Saturday, November 12, 2022
Internal Affairs
- Commentary: Despite its meager but complimentary review-of-sorts in the Reception section of this movie's Wikipedia write-up, the truth is, it's hard to find a review of this movie, let alone a positive review. This surprises me because I saw the movie sometime between its release in theaters and 1993, on home video, and I still remember it, still remember enjoying it, so much so that, when I was reminded of it a few days ago when ordering The Infernal Affairs Trilogy, I decided to purchase a copy.
Regarding the all-over-the-map reviews of this movie, metacritic collates a score of "generally favorable reviews". The Los Angeles Times has a muddled write-up, praising some aspects of the movie while excoriating others, as does the WAPO review attached to the title of this post.
I was introduced to this movie by my next door neighbor in Seattle who managed (and, later, owned) a video rental store. I was riveted. So was she, I might add, although she'd seen the movie more than a few times. I have not seen this movie since. I've been reminded of it a lot throughout the intervening years, just not when I was renting or buying videos. Now, that situation has been corrected, I'm pleased to say. I'm really looking forward to Richard Gere's delightfully smarmy performance of a disgustingly smarmy cop.
Once I receive the movie and watch it, again, I'm sure I'll be back, so, consider this post under construction.
Update 11/15/22: I've been watching this movie throughout the night, on again, off again. I was not disappointed! It is full of thrilling suspense. The acting is solid. The storytelling is point-by-point and leaves no holes through which the watcher might fall at the end. The entire movie is rather like looking at a crooked smile. When you turn away you're still a bit on edge, but you know the crookedness is "right", the only way, really, it could be. I remembered my first watch of it as deeply satisfying, and, just so, it was, again. And, man, I gotta tell ya, those late 80's-early 90's clothes and hair styles! What a treat! I'd forgotten that's what people who were considered part of "the professional class" wanted to, and did, look like back then! I'm glad I obtained this movie. I'll definitely be watching this again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Richard Gere Ofc Dennis Peck Andy García Sgt Raymond Avilla Nancy Travis Kathleen Avilla Laurie Metcalf Sgt Amy Wallace Annabella Sciorra Heather Peck William Baldwin Ofc Van Stretch Faye Grant Penny Stretch Elijah Wood Sean Stretch
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by Mike Figgis.
Labels: action4, andy-garcía, detective1, laurie-metcalf, loose-cannon-cop, neo-noirB, popcorn-and-soda7, richard-gere
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Lethal Weapon - WB 20 Film Collection Thrillers
- Commentary: You know, I remember enjoying this the first time I saw it, but it hasn't aged well. Reminds me of so many 80's television "thriller" series (Or maybe it was 90's "thriller series", maybe this movie inspired them): long on action (and not as long as is required, now, for a good thriller), short on story. Its humor hasn't aged well, either.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Mel Gibson Sgt. Martin Riggs Danny Glover Sgt. Roger Murtaugh Gary Busey Mr. Joshua Mitchell Ryan Gen. Peter McAllister Tom Atkins Michael Hunsaker Darlene Love Trish Murtaugh Jackie Swanson Amanda Hunsaker Traci Wolfe Rianne Murtaugh Damon Hines Nick Murtaugh Ebonie Smith Carrie Murtaugh Steve Kahan Cpt. Ed Murphy Mary Ellen Trainor Dr. Stephanie Woods
Originally published in this journal on 081416.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1987
Directed by Richard Donner.
Labels: danny-glover, loose-cannon-cop, mel-gibson
Dirty Harry - WB 20 Film Collection Thrillers
- Commentary: It had been so long since I'd seen this one, it was fun to see it again. From today's perspective, not a particularly skillful thriller, but I enjoy watching the very first "episode" in the development of Dirty Harry. Makes me want to watch The Gauntlet again, and a few other Clint Eastwood thrillers.
By the way, check out this quote courtesy of the Wikipedia article on the movie Dirty Harry: "Eastwood's iconic portrayal of the blunt, cynical, unorthodox detective, who is seemingly in perpetual trouble with his incompetent bosses, set the style for a number of his later roles and, indeed, a whole genre of ̔'loose-cannon cop' films." There are two "loose-cannon cop" films in this collection, the other being Lethal Weapon. Dirty Harry was released in 1971. Lethal Weapon was released in 1987.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Ins. Harry Callahan Andy Robinson Scorpio Harry Guardino Lt. Al Bressler Reni Santoni Ins. Chico Gonzalez John Vernon San Francisco Mayor John Larch Chief Paul Dacanelli John Mitchum Ins. Frank DiGiorgio Woodrow Parfrey Jaffe Josef Sommer D. A. William T. Rothko Mae Mercer Mrs. Russell Albert Popwell Bank Robber Lyn Edgington Norma Gonzalez
Originally published in this journal on 081416.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1971
Directed by Don Siegel.
Labels: clint-eastwood, loose-cannon-cop, neo-noirA
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Deep Cover
- Commentary: Under construction.
This movie was originally listed in the post Movies I've Seen, Do Not Own but Can't Forget. I own this movie, now. Here is the commentary I wrote for it in my wish list post: "Okay. This is yet another of my juicy fetishes. I love the story: corruption galore, even within the best of the characters. Laurence Fishburne: come on, how can you resist this character of his?!? [How can you resist anything done by Laurence Fishburne?!?] And Goldblum's rendering of Jason, and the way the pair plays off one another, oh, my, my! This movie, for me, falls into the same category as the Equalizer movies and the John Wick movies. Although I enjoy all of them, I have to say, I favor this one because the character is not squeaky clean, like Washington's McCall, nor is he on a sacred rampage, like Reeves' Wick. In fact, at the end of the movie, you are left wondering about the content of Stevens' character. I can't help but think that Fishburne, Goldblum and their fellow actors had loads of fun making this movie."
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Laurence Fishburne DEA Agt. Russell Stevens Jr./John Hull Jeff Goldblum David Jason Yvette Heyden Nancy Jason Charles Martin Smith DEA Agt. Gerry Carver Victoria Dillard Betty McCutcheon Gregory Sierra Felix Barbosa David Weixelbaum Chino Glynn Turman Russell Stevens Sr. Arthur Mendoza Anton Gallegos Clarence Williams III Dt. Taft Roger Guenveur Smith Eddie James T. Morris Ivy
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 1992
Directed by Bill Duke.
Labels: Criterion2, dramaD, laurence-fishburne, loose-cannon-cop, neo-noirB, police-procedural, violence3
Monday, May 24, 2021
The Gauntlet
- Commentary: Unlike the immediately previous movie, this movie, which came as a "double feature" with The Enforcer was just god damned violence fun. As I watched it last night (5/25/21) I realized that, yes, I have seen it before, remembered little of it, which is typical of popcorn-and-soda movies for me, even those I really enjoy, like this one. There's almost nothing more entertaining than watching a Clint Eastwood character fuck around with obstacles in his way when he's involved in a task that has turned risky. Although Eastwood's character in this movie is named "Ben Shockley" (how grinningly appropriate for an Eastwood character), this movie may as well be yet another episode in the Dirty Harry canon (or, "cannon", whichever seems more appropriate).
This movie is one of those captivating collaborations between Eastwood and Sondra Locke, who turned out to have been a very busy "early pioneer for women in Hollywood" (I use this quote without irony), both within and without her relationship with Eastwood. Her performance in this movie is sassy and fun. It makes me want to check out her work without Eastwood.
This movie is filed alphabetically on my shelves as "Clint Eastwood".
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Det. Ben Shockley Sondra Lockwood Augustina Mally Pat Hingle Det. Maynard Josephson William Prince Com. Edgar A. Blakelock Bill McKinney Constable Michael Cavanaugh Asst. D.A. John Feyderspiel Carole Cook Waitress Mara Corday Jail Matron Doug McGrath Bookie Jeff Morris Desk Sergeant Roy Jenson Biker Dan Vadis Biker
In case you're wondering why I cite, above, so many unnamed roles and their actors, it's because Eastwood tends to use the same actors over and over again, sometimes in named roles, sometimes in unnamed roles.
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1977
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
Labels: clint-eastwood, loose-cannon-cop, neo-noirA, pat-hingle, popcorn-and-soda1, violence1
The Enforcer
- Commentary: Third Dirty Harry film. Under construction.
By the way, I may as well include these here, since I have plenty of space. Roger Ebert conducted three notable interviews, at least, that I know of: Here are the first, the second and the third. He may well have interviewed Clint more than these. If you're interested in Clint Eastwood, (and, I wonder, who isn't, I mean, the man, who was born in 1930, produced, directed and starred in a movie which has yet to be released but on which production has concluded, in his 91st year on the planet) you'll find the interviews fun and quirky, I think.
This movie came as a Double Feature with The Gauntlet.
This movie is filed alphabetically on my shelves as "Clint Eastwood".
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Ins. Harry Callahan Tyne Daly Ins. Kate Moore Harry Guardino Lt. Al Bressler Bradford Dillman Cpt. Jerome McKay John Mitchum Ins. Frank DiGiorgio Bill Ackridge Andy DeVeren Bookwalter Bobby Maxwell Albert Popwell Ed Mustapha John Crawford Mayor of San Francisco Robert Hoy Buchinski Michael Cavanaugh Lalo Jocelyn Jones Miki Waleska
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1976
Directed by James Fargo.
Labels: §, clint-eastwood, loose-cannon-cop, neo-noirA, popcorn-and-soda1, violence1
