Films Showing for the 1st Time in St. Louis in 1993 or late 1992 - How I called'em when I saw 'em (in viewing order)

****

"Much Ado About Nothing"

"The King of the Hill"

"The Joy Luck Club"

"Schindler's List"

***+

"Tous Les Matins Du Monde"

"Aladdin" (1992)

"Matinee"

"Ground Hog Day"

"A Few Good Men" (1992)

"Damage" (1992)

"Flesh and Bone"

***

"Flirting" (1992)

"The Crying Game" (1992)

"Peter's Friends"

"Innocents Abroad"

"The Maestro"(rough cut)

"Chaplin" (1992)

"Passion Fish" (1992)

"Rich In Love"

"Benny & Joon"

"Point of No Return"

"Malcolm X"

"Strictly Ballroom" (1992)

"Sleepless in Seattle"

"The Firm"

"The Fugitive"

"The Manhattan Murder Mystery"

"The Age of Innocence"

"Short Cuts"

"Household Saints"

"A Perfect World"

Best/Favorite Movies of the Year in Retrospect - (in order of excellence???)

"Schindler's List"

"Much Ado About Nothing"

"The Joy Luck Club"

"The King of the Hill"

"Ground Hog Day"

"A Few Good Men" (1992)

"Damage" (1992)

"Strictly Ballroom" (1992)

"Aladdin" (1992)

"Tous Les Matins Du Monde"

"Flesh and Bone"

"Matinee"

"The Crying Game" (1992)

"The Age of Innocence"

"Short Cuts"

"Chaplin" (1992)

"Peter's Friends"

"Household Saints"

"Passion Fish" (1992)

"Rich In Love"

"Malcolm X"

"Sleepless in Seattle"

"Benny & Joon"

"Innocents Abroad"

"The Maestro"(rough cut)

"The Firm"

"The Fugitive"

"Flirting" (1992)

"A Perfect World"

"Point of No Return"

"The Manhattan Murder Mystery"

12/19 "Flirting" (1992)

*** John Duigan has written and directed a wonderful tale (somewhat autobiographical ?) of growing up on the outside of society in an Australian private schools. Two outcasts, one a stutterer constantly tortured by his peers and the other a highly educated and intelligent girl from Uganda find each other and bond. The film is refreshingly free of most of the standard teenage stereotypes, especially Nicole Kidman's character. ($7.50, Tivoli, Dana, Bosman, Jake, Anthony, Stitt)

12/20 "The Crying Game" (1992)

*** It is difficult to say much about this film without giving away any of it's U-turns in the plot. It looks at friendships, loyalties (nationally and personal), sex, and one's inner nature. Film's subject matter tends to be fairly adult and not for all tastes. ($3.75, Esquire, Bosman, Jake, Anthony, Mall)

12/24 "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)

**** I never grow tired of seeing this movie. While generally appreciated for it's feel good qualities, it is an excellently crafted picture; the pinnacle of Frank Capra's work. The writing and pacing are terrific. The script is so tight. Each scene and line of dialogue relates to others throughout the picture. Capra's casting and use of all the character actors is also tops. This film deserves to be on most people's "Best Picture" of all time lists. I suspect most film snobs avoid doing so for fear of placing themselves along side those who also list "Top Gun" or "Pretty Woman" on their Best of lists. (TV, Rhonda & Nancy)

12/26 "Peter's Friends" (1992)

*** To echo every other reviewer, it's kind of an English "The Big Chill". While very funny in many places, the overall script was less eloquent or as meaningful as I recall Kasdan's picture being. Still it always enjoyable to see Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branuagh. ($2.50, Hi Pointe, Rhonda, Dana, Jake)

12/26 "Toys" (1992)

* What a disappointment and waste. While visually interesting (it could receive some Oscar nominations for art direction), there is little else of any value to this film. The script is one of the worse in recent memory. It is has no cohesion and most every scene has nothing to say. It's almost as if they took a rough draft written by a high school student and filmed it. It's not that I didn't understand what was trying to be said (it was so simplistic an idiot could understand it) it just was all half baked. Robin Williams was wasted and completely forgettable in the picture (I realize this is difficult to believe). The only times I wasn't bored or annoyed were when LL Cool J and to some extent Joan Cusak were on the screen. What seems impossible to believe is that this came from the Barry Levison, the same person who brought such wonderful stories as "Diner", "Tin Men" and "Avalon" as well popular favorites as "Rain Man" and "Good Morning Vietnam" to life. I hope he goes back to his strengths (realism and semi-autobiographical stuff) and leaves the visual, surreal stuff to others, such as Terry Gilliam. ($5.75, Crestwood, Jake)

01/02 "The Last Picture Show" (1971)

**** Brilliant, dark and depressing look at relationships (sexual, friendships, parental etc.) of a small town in Texas over the course of one year in the early fifties. Slow pacing, black and white photography, and barren landscape magnifies the bleakness, loneliness and lack of hope in these people's lives. Performances are excellent all around (Leachman and Johnston got Best Supporting Oscars) and the script and direction are top notch. Like Welles with "Citizen Kane", Bogdonovich's peaks with first picture (I think it's his first major work). This is on my list best movies of all times (probably in the twenties). ($1.06 video, Mike Mall and Dana)

01//03 "Lethal Weapon 3" (1992)

**+ Exactly what you would expect after seeing the first two. Glover and Gibson walk though this fairly standard action-er. Joe Pesci is annoying and wasted. ($0.00, James' video, James)

01/09 "Tous Les Matins Du Monde" (1992)

***+ While this is an exceptionally well made movie, the story line is very heavy, sad and dispiriting. The characters lives are pretty depressing and empty. Not being a musician it is difficult for me to understand some of the morals/themes of the picture. Much of the films images are like renaissance paintings by the masters in their coloration and lighting. Very effective lighting throughout. ($4.00, Tivoli, Dana)

01/10 "Look Who's Talking" (1990?)

** I must admit too not paying a lot of attention to this film and not seeing the last 15 minutes. It had it funny moments and was reasonably in-offensive and mindless but don't look for it to turn around John Travolta's or Kristie Alley's career. ($1.00, Video, James)

01/12 "It Happened One Night" (1934)

***+ Parts are fairly dated and somewhat corny. "Now take Abraham Lincoln. A natural born piggy backer." I did especially like the scene of them crossing the river piggy-back otherwise though. The last 15 minutes after the "boys loses girl" scenes, drag on a bit to long and could haven been written more effectively at half the length. Gable is truly likable to both men and women and it's easy to see why he was considered the "King" at the time. ($5.00, Webster University, Dana)

01/15 "Aladdin" (1992)

***+ Very enjoyable and funny throughout. The animation was significantly better then in other recent animated pictures. The cave with the lioness's mouth was a particularly effective bit of computer animation. The jokes and the visuals come at a very rapid pace and it is doubtful I caught everything that flew by, so I wouldn't mind seeing it again. Robin Williams as the genie was very well done. I disagree with other reviewers complaints about the topical nature of the jokes limiting their future effectiveness. Bugs Bunny and Loony Tunes were filled with topical references of the 1940's and I still loved them and felt a deep understanding when I finally knew enough history to get them. The other complaints, that some of the lyrics were offensive to Arabic people, are fairly well founded. ($5.00 & $ 0.75, Kenrick, Dana and Rhonda)

01/17 "Scent of A Woman" (1992)

** Paccino's is fairly good as blind, sexist, curmudgeon, Lt. Colonel and if you are a big Paccino fan this film is worth a look, other wise it offers little to recommend it. Paccino's character is very unlikable (a lesser actor would have made it un-watchable) and fairly offensive to women. Overly long, weak, predictable script, and an implausible, Hollywood happy ending also limit this film. The prep school assholes lines were well written and rang true to form, however. The prep school stuff was generally well done. ($3.75, Galleria, Dana, Christie, Robby, & Doug)

01/18 "The Never Ending Story" (1984)

*** This film didn't live up to my expectations of greatness. While visually it was well done, the story line was strained and not particularly strong. It seemed to try to hard to say that reading was important and place itself among the classics of children's cinema. It is difficult to judge as an adult but I can't see this being among the classics of children's cinema. ($1.06, video, James)

01/18 "A Day at The Races" (1937)

**+ The scenes with the Marx Brothers themselves shine as brightly as ever but the film doesn't hold up as well as a whole. As with most comedy team films of that time, the musical numbers are out of place and annoying. The "poor, gambling, happy sambo/negro jazz" number was down right offensive. The surrounding characters and plot are more wooden then normal. I would fast forward through much of this drivel if I were to watch it again. ($1.06, video, James)

01/18 "The Never Ending Story II" (1990?)

*+ Uninspired sequel tries to echo the themes of the original but it misses the mark on most accounts. Exceptionally predictable, cardboard new characters and particularly bad dialogue between the characters made this a movie to be endured as much as watched. ($1.06, video, James)

01/19 "Stage Door" (1937)

*** This was included as part of the screwball comedy series, which was somewhat of a surprise. I guess the thought was that since the dialogue is rapid fire through most of the film, it should classify as a screwball comedy. I would actually place it under the comedy/melodrama category. Kate Hepburn was great (as always), as was Lucille Ball in the supporting role (and looking great without orange hair). Eve Arden and Ann Miller also put in some nice supporting work. Ginger Rodgers does little for me and isn't that good of a dancer. I have yet to see her make a role her own and no one else's. ($5.00, Webster University, Dana)

01/22 "Innocents Abroad" (1992)

*** Les Blank's has made a light, whimsical documentary of Americans on a guided bus tour of Europe that covered 22 cities, in 14 days. The people being interviewed reminded me exactly of my Grandmother telling me of her trip to Europe right down to the lengthy discourse on the toilets. I enjoyed it. ($5.00, Webster University, Dana)

01/23 How to Make Documentaries Seminar with Les Blank ***+ Flower Films Clips 1967-88 - chronological look at most of Les Blank's work. I enjoyed/loved just about everything he has ever done since I first saw his film on Clifton Chenier in spring of 1985. The collection of clips made me want to see all of his stuff. The clips were of (* indicate whether I have seen the film before): "Blues According to Lightin' Hopkins"-look at Louisiana blues guitarist "Spend It All"-Cajun music & culture "A Well Spent Life"-look at south-east Texas blues man "Dry Wood" - Cajun culture *"Hot Peppers" - Clifton Chenier, King of Zydeco "Chulas Fronteras" - Tex-Mex border music "Always for Pleasure" - Mardi Gras (not main French Quarter stuff)

"Garlic is as Good As Ten Mothers" - garlic cooking and culture in Bay area "Sprout Wings and Fly" - Blue Ridge Mountain Music *"In Heaven There is No Beer?" - Polka music and dancing in late 1970's America *"Burden of Dreams" - the making of Werner Hertzog's "Fitzcaroldo" about a man who moves a steam boat from the Amazon across a mountain to lake *"Ziveli" - Serbian music and culture in Chicago *"Gap Toothed Women" - women with a space between their front teeth

It did not include some of his more recent works, such as: *"J'ai ette Un Ball"- more scholarly look then usual of Cajun and Zydeco music and culture "Yum-Yum-Yum"-Cajun cooking

*** "The Maestro"(rough cut) - San Francisco Bay area artist the Maestro is immortalized; persona of a Hollywood cowboy, who doesn't accept any money for his art because he believes it will corrupt him good. The line I liked best that he said about his work is "Passion brings it's own talent". ($40, Webster University Seminar)

01/30 "Matinee" (1993)

***+ John Goodman is excellent (as usual) as an early 60's schlock horror film maker premiering his new flick "MANT" (man + ant + radiation) in Key West Florida during the Cuban missile crisis. The story also has some very touchy coming of age stuff that is done very well (similar to the Wonder Years in it's first season or so). It sounds kind of hokey but it's all very well done and I enjoyed it very much. The film very eloquently juxtaposes the fears of the nation and the innocence of youth. ($6.00, $1.50, Esquire, Dana, Anthony & Lesha)

01/30 "The Awful Truth" (1937)

***+ A little slow at the beginning and end but very funny in between. Cary Grant is always a joy to watch as was the dog Mr. Smith (Asta). Irene Dunne as the other half of the divorcing couple puts in a good performance as does Ralph Belamy as the "aw-shucks", mother toting bachelor from Oklahoma. ($7.50, Webster University, Dana & Christie)

02/02 "His Girl Friday" (1940)

**** This is a fabulous film and it holds up extremely well. The action and dialogue are non-stop throughout and there are several times that several conversations are going on at once. Rossiland Russell has perhaps her best role and Cary Grant is perfect as her former husband/boss. ($2.50, Webster University, Dana)

02/06 "Drugstore Cowboy" (1991?)

***+ Gus Vant Zant, Jr. has brought to the screen another very dark and depressing look at young adults in the American Northwest ("My Private Idaho" was also his work). The film seems very realistic (it's based on a true story) but it also struck me that perhaps the director (who also had a screen writing credit) had lived parts of this film. Matthew Dillon leads a "crew" of drug addicts knocking over pharmacies and shooting up across Oregon. This and last year's "Rush" are two powerful statements against hard drug use by portraying what it's like. ($1.06, Schnucks Video, Dana)

02/12 "8 1/2" (1963)

**** Chaotic and difficult film in many respects. It is a look at a director (easy to see as Fellini himself) who is at a confusing, indecisive and doubt-filled time in his life. The chaoticness of his life and feelings at the time are transferred to non-linearly to the screen. Hence the film has no real plot and is a combination of reality and dreams that seem made up as it went along. Fellini has obviously made a very personnel film here. The "Calvin and Hobbes" like dream/fantasies are excellent. In addition to the lack of a hard a story line to follow, the sub-titles and my lack of knowledge of the Italian culture of the early sixties adds to the difficulties and surreal nature of the film's proceedings. I thought the harem sequence with all the women in his current life was a scream. The music added a nonsensical element. The one tune definitely inspired the track for Tim Burton's "Pee Wee's Big Adventure". Claudia Cardinali was the only the actress I recognize in a cast of exceptionally, beautiful woman. I was completely captivated by the woman who played his wife. Marcello Mastreano was as excellent (I loved his glasses and hat) as he was in the much easier to appreciate "La Dolce Vita". (2.50, Webster University, Dana, Carrie, Gary, Liz & Jon)

02/14 "Chaplin" (1992)

*** Above average film biography but a fairly standard treatment as compared to Fellini's "8 1/2", which in retrospect is autobiographical. Robert Downey, Jr. puts in a wonderful performance and as the advertising says, he "is" Chaplin (probably a best actor nominee). My appreciation of Chaplin as an artist and person has improved but I still think Buster Keaton is funnier, by far. ($1.25, Creve Coeur, Dana & Christie)

02/19 "Butterfield 8" (1960)

**+ This film seems typical of a lot of adult, cutting edge dramas made by Hollywood around the 1950's (this came out in 1960). Their handling of the subject manor seems juvenile and coarse by today's standards. Elizabeth Taylor plays a call-girl/tramp to Manhattan's upper set of businessmen, who eventually finds "true love". She doesn't except money for her favors in what seems more of a nod to the moral code of the time then to reality. Taylor's Oscar-winning portrayal is easily the best part of the film (she looks fabulous throughout). The other actors don't fair so well. Eddie Fischer isn't much of an actor and neither is the totally forgettable Laurence Harvey in the male lead. The dialogue and the script writing are very dated and don't hold up too well. This film just wouldn't be made like this today. Although when thinking about it some more, I can't say that a film like "Pretty Woman" is much of an improvement. I did like her red Sunbeam Alpine though. ($1.06, Schnucks video, Dana)

02/21 "Dances With Wolves" (1991)

***+ I like this film but it doesn't get better each time I see it. I tend to see only the silly things about it ("Bad horse") and not what made it so good. ($0.00, video, James)

02/27 "Ground Hog Day" (1993)

***+ Charming and thoughtful romantic comedy which I enjoyed quite a bit, though it takes awhile to get going. If you are expecting the Bill Murray of "Meatballs" you will be disappointed. It's more the Bill Murray of "The Razor's Edge". Christopher Guest plays his stereotypical role, which I personally find funny but he isn't given many lines. Andie McDonald is ok too. ($8.50, Esquire, James)

03/05 "Passion Fish" (1992)

*** Mary McDonald turns in a remarkable performance in John Sayles movie. Probably not Hollywood enough for most tastes. It's kind of slow with little action. The plot elements and characters appear for little reason and are distracting if you expect something to come from them. I enjoyed the ride pretty much though. The Zydeco music was also a hit. ($7.50, Shady Oak, Dana, Christie & Greg Hammond)

3/12 "Amos & Andrew" (1993)

*+ Below average comedy centering on racism on an island in Mass. The only redeemable element is Nicholas Cage, other then that it is completely forgettable. On top of that it was shown at one of those awful upstairs theaters of the Esquire for full price. ($11.50, Esquire, Dana)

3/16 "Somersby" (1993)

** Mediocre sentimental romance piece staring Richard Gere (I have trouble taking seriously an don't recall liking him in anything) as a returning Confederate solider, who seems so different people wonder if it's really him. Jodie Foster puts in an indifferent performance as his wife. The script wasn't all that believable, especially the "politically correct" depiction of blacks. ($0.00 freebie on Movie Watcher's Card, Galleria)

03/19 "Rich In Love" (1993)

*** Bruce Beresford has directed a lyrical story of love in it's many forms. Charleston, SC is the touchingly photographed backdrop to this story of a family going separate ways following the departure of the mother. I really liked Albert Finney, whose accent and mannerisms seemed right on the money, as did everybody's, but what do I know since I am only a Yankee. The young girl who played Lucille was also very good, as was Kyle McClauglin. There were parts of the script that stretched believability (Finney forgetting graduation and the singing at the night club) but on the whole it seemed very realistic if somewhat forgettable. But then again aren't most "slice of life" films. ($7.50, Crestwood, Dana)

03/20 "Cool Hand Luke" (1967)

**** Classic "guy" movie is still very enjoyable the third time around. Paul Newman's performance is powerful and has changed many's view on what it is to be a man. I doubt if women get the film as much. I wish I could have been seen it in Pana-vision on the big screen the first time, it would have been something. ($0.00, TV, Todd)

03/21 "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III" (1993)

*+ Uninspired sequel lacks originality and fun of the earlier outings. The change of scenery to feudal Japan was of some help (the sets looked pretty good) but there is nothing new here I and really found it painful to watch. ($6.90, Kenrick, James)

03/28 "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961)

***+ Surprisingly adult comedy, love story that holds up very well. I doubt if it would have been as light and fun if made today. I don't usually like or condone breezing over the darker elements of a character or story but this picture handled them well by not dwelling on them but concentrating on the hope and happiness of the love story instead. Audrey Hepburn is delightful as Holly Go-lightly, I can't imagine anyone else doing it as well. ($1.06, Schnucks video, Dana)

3/31 "Benny & Joon" (1993)

*** Decidedly offbeat and whimsical, romantic-comedy about of a mentally ill person and her brother caretaker and falling love. The characters make it (the plot is pretty standard boy meets girl stuff) but it left me with a fairly good feeling. Mary Stuart Masterson is attractive and does a fairly good job as the mentally ill Joon. I think my biggest reservation with the film is with Johnny Depp's portrayal of the barely socially functional silent movie fanatic. He had some of Chaplin's and Keaton's moves down mostly but only mostly. It doesn't stand up to well when compared to the masters or even Robert Downey's "Chaplin". I think it annoyed me. ($0.00 free passes from Big Brothers, Galleria, James, Dana, & James' friend; Robin, Christina, Val and friend were there also)

4/2 "Point of No Return" (1993)

*** Very violent film of drug addict turned government assassin is pretty good, though one must dispense with one's sense of believability and reality in places (Why would you put sulfuric acid on a dead body?). Bridget Fonda is striking in the lead and I liked the Harvey Kietel's role of "Victor, the Cleaner". No family values expounded here. ($7.50, Esquire, Pooky)

4/17 "Malcolm X" (1992)

*** Denzel Washington is excellent as a truly great and complex man who grew throughout his life. He makes the most of a script that is uneven at times. Similar to Streisand's "Prince of Tides", the things that bother me about this film were the imprint of the director/producer on everything to a fault. The early year scenes were especially poorly handled. I think Spike miscast himself in the role of Shorty. Too much of his persona is cartoon-like and it took away from the believability and seriousness of the subject manner. The jitterbug dance scene (as the one latter on at the Audibon Ballroom) seem to have little purpose except to satisfy Lee's love of shooting big, staged musical numbers. It was long in places. It is not the film a white man would have made. In many ways it was as much a propaganda film as a drama (see Oliver Stone's "JFK"). I liked and enjoyed it, it's just that the things I felt were mistakes would have been so easy to correct or avoid. Spike Lee is good, but not as good as he thinks. ($1.50, Sunset Hills)

05/23 "Strictly Ballroom" (1992)

*** Basically a boy meets girl story set against the backdrop of competitive ballroom dancing in Australia. It has Cinderella, the Ugly Duckling and Star Wars overtones. It is very enjoyable and funny. It's sub-plots of believing in yourself, following your dreams, overcoming fears make it mean more though it is never a serious film (it borders on corny at times, though it's all just tongue in cheek ). Recommended for most people and not just musical fans. ($5.00, Kirkwood)

05/28 "Dave" (1993)

**+ Enjoyable and lite comic fare with Kevin Kline as an average decent fellow who gets called on to impersonate the president after he's had a stroke while cheating on his wife Sigourney Weaver. Nothing exceptional or deep and parts were very hard to believe. Mostly forgettable in the long run but pleasant enough. ($3.00, Kenrick)

05/30 "Kuffs" (1992?)

*+ Script is implausible and defiantly aimed at the juvenile mind set with an attitude. Christen Slater plays a high school drop out whose brother dies and gives him his own police department in San Francisco. Not surprisingly nobody has confidence in him and they shouldn't, since he's an idiot. Since he's our hero there lots of cartoon gun fights where he never really gets hurt (sure he gets shot but it doesn't really phase him because it's soooo much cooler then everyone else). James insisted we watch it and then couldn't understand why I thought it was stupid. ($0.00, James' tape, James)

06/04 "How the West Was Won" (1962)

***+ I would have loved to be able to experience this film in Cinema-Scope. The photography is fantastic but compromised on the small screen. Most of the stars work quite well in their roles, especially Debbie Reynolds, though some don't work so well. The "Civil War" episode is strained, as they really struggled to find something for John Wayne to do, and not terribly successfully. It was first time I saw the Spencer Tracy narrated, industrial /interstate highway collage epilogue after the final ride into the sunset. I can understand why it always gets cut. It was annoying and didn't add anything. I am sure the producers would cut it out if they had it to do over again. ($0.00, Rhonda's video)

06/13 "The Blues Brothers" (1980)

**** Raye's first time watching the film was enjoyable as ever for me. The funniest movie I recall seeing in high school (I first saw "The Holy Grail" in jr. High). ($0.00, video, Raye and Kelly)

06/19 "The Green Berets" (1968)

** I am sure I saw this as a kid but I don't recall much of it specifically. It is standard John Wayne fair of that time. No surprises and what you'd expect. Jingo-est propaganda tone of the film offended me less then I had expected. I didn't even notice in the last scene where the sun sinks into the East. ($0.00, TV)

06/20 "Much Ado About Nothing" (1993)

**** Kenneth Branuagh and Emma Thompson are a sheer delight every moment they are on the screen as Benedict and Beatrice. The Bard's dialogue for them is still timely and hilarious. Denzel Washington has established himself as a definite leading man, not just a "black" leading man. Michael Keaton was less effective as the comic relief. Much of the humor for his character was based on his speaking complete nonsense. I am afraid with the audience's unfamiliarity with old English, it tends to get lost. ($2.50, Hi-Pointe, Rhonda & Nancy)

06/20 "Parenthood" (1990)

***+ One of the few movies within the last 5 years I saw twice at the theaters, I liked it that much. It didn't touch me that much this time, though I was working on a project and wasn't paying full attention to it. ($0.00, TV)

06/24 "True Grit" (1969)

***+ John Wayne is at his peak and gives a comfortable performance as Rooster Cogburn. Glen Campbell was forgettable and miscast. The thing that surprised me this time around was how much I liked Matty's character and her lines. I would be interested in reading the book sometime. What ever happened to Kim Darby? ($0.00, TV)

06/25 "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993)

*** I really wanted to love this movie but I didn't. With the writer from "When Harry Met Sally" (WHMS), Nora Ephron both writing and directing as well as the always lovable Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, I had hopes this could reach the same level of success. The producers obviously felt the same way since they assembled all the elements that work so well in WHMS, such as the soundtrack of 30- 40's standards, picturesque use of city landscapes and continued reference to a theme of the differences of the sexes. The only problem is that it come off as more of a WHMS 2 as opposed to it's own film. The music was good but it's use frequently tended to be more music video story telling then augmenting the scene. Particularly intrusive were the new cuts by Harry Connick, Jr. and Carly Simon. The intent seemed to be visions of CDS sales and Oscar nominated songs. The graveyard with Chicago's skyline in the background was obviously a fake. The waterfront home in Seattle were just too perfect to be believable (not to mention the shots of Rockafeller Plaza, Seattle Space Needle, Baltimore dinner, etc.). The romantic theme and premise of the story line weren't as strong either. The fate / "made for each other" theme doesn't gel with the concept of a woman falling for a guy who was so in love with his dead wife he's having trouble coping even 18 months later. It seems to me he already meet the one he was suppose to be with. My guess is that the fate angle and the heavy reliance on "An Affair to Remember" was added in Ephron's rewrite, in hopes of playing off the commonly perceived differences in men and women. In WHMS she used the "men and women can't be friends" theme very effectively and it was the basis of the entire plot. This time it is not as well integrated into the story, and acts more of a distraction. I liked it but they could have made a classic film if they weren't so interested in making a successful picture. I must add I am beginning to think it is stories like this which are completely unrealistic in their romance that has caused so many people in America to expect this in their own lives (though I am the bitter divorced guy). "If it happens in the movies, it could happen to you." I am still waiting to meet the people in real life who have this sort of dream like romance. ($3.75, Kenrick, Rhonda)

06/25 "A Few Good Men" (1992)

***+ Rob Reiner has made another solid picture. This time a showcase vehicle for Tom Cruse, who is showing the staying power of Paul Newman as a star. I wished they hadn't made him look like such a complete goof off at the beginning of the film, though. It's difficult to believe that a Harvard Law school graduate could be so capricious. Demi Moore was pretty good in her role but I didn't always like the scripting of the role. Nicholson gives what has become a standard excellent performance of someone who is a little bit nuts. ($1.50, Lindbergh, Raye & Kelly)

07/07 "Sullivan's Travel's" (1941)

**+ I've heard for years about the forgotten comedies of Preston Sturges in the late '40s, with this one usually leading the pack of hidden treasures. I am not impressed. Joel McCrae and Veronica Lake in this tale of a cynical Hollywood comedy director who looks to make a serious tale of the troubles of the downtrodden man forsaking the films that make people laugh. It's predictable, dated and not all that funny. Not a waste of time but definitely not a "classic" of all time. ($0.00, Cable TV in Memphis)

07/17 "The Notorious Landlady" (1962)

***+ Jack Lemon, Kim Novak and Fred Astaire make this a very enjoyable excursion to London and the foreign service in the early sixties. Gershwin's "A Foggy Day" plays throughout which helps as does a young Blake Edwards when he was still funny. ($0.00, Channel 9)

08/07 "Harvey" (1950)

**+ Jimmy Stewart is as enjoyable as a man who has a invisible friend, Harvey, a six foot plus rabbit. Not as funny or meaningful as I remember. Most of it is due to the fact that everyone else in the cast is really annoying, not funny and horribly stereotypically dated. It's not the casting as much as the writing of the supporting characters. It's fun to imagine what a Capra cast and script smoothing/rewrite would have done for this film. ($0.00, video gift-Rhonda)

08/13?? "The Life of Brian" (1979)

*** see 9/11 ($0.00, Video, Todd & Greg)

08/14 "The Firm" (1993)

*** Excellent story line and lots of action flows this thriller along pretty well. Cruise is as good a usual as is the rest of the cast. The location shots gave a good feel to the film (I recognized all the Memphis shots I think). Nothing outstanding but everything in the film is very competent, if not all that special. ($3.75, Galleria)

08/21 "The Fugitive" (1993)

*** Harrison Ford is as likable as always but he's in a film that is flawed by it own excesses. I was distracted by several of the plot stretches and the fact that there are NO hydro-electric dams in southern Illinois. Typical Hollywood BS, but it a pretty good flick none-the-less. Tommy Lee Jones' role of as the Federal Marshall in pursuit was well written and acted. I enjoyed his character greatly ("Whose the big dog?"). ($6.00, Union Station, Elizabeth McDevitt)

08/22 "Damage" (1992?)

***+ Jeromy Irons is excellent as is Julia Bilonchet(?) and the rest of the cast in Louis Malle's dark and erotic tragedy. It really is a tragedy in the classic sense of the word. You know the affair is doomed from the start but you just don't know how fate will unfold itself. I liked the line about that gave the story it's title: "Be careful of damaged people. They know how to survive." The sex scenes are fairly graphic for an R rating, but are a critical part to the story. ($3.00, Schnuck's Video, Elizabeth McDevitt)

08/28 "Needful Things" (1993)

**+ Max Von Sydow as the epitome of evil is the highlight of this rather inoffensive horror film. There is lots of dark humor. The horror in the film is the "inner" horror in each of us as opposed to the monster from hell. It does get silly in places and things blow up real good but then again Stephen King films are not my taste. ($5.75, Crestwood, Raye & Kelly)

09/3 "Texasville" (1991)

*** Bogdonovich has made a better then expected follow up to "The Last Picture Show" and while it is was very close to being good, it is disappointing. The majority of the cast is back, as is Annie Potts who does an excellent job as Duane's (Jeff Bridges') wife. The story centers around the moral decay of all the marriages in town and other relationships. The minor themes of money, fame, and Sonny's mental illness gets short shifted and tend to be almost distracting. The film would have been a lot better if the pacing of it was slower, especially at the beginning of the film. The film seems to have been made and cut to meet a certain length of time and not by the story it's telling. It's running time was 126 minutes is at the outer limits of acceptable to marketing types. The result is unsettling. The film also falls into a bit of the "Star Trek" syndrome, giving lines and scenes to characters that really having little to do with the emphasis of the current story (i.e. Ellen Burstyn). Recommended (but not a "must see") for those who liked the first one but it will be somewhat wasted on everyone else. ($0.71, Schnucks Video)

09/03 "What's Up Doc" (1972)

**** Bogdonovich is at his best in his well made homage to the screw-ball comedies of the late thirties, especially "Bringing Up Baby". Striesand and O'Neal work well together as does the entire cast, especially Madeline Kahn in her first film. One of my all time favorite comedies of all times. ($0.70, Schnucks Video)

09/04 "The Manhattan Murder Mystery" (1993)

*** Woody Allen turns in a competent effort without all the deep philosophical questions of much of his recent work. It's a pretty straight forward murder mystery with Diane Keaton holding most of the film together as Allen's wife who is convinced that the "heart attack" of the women next door is more then an accident. Woody plays his same angst-ridden character but it is too much here and doesn't work well. It had a lot of the cinema-verte hand-held camera work that makes me want to hurl, literally. This won't bring him back to the good graces of middle America but his career is hardly washed up. ($5.75, Des Peres Cine, Raye and Kelly)

09/05 "The 3 Godfathers" (1948)

*** John Ford directs John Wayne in this tale of redemption of three fugitives who save a new born baby at great cost to themselves on Christmas in the desert of the Arizona Territory. The cinematography is fantastic and Ward Bond as the sheriff "Perally" is good. The prejudices of the time it was made (i.e. the depiction of the mexican, Pedro) is a bit dated. ($0.70, Schnucks Video)

09/11 "The Life of Brian" (1979)

*** Like most of the Monty Python films, this one gets funnier with each viewing. Kind of drags in the third quarter of the film, between the spaceship scene (which dates the film) and the crucifixion. The Biggus Dickus thing goes on to long and seems excessive in a Mel Brooks kind of way. Most of the stuff with the Judean People's Front and Eric Idle works well and the stoning scenes are inspired. The "Always Look to The Bright Side of Life" song is a strong point to end the film on. ($0.00, Video, The Devil Dogs at Divina & Steve's)

09/12 "Silk Stockings" (1957)

***+ I am a sucker for an Arthur Freed production. I can't recall not enjoying one (though maybe "The Pirate") and love to see them each again and again. Cole Porter songs, Fred Astaire and Cyd Charise and you can't miss. The dance scenes with Astaire and Charise are fantastic, especially the ones to "All of You". Though I am also partial to Cyd's dance to "Silk Stockings", which was beautiful and erotic. The story line and the dialogue are not top notch but they are passable enough. ($0.00, taped from TV)

09/14 "The King of the Hill" (1993)

**** Excellent, moving film of an eighth grade boy who is left by himself over a summer during the depression. It is a story about growth and passing through stages/episodes where lots of life's lessons are brought forth very quickly and shape a person throughout their life. After the summer, Aaron is not the same. His journey took him down paths that forever changed his perspectives. The depiction of hunger is the best and most realistic I can recall. Also particularly effect are the depictions of: the quickness that one can go from being the respectable poor to Hooverville; the petty crimes and kindness of his friend Lester; the tenderness of his mother; the distance and coolness of his father; the class graduation party from hell; the fear of the rich kids finding out he wasn't; the isolation of it all; turning to people as you need them; teaching his brother how to shoot marbles and the purchase of the kitten for the epileptic girl. The St. Louis locals were only mildly distracting to try and figure out where they were. The autobiographical nature made the story all the more poignant. Steven Soderbergh wrote, directed and edited this film and he is quickly establishing himself as a auteur. ($3.75, Shady Oak, film class)

09/19 "Bringing Up Baby" (1938)

**** Inspired silliness. This is the way to have to do homework. ($3.17, Blockbuster Video)

09/25 "Into the West" (1993?)

** Tale of two boys in the ghettos of Dublin who get a "magical" horse and go "into the west". Locations were excellent and it had a general air of fantasy but overall it was a very forgettable film. ($7.50, Kenrick, James)

09/28 "Laura" (1944)

*** See FLM_LAUR for complete film notes. ($0.00, Wash. Univ., Film Class)

10/02 "Malice" (1993)

**+ Entertaining thriller with lots of plots twists and red hearings, which is fairly well paced. There are some gaping holes in the logic and believability of the script that don't occur to you till after you walk out of the theater. It's a good thing it moves along pretty quickly so you don't have too much time to concentrate on it. The plot weakness, along with the forgettable Bill Pullman as the main character, are what prevents this from being a better thriller. I am amazed that people can believe in and make these sorts of films, when all the weak spots have to be known and glaringly obvious as they are making it. Alec Baldwin turns in a good performance as the surgeon with the "God" complex and Nicole Kidman is also good as the wife. Anne Bancroft has only 5 minutes but is excellent as always. ($5.75, Galleria, Raye, Kelly, & Tearesa)

10/11 "The Age of Innocence" (1993)

*** Martin Scorsese's 2.4 hour look at the cruelty and coldness of New York High Society of the 1870's. It's a beautiful picture to watch. The sets, costumes, camera work are all top drawer and will get Oscar nominations. The performances by Daniel Day-Lewis and Michelle Pfeiffer are pretty good, as is the woman who played "Granny" (supporting Actress Nomination). Winnona Ryder left me cool again. The plot is pretty simple (boy has girl, meets one he wants more but can't have). The show is the atmosphere and the interrelations between the characters. Not a "guy" movie. (AMC Movie Watcher Pass, Esquire)

10/12 "All About Eve" (1950)

**** Excellent witty, and sophisticated script about "mousy" Eve becoming a Girl Friday to theater superstar Margo, eventually who tries to steal her success. Bette Davis is fabulous as Margo and is in easily my favorite role for her of all her pictures I've seen. I would like to read the script just to try and catch some of the stuff I missed. See FILM_EVE for complete film notes. ($0.00, Wash. Univ., Film Class)

10/17 "Love Crazy" (1941)

**+ Enjoyable Myrna Loy & William Powell vehicle whose plots surrounds Powell proving he's crazy so that Loy can't divorce (she wanted a divorce based on a misunderstanding in the first reel). When it works they are as good as ever, but it does slow down a bit and there's no Asta. ($0.00, Channel 9)

10/24 "Short Cuts" (1993)

*** Robert Altmann's depressing look at intertwined lives in modern day LA is well made with good performances, writing and direction. A good movie, I guess but damn if it didn't depress me. Maybe it's that I didn't like any of the characters. I didn't want to be friends with anybody in the film. Tim Robbins gives a chillingly accurate performance as a LA cop (whose yappy dog looks like a short Darcy). Reminded me a fair amount of Kasdan's "Grand Canyon" only without the morals at the end or any hope. Altmann puts in lots of female nudity which seemed kind of gratuitous, though I was ok with it. ($2.75, Galleria)

10/25 "A Raisin In the Sun" (1989)

** This isn't really a film. It's a filmed play and is truly representative why I prefer a good movie over the theater any day. The set/production designer was sloppy (i.e. 40 oz. Schaefer bottles in a South-side of Chicago, apartment of the 1950's - NOT). This was like watching television and while they may tape comedy in front of a live audience, they never do the same with a drama on TV. What is acceptable level of realism in comedies is not in drama. Esther Rolle as Lena further reduces the stature of the film. She is a fine actress and does well in the roll but she can't escape her imagine on the small screen as Mamma on "Good Times". This is also reflected in the casting of Helen Martin as Mrs. Johnston. The moment she walked on she got laughs as people were immediately distracted trying to figure out where she was the comic relief in (try as I may I couldn't place her claim to fame). Danny Glover is seems a little old for the part. See FILM_RAS for complete film notes. ($0.00, Wash. Univ., Film Class)

10/28 "Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993)

**+ Without a doubt Tim Burton is a visual genius. Each of his films is a delight for the eyes and this one is no different. The animation is refreshingly new and different. It works well in creating a world of it's own. I especially liked the Boogie Man sequences with the kidnapped Santa Claus. Unfortunately Burton sense of storytelling is less developed. The story of Jack (?) Skeleton, the Pumpkin King of Halloween getting bored and wanting to try Christmas instead is nice and would have worked well in a half hour format or maybe even an hour but there just wasn't enough story for an 1 1/2 hours. Burton never seems to be bothered by plot shortcomings for his stories though. I am sure if given the right story, he will make a truly classic film. My favorite film of his remains "Pee Wee's Big Adventure". Comedy is more forgiving of weak or implausible plot lines. ($3.00, Esquire)

10/29 "The Joy Luck Club" (1993)

**** A collection of loving, tender stories of 4 immigrant Chinese mothers and their daughters. The film is all told in flashbacks at a going away party for one of the daughter's. Each mother's and her daughter's story is told in turn. The pain, sacrifices and most of all hopes that is given by a mother for her daughter are explored in painfully realistic stories from dark past they are less then proud of. It examines how mother and daughter's lives are both mirrors and opposites for each other (add grandmothers as well) and how each person is a result of the pain and choices and hopes they have lived through. A real tear-jerker. These are wonderful, powerful, honest tales of people. Excellent story telling. ($3.00, Kenrick)

11/7 "Mrs. Miniver" (1942)

***+ Greer Garson plays the title role. Film is somewhat dated and loses a great deal of it's impact it had at the time of it's release during WWII. A good portion of the impact of the film is it's English patriotism and "There will Always be an England" attitude. Pigeon is good but the love story of Vin and Kay seems idealized and silly. Henry Travers as the station attendant with the rose also seems overly sentimental. Time has definitely reduced this film's importance. ($1.00, Schnucks video)

11/9 "Julia" (1977)

*** Well made film with good acting left me indifferent, mostly due to main character, Lillian Hellman (played by Jane Fonda) who I didn't particularly like or respect. I can't imagine anybody I would trust with $50,000 in cash (in 1937 money!!) to be as big of a boob on the taking the money over the war time border. Julia (Vanesa Redgrave in her Oscar winning performance) is easily the stronger and more interesting of the characters but she is more an "object" in this story as opposed to a character. Film is slow in places but it's moody pace is one of the better things in the film. The montage of ~20 second clips of Lillian's everyday life around the house on the beach while rewriting her play was excellent and added to the general gloomy, misty feel of the film. See FILM_JUL for complete film notes. ($0.00, Wash. Univ., Film Class)

11/12 "Flesh and Bone" (1993)

***+ Tragic, lonely tale of family ties and skeletons in our closets set in the desolation of west Texas. Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid are excellent as two lonely people who are basically decent but have had a rough time of it. Quaid doesn't crack his patented grin the entire picture, not once. This is not a happy Hollywood picture and those who expect one will be disappointed. Ryan expressed the theme of the film best when she spoke of moments in life where you are close to doing unspeakable things that will change you whole life. We have all been there, some of us are just luckier then others. ($3.00, Kenrick)

11/21 "Household Saints" (1993)

*** (?) This is a difficult movie to review since I am fairly certain I didn't get the main points of the picture or the general meaning. Tracey Ullman is a catholic girl whose husband, Santangelo, is chosen for her by her father losing to Santangelo in a pinochle game. Their daughter becomes obsessed (to the point of possession??) with the rituals and saints of Catholicism, particularly Teresa, the little flower. I didn't get the overall intent, though there lots of heavy symbolism throughout (sexual, religious, life and death) to keep most literature majors happy. It has bothered me in much the same way that "Barton Fink" did. It has something to do with miracles and faith (the perfect hand in pinochle, the death of Santangelo's mother, etc.). Don't look for this to make the Pope's Top Ten List (or anyone else in the Catholic Church). ($2.50, Kirkwood)

11/24 "Gettysburg" (1993)

** Rather uninspired, overly long telling of epic Civil War battle. Technically accurate but with little passion. Pickett's charge seem to take place in real time. I had a feeling that 4+ hours might be a problem when I heard Ted Turner crowing that it was the longest film made in America released in the theaters (by a few minutes). It shouldn't have been. You could cut an hour out of the film and I doubt I would miss anything and it would move along quite a bit better. In it's defense it wasn't meant for the big screen but rather for cable, which explains the relatively low budget cast of Martin Sheen, Tom Berenger and Jeff Daniels. They didn't seem "large" enough to handle the characters they had to play. I understand now why you want an "all-star" cast for the sweeping epics. The stars have to be big to stand out form the sweep of the film. ($5.75, Crestwood)

11/26 "Addams Family Values" (1993)

**+ Not great cinema but it's good for a few laughs. Christina Ricci as Wednesday is terrific and "darkens" the screen each time she appears. She gets the best lines and delivers them flawlessly. She made the movie for me (and she is such a positive role model for young women). Angelica Huston, Raoul Julia and Joan Cusak all do well in their respective parts. Christopher Lloyd's Uncle Fester left me cold. He was to stupid for words. I much preferred Jackie Coogan's original. The sets and costumes were excellent (I especially like the bit with Wednesday camouflaged to match the wall). I want to see the first one now.($3.00, Kenrick, Raye & Kelly)

11/28 "Beaches" (1988)

**+ Effectively gets the tears jerked but on the whole it doesn't work too well. Barbara Hershey is forgettable and probably wasn't the best choice to try stand up to the Divine Miss M, who like her character is the center of attention at all times, whether by intention or accident. Considerably different from the book after the first 10 minutes. Many character's were completely different including the Hershey character who is less of a waif by background but comes off just as waif-ish with the hard to believe bit of her giving up being an ACLU lawyer to be a Jr. Leaguer housewife. ($3.17, Blockbuster)

11/30 "Doc Hollywood" ** Fairly predictable, but pleasant story in a mindless kind of way. Michael J. Fox is a promising young doctor on his way to Beverly Hills to be a plastic surgeon, when he gets sidetracked into a South Carolina, small town Shangri-La and falls in love with the town and the brunette. Bridget Fonda is the blonde. ($0.00, TV-NBC)

12/01 "Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993)

** Typical Chris Columbus (of "Home Alone" fame) - family comedy with serious overtones and messages. When he sticks to the comedy the film generally works. It's dragged down by the serious stuff, which doesn't work because of the huge gaps in believability to the script. The film allows us to see Robin Williams at his best and at his worst as it is all his picture. He is fantastic as the title character and the scenes with his brother helping him with the makeup are great. When he's serious, especially in the incredibly contrived court scenes, he just doesn't pull it off. The 3 minute montage of "Dude Looks Like A Lady" makes an excellent music video, but it was out of place in the film. Sally Field does admirable with what she is given by the scrip and the youngest girl was incredibly cute and will pop up again. ($3.00, Union Station, Doris Marlin)

12/03 "Last Exit Brooklyn" (1989)

*** Dark story of frustrated malcontents and sexual misfits. Nobody in the film is very likable in a very rough and harsh look at a neighborhood in Brooklyn during the early fifties. The people have all been shitted on, deceived, double-crossed and duped so much that they trust and depend on no one and are not dependable to others either. Jennifer Jason Leigh turns in another terrific performance as the emotionally unbalanced. This time she is a prostitute/slut/con artist. It would be interesting to see her play a decent person once. ($1.06, Schnucks Video)

12/17 "A Perfect World" (1993)

*** Kevin Costner turns in a particularly effective performance as an escape convict who kidnaps and befriends an fatherless eight year old. The boy is pretty good too. Eastwood as the sheriff who is heading the manhunt looks terrific (his face is perfect for the role) but his acting is typically stiff and not completely believable, especially in contrast to Costner's. He makes up for in with the direction which is deliberately slow in places for effect (it drags at the end though). Laura Dern has the Sandra Locke role in the picture but is light years ahead of her from a palatability standpoint. ($2.75, Esquire, Rhonda)

12/18 "The Country Girl" (1954)

***+ Grace Kelly does a great job in an atypical, non-glamorous role. She still is pretty sharp and in control and in my opinion deserved an Oscar nomination (I don't know what her competition was so I won't say she deserved the award she got). Crosby as the struggling, alcoholic actor does pretty good too but his performance is not as enjoyable and I can not point out exactly why. Too much "Going My Way" perhaps? The title is pretty meaningless. ($1.05, Schnucks Video)

12/19 "The Razor's Edge" (1984)

*** I loved this movie when it came out. I read the book shortly afterwards and thought much of the criticism leveled at this version and Bill Murray was unfounded. I having been wanting to see it again to see if my opinion was clouded by idealism and indecision of college. I think Bill Murray in the role of Larry is terrific and very well cast. His persona really contrasts in the before WWI and afterwards very well. The sets and locations are fabulous. I can see where the ambiguity of this film bother most audiences and it didn't do very well. ($1.05, Schnucks Video)

12/22 "Schindler's List" (1993)

**** This is one tough film to watch. For slightly over three hours, Steven Spielberg shows us very graphically the plight of Jews in Krakoa after the fall of Poland, under the regime of Nazi Germany. The film pulls few punches. The scenes of the Nazis sorting out the strong from the weak and children in the labor camps, the extermination of the jewish ghetto, and Auswhitch are particularly disturbing. The story surrounds Schindler, a womanizing, businessmen of the "management only" sort, who exploits the Jewish slave work force to buy and run an pot factory, make a fortune on war contracts. As the capricious brutality of the Nazis and labor camp commandant Goethe (played particularly well by Ralph Fennes) becomes moore evident, Schindler becomes more humane and eventually buys 1100 people from the gas chambers. Ben Kinglsey turns in a typically excellent performance as the accountant who actually runs the company. This is a powerful film. I cried so much I could barely drive home. Spielberg is using it as more then just a story telling of Schindler but as an testament against the horrors of the Holocaust. Between it's subject matter, being a truly great film and past guilt about snubbing Spielberg, this is will be the Oscar winner for the best picture of the year. ($3.00, Kenrick)

12/24 "The Field" (1991)

*** Richard Harris gives a fantastic performance as Bull McCabe in this tragic tale of ownership versus stewardship of land in rural Ireland in the 1930's. The exploration of the resentment over the people who left Ireland because of the potato famine and those who stayed put a spin on things I had never thought about. Tom Berenger proves once again he can't really act by playing the American who tries to get the field from Bull. John Hurt as Bird does well too. ($1.06, Schnucks Video)

12/24 "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)

**** This is my favorite film of all time. To say anything more would not be nearly enough, so I'll leave it at that. (Randy's Video)

12/26 "Straight Out of Brooklyn" (1991)

** Low budget film of late teens boy in the projects reminded me more of an ABC After School Special then a theatrical release. I guess the reviewers that put it on their Top Ten lists for 1991 did so for the honesty of the script and to recognize writer, producer and director Matty Rich good (first?)

effort. The acting, the sets, and the script are too amateurish to praise the film too much. ($1.06, Schnucks Video)

Total Number of Movies Not Seen Before 69

Total Number of Movies Seen Again 22

Total Money Spent - Randy $256.11

Total Money Spent - Others $17.06