Smokey and the Bandit(1977)
Former stuntman Hal Needham directed this absolute riot of a chase film that confirmed Burt Reynolds as the king of the box office in the 1970s.Awesome old school chases and stunts backed up by extremely witty dialogue that was mostly ad-libbed by Jackie Gleason on set.Gleeson based what he said on Burt Reynolds's father,who was a Florida state trooper after Reynolds told him stories about him and his use of the put down "sum bitch."
8/10
Carnage(2012)
After a dispute between two schoolboys ends up with one of the boys loosing his teeth,the children's parents decide to meet up and discuss the situation.After a polite and civilised start to the conversation things get out of hand and alcohol induced verbal warfare breaks out.Brilliantly directed by Roman Polanski and superbly acted by four of the best in the business,Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet,Christoph Waltz and John C.Reilly.Based on the play God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza.
9/10
The Auteur Theory(1999) A documentary maker films an amateur film festival at which some of the directors are murdered. Trying to be a comedy, a film satire and a murder mystery, it doesn't really succeed at any of them. 3/10
Criminal(2016)
Despite the impressive cast,Kevin Costner,Gary Oldman and Tommy Lee Jones,this isn't worth watching.A complete waste of money.A ludicrous plot involving Kevin Costner's character receiving memory implants from a dying CIA agent in order to complete his mission?
Its criminal that films like this get made.
1/10
Skullduggery(1970)
An interesting film directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Burt Reynolds.A tribe of ape like creatures called the Tropis are used as slave labour in Papua New Guinea.When one of them is killed,the trail focuses on whether or not the Tropis are animal or human.If so,it becomes a murder trial.The excellent make up effects by Bud and Marvin Westmore still hold up.
7.5/10
Four Dogs Playing Poker(2000) A gang of five including Tim Curry,Olivia Williams and Balthazar Getty steal a statue, but complications ensue when the statue's location is uncertain and their paymaster played by Forest Whitaker requires it. The opening scenes are OK but from then on its becomes tedious, convoluted and annoying. Part of the annoyance is the over acting of one of the gang played by Daniel London, and the quirky casting( Steve Jones, ex Sex Pistols & John Taylor ex Duran Duran as Whitaker's henchmen and old James Bond George Lazenby as the victim of the heist) cannot save it 3/10
Ghost Ship(1953)
Spooky thriller starring Dermot Walsh and Hazel Court.When a young couple decide to purchase a luxury steamboat to go on a romantic getaway
they soon regret that they didn't take seriously the warnings that it was haunted.Directed by Vernon Sewell.
7/10
Magic(1978)
Richard Attenborough directs Anthony Hopkins as the insane ventriloquist who's dummy,Fats,constantly gives him bad advice of which he always listens to.An incredibly creepy and effective,psychological horror film that also has excellent support from Ann Margaret and Burgess Meredith and a great score by Jerry Goldsmith.
8/10
(16-05-2016 22:02 )rpj316 Wrote: [ -> ]Magic(1978)
Richard Attenborough directs Anthony Hopkins as the insane ventriloquist who's dummy,Fats,constantly gives him bad advice of which he always listens to.An incredibly creepy and effective,psychological horror film that also has excellent support from Ann Margaret and Burgess Meredith and a great score by Jerry Goldsmith.
8/10
You should try Dead Of Night(1945) an anthology film containing five sequences, including Michael Redgrave as a ventriloquist controlled by his dummy. Pretty spooky film
To Kill A King(2003) Set in 1645 onwards during the English Civil War, with King Charles I in custody, cracks begin to develop in the ranks of the Parliamentarian allies. Despite some historical inaccuracies this is an enjoyable and pretty well acted film, although Tim Roth is rather miscast as Cromwell, not his acting, but his slight frame, the real Cromwell being a bulkier figure. Dougray Scott plays Sir Thomas Fairfax, the parliamentarian general with Olivia Williams as his wife, and Rupert Everett as Charles. Where the film also scores is the central portrayal of the friendship between moderate Fairfax and radical Cromwell 7.5/10