SOME REJECTS

 

Over the past several months I have “reviewed” several “Oldies” that, upon some reflection I decided didn’t merit the appellation “Golden”.  Here are  some, with comments.

Miss Congeniality:  Genuinely funny the first time through – but I’ve seen it three times.  Sandra Bullock is great, Michael Caine is greater – and William Shatner should have stayed on the Starship Enterprise.  B-

The American President:  Michael Douglas is okay, Annette Bening is better, Michael J. Fox is amusing.  The script, In the age of Trump, is inadequate.  C+

The Big Easy:  Watch if you like Cajun music.  Otherwise, give it a miss.  C

ANOTHER ONE TO AVOID

I know that one is not supposed to speak ill of the dead, but sometimes it is necessary.  Recently I reviewed the movie Greenfingers.  I really liked it but, in doing my research I discovered that famed movie critic Roger Ebert, now deceased,  was downright contemptuous in describing it.  He called it “twee”, whatever that is supposed to mean.  So, I decided to see what he thought of a movie I absolutely despised:  Sideways.  Sure enough, he called it “brilliant”.

Sorry, Roger, but you were wrong, May God rest your soul!

Sideways is a tale involving two worthless twits doing trivial things, some of which border on the criminal.  The plot revolves around wine, and takes place in the wine growing regions of central California.  Some of the locals pictured are scenic – and that is the only good thing that I can conjure up to say about it.

Bottom line:  avoid this movie at all cost!

 

GOLDEN OLDIE 62: Greenfingers

 

Okay, no beating around the bush:  this is a seriously good movie, about men,  flowers and such, a healing potion for the lacerated soul.  It concerns men incarcerated within the British penal system who become prize-winning gardeners.  Yes, there is a little sex in it, and excessive smoking, but by and large this is a movie you could enjoy with your grandmother.  The star, Clive Owen, is great; too bad he seems to have given up thr silver screen for a career on the stage.  There is a rumor that he was to be the next James Bond, but declined the honor.  Helen Mirren is the best known of the cast; she is excellent, but has a limited role.  The supporting cast is fine – and the flowers are beautiful.  Imagine!  A movie with no blood and a body count of zero!  Like I said; good for the soul.

I end this review with two observations.  First, the critics didn’t much like this movie, whereas we unwashed plebeians did; another reason not to listen to the critics.  (After all, they even liked Sideways, which any right-minded person would detest.)  And second, the real stand-out characterization in Greenfinger is David Kelly, as Fergus.  He brought tears to my eyes.  So, yes. This is an excellent movie.  Free on Amazon Prime at the moment.  An emphatic  A

GOLDEN OLDIE 61: Tin Cup

 

Having survived my close encounter with ugliness (as exemplified by the movie The Accused), I decided to let my nerve endings mend while watching a mindless, good natured Kevin Costner sports movie.  Golf, this time, co-starring Rene Russo, Cheech Marin, and a flock of busy armadillos.  Tin Cup, as it is called, was released in 1996.  The critics didn’t exactly hate it, and we audience boobs were slightly amused by it (Rotten Tomatoes 72%).  Needless to say, it won no honors – although, personally, I think the armadillos were stiffed.

So, the plot revolves around an immensely talented golfer crippled by inner demons, who conquers them – and the U.S. Open - with the help of a profane coach (Marin) and a comely psychiatrist (Russo).   Nothing profound here, just good, honest, clean fun.  Marin is really good in this role, enticing me to watch another of his efforts, Desperado -  to be reported on soon.  I have never much cottoned to Russo, but she is pretty good here.  Don Johnson is admirably despicable in an important supporting role.  But the highlights of the movie belong to the armadillos; too bad most of their scenes ended up on the cutting-room floor.

SKIP THIS MOVIE, UNLESS . . .

 

Unless you are a fan of morally flawed people doing despicable things, don’t watch this movie.  Of course, if you enjoy gang rape, this is right down your alley.  Jody Foster plays a hard-drinking, pot-smoking, foul-mouth little slut – but makes you root for her just the same.  Kelly McGillis plays an honest lawyer who brings Foster’s rapists to some feeble sort of justice – she is ne of the very small number of people involved here with whom you would want to eat dinner.  Accused was released in 1988; the critics liked it; the audience somewhat less so.   Foster won an Oscar as well as some other awards.  She did a great job, for sure – but, geez!

Jody Foster is not your ordinary breed of duck.  She seems to thrive on the sort of movie that gives you bad dreams.  I was gratified to see her in Maverick, where she actually was allowed to smile.  I may watch another of her gut-wrenchers tonight.  Or I may not.

GOLDEN OLDIE 60: True Grit (1969)

 

Well, this one went over so well the first time (1969) that they decided to do it again (2010).  I liked them both, but the original is best.  The star, John Wayne, won a Best Actor Oscar for his role as Rooster Cogburn, a one-eyed, hard drinking, straight-shooting, rule-bending western lawman.  He was ably “assisted” by an indomitable teen aged girl bent on revenge (Kim Darby) and a (comparatively) straight-laced Texas Ranger, played by Glen Campbell; yes, the singer.  The flic was shot in and around Ouray, Colorado, so the scenery is terrific.  The background music features Campbell, who was my favorite singer of the 1970s and 80s.  Thus, all in all, I liked it a lot.  A-

So, as you probably already know, Campbell’s career – and life – were shortened by Alzheimer’s disease,  Darby, too, faded from view, although she subsequently acted in a few forgettables.  If you can believe Google – and how can you not? – she had a problem with drugs.  Too bad; she was great here.