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The next 23 actors and 13 actresses on which I'll obsess and watch all their movies
Reviews
W. (2008)
Not on the same league of JFK and NIXON but still good
What I meant in the summary is that it looks like Oliver Stone made a presidential trilogy. You see, in 1991 we had JFK dealing about all the conspiracies surrounding the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Then in 1995 we had NIXON dealing with Richard Nixon's life around the Watergate scandal while also discussing of Nixon's life with black and white sequences. Now in 2008 we had W about the second Bush president when he was ending his presidency, and is it good like the other two aforementioned kolossals? Let's see.
The movie is a biography on George W. Bush (James Brolin). It starts in 1966 when Bush has an initiation for the fraternity of his university and says that isn't interested in his family's legacy. When he's jailed for rowdiness during a football game, his dad George H. W. Bush (James Cromwell) warns him that this will be the last time he'll help him.
Surfer, Dude (2008)
More than an emotional journey than the typical surfer movie
I have heard about SURFER DUDE for years because of the nearly star studded cast and also because when I still wasn't a movie fan it was aired often on channel 26. Last December I finally saw it and I found it better than what the overall score of 4,5 made me think and also better than CAMILLE (the wretched movie I saw the day before).
Steve Addington (Matthew McConaughey) is a surfer that has a both spiritual and relaxed take on life, crossing the globe for riding the waves with his surfboard. One summer he returns to his native Malibu but the town can't give him the same feelings he gave him before, thanks also to less wind that cancelled the sea waves. No surf, no money; so Steve accepts to have his image and likeness used for a videogame and it might seem that it will resolve his problems, and it does for a while until he ends engulfed in economical issues and technological troubles. Up until the waves finally return a month later, he also denies the offer to star in a reality show.
If you go into this movie expecting it to be a stoned surfer movie you might want to skip it. Instead, it's more of an emotional journey about a surfer that has to adapt to everyday life when no waves are in his hometown while staying shirtless all the movie, kudos also to Matthew McConaughey for having resisted so long without a scratch.
As for the direction and acting; they were both adequate. McConaughey, other than being super handsome, gives a compelling performance to the point that the viewer can feel his lack of happiness only because of the lack of waves. Woody Harrelson gives one of those performances where he seriously had fun, and the supporting players while not outstanding (including Scott Glenn and Zachary Knighton) were decent adds for the funny moments.
Overall, one of those movies that makes you think while also being fun and that's why it never bored me despite I didn't loved it. Highly recommended especially if you are fan of the stars and want to see everything they made.
Camille (2008)
Confusing, and funny like a spine on your foot!
The main reason why I saw CAMILLE it's because it has a nice cast and looked like a comedy. But when I saw it last December I knew I was in for trouble some half-hour after it began. Why it's so bad? Let's see.
Silas Parker and Camille Forster (James Franco and Sienna Miller) are just married and decide to go to Niagara falls for their honeymoon. Silas is a criminal that married Camille because she's the niece of a parole officer so that would be a chance for escaping to Canada, tho Camille looks blind to having not noticed how Silas really feels. On their way they crash their honeymoon bike and Camille looks like killed, tho when Silas goes to call for the police we soon see Camille alive and washing herself in the river. In the meanwhile police suspects that Silas killed for real Camille and the couple is forced to escape ending to live with an old rodeo cowboy that owns painted horses. An horse in particular named Maggie and painted in blue should have died time ago but still stays with his owner and other horses for unknown reasons.
Then we are shown something unexplained; the cowboy has some sort of breakdown and frees all the horses, mounts Maggie and ride towards the sunset. Soon Silas and Camille go on a boat tour and when Camille asks someone to take a picture Silas notices she's gone. Then he has the genius idea of going back to her only to be noticed by the police that chases him up to the Niagara falls' border. Then as police shoots Silas, Camille shows up riding on Maggie (she probably went lightning fast, killed the cowboy and stole the horse but it's not shown to us) and they mount together, and then Silas, Camille and Maggie fall down to the falls (probably plummeting to their deaths) and then rice falls from the sky!?
As I was watching this movie I knew I was in for some trouble when the accident at the beginning happened and after Camille is shown decaying then we see her again alive cleaning herself in the river. Uh!? Even Michael Caine's shoddily dried up shirt in JAWS THE REVENGE was better handled than this. Then the movie didn't went no better, as Camille looked like a dingaling, Silas like he was completely lacking of common sense and nearly everybody except Scott Glenn gave terrible performances like they knew they were in a terrible movie but couldn't come out of it before shooting began. And the ending, with the leads falling to the falls from the horse riding... that must be the worst rip-off of the THELMA AND LOUISE ending I have ever seen, tho I don't care if it was intentional or not that the director wanted to copy from better movies but in the end who cares?
Overall, a wretched movie that isn't even funny to laugh at because of the terrible acting and situations, and worst of all... nearly anything makes sense! Even if you are fans of some of the stars, it's too painful see them in this light.
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Too much even for the franchise but good nonetheless
Despite I haven't yet rated and reviewed the first two JASON BOURNE I am doing it with this one because I re-watched it on Christmas Eve and also because it's the highest rated movie in the franchise, and it probably deserves it.
After the events of THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, Bourne (Matt Damon) goes to Paris for discussing with Marie's brother while the CIA decides to continue the hunt for him. Journalist Simon Ross is noticed discussing about Operation Blackbriar on a public phone, and is stopped by Blackbriar director Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) that lets an hitman go on his way. Meanwhile in Spain, Bourne runs again into Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) and then they go to Tangiers. Vosen's hitman arrives in Morocco and after killing Neal Daniels he has his sights on Bourne and Parsons, only to be defeated by Bourne after a fight in the kitchen. After some investigations in the CIA offices, Bourne is again chasen by the hitman in the Morocco streets but after a long chase Bourne leaves the hitman senseless. Casually Bourne meets doctor Jonathan Hirsch (Albert Finney) that reminds him of how he went volontary on the program and was instructed of killing without remorse nor asking questions. Jason has to escape after some CIA men arrive and jumps into the river... just before the credits start he returns on the surface!
Despite it was a bit too frenetic even for the franchise's standards, it's still worth it because of the good acting by all and the many entertaining moments. Especially in the Morocco chase scene. And the ending, leaves you knowing what's in store for the next chapters. Not to be missed especially if you are into the franchise.
Journey to the End of the Night (2006)
Very gripping and adult but still worth it
The main reason why I knew for years about JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE NIGHT is because it's one of Brendan Fraser's most obscure movies in the period he was everywhere with the MUMMY trilogy and LOONEY TUNES BACK IN ACTION. With his recent Oscar win (I saw this 9 months after it) I finally got around to it and I could see why Darren Aronofsky picked Fraser for THE WHALE after seeing this.
The story is set in Sao Paulo in Brasil. Exiled Americans Sinatra and his son Paul (Scott Glenn and Fraser) own a brothel: Sinatra is married to a former prostitute that gave him a son and Paul is a compulsive gambler suffering from addiction. After the first half-hour a Russian client is killed in their brothel and behind him it's a suitcase filled with drugs. With the back against the wall, Sinatra has to negotiate and lets Wemba, the Nigerian dishwasher of the brothel, go to the harbor and make the sale to the drug dealers.
Wemba accepts because she'll have a lot of money in exchange but after the sale she's attacked by two thieves and knocked unconcious. Unfortunately Wemba didn't had much of contacts with Sinatra and Paul and this causes a chain reaction of misunderstandings that lead to a tragic end. I would say that before it Paul blames himself for the mess because if he wasn't addicted he could have been in the right state of mind and Sinatra that blames himself for the exile that forced them to leave the US but for the rest it's best if you just see it for yourselves.
What makes this among the most underrated Fraser movie is the gloomy atmosphere because if you think of him you soon think of the MUMMY franchise, GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE and FURRY VENGEANCE but he proved to be great in a different setting as well. Glenn as his dad was also very good as usual, and I loved him admitting his faults toward the end before the sacrifice. The ending was great and came out of nowhere.
Overall, I dare to call it a must see but it's still great for Fraser fans or experts of forgotten movies alike.
Faith of My Fathers (2005)
Tough to watch... just like every prisoner of war movie
I am not a fan of prisoner of war movies (well, which every sane person would be) but if I watch them is for the cast members. And since I had already saw a huge half of Scott Glenn's movies, I had to watch this one.
John McCain (Shawn Hatosy) is an American soldier that in the beginning is seen flying with his carrier jet over Hanoi, and unfortunately is hit by a missile and ends injured in a pond. Soon after is noticed by an angry mob and taken prisoner. McCain is wise, because instead of giving the names of his squad members he gives the names of the Green Bay Packers. At the same time we are shown flashbacks of his father Jack (Glenn) discussing of how his submarine escaped destruction in World War II and also that he and his grandpa had success in the Army despite having low grades.
Now we come to the lowest point of the movie. John is given a chance of being released with the excuse that his dad is a submarine commander but refuses, and suffers the consequences (we are then shown footage of various soldiers cruelly tortured while a couple decides to cooperate with the enemy). However, a bombing nearby results in negotiations and all the prisoners are released and sent home.
I hated the aforementioned part but what I liked were Glenn's performance, the war footage and the ending where everyone was released, it was certainly a relief. But if you are depressed or tired from work (in my case, still at college) it's a movie you should chose when you have the right humour.
Homeland Security (2004)
Unfairly hated unsold pilot dealing about the US security department
I had been curious for a while about HOMELAND SECURITY because of its cast, the low score of 4,1 and the notion that back in 2005 it probably was aired on channel 2. Last December I finally saw it and I found it a bit better than the score reserved for nearly the worst movies might make you assume.
The story is set some days after the 9/11 attacks. Retired Admiral Theodore McKee (Tom Skerritt) receives a call from the White House that since he has been a commander in chief he has to serve again, and once in the White House he is invested of the charge of senior member of the Homeland Security team. Soon we see that NSA agent Sol Binder (Leland Orser) kinda predicted a terrorist attack where the numbers 9 and 11 kept popping out but since there wasn't yet a OHS team the attack couldn't have been avoided. As the movie goes on there are also different subplots including the invasion of Afghanistan, the Custom agents on the Canadian border stopping a vehicle carrying explosives for an attempted bombing, the pursuit of Osama Bin Laden, destruction of Al Quaeda training camps and McKee's daughter Melissa that luckily avoided the flight that had been hijacked by terrorists. But soon after despite avoiding tragedy, Melissa witnessed some training of bombers while in the OHS office they are all discussing of alerting properly the US population about an eventual other attack.
While the pace was stale in some points what prevented me to give it a 1 or 2 was that the acting was good by nearly all (Skerritt, Scott Glenn, Glenn Morshower and Michael Cudlitz especially) and it was a decent view about the Homeland Security division before and after the 9/11 attacks.
Not a bad movie by any means but I am also now assuming that some of the haters might be some conspiracy theorists.
The Seventh Stream (2001)
Odd retelling of an Irish legend
I am not exactly the major expert on Irish folklore but I saw this movie simply because I love Scott Glenn's acting and while he was good as usual the movie was so-so. Why? Let's see.
Owen Quinn (Glenn) is an Irish fisherman that remained widow - when, it's not told but it must have been recent - that one day during a fishing trip notices something out of this world... a seal turning into a gorgeous woman named Mairead (Saffron Burrows), and as you might guess, Quinn tries his way with Mairead. As life goes on in the Irish village, Quinn's relationship with Mairead starts going creaky and eventually leave. When she returns on the beach Quinn notices lots of seals going to the beach and morphing into women, and as a Reverend told him before in the movie there was a population of seals that morphed into humans that just waited the right stream for doing so.
While the concept was interesting the execution was odd because it could never happen that a seal can be turned into human. I know, it's the retelling of a legend but I simply couldn't suspend disbelief. For the rest, Glenn as usual did his best with the performance and Burrows was convincing up until she became cranky and wanted to return to the beach only for morphing into a seal.
Overall, a movie that in the end would appeal more to Irish folks than non-Irish one like me (I am Italian) and saved by the leads' performances.
Buffalo Soldiers (2001)
Not exactly subtle but still a clever satire
I heard for years about BUFFALO SOLDIERS. After all, it has a star studded cast yet in Italy is now forgotten and coincidentally I saw it 21 days after I saw Joaquin Phoenix in NAPOLEON in theater. When I finally saw it this, I wasn't bowled over but still appreciated it for what it is, a satire on war.
The story is set in West Germany in 1989, some days before the fall of the Berlin wall. Specialist Ray Elwood (Phoenix) is just one of the enlisted men in the Theodore Roosevelt base in Stuttgart that are involved in trafficking and cooking heroin. Elwood is also close friends with Colonel Berman (Ed Harris) while also sleeping with his wife unbenkownst to him. However, when Sergeant Robert Lee (Scott Glenn) joins the unit, Lee might look determined to make Elwood and the others go straight. After an accident caused by servicemen under the influence of heroin where two other are killed, Lee revokes Elwood's privileges and makes another soldier stay in his bunk. In retaliation Elwood sleeps with Lee's daughter Robyn (Anna Paquin) and Lee makes a closet for heroin explode and killing one of Elwood's buds.
The night the Berlin Wall falls down, Elwood sneaks to Robyn's mansion and discovers that her dad is none other than an officer in the Criminal Investigation Division. When Elwood and Lee find themselves face to face something happens: the building explodes thanks to escaping butane mixing with smokes from industrial solvent, making Elwood and Lee falling from the top floor and Elwood ends up falling on top of Lee killing him. The movie ends with Elwood decorated and transferred to Hawaii with Robyn and submits a order for more supplies.
While the movie isn't exactly clever it's good in what it tries to be (what could happen if the Army would end up if under the substance of heroin) and the director made all the touches on purpose. The star studded cast (Phoenix, Harris, Glenn, Paquin, Michael Pena, Dean Stockwell and Idris Elba briefly before he became a star) seemed to have a lot of fun and the ending was certainly unexpected.
One of those forgotten movies that has to be seen not just for the cast but also for the humour tho I might assume it's not for everyone, just like the characters (especially Phoenix's) that are very strange and unusual.
Training Day (2001)
Deserving of its reputation tho tough to watch
I have heard about TRAINING DAY for years. After all, it's one of those movies that is aired on TV at least once a year, it had a TV show as remake tho with different actors in the leads and Denzel Washington won his second Academy Award, this time for Best Actor. When I saw it last December I could agree with all these that were reasons enough to watch it.
Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) is a young cop that is assigned to work with Alonzo Harris (Washington) of the Narcotics section for a day the day (no joke) before his eventual promotion. When Hoyt and Harris meet it's not easy at first as Hoyt is more by the book while Harris is more street-wise, knows the real codes for dealing with street gangs and in some istances looks like he's going to break the law. In fact there will be lots of investigations involving disabled Blue (Snoop Dogg), Harris' old friend Roger (Scott Glenn) who was also Harris' dealer because a Narcotics cop must have drugs in his bloodstream and Smiley (Cliff Curtis) who doesn't kill Jake for a second after, hear this, Jake's wallet with the photo of Smiley's cousin falls from his pants. In the end, the street gangs leave Alonzo to his fate (killed by Russian gangsters after he's exposed for the sort of guy he's really) and leave Jake go with the money.
I agree with some other reviewers that this isn't certainly a movie easy to watch because most of the villains are scum and most of the scenes involving killings aren't for the squeamish. But it's still worth watching because of Washington's performance (no surprise he won his second Academy Award, who knows if he'll win a third time for GLADIATOR II that will be released in a matter of weeks) and most of the other cast members' performances (they are too many and mentioned a few before). After all, Antoine Fuqua directs nicely long before the EQUALIZER trilogy again starring Washington and the first OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN.
One of those must-see movies tho not for everyone, not that there is anything wrong with it. Just be fore-warned before watching.
The Last Marshal (1999)
One of those many actioners better than its score and reviews
I love Scott Glenn's acting, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that I dared watching THE LAST MARSHAL despite its score of 5,0 and mostly negative reviews with the highest rating a 7 just like me. But I found it better than most of the naysayers would have said to deter me.
Cole McLeary (Glenn) is a tough Texas Marshall great in fighting, drinking and swearing that as you might expect isn't well seen by his superiors and colleagues tho Cole manages always to get results before them. Trouble isn't that far because as the movie begins there is a shootout in the church caused by Torres (Vincent Castellanos) and T-Boy (Raymond Cruz) and when they escape to Miami, Cole follows them. Once in Miami it wouldn't be easy for Cole as it ended up in a multi-racial environment and various upbeat guys, and as partner he's assigned Jamie, a young and hip guy that Cole doesn't exactly estimate.
After some investigations (not without some brawls, swearing, shootings and some reprimands by the superiors that came there without letting the viewer know but ok) Cole will find out that the mastermind behind the murders, drug traffic, kidnappings and many other things is DeClerc (William Forsythe), and Cole sets himself for take down the empire his own way (succedding) while also winning the affection of Rosa, so at least he has a soft spot in his heart after all.
Yes, I admit it that most of the characters are scum and most of the time you have to suspend disbelief (the reason why I don't rate it higher than 7) but Glenn was great in playing an irritable no-nonsense guy that hates everyone in equal measure and it's also the last of a breed as the title suggests. At times it was also fun, sort of like a cross between an episode of RENEGADE and one of WALKER TEXAS RANGER. And the ending when Cole manages to stop DeClerc's criminal empire after lots of mayhem it's certainly reason enough to watch it.
Overall, one of those thrillers that is best to be seen when you are tired and don't want to think too much, and also without reading the reviews first. Lot of fun and with a great performance by the lead.
Naked City: A Killer Christmas (1998)
Not exactly a Christmas movie but still lots of fun
Before going into reviewing this sequel I already explained in the review for the predecessor why I saw this one first, but it wasn't a problem since I nearly loved this and it didn't hurt that much having seen the sequel before the predecessor (and I also have never seen the 1948 NAKED CITY either).
Sergeant Daniel Muldoon (Scott Glenn) and Officer James Halloran (Courtney Vance) as usual patrol New York streets, this time during the days before Christmas. This time they have to investigate on a serial killer that dresses up as Santa Claus and as they come to the point of finding the killer and his reasons they'll deal also with their personal lives, chaos in the office as they all are soon to go on restive days and very much behave like in a typical Christmas movie.
As I said in the summary this wasn't intended to be a Christmas movie but it happened to be because it was scheduled for a first airing on December 14 in 1998. Not that it hampers the plot that much but still it was great having lots of light-hearted moments (like when Muldoon hangs out with a colleague and start chanting while going in another office) while also dealing with a murderer disguising himself as Santa Claus.
Not to be missed even if you didn't saw the predecessor first like me, it's much better (perhaps it's just me but still, they are both very underrated).
Naked City: Justice with a Bullet (1998)
Ok TV movie tho inferior to the sequel
Before going into reviewing this I have to warn you readers that I saw it five months after the sequel. Why, you might ask? Well, back on December I still hadn't found a way for having access on YouTube for movies not for the squeamish and the sequel hadn't restrictions so I watched that first but on May I finally got the way for seeing on YouTube. But at least is not that bad as some of the few that reviewed it say,
Sergeant Daniel Muldoon (Scott Glenn) and Officer James Halloran (Courtney Vance) are two police officers that work driving with a taxi across the streets of New York and without some humour they resolve the most disparate crimes. This time they have to protect Sarah Tubbs and Merri Coffman (the latter played by Robin Tunney), two young girls that had their luggage and money stolen and have to be protected by a dangerous circle led by Chaz Villanueva (Giancarlo Esposito, and believe it or not the following day I saw him in theater in ABIGAIL) involving adult movies and drugs under a shadow of saintness. After a run-in with two hitmen sent by Chaz and a meeting with kingpin Deluca (Eli Wallach) for agreement, Muldoon and Halloran will manage to save the girls.
As I was watching I assumed that having seen the sequel first, this is by force inferior even if I would have seen this first. While the sequel was edgy and with some funny moments, this was more slow-paced and with more sleazy characters. But despite these deficencies, the twist at the end was shocking and unexpected where Chaz was found out to be the responsible of the stolen luggage and money.
Overall, if you can manage to watch them in order unlike me, I wonder if you'll find yourselves in my same position that I prefer the sequel. But this, while inferior, it hasn't its moments.
Firestorm (1998)
Pretty good actually considering its budget
FIRESTORM is a movie that might deter most users as it has a score of 4,7 and mostly negative reviews of folks that find it a bit too similar to CLIFFHANGER. However, last December I finally saw it and to my surprise I ended up liking it very much. Now that I took that off my chest, let me explain.
When the story begins Jesse Graves and his mentor Wynt Perkins (Scott Glenn) are rescuing civilians after a woman called when her cabin in the woods was burning, but Wynt ends up injured meaning that he should retire but Wynt won't because of the scarse pension he'll have. In the meanwhile a group of convicts is planning to cause a fire in the woods so that they might have a chance of helping the firemen and escape from custody. Randall Alexander Shaye (William Forsythe), who is in custody because he stole more than 300 dollars and hid them in the woods, kills the interrogator, takes his identity and along with his fellow inmates they disguise themselves as firefighters taking a bird watcher hostage unknown of the fact that a forest fire already started thanks to a lightning strike.
Shaye then ends up killing all his fellow inmates so that he won't have to share the money with anyone, only to find out later that the money was burned by fire, and in a rampage kills Air Force pilot Loomis throwing him off a cliff and Packer (Barry Pepper) making him end caught in a trap that was actually intended for Shaye. Time is running out because the forest fire might cross paths and if they do, they'll engulf all the oxigen!
Wynt, who has miracolously recovered from the injuries sustained in the beginning, returns to action and saves a truckload of firefigthers and prisoners saved from Shaye's rampage, and Jesse finds out that Wynt knew about the fire since very long, but as it happens in these sort of movies, nobody wanted to hear him, and, big shocking twist, Wynt started the fire for helping a land developer in having a training school for firefigthers not knowing that the prisoners were planning an evasion. Jesse promises to keep Wynt's secret.
And here we come to the big showdown, where Wynt reveals Shaye that his lawyers made him take the fall, and Wynt ends up shot in the leg. Shaye survives an injury caused by an axe and just as he tries to kill Jesse and Jennifer, Jesse puts his head in the hole in the boat and Shaye ends up burned alive. As Jesse and Jennifer are saved, we find out that the eggs Jennifer had hidden in her coat have finally hatched despite all the fires.
So, after all I said about this, is it better than its reputation and pathetic IMDB score? Yes indeed. There were lots of tense moments that made me feel on the edge of the seat and couldn't wait to see what was coming next, and the ending was great beyond measure for its budget. The acting was great by all (many no names except Glenn, Forsythe and Pepper) and Forsythe especially, he was scary as a crazed arsonist that not only made most of his inmates escape but finishes them all after the money was gone. The stunts and fires were certainly impressive, and the ending was certainly a relief; after all those who died in the movie, two bird eggs hatch meaning that new life comes from the ashes.
Overall, one of those movies maligned only because it looks like the bad copy of a movie from some years prior with an A-lister when it's actually good on the same level. Not to be missed if you are a fan of the three known names or of thrillers that air often on TV.
Homicide: Life on the Street: Dead End (1995)
Good continuation on the previous episode
When the previous episode ended we left Bolander, Felton and Russert near death thanks to the gunman that opened fire, and when this one begins we see them in the operating room where they are under the knife for removing the bullets. But what happens otherwise? After the opening we see...
Pembleton and Lewis decide to collaborate with the Quick Response Team and it helps them getting close to pedophile and suspected sniper Glen Holton, only that he denies to having touched kids (just like with the one of the Adena case). Captain George Barnfather and Colonel Bert Granger go to Giardello investigating on the fact if he was negligent in ordering the investigation that nearly costed three detectives' lives. And, the unexpected confession of a apprehended suspect gives a needed hand on the catching of the responsible of the shooting. Who's the responsible? We'll see in the next episode, we'll see.
It was some relief seeing Bolander, Felton and Russert still alive despite the injures substained and I kinda expected that Giardello was suspected of negligence after three of his detectives nearly lost their lives in the shooting. At this point, we can't wait to see who's the responsible of the shooting.
Homicide: Life on the Street: The City That Bleeds (1995)
The first of a three-part cycle
Throughout the running of HOMICIDE there were some interwining stories that had to be split in more than one episode (in season 6 even one in three episodes). While it might not seem the case with the title of this and the next two following episodes, this was a three episode cycle. Is it good? Let's see
When the story begins Munch, Bolander, Felton and Russert go to serve a routine warrant only to being ambushed by a gunman that opened fire after hearing noise, seriously injuring all except Munch. With Bolander, Felton and Russert in hospital hanging in the balance between life and death Pembleton is partnered with detective Theresa Walker for the investigation on a pedophile, that is specialized in psychology and tries to make a drawing of the suspect's mind. As for the investigation where only Munch remained uninjured, Bolander's former partner Mitch Drummond accepts to join the case and the resolution will be seen in the following episodes.
Despite it was sad seeing our beloved Felton and Bolander near death and taken to hospital, it was still a good episode that makes you waiting anxiously for the continuation.
Homicide: Life on the Street: Partners (1995)
A better resolution for the previous episode's second story
In the previous episode Pembleton refused to cover up the wrong investigation made by a commissioner, only that a reporter exposed the cover up on TV and Pembleton had some guilt complexes. Well, despite this isn't a part 2 (like it would happen often in the show from this season onwards), here we have a resolution on that case.
When the episode begins detective Douglas Jones joins the Homicide unit from Narcotics, and soon after Jones' wife is admitted to the hospital with serious bruises with Russert suspecting of spousal abuse only to have Jones denying to having even touched his wife. Soon Pembleton prepares to testify against the commissioner, as the trust from his partners (all present here except for Felton) and future in the unit hang in the balance, and Pembleton finally succedds in clearing his name. In the end Munch and Bolander finally manage to open The Waterfront Bar.
It was a relief seeing Pembleton freeing himself from the accusations and the other stories were good, especially the one when Munch and Bolander manage to open the bar with which they had lots of issues in opening and restructuration. Among the many great episodes so far.
Homicide: Life on the Street: Cradle to Grave (1995)
Great episode not just for bikers
When the episode begins Munch and Lewis investigate on the death of biker gang leader Andrew Whetherly, the leader of the Deacons Motorcycle Club that was killed by Preacher because Andrew had some feelings for Preacher's daughter. The case is complicated when Lewis is approached by a FBI agent that is also investigating on the Deacons. In the meanwhile commissioner James Harris enlists Pembleton to help for covering up another commissioner that falsely reported a crime but Pembleton is thrown in the den of lions after refusing to being involved and a reporter finds out about the cover-up. In the end Preacher is put in cell after he confesses of having killed Whetherly.
The bikers' part was great also for this reference: when Lewis notices that a crowd of bikers is outside the police station, Munch says 'Only Lorenzo Lamas and Chuck Norris are missing at this reunion'. This is a reference to TV shows RENEGADE and WALKER TEXAS RANGER (in 1995 they were both between the third and fourth season) where in the first Lamas travelled mostly with his Harley Davidson across the US (as a TV commercial announcer put it, crossing the streets of America like John Wayne) and in the second Norris when there wasn't much time used a motorcycle for jumping from it and kicking the snot of the villains, and that in Italy are aired both an episode at a day on channel 22 both from 7 to 9 AM and from 7 to 9 PM. That is some clever reference, since there are some that still watch those shows in Italy (including a friend of mine's mom).
Homicide: Life on the Street: Every Mother's Son (1995)
Fine episode about dealing with common ground
When the episode begins Pembleton and Bayliss are called for investigating of the death of 13 year old Darryl Nawls found shot in a bowling alley, probably the same where Munch and Fidel went to play before finding out that Fidel's real father is still alive. They find after few minutes the culprit that confesses to having committed the murder and this thing happens; once at the police station, the mother of the shooter casually meets the mother of the victim and at first as you might expect they bicker but some time later (we are not said how much but I assume between January 4 and 5 when the episode was shot) they find out to have a lot in common and, the brother of the victim becomes temporary friend of the shooter's brother and, big surprise, the shooter confesses to have shot Nawls by mistake. In the meanwhile Munch and Bolander have lots of issues in reconstructing the bar and opening it, in particular Bolander doesn't want that a toilet room gets modified because George Washington used it two centuries earlier.
Aside from the consistent first story this is a typical episode where nearly everything is good and I would end up saying the same things over and over. Needless to say, just another one in a long line of winners.
Homicide: Life on the Street: All Through the House (1994)
Not the usual Christmas episode but still among the best so far
As with all TV shows made since the 1950s, when we arrive at the end of the year there is always a Christmas-themed episode so, despite HOMICIDE is very serious in tone, they had to do one. And it's among the best so far that's for sure.
On Christmas Eve the squad is on duty, so that they can be home for Christmas, and it might seem like the usual routine. Munch and Bolander investigate on the murder of a man dressed as Santa Claus found on a sidewalk and when they find his address and go at his home for investigating they find his 10 year old son Fidel waiting for his dad coming home. As Bolander goes to child Welfare, Munch has to stay with Fidel; you might think it would end up like HOME ALONE but no, Munch and Fidel first talk while the kid is watching a gangster movie from the 1950s, then go to the bowling alley having fun and beating Munch in bowling and buy dinner, and surprise! Bolander returns with Fidel's real father, meaning that the victim was one who stole his Santa dress.
In the meanwhile Lewis and Russert spend the night searching for a woman's killer that killed her last victim setting her on fire and burning her, curiously enough, after they announce the victim's mother that they found the killer she notices too many red decorations in one place and throws one to the ground. Once Munch and Bolander return at Homicide, Bayliss decides to get the office in the Christmas spirit getting everyone to play cards tho some are reticent especially that pretends to have never heard of this game and then the episode ends.
As usual with Christmas episodes even in serious shows, there is a right dose of warmth but still this is a twisted one as there are a woman burned to death and a dead Santa Claus which isn't the man Munch and Bolander thought he would be. But still, worth mentioning among the best episodes of the show for the bowling alley sequence alone.
Homicide: Life on the Street: The Last of the Watermen (1994)
An episode with an unexpected team-up
When the episode begins we see Al Giardello and John Munch in a public laundry service waiting for their clothes to be clean and discuss about why they have to go there than doing it in their own houses, and then the credits start. Beau Felton and Kay Howard are called to investigate on the murder of Audrey Reznick but since the crime scene it's too disgusting (Reznick's tongue has been cut out, and I saw a similar thing in the recent theater movie SPEAK NO EVIL tho the child was alive in that) Howard snaps and needs some time off Homicide, a chance for returning home for a while. Once at Cheasepeake Bay (near where Crosetti was found dead in the harbor wouldn't you know it) and investigates the murder of a local conservationist, suspecting that a local oysterman might be involved since the conservationist claimed that the oysters were going extinct so it was against the law fishing them and the oysterman finished him off. As Howard arrests the fisherman her brother (a friend of the oysterman) gets angry despite the evidence of the murder.
Since Felton is now alone Giardello assigns Pembleton as his new partner, and remember when in the pilot they were teamed up and didn't work out well? Well, this time they get along just fine (except when they join the basketball game and then they start to bicker making all the boys leave the park) for solving a murder involving a old woman that was killed by her nephew cutting her tongue because she allegedly talked too much.
As I said in previous reviews for other episodes of the show, nice acting and clever script are what makes this show work so far. My minor complaints would be the parts where Howard became angry towards her brother and when Pembleton and Felton bicker after joining the neighborhood kids in the basketball game. But for the rest, another good entry for the show.
Homicide: Life on the Street: Crosetti (1994)
A good way for closing the circle on one of the characters
Remember detective Steve Crosetti (Jon Polito) who was on the HOMICIDE team up until the end of season 2 but you didn't saw him in the first episodes of season 3? Well, here we finally know where he ended up.
Up until the beginning the squad thaught that Crosetti was on vacation but suddenly they hear the news on TV that he was found dead on Chesapeake Bay. Bolander quickly assumes that it's suicide but Lewis asks more investigations for avoiding to put suicide as Crosetti's cause of death. Only after a while there would be the autopsy that in Crosetti's blood there were lots of substances and Bolander would end up conforting Lewis with a hug. Despite Pembleton refuses to go to the funeral mass since he refuses to step in a church after the discussion with Annabelle Wilgis in episode 3, he'll stand dressed in high uniform in front of the police station during the funeral procession, along with the fact that they refused to do a funeral with full honors to Crosetti since he killed himself.
While it was certainly a shock hearing that Crosetti killed himself it's still a good episode thanks as usual to the performances by all and the writing. Usual for the standards of the show, and great in dealing with issues about loyalty and friendship without being too preachy.
Carla's Song (1996)
Typical love at distance story tho the ending made it fall flat
Despite Ken Loach is considered a great director by most movie critics and older people I hadn't seen a movie directed by him up until last December. So you can imagine my expectations when I had to watch this and I found it well directed and made, so I guess that Loach deserves to be praised.
The story begins in 1987 in Glasgow. Carla, a refugee from Nicaragua escaped from the civil war, strives for living with the passerbys' money from her sidewalk shows. One day she boards a bus but since she's without ticket is scolded by the ticket controller only to be saved by bus driver George Lennox (Robert Carlyle) tho this will cost in him being suspended for a while for his unprofessional behaviour. After a while George ends up leaving the woman he was about to marry because he fell in love with Carla. After a while tho, while they spent an afternoon at the lake George notices the bruises on Carla's back and starts to uncover her dark past when she was in love with a man named Antonio to which he wrote romantic love letters.
George decides to follow Carla as she returns to Nicaragua for seeing how the war unfolded and if Antonio is still alive. Once there George witnesses a country ravaged by hunger, violence and death which is the opposite of the ideals of the inhabitants, and Carla discovers that now Antonio is a political prisoner. After some days George meets Bradley (Scott Glenn), a former CIA Agent that decided to help the rebels. Also thanks to Bradley, George discovers the truth about Carla that she had a kid from Antonio and the latter has the face disfigured. Despite Carla decides to stay in Nicaragua, she'll never forget George and they'll keep each other in their hearts.
The many pluses of the movie are: the direction. As I've never seen another Loach movie, I am naive but still bowled over by his direction style different than the most English directors. The acting was good by all; Carlyle, Oyanka Cabezas (who never became a star despite this being her only movie), Gary Lewis and Glenn (which makes me wonder how he got here since he's American and this is a British production shot for the most part in Nicaragua) looked like they knew they were in the hands of a great director and acted of consequence. And the shootings in Nicaragua looked both great and realistic since like in documentaries, the ravages of war had to be shown somehow.
Then with all the praise to the qualities why I didn't gave it a 9? Well, some of the scenes of Antonio being tortured were too much even for me that I am a guy that likes the SAWs and FRIDAY THE 13TH and I also hated the ending. I mean, if George loved Carla so much couldn't he have forced her to leave war-torn Nicaragua and move with him in England since at the beginning they shared the same home for some time? It would have been a better ending for me but apparently the writer decided to make it implied that Carla used George as an excuse to get back to Antonio. I don't know for a fact but this is my guess.
Overall a good movie by a director acclaimed by many tho you should forgive the ending for loving it. Not that it's a bad thing.
Night of the Running Man (1995)
One of those thrillers in the vein of RESERVOIR DOGS and PULP FICTION, and good as most of them
NIGHT OF THE RUNNING MAN is a movie I would have avoided had I only looked at the overall score of 5,7 and the mostly negative reviews. But since last December I finally decided to watch all the movies I still hadn't seen with Scott Glenn I bit the bullet and I am glad I did because it made me feel on the edge of my seat. And my summary refers to the fact that this was released by Miramax, the same studio of those two other classics.
When the story begins cab driver Jerry Logan gives a ride to a nervous passenger that gives Logan 100$ for arriving at the airport ASAP, and unknown to Logan the man has stolen one million dollars from casino manager Al Chambers, who also skimmed it from mob boss Augusto Gurino. Knowing that Gurino would kill him if he finds out about the missing money, Chambers sends hitmen for recover the money. The thief is killed but Logan (who hid in a closet, something usual in this sort of movies) escapes with the money. Chambers then hires irritable hitman David Eckhart (Glenn) who has to track down Logan after he escaped his house; in fact when Logan takes a train a waitress is killed by Eckhart since she refused to reveal where Logan is. After a kidnapping in Los Angeles where Eckhart boils Logan's feet in hot water tho Logan overpowers Eckhart's co-hort Mills and flees with the money. Logan is then treated in an hospital where nurse Christine Altman hides him after Eckhart comes looking for him, and they flee to a nearby hotel only to end in Logan's house and after a steamy night, wouldn't you know it, Eckhart was waiting for him in the kitchen. Then they make a deal that if Logan can manage to split the money, Eckhart should let him and Christine live.
Soon Logan gets tired of this and after a failed ambush to Eckhart he reveals that he hid the money in the basement. Once there Logan and Eckhart start fighting and taunting each other in the dark. Despite it seems that Logan has the easy hand, Eckhart overpowers him but just as he's about to kill Logan, the latter hits Eckhart with a wooden plank that unknown to them has a nail, impaling Eckhart and finishing him. Sometime later Logan and Christine go in another under assumed names.
To not compare this movie to the aforementioned movies in the summary would be a mistake, because this is one of those movies for which you must have high tolerance for violence as there are very intense scenes of killings or injuring people, and here Glenn plays one of the scariest characters he ever played as I didn't even recalled to have see him so nasty and aggressive and it was certainly a plus for the movie. Overall, if you are in love with the 1990s' movies or thrillers that verge on the violent, it's worth a viewing.
Homicide: Life on the Street: Happy to Be Here (1994)
Bizarre and thought-provoking at the same time
When the episode begins Bayliss and Emma Zoole wake up in the coffin she uses as a bed and he has some pain because he isn't used to sleep in it, only that later Zoole abruptly ends the affair because she becomes turned on after her boyfriend h**s her and Bayliss refuses to h** her (I assume you probably got it but IMDB wouldn't allow me to use the full words). After the title we cut to Sam Thorne, the anti-guns activist we saw in the previous episode, at a restaurant and after a few minutes is shot by a teen on behalf of a cartel so that they can give him the money for buying a new bike.
Pembleton and Bayliss, the dynamic duo of the show and if you arrived at this point you'll know what I mean, are supposed to investigate about a man that didn't reported the death of his wife and kept her in the house thinking she's alive tho she is starting the process of decay but it all goes awry after Bayliss snaps since he's still grieving for the end of his relationship: some time later Bayliss goes to a convenience store and after the cashier tells him that money isn't enough for what he had to buy (a six-pack and cookies) Bayliss helds the cashier at gunpoint only to have Pembleton arrive and stop Bayliss going further just like at the beginning with Zoole's boyfriend.
What I liked about this episode were the performances and most of the situations especially the one in the convenience store. But what prevented me to give a 9 was the story of the man that kept his dead wife in the chair and didn't even realized she was dead until Pembleton and Bayliss went to investigate, that was a bit gross even for the show's standards. However, the good outweights the bad here.