faulted... I was just kind of hoping for... I don't know, better stars or something.

Lots of rapid cross cutting. Lacked emotional pull for me. A lot of the time I was thinking "this would be better on stage".

Terrific songs. Cell Block Tango is my favourite. It's hilarious there was a big hit musical about murdering husbands.

Movie review - "Maxie" (1985) **

 Hollywood used to make a lot of random movies like this. I guess it still does, just on streaming. It's a riff on Blithe Spirit with dull Glenn Close and Mandy Pantinkin discovering the ghost of a 20s slapper in their building... in San Fran, when surely LA would've been more suited?

She wrecks some havoc but it doesn't have much of a reason or rhythm. Blithe Spirit had troubles in the new marriage and Madame Arcadi., the ghost had a clear goal (get her husband back). This is more haphazard.

There's some fun to be had - Close trying to seduce priest Stephen Furst, Patinkin's co worker hitting on him, Harry Hamlin as Julius Caesar.

Movie review - "Dumbo" (2019) **

 This isn't a very good movie. It's gloomily shot, everything seems overcast. There's no sense of wonder. There's two cute kids and Colin Farrell as a one armed WW1 veteran, who suck up screentime from Dumbo who is very much a supporting character. Effects are ordinary. Dumbo doesn't have much personality here. I was longing for some old school Burton effects or imagery.

Films that killed the Brat Pack

 1) Out of Bounds (1986) - Anthony Michael Hall is not an action star, at least not then

2) Johnny B Goode (1988) - Anthony Michael Hall is not a sports star

3) Blue City (1986) Judd Nelson is not an action star

4)  Kansas (1988) - Matt and Andy but the public didn't like it

5) Fresh Horses (1988) - they did not want to see Blaine and Andy in heavy sex mode

6) From the Hip (1987) - the one film on this list I think was really unfairly a flop

7)The Pick Up Artst (1987) - Molly tries to grow up

8) For Keeps (1988) - John Hughes without John Hughes

9) Maid to Order (1987) - Ally Sheedy had heaps of appeal this was her only real vehicle - unfairly, I think she deserved another shot

10) That was then this is now (1985) - an obscure SE hinton work... not bad but kind of disappeared

Special exemptions

- Wisdom (1986) - Estevez got a pass because he directed it... also Estevez had a decent record as star with Stakeout, Young Guns

- Rob Lowe made smart choices, I feel: About Last Night, Masquerade, Bad Influence... even Illegally Yours was an attempt at doing something decent

- marriage to Bruce Willis helped Demi Moore stay in the spotlight through some late 80s flops til Ghost

 - taking off to Europe for extended periods of time doesn't help your career, eg Molly, Andy

Movie review - "Dungeons and Dragons Honor Among Thieves" (2023) ***

 Sometimes this is gloriously right - some action sequences like with the deer, the magic battles, the jokes, the smarts, the fun of seeing Michelle Rodriguez in fantasy, Bradley Cooper's cameo, Hugh Grant having fun again as a villain, the village atmosphere.

The film doesn't quite nail it - so much plot and exposition, it couldn't find a way to streamline. Rene Page's character is a little dull.

TV review - "Barry - Season 4" (2023) ***** (warning: spoilers)

 Satisfying wrap up. It starts with Barry busted, finally, and plays that out - prison, turning evidence, escapes. Does a fabulous eight year time jump. Heartbreaking (yet appropriate) end for Noho Hank. It was suitable that Henry Winkler killed Barry. Big emotional stakes with appearance of Barry's son who loves him.

Movie review - "Gold Diggers of 1933" (1933) ***

 Some of this is amazing - Joan Blondell, Aline MacMahon and Ginger Rogers as chorus girls (Ruby Keeler is also in it), some fun character actors, excellent songs - 'We're in the Money', 'My Forgotten Man'.

It's weird script wise. It's set up there's a Depression (great), then a producer wants to put on a show (great), then in one scene he hears Dick Powell play tunes and gets him to do the score only he's got no money and Powell says he's got money. So the show goes on, Powell steps up for the lead as well, the show's a hit, Powell gets outed as a rich boy... and his brother and lawyer turn up hoping to break up Powell and Keeler. So Joan Blondell and Aline MacMahon decide to "take them for a ride" by having Blondell pretend to be Keeler and have Williams and Kibee buy them things. Powell is all for it. Williams and Blondell fall in love sometime (they don't even have a nice scene or song... just a few lines would've done it) and so do Kibbee and MacMahon (ditto)..

There's no stakes because the show's a hit and Powell won't break up with Keeler. They needed to have the show be the stakes... so easy to fix up! Have them need money, send in the girls to raise it off the guys... complicated by love.

Anyway so much talent involved. The ending number thrown in 'My Forgotten Man' has power but it is this random dose of hardness.

Ginger Rogers pops in and out- as if she wasn't in the film originally but they kept finding upsestt o put her in.

Movie review - "42nd Street" (1932) ***** (re-watching)

 Great musical. Aged well due to its accepting look at humanity - George Brent is a gigolo basically, Guy Kibbee only invests in a musical bc he wants Bebe Daniel, Ginger Rogers is on the make, Una Merkel gets a part because she's sleeping with the dance director, men are lechy to Ruby Keeler such as dancer Edward Nugent.

It's also very positive - Daniels supports Keeler, Rogers gives up the lead for Keeler, Merkel pushes for Keeler to get in the chorus... actually the whole film is about people helping Keeler (Dick Powell too) who can't really act or sing that well but she is sweet. But really Rogers should've played that lead she was prettier, a better singer, and dancer.

Warner Baxter smokes and waves his arms around. I'm not sure he's a very good director too panicky but it is great at the end, he's slumped in the staircase listening to people say he did nothing.

Dick Powell smiles and croons but his pan faced sincerety is a nice  break from all the cynicism. Bebe Daniels is splendid. George Brent is fine. Merkel and Rogers are great fun. Ditto Guy Kibbee.

The numbers are stunning - Busby Berkley throwing away the rule book and going full cinema. Some first rate songs. There's even a few black people in it - playing maids and singing but they are at least there.

I clapped at the end. The film deserved it.

Movie review - Spitfire#2 - "Mexican Spitfire" (1940) **

 Sequel to The Girl from Mexico with Donald Woods and Lupe Velez back from their honeymoon. An aunt and his ex tries to break them up. Woods isn't in this much instead Leon Errol is back as his uncle... and this time plays a double role as a duffer English lord.

The film has three Aussies in it - Errol, Cecil Kellaway (in a small part he's only at the end) and Charles Coleman (who plays a butler). There's a lot of Errl and if you find him funny and I think people did you'll like it. He leaves me a little cold.

There's a food fight at the end and Velez burts into Spanish every now and then - it gives the piece energy.

Book review - "Killin' Generals: The Making of The Dirty Dozen, the Most Iconic WW II Movie of All Time" by Dwayne Epstein

 I love the movie and enjoyed the book though I'm not sure there's enough material here for a whole book. The film wasn't too complicated - man heard rumour from Russ Meyer, wrote book, book sold to MGM, book was turned into script and then film quite quickly, made relatively easy. It was a guys on a mission WW2 action movie, they weren't inventing the wheel. The film was fortunate in its timing and stars - got it cresting at the right time. There's an interview with Ken Hyman which is a coup - a book on his career would've been better. The film had some colourful actors but under Robert Aldrich everyone was kept in line. I enjoyed it, just think maybe this was better as an article.

Movie review - "Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1" (2023) ***

 The title was a turn off I feel. Part One... come on... Couldn't they come up with two stories? It feels a little ruthless to introduce another slim long haired woman with a shady past to fall for Tom Cruise, and have her in the same film as Rebecca Ferguson, then to kill off Rebecca Ferguson.

There's too much talk about keys and the dark and shade and how it's all changed and who is good anyway etc etc etc... because these films who is good is really kind of simple, it's Tom Cruise and hisffriends.

Anyway there are still decent twists and turns, I love Chris MacQuarrie gets to show off his love for The Train and The Great Escape, the action is splendid, Cruiser is Cruisier. I just wish they'd told it in one movie that's all.

TV review - "Succession - Final' Season" (2023) ***** (warning: spoilers)

Divine. Maybe loses a little invevitably with the death of Brian Cox. But it plays out weill. Dialogue so awesome you could swim in it.

Movie review - "Tentacles" (1977) **

 Amiable Jaws knock off has some stylish direction, phtotography and music as well as an enjoyable collection of Hollywood hams: Henry Fonda as a shonky businessman, John Huston as a newspaper editor, Shelley Winters as a mum.  None of these roles are big - the big part is Bo Hopkins as a killer whale trainer whose wife and sister in law are killed so he sets out to get the killer octopus with said whales.

Octopuses aren't that scary on flim but there's decent sequences.

Movie review - "Something Borrowed" (2011) *1/2 (re-watching)

 Terrible. Kate Hudson is on autopilot. She and Gennifer Goodwin never seem like friends. Goodwin seems bored. Colin Eggletston is like a robot. John Krasinski wins whatever honurs are going. It's not even attractive to look at.

Movie review - "Beat Girl" (1960) **1/2

 An old school melodrama - sulky teen reacts badly to dad's new wife - is given modern trappings. Gillian Hills has plenty of curves and pouts as the teen - she's gorgeous, was discovered by Roger Vadim, and can act well enough. I'm surprised she didn't become a bigger star.

The modern trappings incude the Soho setting - Hills is tempted to become a stripper in a sleazy club run by Christopher Lee. The cast is lots of fun. Noelle Adams is the step mum, David Farrar is dad, kids hanging out include Adam Faith, Peter McEnery, Oliver Ree and Shirley Ann Field. 

John Barry provided music. There's some entertaining beanik dialogue and kids dancing.

Movie review - Spitfire#1 - "The Girl from Mexico" (1939) **

 A sleeper hit for RKO which kicked off the Mexican Spitfire series. RKO B's were always nicely unpretentious and technically well done. A lot of musicals had a plot about trying to be a radio star - ad man Donald Woods finds Lupe Velez to sing.

Woods was a handsome lunk who played handsome men in flms like Anthony Adverse but who lacked charisma. Velez had it, so did Leon Errol who is Woods' uncle.

It's quite bright. Yes Velez has a cliche part but she drives the action, gets famous, gets the guy (away from the stock fake love interest). Good natured.

Movie review - "Smithy" (1946) ***1/2 (re-watching)

 Have reviewed it a few times so only random thoughts.

- Ron Randell is good. Never this good in Hollywood movies. He lacked something to act maybe? Moodiness suits him? Anger? Better than Peter Finch, I think, would have been.

- Hollywood very much influenced this. The meet cutes.  Scenes in a train carriage. Maids at home. Plush sets.

- They invent Joy to be a woman. Fine. Why give her a big secret "does he know"... then it's revealed she's married off screen. Why not kill her in a plane crash then? Or with a disease?

- A bit of racism.  Alec Kellaway talking about Japanese as apes. Smithy meets a black porter (player by ???) and makes a joke about Australians being cannibals.

- Assumes a lot of audience knowledge. A lot of key incidents are referred to without being seen - Smithy crashing in desert, death of Ulm, etc. Also jokes need knowledge eg Bluey Truscott, that explorer. 

- Surprisingly down beat. Smithy feels like he's waiting to die. But it's effective. Moving.

- Muriel Steinbeck isn't in it til half way.

Movie review - "The Big Bounce" (1969) *

 Elmore Leonard is hard to adapt because you've got to get the tone. This one doesn't. It has this dreadful TV esque Mike Curb score and a TV movie feel and never seems sure how to pitch it.

Van Heflin might have worked in a better movie, ditto Robert Webber, but Ryan O'Neal and Leigh Taylor Young while both quite beautiful are too lightweight and bland. Too pretty. Neither have mileage. O'Neal isn't believable as a Vietnam vet or a drifter or anything.

The one element of interest is both O'Neal and Taylor Young go skinny dipping in a few scenes (the ocean, a pool) and you can glimpse what you can with the see through underwear. That stops you from falling asleep. Briefly.

Unmade Ryan O'Neal

 A series of films that sound pretty good

1) Out of Africa, based on the famous book, from director Nic Roeg with Julie Christie - this could've been fantastic, different from the Pollack version but with Julie Christie... wow

2) The Champ, a remake of the 1932 film, directed by Franco Zefferelli - O'Neal was going to do this but quit when the director wouldn't let his son co star - big mistake, he did Oliver's Story instead, bigger mistake

3) The Bodyguard - same Lawrence Kasdan script, with Diana Ross, and John Boorman directing - would've been amazing... possibly, if the director didn't rewrite all the popularity out of it

4) The Thorn Birds, based on the best selling novel with Arthur Hiller directing - an utterly, utterly perfect film for O'Neal, who stepped in when first choice Robert Redford pulled out... I think it fell over when Warner Bros decided to not make a movie out of it... it became a fabulously successful mini series with Richard Chamberlain... 

5) First Blood - Morrell's novel was optioned constantly from 1972 with Richard Brooks, and Martin Ritt among those seriously interested in doing it - potential stars included Al Pacino, Steve McQueen, Robert de Niro. Clint Eastwood, John Travolta, Powers Boothe... and Ryan O'Neal apparently. That's what he said in his memoirs - that Freddie Fields offered him the part but O'Neal turned it down because he didn't want to leave Farrah Fawcett at the time, which puts it in the early 1980s.

Movie review - "Barry Lyndon" (1975) ***1/2 (warning spoilers)

 Every frame is breathtakingly shot. The film goes for over three hours. It has its own rhythm. Kubrick's dirty perve tendencies are on display all the way through. -within the first ten minutes Ryan O'Neal is shoving his hands into the cleavage of a woman. There's various shots of women lounging topless throughout.

This is an odd duck. Long. Beautiful. Restrained. Kind of cold. But also not. I mean Barry cries at the death of his mentor, his son. The death of the kid is very moving. The final duel is suspenseful. The film kicked into gear in the second half for me. I can see why it wasn't a hit. I can also see why people love it. The movie's a little like an anaconda.

A lot of his issues are his own fault. People have written that the movie is about chance but it's Barry who decides to fight the opening duel, to desert, to steal the papers, to change sides against the Prussians, to pursue a rich woman, to cheat on that woman, to treat her son badly... I mean, Barry really is a dill. A little kindness and courtesy he wouldn't get in strife. Then, as the narrator points out, if he didn't have the moxie to go for those things he wouldn't have the dimness to lose them.

Ryan O'Neal's performance is good. He's muted, as required. He was better with someone to bounce off and doesn't have it here. But he was the character - charming, hot tempered, libidinous, making enemies, bad marriage, loyal..

Movie review - "Ferrari" (2023) **1/2

 Michael Mann getting into the spirit of Enzo Ferrari... a genius in his field with grey hair, struggling for money, dealing with a nagging wife, a dead done, an easy going ish mistress, their son, an annoying mother, accountants, irritating press, road rules, prima donna drivers who root actresses.

The acting is fine, the period detail is a joy, the car scenes thrilling. There should have been more of them. The main character is very interesting, the female parts less so - Penelope Cruz is angry and hurt/haunted/horny, Shailene Woodley doesn't go for an accent and picks fruit and worries about the kid, Linda Christian is hot, there's another car widow is hot. because it's Michael Mann characters stand around staring in sunglasses but that's part of his charm.

Did it need to cost this much? It lacks propelsion. I liked the driving. The big emotional scene is the big crash at the end. For a film that was so long in development there's a lot of scenes of talking to journalists. Isn't that lazy writing?

I loved the hair. Great to see McDreamy looking the part. Good for him.

I'm not sure the stakes are that gripping - "will I be able to maintain being a millionaire and keep rooting my younger mistress and give my surname to my son and escape culpability of this horrendous accident that killed people and children and aren't the media vultures for... reporting the truth?"

Book review - "Black Ajax" by George MacDonald Fraser

 Fraser was always excellent describing sports competitions - this is his one attempt, to my knowledge, to put that front and centre. It's a historical biography of a real boxer, Tom Molineaux, a black boxer in Napoleon-era England - Beau Brummel and the like. There were a number of real people who I don't know much about I assume it's accurate. Fraser throws in Flashman's dad.

It's an interesting story, especially if you don't know what's going to happen. The one thing I struggled with was the endless racist language Fraser has characters use to describe Tom - ape and so on. I mean he goes on and on. I know the argument would be "that's what people thought" but it's endless, also every character calls him a savage. With this and Joe from Flashman and the Angels of the Lord Fraser had thuggish brutal black people on the brain in the 1990s.

Aside from that it is skilful.

Movie review - "Oliver's Story" (1978) **

 Love Story made so much money Paramount would have considered it rude not to make a sequel, so they did, ponying up big money for Ryan O'Neal to come back.

But the question is, where to go? Do you give him a terminal disease? Have him find love with another girl who gets sick? Throw in a kid? You've got the two dads back (hers is played by a different actor).. but there's not enough in that for another movie.

John Korty, best known for The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pickman, came in to direct and co write. He didn't do a very good job.

There's no point to the film. No conflict. O'Neal is mourning MacGraw, that's fine. Gets set up by friends Charles Haig and Swoozie Kurtz who seem like they're going to be fun, and are, but aren't in the film enough. Anyway the girl Nicole Paggett is dull but nice and he doesn't see her again. He runs into Candice Bergen, sparks fly, he goes out. Turns out she's... rich. So there's no rich-poor conflict. No dad-unhappy conflict.

O'Neal and Bergen go to Hong Kong for some pretty photos. I started to day dream maybe it would turn into Emmanuelle (Bergen takes photographs of models)... that would've livened things up.

John Korty whinged Paramount made him change his ending (where O'Neal hooked up with someone else) but the film isn't good. I mean maybe that was better than what's here - the film just ends - but I don't think that's the problem.

Bergen says that "Jenny is always with us" but you never sense that from their scenes. They flirt. Get along. They have sex it's no big deal. She's not that into him. He's not that into her. It's so hard to care. There's too many scenes with a shrink. There's a terrible sub plot about a housing estate or something. They don't use the dads. Everyon's getting along at the start.

This film was pointless. No wonder it's so forgotten.