Documentary review - "The Self-Preservation Society" (2009) ***

 Solid doco about making The Italian Job  with some great talking heads: Michael Deeley, Michael Caine, Robert Evans, Peter Bart (who never passes up a chance to self  promote), Peter Collinson's widow and kids. The Collinson story is inevitably moving.  Lots of details about cars. Fun clips. Good natured.

Movie review - "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" (1974) ***1/2 (warning: spoilers)

 Michael Cimino got his directing career going with this buddy comedy, a genre much in vogue at the time. Cimino's commercials background means he knows how to fill a frame and compose an image. It ambles a bit in that Malpaso way. I was surprised how low fi it was (essentially a two hander which morphs into a four hander with a big heist sequence in act two). Also how homoerotic it was - Jeff Bridges is clearly in love with Clint Eastwood who is into Bridges; there is talk of women and they pick some up (including Catherine Bach) but it feels forced.

Interesting to see Bridges in drag after reading what came out about Cimino but that just may be accidental. Neat touches and twists like how George Kennedy dies. I'm guessing Midnight Cowboy was an influence.

Movie review - "Thunder Alley" (1967) **1/2 (re-watching)

 Solid car film. Maybe benefits from having Fabian rather than Frankie Avalon - he's more serious, gritty, chip on his shoulder. He's sleeping with Diane McBain but falls for Annette Funicello who has one of her better roles. She's still the girl but she drives, sings, fights of Warren Berlinger, has a lot of swagger, and there's a nice father-daughter relationship. The film could've done with a little more star power - John Ashley at least. But strong score, pretty good film.

Movie review - "Fireball 500" (1966) ** (warning: spoilers) (re-watching)

 A transitionary film from beach party to stock cars - I've seen this a few times and now I'm used to it and it's more enjoyable. The acting is very good, Fabian helps make it more serious, the conflict between he and Avalon feels real, I like the moonshine stuff, Harvey Lembeck is excellent in a serious role.

I think it was a mistake to resolve "who caused the fatal accident" before the big final race. There should have been some sabotage - Fabian found out but the audience didn't and the baddies tried to kill him or something.  

An odd mishmash but endearing.

Movie review - "Eat My Dust!" (1976) *** (rewatching)

 More forgiving of this the second time. Chuck Griffith, given a directing gig after the success of Death Race 2000, then gave Roger Corman New World's biggest hit to date - he keeps it fast, furious and light. It's a cartoon with violence and stakes to match.

It does have characters - Ron Howard as a Ron Howard type, pursuing hot rich girl Chris Norris. Adults chase after them. It's chaotic mayhem, a Road Runner cartoon, with sped up car action (most car films should use this one's idea for credits - speeding along a road sped up).

Movie review - "Running on Empty" (1982) **

 Part of the brief rev head boom of the early 80s - this, Freedom, Midnite Spares - this has a decent story and cast. Richard Noir looks silly with his sun glasses at hat as the villain but Terry Serio is ideal. Really Serio should have played the villain and Gerry Sont (who's his brother) should have played the hero. Serio is very good though. A shock to see young Deborah Conway go nude.

Movie review - "Thunder and Lightning" (1977) **1/2

 The last of Roger Corman's four 1970s movies for Fox this is done with some polish but lacks a little magic. David Carradine isn't the first actor you think to play a good ole boy nor is Kate Jackson the first for a good ole girl.

There's a lot of yelling. I didn't like this movie. It just got at my nerves - all the yelling. Some decent car action at the end. Maybe it took too long to get going for me.

Movie review - "Moonshine County Express" (1976) ***

 I really liked this. A little more buttoned up that other New World films - there's not much nudity or sex for instance - but director Gus Trinikos has tried to make a good movie, and he's succeeded. Action moves along at a fast clip, there's some really good actors, spectacular women.

John Saxon is the nominal star - he's a little old but brings B level gravitas. however the lead role is really Susan Howard, who looked vaguely familiar - she was on Dallas and has a Dallas vibe but there's nothing wrong with that. She's beautiful, strong and can act, believably physical.

It's a three girls movie in a way -the story of three sisters whose pa (Jeff Corey) is killed by baddies, forcing the gals to sell moonshine. Claudie Jennings is perfect as Howard's sister - I wish she'd had more of a subplot. Still he's got more screentime than Maureen McCormick, old Marcia Brady herself, who is the youngest sister and just sort of hangs out. She really needed to be killed for the third act. Maybe that was a the plan but they couldn't bring themselves to do it. Be killed or turn traitor or something.

Candice Rialson has a small role as a cheerful trashy girl who pops up in some scenes. She's typically lively more so than McCormick I wish they'd swapped roles.

Cast is tops for New World. William Conrad is a villain, Saxon, Howard, Jennings, Rialson. Strong atmosphere. Pacey cars stuff.

Maureen McCormick writes entertainingly about the shoot - doing coke with Claudia who became a mate, Claudia shagging Gary Graver who impressed them working with Orson Welles.

Movie review - "Equalizer 2000" (1987) **

 Concorde made a bunch of films in the Philippines that ripped off Mad Max 2 so in a way it's appropriate the hero of this is Aussie Richard Norton.

It's set in a post apocalyptic Alaska (!). There's lots of rock quarries and souped up cars and leather. Robert Patrick is in this.

Norton speaks in his Australian accent which is cute. Connie Wahl is ideal as the heroine.

It's fine. Hits the spot if you're in the mood.

Movie review - "Wheels of Fire" (1985) **1/2

 I liked this - one exception. There's a long rape plot - the hero's sister is abducted and then molested by baddies. She's periodically molested throughout. Then she's killed. Downer. Change that - cut out the rapes - this would be fine for kids. Exploitation I guess.

It's post apocalyptic. Doesn't look too rough. Great productin value. Lots of car smashes. Extras. Army. Three strong women roles. Two killed. The nebbish one lives. But still, three.

Hero looks absurdly like Mel Gibson in Mad max 2. Not as terrible as I'd heard. New World refused to distribute this so Roger Corman set up Concorde.

Movie review - "Death Race 2000" (1975) (rewatching) ***1/2

 Random thoughts

- Paul Bartel was right to push for comedy. Roger Corman was right to push for action. They got the balance right. The action is good the stakes do feel real and it's quite moving as the surviving racers realise they're being picked off.

- Simone Griffeth is the heart of the movie. She has warmth and accessibility - the audience surrogate. She's overshadowed by the flashy characters but she's the bread in the cake. Teams very well with aloof, mysterious David Carradine.

- Support cast are spectacular.

- The nudity is well handled. Everyone looks like an athlete. It all makes sense in the Ancient Rome decadence of the world.

Movie review - "Midnite Spares" (1983) **1/2

 One of those films that should be good - certainly Australia should make more movies in the Westie car milieu - but suffers from lack of focus and enthusiasm for its subject.  The story is idea - James Laurie is a country kid from Toowoomba visiting the city to search for his dad and finds out he was involved in a car stealing racket. He works for a good mechanic with colourful mates (David Argue, Bruce Spence), comes up against corrupt cops.

That's a solid basis for an action movie, with cars, comedy, romance. This doesn't seem to work. James Laurie and Gia Carides are mismatched as the lovers - she's too young. Laurie is awkward. But in his defence he doesn't have that much to do. Their romance is easy - her family is a little strict but she's never in peril.

Attention drifts to support characters like Max Cullen and Bruce Spence and Jonathan Coleman.   It livens up a tthe end when baddy Tony Barry shoots dead Graeme Blundell and there's a car chase - the ilm needed more life and death stakes.

It looks terrific. Interesting cast. Not a stinker.

Movie review - "The Great Texas Dynamite Chase" (1976) **1/2 (re-watching)

 I'm on a New World kick at the moment and this, despite its terrific concerpt and star (Claudia Jennings) does not hold up as well as the others - I think because the filmmakers weren't super in to the material. Maybe I'm being unfair - both producer and director went on to have strong careers but this lacks energy and verve of Big Bad Mama or Death Race 2000. 

It does have some bright moments - Jennings looks spectacular and has a sexy love scene. Actually all the love/sex scenes work - Michael Pressman's slowish pace works better there. The death of one of the lovers works.

I got the two leads confused at times and also the male leads.

Movie review - "Deathsport" (1978) ** (re-watching)

 David Carradine, who hated the end movie, said the original script was great, but is that the case or just something that pepole say? It's very confusing - I can imagine it always was. It's in the future where there are city states and mutants and sort of jedi warriors.

I don't know why they just didn't make it like Ancient Rome, with rich people and poor people enlisted to entertain. That's simple and works. This is meant to be a competiton to entertain the masses but we never get the sense - they're driving in the desert. Who's watching? Is it on TV?

 What happens when the head dude dies? What's the stuf with Carradines novel? What job does Carradine have? Where are the mutants?

David Carradine is in great shape and ideal for this. Claudia Jennings is ideal action heroine with that splendid built. I

Corman insisted on nude scenes and they do liven things up I just wish they hadn't been torture-y scenes. Jennings and Carradine have pleasant chemsitry and you believe the characters would go for each other.

Some motorbike stuff isn't bad. I liked the duel between Carradine and Lynch,.

Good on Allan Arkush for trying to fix it. But I think what he needed to do was to clarify the story. That may have been impossible.

Charles Griffith wrote an unsued script. They couldn't use it?

Movie review - "Fast X" (2023) ***

 So... now Charlize Theron is good (or at least an ally), John Cena is good, Vin Diesel looks out of shape and bored, Michelle Rodgriguez looks bored, Ludacris and Tyrese look old, as does Sung Kang, Nathalie Emmanuel is... there, Jordana Brewster pops in. They have a return from Helen Mirren and Brie Larson comes along in as a bad ass female. Oh Scott Eastwood is in it briefly. Oh and Daniela Melchor is hot girl racer.

Film is saved and stolen by Jason Mamoa in a fabulously over the top, campy villain performance. It starts off slowly with too much Vin Diesel but gets better as it goes along. The film has a Mad Mad Mad Mad World quality about it with its sprawling cast, some funny lines and clever choreography. Total lack of realism.

It loses points fot being the first of a two parter. I think that hurt word of mouth.

Movie review - "Ford versus Ferrari" (2019) ***

 Solid dad movie given intelligent treatment and first rate driving sequences. A bit annoying with its good ole boy hero and plucky millionaire underdogs, but it did happen, I guess.

Movie review - "Track of Thunder" (1967) **

 Ambassador Films was a Nashville based outfit that made a few movies. This one was directed by old hand Joseph Kane, and is a stock car movie - that genre that flared briefly in the late sixties. "Tom" Kirk (as he's billed) and Ray Stricklyn are two mates who race and both are keen on Brenda Benet. This is interrupted when track owners combine with a journo to whip up a rivalry.

There's not a lot of car action. Plenty of serious drama. The story is flawed because the two heroes really could just have a chat and sort it out.

Kirk is quite good - looks a little zonked in some scenes, but not too zonked. I may be projecting. Some value in to see him play besties with Ray Stricklyn, who was another youthful juvenile who kept his sexuality secret - they're more keen on each other than Benet, but that's par for the course for this sort of movie.

Faith Domergue plays Kirk's mom who wants him to run the farm.

Movie review - "Bad Seed" (1934) **

 Billy wilder's first film as director, made during his brief stint in Paris before heading to the US. Its about a playboy Pierre Mindand, a skinny dued, who gets mixed up with car thieves. Dannielle Darrieux is the girl - she was very young, and plays the brother of one of the gang.

It's a cheapie but at least there's location filming as opposed to cheap studio work. It's rickety and feels made up on the spot with lots of scenes of people driving around but has its own nervous energy. There's a black actor amongst the gang. The plot involves the gang of thieves wanting a pay rise from their boss!

It sort of ambles along and then ends. Interesting to watch. Not terrible. But really only for Wilder completists.

Movie view - "Cannonball Run II" (1984) **

 For ten years Burt Reynolds, it seemed, couldn't put a foot wrong, at least not when he got behind the wheel of a car, then with this and Stroker Ace it seemed he couldn't put a foot right. Like City Heat I think this made money but it's a film few people seem to like. Maybe the public tired of it, maybe Burt just got a little bit too old... being a big kid is a little less charming.

This skews older than the previous film - instead of Farrah Fawcett there's Shirley Maclaine, it has a strong Rat Pack presence with a plot about paying back loan sharks and a cameo from Frank and other old timey stars like Sid Caesar, Doug McClure, Tim Conway, Don Knotts, plus Telly Savalas as a baddy.On the new talent there's Tony Danza and a comic chimp and Shawn Weathley as a girl Martin is rooting. Oh and Menudo's song.

Susan Anton and Catherine Bach (both gorgeous) replace Tara Buckman and Adrienne Barbeau and Danza replaces Terry Bradshaw as Mel Tills' sidekick, Robert Kiel is Jackie Chan's new sidekick.

The first movie felt like all ages, this one feels old. Also it doesn't have the same heart and feeling of camraderie as the first one - in that, Burt's romance with Farrah was sweet (well, apart from the abduction), but here he just makes out with Shirley Maclaine in the backseat like two old ageing movie stars (instead of having Maclaine and Marilu Henner I think they just should've had Henner). In the first, it was lovely how Dom DeLuise talked about how he was lonely til he found a friend in Burt, and how Burt explained to Farrah the joys of cannonballing - scenes like that are missing. There's not even that much car action.

It is fun to see Frank Sinatra, and while Dean Martin looks old and weathered Sammy Davis Jnr is full of life and Jackie Chan gets more fight senes.

Movie review - "Smokey and the Bandit II" (1980) **1/2

 This gets all the gang back, and has some decent ideas: breaking up Burt and Sally, throwing in Dom de Luis and a comic elephant. It doesn't have the pace or ticking clock, Jerry Reed and Jackie Gleason chasing after Field seems contrived this time (because she clearly doesn't want to marry him... they should've given Gleason a daughter who loved Reynolds).

Lots of Southern accents and music, and not really funny jokes from Gleason (one about bussing, another about his wife looking like an elephant). Things pick up in the last third with Gleason playing some multiple roles and terrific visuals on a salt plain.

Sally Field and Reynolds make a wonderful couple - he never found anyone as good. There's a lot more Jerry Reed in this one, if that's a selling point. But elephants are funny.