Movie review - "Rally Round the Flag Boys" (1958) **

 George Axelrod complained he and Leo McCarey came up with a bold plan to adapt this novel but Fox backed out and so Axelrod left. Maybe his approach would've been better. But it's hard to see even that working with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in the leads. Both are attractive and obviously talented actors but their comic timing is a mess and they seem too young - as does Joan Collins. Newman's trying to be Cary Grant but he doesn't seem like a family man especially one with an itchy eye. Maybe Tom Ewell? 

Joan Collins is better - too young as well but she's hugely fun. She would've been better a decade older but I liked her. She's stronger than Jayne Mansfield (the original choice vetoed by the Newmans) would have been.

Tuesday Weld is perfect as their yappy babysitter. She is involved in a very funny love triangle with Dwayne Hickman as a Marlon Brandon worshipper and some yokel soldier. This is funny. Jack Carson is funny too as a bombastic soldier.

But Newman wrecks it, basically. 

Movie review - "Blowing Hot and Cold" (1984) **

 Rosa Colosimo was a produced who figured out 10BA enough to finance a batch of films including this. It's a buddy flick about a colourful Italian (Joe Dolce) whose car needs fixing by a mechanic (Peter Adams) - Dolce can't pay so Adams makes him work it off and Dolce gets drawn in to Adams' life which includes shagging married Elspeth Ballantyne and chasing after adducated daughter Kate Gorman.

The cast is of interest - Dolce was iconic because of his song, and Adams because of his performance as JJ in Cop Shop. There's also Denise Drysdale, Mary Coustas, Ballantyne, people like that. 

The culture clash doesn't really work - boorish Dolce is a little too similar to boorish Adams. Some more conflict would've worked - like I don't know a soccer versus Aussie rules thing, or paying cash or concrete.  

Nothing wrong with a subplot involving gangsters - Ken G Hall would do that all the time - but they took their eye off the comedy. 

Briab Trenchard Smith was going to make this at one stage. 

Movie review - "Roadhouse" (1948) *** (re-watching)

 I was in the mood for this - some low rent melodrama with Ida Lupino in a Joan Crawford role hooking up with Cornel Wilde despite Richard Widmark. Everyone is young and hot Lupino wears a swimsuit and sings off key. Celeste Holm impresses though her character should've done more. Wilde teaches Lupino how to bowl.

Movie review - "Android" (1982) ***

 Roger Corman helped finance but didn't want to distribute. I can see why, it lacks nudity, pace and gore he would've liked, but it's a shame. This is smart, well acted, made by people who care. A little lackadasical. I think Corman would've preferred the main android to be female - there is a female but she doesn't come in until the end. Also Don Keith Appor maybe isn't handsome enough for a leading man. Good actor though. I really liked Brie Howard.

Klaus Kinski adds some class. Really solid movie. 

Movie review - Fast#9 - "F9" (2019) ***

 Slick, fast, Justin Ling directed. This is the one where they go into outerspace. That's sort of tossed away - it's very easy. Lucas Black is back, briefly. Er... yay? I do like the continuity.

The key plot has Vin Diesel clashing with brother John Cena. This does give it some emotional undercurrent. They do try to give Jordana Breswter something to do. They do try.

Big and loud. Feels tired. Han coming back is... um, yeah, yay? Natalie Emmanuel is given stuff to do but isn't much. Michelle Rodriguez and Charlize Theron needed to be given more to do. Helen Mirren is fun.

Look, there's a lot going on. 

TV review - "Playhouse 90 - For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1958) ***

 Hemingway's novel adapts quite well to the small screen because you can focus on relationships and use close ups - Jason Robards and Maria Schell (the earth moves! quite frank!), Maureen Stapleton and Eli Wallach, Stapleton and Roberts, Wallach and Robarts.

Very serious in that style. Intense.  

Movie review - "Ronin" (1997) ***1/2

 Not a huge hit but much admired - slick script, John Frankenheimer in fine form, a genuine "look", European action movie, with some stars in excellent form: Robert de Niro before these parts became caricatures, Nathsha McEllrone so beautiful and perfect for the world, Jean Reno, Sean Bean. Jonathan Pryce maybe not a scary villain.

I enjoy these cramped European action movies.