Ed-Shullivan's Reviews

Murder in a Small Town (2024– )

8/10

I liked it. Yes, I really did like it a Lot!

27 September 2024

After just watching the pilot episode Murder in a Small Town, I was quite impressed with the simple plot of a murder that the small towns' new Police Chief was thrust into solving having recently joined the Gibsons Police force.

The new police chief. Karl Alberg (Rossif Sutherland) is an impressive murder investigator bringing his vast knowledge from a major city police force to the small quaint town of Gibsons.

Within the first episode we also get to know some of the characteristics of the other officers of the Gibsons police force, both rookies and seasoned police officers. All who look up to their new police chief, Karl Alberg.

One other key character in this new TV series is the town's librarian, Cassandra Lee (Kristin Kreuk) who meets Police Chief Karl Alberg through a dating web site service they both decided to subscribe to.

If the story line appears vaguely familiar to you (as it did to me) you may recall the previous former TV movie series Jessie Stone which delivered nine (9) TV films between 2005 and 2015 starring the aging but still appealing Tom Selleck. Sound familiar now?

Regardless whether or not Murder in a Small Town is trying to recapture some of the magic in the bottle of the Jesse Stone TV films, I really enjoyed this pilot episode and I am looking forward to the new story lines and the characters in the town of Gibsons.

I give the pilot a solid 8 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Carol for Another Christmas (1964 TV Movie)

7/10

This film stirs the conscience inside of all of us to think before reacting

15 August 2024

Warning: This is not a Christmas themed film, only in name. Mob mentality at its very worse with this another version of Charles Dickens film classic A Christmas Carol. The film is heavily laden with film stars such as Peter Sellers, Ben Gazzara, Sterling Hayden, Eva Marie Saint, Robert Shaw, Britt Ekland, and Steve Lawrence to name a few.

The underlying message that author Charles Dickens was attempting to communicate was for us as humanity to act in the spirit of kindness and forgiveness. In this film version of a single man's influence by the spirits of Christmas Eve, past, present, in the time or world wars provides us the viewer that we all have a responsibility to take care of one another and not look at the world in isolation from what troubles the world is experiencing as a whole.

Since the film was released in 1964, there are some scenes which would not be acceptable to today's society in terms of equality and country centric economic superiority, but the message is well received if only we open our eyes, hearts and mind.

I give the film a decent enough 7 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Primal Fear (1996)

6/10

This crime film commences very gritty but ends up being slimey

12 August 2024

I was sitting down to watch another of those great 1980's-1990's crime drma films and although it starts off with an engaging and intriguing opening few scenes, the main actors (Richard Gere, Laura Linney and Edward Norton) roles were gradually revealed to be unrealsitic and not what I usually admire about a lawyer/client relationship on the silver screen.

It almost appeared as though the three (3) main actors had also lost interest as their audience in believing in their respective roles and were seemingly just reading their lines as they lsot faith in the film's content and eventual outcome which was as predictable as the sun rising and descending each day.

Most irritating was the on again, off again, and on again, stuttering by the suspect on trial Aaron (Edward Norton). It became way too obvious waht would happen next and how the film was about to end.

No spoilers needed, as every couch potato on the planet such as myself could figure out how this film would end, much to my disapointment.

I give this crime/srama a paltry yet passable 6 out of 10 IMDb rating. I have watched this film twice now, so don't make the same mistake I did.

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The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959)

6/10

Mere men cannot control the wishes of the sea and storms

11 July 2024

This is a decent enough mystery/action/crime film with two great leading actors in a co-starring role(s). Gary Cooper plays Captain Gideon Patch, a man with an established blackballed pass, who has found it difficult to captain another vessel until he is approved to captain the Mary Deare ship. The Mary Deare has been chartered to transport airplane parts but Captain Gideon Patch is no fool, and he believes his previous bad reputation is to be used as the fall guy if the Mary Deare runs into any unforseen trouble.

Charlton Heston plays the more adventurous deep sea salvager, John Sands. When John Sands sees what appears to be an abandoned steamer his quick thinking mind goes to redeeming cash dollars if his tow boat can claim the abandoned steamer for scrap and parts, so he takes the personal risk of boarding the steamer during a storm only to discover there is still one man left standing on the Mary Deare, and that man happens to be the Captain, Gideon Patch, who is acting somewhat strange and aloof.

So the two men agree that this is still Captain Gideon Patch's vessel and to take the ship on the course of his preference which he decides to run it aground at sea so that no one else can find the Mary Deare, until he can conclusively prove that the Mary Deare's cargo is not what the manifest states the cargo should be which is airplane parts.

These two strong willed man are first untrustworthy of one another until Gideon reminds John that if it were not for him pulling John onto the Mary Deare he would have continued to be hanging onto a very wet storm weathered rope and dangling off of the side of the steamer until he grew so tired of hanging fro a wet rope, until he fell deep into the sea water never to be seen again.

A court trial ensues in which the unfortunate Gideon Patch is once again being prosecuted for crimes he did not commit and to exonerate himself he must confirm what cargo is actually stored on the Mary Deare.

No spoilers here, let the suspense continue. I give the film a well deserved 6 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)

9/10

What a pleasant and entertaining film with two great lead stars in James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara

11 July 2024

Wow! Well, this was a pleasant evening watching two great stars such as James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara continually and hysterically hash it out on-screen over what is more important in life, family or a workaholic husband and father? The only way I could have enjoyed this film even more, would have been if it were a stage play and I could transfer my sofa into the front and center row with my big bowl of popcorn and Dr. Pepper.

Mr. Hobbs (James Stewart) thoroughly enjoys working hard at work where he has complete and utter control of his decisions and his time. Whereas, at home, Mrs. Hobbs (Maureen O'Hara) has made vacation plans and rented a weathered seaside property that has its challenges which include having the entire family join them including their married children with their spouses as well as the grandchildren. Upon arrival at their rented summer retreat, all the male family members of the Hobbs entourage happily meet and greet their very sexy neighbour, Miss Marika Carter (Valerie Varda). Mr. Hobbs, for his part seems to be busy putting out one family fire, after the next, and is not quite enjoying what was supposed to be a relaxing family filled vacation arranged by his loving and devoted wife whose bedtime conversations with Mr. Hobbs always calm his nerves. One of Mrs. Hobbs suggestions to Mr. Hobbs, is to take their youngest son Danny (Michael Burns) out on the sailboat to show off Mr. Hobbs nautical prowess and witness firsthand a once in a lifetime eclipse of the sun. Comedy ensues on the launching of the boat in the busy harbor nearly missing massive cruise ships and seemingly lost as dusk falls. It is a feel-good moment in the film with the bonding between father and son.

There are far too many comical moments to detail them all but suffice to say that even with all the frustrations the Hobbs family encounters, a fun time was had by all, especially the audience. Adding even more value is the acclaimed rock and roll singer Fabian. I give the film a resounding 9 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Bodyguard (1948)

4/10

Lawrence Tierney's talent is wasted in this cheap crime genre

10 July 2024

"I am being framed, and I don't like being taken as a chump." Those are the kind of words that Detective Mike Carter (Lawrence Tierney) would probably have used if he was allowed to write his own lines. Unfortunately for us the movie goers, both the story line of some rich family framing the prematurely retired Detective Mike Carter by pressuring him with oodles of cash under false pretenses is not very impressive.

When a murder occurs at the meat packing plant that this wealthy family happens to own, and the murder victim is one of the families meat packing inspectors, it becomes too quickly evident that Mike Carter was specifically hired to take the rap for the murder.

The film has all that is required in a crime genre film, a crook, a good detective, a murder, and of course one or two love interests. What it lacks though is any level of intrigue or character development which is hard to swallow with a great actor like Lawrence Tierney.

I give the film a sub par 4 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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The Fastest Gun Alive (1956)

8/10

George Temple is screaming internally "Ill show you ..... I'll show you all!"

10 July 2024

Who is the fastest gun alive? Well, pardner, this is the film that will show the difference between men who like to brag about their machismo, and one single man who is trying extremely hard to remain a closet gunfighter. Sort of an old time Clark Kent (Superman) who wants to hide his true identity behind running the towns local General store in which he is only responsible for dishing peppermint candies out to kids, and silk dresses to the ladies' townsfolk.

George Temple (Glenn Ford) is a meek and mild store owner who is forced to listen daily in his storefront to some of the townsfolk braggarts about the experiences they have had witnessing the unbelievable incidents of some other gunslingers' actions.

George has a secret that only he and his loyal and beautiful wife Dora Temple, (Jeanne Crain) know of, which is that George is actually more than just a bit handy with a gun himself.

There are a few twists and turns to this particular western themed film, which makes it well worth watching. Good acting, a good story, and many good scenes which kept me entertained throughout.

I give the film a very positive 8 out of 10 IMDb rating, and I for one will draw quickly if and when this classic western comes to my town once again.

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Sullivan's Crossing (2023– )

6/10

Well, it had its good moments and also some "you have got to be kidding" moments

10 July 2024

Okay, so the storyline has been told a thousand times before. Successful and attractive young and talented woman returns home and finds true love but is torn between leaving her successful business practice behind in the big city Boston or living a much simpler life in the quaint Nova Scotia village on a trailer park property.

There are many good characters in this two season TV series, but none better that of the loving relationship of two co-stars namely, Frank and Edna Cranebear played by the veteran actors Tom Jackson and Andrea Menard.

As each episode passes, we get to know just a bit more of many of the characters past, both the good times and the bad times, much as what happens in our own personal lives. What was unrealistic was some of the accidents that always seemed to happen around the lead character Dr. Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan) whose name would have been more appropriately named Dr. Jinx, because the critical accidents always seemed to fall into her troubled lap, both figuratively, and literally.

Secrets of the various townsfolk are also slowly revealed, and the writers and director were clever enough to build the series up to that inevitable crescendo sucking Mrs. Shullivan and I down into that rabbit hole where we both were trying to hide the shedding of tear drops.

It left us with a warm and fuzzy feel-good feeling overall.

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Never So Few (1959)

6/10

I don't buy the concept that war is filled with fine dining and romance such as Frank Sinatra seems to portray.

10 July 2024

I have to sit on the fence teetering and tottering trying to imagine the slight built music crooner Frank Sinatra portraying a leader of a small band of U. S. soldiers infiltrating a Japanese stronghold with guns a blazing and tankards of firebombs billowing in the dark skies.

War is hell unless your name happens to be Captain Tom Reynolds (Frank Sinatra) in which case you get to enjoy first rate dinners and mixed drinks at fabulous hotels and view a naked Carla Vesari (Gina Lollobrigida) taking a bubble bath. Most shockingly, good old blue eyes restrains himself from jumping in that bubble bath with the Italian sexpot Gina Lollobrigida, and abruptly walks out of the luxurious hotels bathroom that is bigger than most families entire homes.

So, I must admit this Worl War II genre film was grossly exaggerating what war in the 1940s appeared t be like. Of course when the Chinese soldiers try to take advantage of a few dead American soldiers by looting, the courageous Captain Tom Reynolds places protocols aside and come hell or high water he seeks revenge alongside a small band of American soldiers.

Hoo rah! The war will be won with good old blue eyes leading the charge. I give the film a passable 6 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Over the Edge (1979)

6/10

Leave the kids alone honey, their just teens being teens

10 July 2024

Okay I will agree that teenagers will do some really stupid and senseless things when listening to peer pressure and at the same time, just trying to be noticed and maybe create their own unique personalities. Such is the case with this 1979 film Over the Edge. At the same time, the film also touches on some of the teenagers' parents' own issues and financial pressures. Put it all together the teenagers peer pressure, family homelife issues, and raging hormones and it will push some kids "over the edge".

The dramatic background music could have been extracted from any one of a thousand different TV drama/crime series released in the 1960s and 1970s which actually took away from the storyline about kids getting into trouble with drastic consequences, and maybe even leading to death(s)

I wouldn't call the film a memorable or classic film, although it did provide a platform for a very young 15-year-old Matt Dillon to rise to stardom. It's worth a watch during the late-night film review, but nothing more. I give the film a ho hum 6 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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North by Northwest (1959)

7/10

Excellent albeit a bit confusing thriller, but the end justifies the means

10 July 2024

No spoilers here but simply by stating that the film was directed by one of the top ranked directors in Alfred Hitchcock and stars the attractive Eve Marie Saint and Cary Grant, how could the film miss? Well, it couldn't miss being a hit, and it does not disappoint.

Although I found the initial misrepresentation of Ad Executive Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) being mistaken for a guy named George Kaplan more than a bit far fetched the rest of the film flows nicely.

The interaction and gradual romance between the Ad Executive Roger Thornhill, and the mysterious lady Eve Kendall, (Eve Marie Saint) who aggressively and unapologetically chases Roger Thornhill during a train ride over dinner leaves little to Ms. Kendall's intentions, or does it? As with any good Alfred Hitchcock film look for a few twists and turns figuratively and literally.

This is a Thriller worth watching at least twice. I give the film a solid 7 out of 10 IMDB rating.

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Hold On! (1966)

8/10

A grossly under rated film with a fabulous 1960's comedy/musical film that is a sheer pleasure to watch and remember that 60's rock and roll musical sound.

10 July 2024

Who could ever forget the music of the 1960's with the British invasion groups such as Herman's Hermits, The Rolling Stones, and of course The Beatles. But in this film besides the memorable and enjoyable songs of The Herman's Hermits, I will always remember that very sexy starlet the (then) thirty (30) year old Sue Ane Langdon who plays Cecile Bannister and who throughout the film, attempts to get her picture taken in the largest newspapers front pages alongside the biggest musical group of the time, The Herman's Hermits. Ms. Cecile Bannister is a wannabe starlet who with her flaming red hair, swivel hips and most sexy voice she continually tries to ride the coat tails of the rock and roll band The Herman's Hermits.

Long before todays term "social media influencer" was ever coined and long before twitter, "X", Facebook, and TikTok, Ms. Cecile Bannister tried to use the free press to her advantage to grow her own personal following with the goal to become famous.

In summary, this is a Herman's Hermits musical promotion/production with a sub plot of romance and comedy all which are well presented on the big screen and still just entertaining as it was 58 years ago when the film was first released.

I give the film a happy 8 out of 10 IMDb rating and I am glad I can say I own a DVD copy in my own film library before the DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K formats become extinct.

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A Hatful of Rain (1957)

6/10

Sadly over the decades this Hat Full of Rain has all but dried out

10 July 2024

I really enjoy black and white films as the audience is then expected to observe the actors' emotions and actions on screen and not be distracted by the color of the male star's shirt, or the color of lipstick that the lead actress is wearing. Having just complimented the B&W cinematography I can also compliment the stellar acting of the four main characters.

Eva Marie Saint is such a beautiful and striking actress but, in this film, she plays Celia Pope, and she had to dress down to a more homely looking (only in dress appearance) stenographer working housewife who shares her apartment kitchen conversations with her three leading men. Don Murray plays Johnny Pope, a retired war veteran who is struggling with a severe drug addiction that only his older brother Polo Pope, played by Anthony Franciosa is aware of, when their absentee childhood father John Pope, Sr. Played by veteran actor Lloyd Nolan decides to suddenly re-appear into his sons' lives with his hand out for some money that his son Polo had provided an open end invitation to receive.

The drama that takes place within the kitchen amongst these four actors is very lifelike except for the constant moaning of the three family members consistently calling out the drug addicted family member Johnny Pope " Oh Johnny", or "no Johnny" and the most common cry simply "Johnny, Johnny, Johnny" .

As I write my review 67 years subsequent to the films initial release, and with the more prevalent use of the drug fentanyl being much more deadly in todays society the film's impact has obviously been diminished. What has not diminished over the past 67 years is the quality of the acting and the B&W cinematography in Hatful of Rain. Once again, I thank Turner Classic Movies (TCM) for adding it to their film library for all to watch a time capsule of four (4) great performances.

I give the film a respectable 6 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Big Jack (1949)

10/10

Wallace Beery rode off into the big blue sky after this, his last great western film

27 June 2024

Rest In Peace Wallace Beery for you will always be remembered for a fulfilling and everlasting portfolio of wonderful roles and none better than this your last film (which no one would have ever guessed, nor expected to be his last great role).

Wallace Beery plays the rough, gruff Big Jack Horner who is leading a gang of outlaws when he accidentally stumbles upon a lynch mob in the process of hanging Dr. Alexander Meade (Richard Conte). Guns a firing, Jack Horner and the gang quickly disperse the lynch mob and save Dr. Alexander Meade from being hanged.

But their is a steep price that Dr. Alexander Meade must pay to Big Jack Horner for saving him from a rope necklace and the hanging tree. Big Jack advise Dr. Meade that he would like him to become the outlaws personal physician.

Unfortunately both men are polar opposites, one man, Big Jack, has no scruples and will just take whatever he wants including the employment of Dr. Meade without even blinking. Dr. Meade, on the other hand, is a very ethical and law abiding citizen whose only desire in life is to learn as much as he can about the care and treatment of human beings through the advancement of medicine and surgical procedures.

With these two men being in a stalemate and both being very stubborn the chase for superiority continues throughout the film and we the audience get to witness the thought and actions of these two warriors.

I give the film a well deserved 10 out of 10 IMDb rating not just for this being a classic black and white western film, but even more so for rewarding the film legacy of the late, great Wallace Beery's last film role. Rest In Peace Mr. Beery. You are greatly missed.

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Jackass Mail (1942)

7/10

The first in Wallace Beery's western trilogy as a gruff coniving but lovable hoodlum

27 June 2024

I was fortunate to watch all three (3) of actor Wallace Beery's various western roles as a gruff, conniving but lovable hoodlum and robber. Jackass Mail (1942), Bad Bascomb (1946) and Big Jack (1949) were films of Wallace Beery that he starred in as a cowboy robber and thief, but yet still always portraying a lovable and jolly old feller'.

In Jackass Mail, Beery plays Marmaduke 'Just' Baggot who befriends a young boy named Tommy Gargan (actor Darryl Hickman best known as Dobie Gillis) and an interested female companion named Clementine 'Tiny' Tucker (Marjorie Main).

In this Beery film (the first of three of his last western portrayals) Just Baggot has intentions of robbing the US Mail carrier but when he takes a personal interest in the young and easily influenced Tommy Baggot has a sudden change of heart and wants to turn around from being a robber to being a hero and maybe even becoming a husband to the doe eyed Clementine 'Tiny' Tucker.

This is a very simple story line which has been done a thousand times before and a million times since, but yet I am still impressed with the chemistry portrayed between these actors on screen as well as the simple story line of good versus evil.

I give the film a deserving 7 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Bad Bascomb (1946)

7/10

A light hearted western with a slew of great performances

27 June 2024

Ahhhh such a relief to watch an old black and white film that conatins all the great scenes which make up an enjoyable and interesting western film.

I couldn't start my review without expressing how much I enjoyed the interaction of the three (3) main characters who are Zeb Bascomb (Wallace Beery), the little orphan girl Emmy (Margaret O'Brien), and the cautious mam Abbey Hanks (Marjorie Main).

Zeb Bascomb leads a gang of criminals who like to rob and steal and when he ends up on the run once again from a posse hot on his heels he decides to hide out within a wagon train of mormons at which time he is introduced to the little orphan girl Emmy who takes a shine to the rough and gruff and very rotund Zeb. An independent but likeable woman named Abbey also has wandering eyes for Zeb, the gruff but lovable newcomer to her wagon train .

Zeb, finds out very quickly that this wagong train of mormons have some valuables amongst them and his initial thought is to help himself to the mormon's valuables when the time is right, but little Emmy and the single lady Abbey influence Bad man Bascomb to reconsider his initial plan to rob them.

It is a great little western filled with a good story line, and plenty of light hearted moments sprinkled throughout. I give the film a worthy 7 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Black Gold (1947)

5/10

It would take several decades more before gullible victims could be protected by scumbags

27 June 2024

The story may be about a thoroughbred horse named Black Gold who entered the classic Kentucky Derby, but I found the real story was about an innocent victim named Charley Eagle (Anthony Quinn) whose lack of knowledge of the white man's scrupulous ways to take advantage of the less fortunate was so prevalent in the 1940's and the decades earlier.

In the current decade of the 2020's we still have hundreds of thousands of shady characters who hide behind software and telephone scams to swindle the elderly and new immigrant populations across the world. Back in this 1947 film Charley enters his race horse in a claiming race and when his horse wins easily Charley's initial joy is lost when he learns that his horse has been claimed for a paltry sum by a scrupulous individual who is happy to take the winning horse into his own expanding winning horse stable.

Long before Jed Clampett and the (1962-1971) TV series, The Beverly Hillbillies struck gold, black gold, texas tea, as they called it, the humble but proud farmer Charley Eagle struck oil on the land he owned and unlike the fate that took away his prized racehourse through a claiming race, Charley had a reputable engineer and friend who ensured Charley would reap the financial benefits of his large oil strike on his land.

Yes, there is a dramatic horse race to be run, and yes poor Charley experiences both the highs and lows of winning and losing, but that is how life takes most of us by surprise.

I give Black Gold a passable 5 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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The Strangler (1964)

8/10

Knock...Knock...Whose there?

27 June 2024

Knock...Knock...Whose there?

Just your creepy and overweight neighborhood strangler who has some big mommy issues.

This film makes you wonder what kind of homelife some of our own co-workers, friends, and/or the bar patrons sitting at the next bar stool may be living.

I for one can relate a former work peer to Victor Buono who plays Leo Kroll a Lab Technician as the overweight smug strangler who knocks on unsuspecting womens' doors late at night and once that door is open, the poor woman's nightmare begins as her last breath is being taken at the hands of her personal deranged strangler.

I thought the mental process of how the strangler Leo Kroll initially excited himself by entering a local amusement arcade with the multitude of pinball machines pinging and ponging noises as he walked briskly directly over to the two special ladies who serviced his favorite game of chance which is a ring toss game to which he received a life like toy doll for successfully winning his ring toss game. Once that toy doll was placed in his hands by either of the very pretty game attendants named Barbara Wells (Diane Sayer) and his very favorite dream girl (and mine) Tally Raymond (Davey Davison) a trigger would switch on in his demented brain that could not be reversed and his sexual aggression enticed him to find his next victim. After Leo strangled to death his victim he would leave his calling card, the doll.

The homicide detectives who were assigned to investigate the strangler murders added depth to the storyline. I thought the concept that the detectives had the strangler in for a few interrogations and even having the smug Leo complete a lie detector test just added to the suspense.

Will they catch him through some evidence or will he slip away and continue his murderous spree? No spoiler here. Watch and learn what happens to the next victim of Leo Kroll, the starngler.

I give this black and white 1964 suspense/thriller film an excellent 8 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Lies Between Friends (2022 TV Movie)

5/10

A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good and vice versa

25 June 2024

This is nothing special other than the film's message which is when you mess with the bull you may just get the horns. An 18 year old girl named Emily Bowser is introduced to a wealthy couple by Emily's single father Stephen, who knew Ollie from their college days together. Claire and Ollie who have two (2) children are both successful and Steve hits on his old friend Ollie for a favor long owed to him by Ollie for Steve's taking responsibility for an accidental death of a girl they both knew while they all were in college.

When Emily discovers accidentally that her father Steve was taken advantage of by his old school chum Ollie who went unscathed by the crime he was actually responsible for and that her own father went to prison for, Emily seeks revenge on the wealthy couple.

The plot may be interesting but the delivery in a Lifetime film of revenge on a wealthy couple by a manipulative 18 year old leaves a lot to be desired in the suspense department.

I give the film just a passable 5 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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M (1931)

9/10

The message still resonates 93 years after this film's initial release in 1931

25 June 2024

German Director Fritz Lang was an Austrian-American film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States. He has accomplished a broad and succesful film legacy and one of his most successful and memorable films is the 1931 film "M".

I have always enjoyed the black and white film process which allows the film audience not to be distracted and ensures that a film's actors/actresses are putting on their very best performance(s) as the camera is squarely focused on them and their actions.

In the 1931 film M, a serial pedophile lurking in Berlin is kidnapping and subsequently molesting then murdering young children. The pedophile is a middle aged man named Hans Beckert played masterfully by Peter Lorre. The police force and intelligence officers assigned to capturing this pedophile and child murderer is under extreme pressure to capture this deviant offender who takes pleasure in writing to the local newspapers and seeing his crimes in print.

The residents in Berlin are in a frenzy worried about their own children's being this pedophile's next victim and as a result the entire Berlin population is on high alert and they are continually notifying the police with information that innundates the police force(s) with unnecessary false leads that futher bury the criminalists in coming to a conclusion on who the real predator is.

No spoilers here, but suffice to say that some 93 years after this film was first released the world still has pedophile predators amongst us, and the criminalists are still playing a cat and mouse game before the public takes matters into their own hands.

I give the film an essential to see 9 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Cab to Canada (1998 TV Movie)

9/10

A FEEL SO GOOD film that brings tears to your eyes

25 June 2024

Wow! Maureen O'Hara plays a lonely elderly person named Katherine Eure, who has lived quite a life over the past several decades hob nobbing with the rich and famous, but sadly, due to her strength and stamina she apparently has outlived all of her closest friends and she relies on her many memories for her past happy life as a successful and beautiful magazine model in her younger days.

After attending yet another funeral of one of her oldest and dearest friends Katherine has one of thos "ah hah" moments and she decides to hire a cab to take her back to some of the memorable locations she enjoyed with her late companion(s). On a whim she just decides to have the local hack, take her from one location after another, staying in hotels over night.

The cab driver who is randomly selected for that first pick up of Katherine is a gruff and well built young man named Mike Donahue (Jason Beghe) who leases his current cab but has ambitions to one day own his own cab and control his own destiny. As cabby Mike and passenger Katherine travel acrouss the USA, negative words are exchanged and Mike keeps calling Sandy (Catherine Bell) who is Mike's cabby dispatcher and his girlfriend while Sandy remains back home minding someone elses' young son named Bobby (Haley Joel Osment). Poor Bobby loves his mom, but that love is not being reciprocated.

The message from this film is that everyone faces some challenges but these challenges seem much less consequential when family and/or friends are willing to listen to one another and show love and affection, rather than anger and resentment.

I have always loved Maureen O'Hara's leading lady roles especially when her co-star was big John Wayne, but let me assure you actor Jason Beghe is no slouch and the chemistry between his role as the gruff cabby Mike, and Maureen O'Hara's like minded gruff role as his pushy and demanding passenger Katherine is simply a wonderful relationship that blossoms over the next few days while travelling across the USA. I will admit it, I cried.

I give the film a well deserved 9 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Call Northside 777 (1948)

9/10

If you (and your beliefs) don't stand for something you will fall for anything

18 June 2024

They just don't make great crime movies like Call Northside 777 anymore. Even though the film is based on a true crime that occurred on December 09th, 1932, in which a Chicago police officer was shot and killed by two robbers in a neighborhood speakeasy camoflauged as a delicatessen, the thieves' identities were unknown. An investigation was quickly undertaken, and two men of Polish descent were quickly apprehended, convicted by a court and jailed for 99 years. The two men who were found guilty continued to proclaim their innocence.

It wasn't until almost twelve years later On October 10, 1944, when a classified advertisement appeared in the Chicago Times that stated the following: "$5,000 REWARD FOR KILLERS OF OFFICER LUNDY ON DEC. 9, 1932. CALL GRO 1758, 12-7 P. M." The ad was brought to the attention of the city editor Karin Walsh, who assigned a seasoned police reporter named James McGuire to dig into the story further. What made this a storied advertisement and true human interest story that needed paying attention to, was the personal ad was paid for and the $5K reward offered by one of the convicted prisoners hard working mothers who saved the $5K reward money scrubbing floors for the past eleven (11) years, scrimping and saving and never losing faith in her sons innocence of the crime of murder of a Chicago policeman.

The film took a few liberties with the actual personal names and events that occurred, but the basis of the story remains true. Two wrongfully accused and convicted Polish men were sent to prison to serve a lifetime conviction and a dog determined crime news reporter (fictitious) named P J McNeal (James Stewart) required some considerable convincing before he could be convinced that these two convicts were wrongfully imprisoned.

The film is presented in a semi documentary style which was new at the time to film productions as was filming in the Chicago neighborhood(s) where the crime occurred. The black and white film cinematography just adds another level of realism to the paradox of these two young Polish men. Are they guilty or innocent in a black and white film transparency?

No spoilers here but suffice to say actor Jimmy Stewart and his editor boss Brian Kelly (played superbly by Lee J Cobb) who feeds tidbits of encouragement to a hungry crime reporter P J McNeal to keep fighting the good fight to try and free the wrongfully imprisoned.

I give the film an under rated 9 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Enter the Dragon (1973)

8/10

Bruce Lee's name translates to Action and Entertainment

13 June 2024

Boy was Bruce Lee in the very best shape of his life when he was filming Enter the Dragon. Through sheer hard work, perseverance and a love for film making Bruce Lee captured his audience's attention even more so after his untimely death since we will have no more feature films of his to look forward to.

Enter the Dragon is a cinematic experience like no other. Bruce Lee's physical appearance on the screen of Enter the Dragon would be by today's standard explained by CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) but the only one using CGI technology back in 1973 and prior was mainly Ray Harryhausen), but make no mistake about it, Bruce Lee's 135 pound physique was pure muscle on muscle and by the end of filming he had lost about 10 pounds.

The fight scenes (which there are many) are complimented by a great athletic story line and the fight scene with an array of deceptive mirrors was the Crème de la Crème of action packed fight scenes.

A memorable film for all action movie buffs. I give it an 8 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Boston Strangler (2023)

9/10

Film Noir is back and in fine form in this 1960's version of the infamous Boston Strangler

22 May 2024

From the opening scene and throughout the entire film there is a noticeable green hue that encompasses this film noir based on the 1960's historic sexual assaults and murder spree of thirteen (13) women in the greater Boston area.

Through sheer persistence a female newspaper reporter named Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley) is eventually granted the privilege of rolling up her sleeves and winning over an all-male dominated Boston newspaper publisher as well as most of the Boston police homicide division to break the story that there is a serial murderer preying on women in the greater Boston area.

Loretta is told she has to work in unison with the only other female crime reporter named Carrie Coon (Jean Cole) and at first begrudgingly she agrees to share the story with Carrie. Very quickly Loretta realizes Carrie is an experienced and seasoned crime reporter that she can learn from so the two ladies work hard and long hours to have their stories printed on the newspapers front page as feature stories.

What I appreciated from this version of the Boston Strangler was the films music score was subtle and only background sound and not overbearing as many crime/thrillers tend to do to camouflage for a lousy story line.

This version of the Boston Strangler is captivating and superbly acted. I give the film a highly touted 9 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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The Cheshire Murders (2013 TV Movie)

7/10

A well balanced comparsion between Good versus Evil and how this brutal crime could have been prevented

3 May 2024

Warning: Spoilers

If you have not seen this documentary yet be prepared to hear both sides of the horrendous murders of three (3) female residential home occupants of a well to do family in a very affluent neighborhood. What I am referring to as a well balanced documentary is that there is no excuse for the two convicted murderers of the three (3) female house occupants. The murder victims were 48-year-old Jennifer Hawke-Petit, her 11 year daughter, Michaela, and her 17 year old daughetr Hayley Elizabeth Petit. Where was the father? Dr William Petit was asleep on the couch when one of the two perpetrators, Joshua Andrew Komisarjevsky., beat Dr. Petit over the head repeatedly with a baseball bat that Komisarjevsky found in the basement which is how he found illegal entry into their family home.

Bothe perpertrators Joshua Andrew Komisarjevsky, and his accomplice Steven Joseph Hayes (now legally transgendered to Linda Hayes) were savage animals, binding all four (4) family members after which they ransacked the house then raping both mother Jennifer and the 11 year old daughter Michaela. The documentary clearly explains that Komisarjevsky was attracted to the young 11 yaer old Michaela when he randomly spotted mom and daughter out shopping and so Komisarjevsky decided to follow them to their home to see where they lived. Afterwards he contacted his accomplice Steven Hayes and via text messages their intent is on full view for the jury to understand the mindset of these two well known convicted criminals.

These two animals savagery did not end with the binding, terrorizing, beating and raping but continued with dousing the three women with gasoline and setting the house on fire while the husband Dr. Petit was bleeding profusely from the baseball bat beating and tied to a support beam with ties. Dr. William Petit was able to eventually escape before the home was engulfed in flames, His family was not that lucky. All three female occupants were murdered.

The documentary does try to explain the way these two criminals grew up in their respective households, and their respective families were also shocked by the viciousness of their crimes.

What remained unclear was although the police were apprised of a crime in progress when Komisarjevsky dragged mother Jennifer to her bank to withdraw 15 thousand dollars from her line of credit, Mrs. Petit was able to explain to the bank personnel that her family were being held hostage by two criminals in their home and the police went to the home and remained outside even after Jennifer and Komisarjevsky returned to the home with the money where she and her 11 year old daughter were subsequently raped and then set on fire. The arrests occurred when Komisarjevsky and Hayes stepped outside from the front door and the house was on fire.

Some other IMDb reviewers viewed the documentary as forming a position on the death penalty in the state of Conneticut but I see it as a total tragedy for all involved and my heart goes out to the father Dr. William Petit who survived but has to re-live that terrorizing day over and over again when he lost his precious family.

I rate the documentary a 7 out of 10 IMDb rating.

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Ed-Shullivan

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