Loving, well researched book about Stanton, beloved character actor and occasional lead who like many character actors was bitter about not being a lead. Managed to be cool, adored by Brat Packers, scored Rebecca de Morney - I think because he was a musician. Kind of like Billy Bob Thornton if Thornton didn't write and direct. Main problem is Stanton's film appearances were so many and brief Atkins out of necessity can't dive that deep - when he does, eg Repo Man , Paris Texas - the book is great. Also the actor was a bit of a floss. It's hard to get a grip on him. But this is a fine book.
Saturday, July 05, 2025
Movie review - "The Shrouds" (2025) ***1/2 (warning: spoilers)
I went with this. Modern day version of an Edgar Allan Poe story - man going mad after wife dies, doing stuff with the crypt, catnip to the ladies. The nudity suits the story because it has body horror elements. Ending unsatisfying - felt life a cliff hanger. Needed another beat at least. Still watchable.
Monday, June 30, 2025
Book review - "Campbell's Kingdom" by Hammond Innes
Read this because of the film. Can see its appeal to film producers - sexy rugged setting (Canadian rockies), hooky set up (terminally ill man investigates dead grandfather's obsession with oil), some romance, baddies, a dam burst.
I had trouble telling the characters apart, the chapters were too long, needed more dialogue, Innes shows off his research. But it's not a natural ripping yarn.
Book review - "Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius" by Nick Hornby
Fantastic extended essay full of fresh insights, written with warmth but also some criticism. Inspirational, funny. Really great. Loved it more than Fever Pitch because I got the references more.
Book review - "Fever Pitch" by Nick Hornby
Very well written. Lovely observations. Probably too many references to people, games and clubs I didn't know. I followed it. I just know it would've meant more if I'd known them.
Movie review - "Lovers and Luggers" (1937) **** (re-watching)
Fun. Saw the 90 minute version. Full of camraderie and good friendship. Lloyd Hughes the weak link but others around him strong. Stunning art design.
Ronald Reagan top ten
On Trailers From Hell they’re doing a tribute to Ronald Reagan movie star so I’ll jump on the bandwagon and do a top ten
1) Kings Row (1941) - genuinely great film and good performance from Ronnie
2) The Killers (1964) - as above, Don Siegel giving remakes a good name
3) Dark Victory (1939) - he’s not much but this is a v good Bette Davis weepie (screenwriters should read the introduction to the published script where Casey Robinson goes through his creative decisions)
4) Knute Rockne All American (1940) - silly inspirational sports movie biopic which works on its own level and because the main characters died young which always helped - Notre Dame college refused to let Jimmy Cagney play the lead because he was anti Franco during the Spanish Civil War
5) Desperate Journey (1942) - makes running around Germany in WW2 seem like a lark but has Errol Flynn as an Aussie so that gets points
6) The Hasty Heart (1949) - slick, well done guy cry movie with Richard Todd as a terminally ill soldier finding friends
7) Tropic Zone (1951) - Bright, colourful “south of the border” banana plantation film in the mode of Torrid Zone. Try to put aside thoughts of what the United Fruit Corporation got up to and enjoy Rhonda Fleming have one of her best roles and give one of her best performances as a woman who inherits a banana plantation and goes for lots of swims and showers (I guess it is the tropics). Teams well with Ronnie
8 ) That Hagen Girl (1947) - truly spectacular car crash of a movie, one of far too many around this time where woman falls in love with man she thinks he’s her father and it turns out he’s not so that’s okay... but it’s got Shirley Temple as the girl, doing some Shakespeare, Miss Monneypenny from the Bond films, suicide attempts, genuinely good direction, messy script - has to be seen to be believed
9) Santa Fe Trail (1940) - anti-anti-slavery film, with Raymond Massey great as John Brown, Errol Flynn as Jeb Stuart and Reagan as Custer - raids history, has decent action
10) Hellcats of the Navy (1957) - Ronnie and Nancy in love on screen... captured for all of us
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