Speaking of cowboys, Isabelle Steers (Thelma Ritter) says to aging cowboy Gay Langland (Clark Gable), “I love every miserable one of you, though you’re all good for nothing, as you well know,” to which he replies, “That may be, but it’s better than wages.” That motto (“it’s better than wages”) is referred to several times […]
Inherent Vice
May 21, 2020 by
Film Title
Inherent ViceSynopsis
Larry “Doc” Sportello, a well-intentioned but inept stoner, hippie and private investigator in 1970, is embroiled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld investigating three cases interrelated by the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend and her new wealthy boyfriend.
Director
Paul Thomas AndersonCast
Joaquin Phoenix
Josh Brolin
Katherine Waterston
Owen Wilson
Reece Witherspoon
Benicio Del Toro
Eric Roberts
Martin Short
Joanna Newsom
The following review of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice will be much like the movie; A dizzying melange of scrambled thoughts and points that wrap up quite nicely depending on whom you ask. Has there ever been such a poorly marketed movie? I’m not talking about trailers making movies look fantastic when they end up […]
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
May 20, 2020 by
Film Title
Star Trek V: The Final FrontierSynopsis
A god complex.
Director
William ShatnerCast
William Shatner
Leonard Nimoy
Deforest Kelley
Nichelle Nichols
James Doohan
George Takei
Walter Koenig
Laurence Luckenbill
Where no one should ever go again. As I noted in my review of Picard, my son has become quite the Star Trek fan. He has most of the actors’ names memorized by role and is borderline obsessed with the Klingons. “Dad, are there Klingons in this one?” “Dad, are there Klingons in this one?” […]
The Truth Of The Matter
May 17, 2020 by
Keeper of the Flame (1942) Directed by George Cukor. With Spencer Tracy and Kathrine Hepburn. 36 Hours (1965) Directed by George Seaton. With James Gardner, Eva Marie Saint, and Rod Taylor The “truth of the matter” can be an elusive concept. What is real? This is the persistent theme in the works of Philip K. […]
Colossal (2016)
May 14, 2020 by
Film Title
ColossalSynopsis
Gloria travels from New York City to Seoul to battle a giant monster
Director
Nacho VigalondoCast
Anne Hathaway
Jason Sudeikis
Austin Stowell
Tim Blake Nelson
Dan Stevens
1 hr 49 minutes, R for profanity Fair Value of Colossal: $1.00. It’s a light, weird and unique comedy that’s watchable due to a talented cast. Toxic Relationships through the lens of Kaiju: Gloria (Anne Hathaway) is a day drinking Manhattan party girl who is abruptly dumped by her boyfriend Tim (Dan Stevens) and […]
Third Encounters Of A Close Kind -or- Standing On A Corner In Muncie, Indiana
May 13, 2020 by
Ruthless Reviews presents: I Love a Mystery! Follow our tireless critics of the A-1 Detective Agency as Jack, Doc and Reggie ferret out the best, and worst in movies. Sponsored by Pee Clean, “never fear the pee police again, use, Pee Clean and have clean pee!” Your host:So fellas, tonight we have a blast from […]
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977)
May 12, 2020 by
Film Title
Close Encountes Of The Third KindSynopsis
The Aliens are coming for us and our mashed potatoes
Director
Steven SpielbergCast
Richard Dreyfuss
Francois Truffaut
Melinda Dillon
Bob Balaban
Terri Garr
Cary Guffey
It’s a shame Star Wars had to come out in 1977. Two great films were left in the shadows of its colossal reign at the international box office. The first was William Friedkin’s Sorcerer. The second was Steven Spielberg’s under looked gem; Close Encounters of the Third Kind. When I call Close Encounters underrated, I […]
Ricochet (1991)
May 5, 2020 by
Film Title
RicochetSynopsis
A District Attorney is stalked by his worst nightmare
Director
Russell MulcahyCast
Denzel Washington
John Lithgow
Jesse Ventura
Ice-T
Kevin Pollack
Lindsay Wagner
Victoria Dillard
Tagline: “He’s a cop accused of murder. And the only man who knows he’s innocent is the killer who framed him. This is one case that’s going to be settled out of court.” Entire Story In Fewer Words Than Are In This Sentence: Homicidal maniac obsesses over hot black sex cop. Homoeroticism: It is perhaps […]
Network: A Look At A Classic
April 30, 2020 by
Film Title
NetworkSynopsis
We are mad as Hell, and not going to take it anymore
Director
Sidney LumetCast
Faye Dunaway
William Holden
Peter Finch
Robert Duvall
Wesley Addy
Ned Beatty
Network is certainly not the greatest movie ever made, and I would never argue that it achieves any lasting impact as a work of art. Its style is flat (like most television programs, appropriately enough), and you’ll hardly remember any of the visuals. Still, it remains my favorite films because I don’t believe a better […]
2001, A New View: Or Stanley Kubrick’s Forgotten Hal Edition
April 28, 2020 by
OK, as to be expected, the visionary, prophet, and his own cameraman, Stanley (99 takes is never too much) Kubrick, fucked it up. You know, Stanley, the Huck Finn to Spielberg’s Tom Sawyer. 2001 is a Frankenstein murder mystery. In this case the good doctor is his own monster. What’s up with the three scientists […]
