What classics did you see last week ? (1 Mar - 7 Mar 2020)

Raise the Titanic (1980)



Sleepy action adventure movie, perfect for nodding off to on the couch on a weekend afternoon. Not much happens but it's still a good movie, with a slow momentum.

No doubt seemed fantastic and far-fetched at the time, but now seems dated and silly because the ship arrives at the surface fully intact, even though witnesses described Titanic breaking in two before sinking. The actual discovery of the Titanic, five years after this movie came out, would prove those witnesses correct.

John Barry's beautiful score more than makes up for any flaws.

Deep Shock (2003 TVM)



Eels! Why'd it have to be eels?

Watched this because of the completely misleading poster that makes it seem like a horror movie, but instead we get a watered down sci-fi saga about intelligent eels and the possible end of the Earth. Not totally terrible, but would not recommend to non-film freaks such as myself who love/hate such films.

ARQ (2016)



Time loop sci-fi thriller...wait, I can sense you losing interest in this review already, and I get that! There have been a few too many of those lately. This one is pretty contained but manages to seem larger than it actually is due to some interesting ideas, good acting and sudden twists.

My only complaint being that it is so contained in the same area for so long with the same people doing the same things over and over that you feel like you're stuck in the time loop too.

Flamingo Road (1949)



Joan is a carny in a steamy, small Florida town. Corrupt politicians want to drive her away and she decides to stay!



A great vehicle for Joan Crawford, a woman out for revenge. Her confrontations with Sydney Greenstreet gave me great joy. My only complaint would be I wanted a better ending, but the one we got was pretty alright too.

Daisy Kenyon (1947)



Noir-ish melodrama with Joan Crawford torn between Dana Andrews and Henry Fonda, both jerks. Everyone in this story is kind of a jerk, really. Keeps your attention throughout, but no great pay off.



Daisy Miller (1974)



Cybill Shepherd as Daisy Miller in this Peter Bogdanovich adaptation is quite adequate, as is this movie. I think it practically screams out for a remake though. It seems a lot of people do not care at all for this version. Me, I thought it was okay. The constant jabbering on and on was impressive!

Home Again (2017)



Reese Witherspoon plays a woman who is a little unhappy, even though she has it made. Her life is ten times more perfect already than any of the people who will watch this. She has live-in tech support, child care and sex! She has a friggin' Oscar in the spare room! You'll get no sympathy from me, Reese Witherspoon! This all sounds like the real Reese Witherspoon, but its actually her character in the movie.

Husbands (1970)



Love this cast! A bit melancholy to watch now that they're all dead and discussing their hopes and dreams and regrets, but that's basically what this movie was always aiming for. Movie nerds will like seeing John Cassavetes and Nick Cassavetes in a scene together near the end as father and son, of course.

Best Bit: Peter Falk pronouncing badminton as "badmitten." 🎾😀

Kodachrome (2017)



I love movies where Ed Harris is dying. The Hours was a more superior film, for sure, but this was alright, with some very quotable lines scattered throughout.

Powwow Highway (1989)



"I think your car ate the godamned caramel corn!"

Fun road movie, nothing overly original other than being about two native guys. One is on a spiritual journey, the other is on a personal mission. They clash, sometimes funny, sometimes poignant.

The film debut of Wes Studi.

Wheelman (2017)



Like Tom Hardy's Locke (2013), only with more violence. Frank Grillo is a great actor, he deserves more starring roles because he really sells this movie.

Have a great movie week!



See you here next time!