Rate The Last Movie You Saw

[dave jenkins]

Hollywood Man (1976) – 6/10. Here’s the IMDb thumbnail description. “Hollywood action film star Rafe Stoker [William Smith] has sunk $130,000 of his own money into his own production [of a biker flick], but can't find legitimate financing to complete the film. His mob-connected investor demands an exorbitant amount of collateral and a guarantee that Rafe hand over a commercially acceptable film in 4 weeks, then hires a gang of psycho bikers to sabotage the picture to ensure he collects Stoker's collateral [as well as the rights to the finished film].” Great premise, spottily executed (using TV production values). I had never heard of this film until I listened to the recent New Beverley podcast with QT, but it sounded like it was worth a try. I watched it on a DVD of what appears to be a port of a VHS tape. I only realized this morning that I could have seen it for free in slightly better quality on amazon prime. Anyway, I can understand why Tarantino likes it: it’s a movie about making a movie where the characters involved are totally committed. Includes a hilarious title song.

[T.H.]

Rush (1991) -- SPOILERS -- It's a lot like The Hot Spot (1990) in that it's a cowboy noir that is awkwardly paced but doesn't resemble the early 90s in any way - which is not a bad thing at all. This one is an undercover cops turned junkies love story set in the mid 70s Texas starring the great Jennifer Jason Leigh and the good Jason Patric.

This one is lean on plot and ranges from an incredibly effective character study to silly melodrama at times - Clapton's guitar driven score works very well in spots but makes some cliche junkie scenes look like late night cinemax doing after school specials. Still, it's an interesting movie and something that will probably grow on you, like the aforementioned Hot Spot.

What this movie deserves credit for is having cops that are competent but are ultimately unsuccessful. The main villain, played by Gregg Allman, is one of the smarter bad guys in movies. The cops never get to close to him, he never trusts the undercover cops, they never become friends and he suspects that there's something fishy about them. While this sounds pretty damn interesting on paper, at least to me, the movie doesn't execute this clever idea in a satisfying way and it becomes too much of a junkie lovers movie instead of an undercover cop movie with a very smart target.

Unfortunately, Rush can easily lose 25-30 mins and the ending is terribly executed. Still, the ride there is generally pretty good and this is pretty well made from a technical standpoint - it contains a nice long take in the opening scene and it doesn't resemble the early 90s in any way, making it more interesting and a little charming in hindsight. 7/10

[T.H.]

Cohen and Tate (1988) - When a little boy witnesses a mob hit, he is kidnapped by two professional assassins who are not what they seem..

Written and directed by Eric Red, the writer of The Hitcher and Near Dark, two of my favorite 80s B movies. This one doesn't reach those heights but the plotting and atmosphere should be appreciated. This is a hostage movie made worse by the victim being a little kid. I'm not one for watching kids in peril movies - Shane Black, if you're reading this, please make a gritty crime movie without an annoying kid - but this movie doesn't exploit the kid in danger cheap gimmick too badly, though the kid is way too smart. But that's forgiven because the movie is well plotted in spite of potential logic issues.

The dark night atmosphere, Roy Scheider and the plotting make this a medium priority watch for any 80s genre/B movie fans. 7.5/10

[T.H.]

Madigan (1968) - It has the feel and look of Coogan's bluff but the script is dated with 50s melodramatic subplots without the beautiful lush 50s technicolor visuals to compliment said melodrama. The cast is great but Fonda is mostly wasted, as is James Whitmore. If this movie stuck to the cops on the job element, it could be something of a gem. But it's bogged down by subplots and love interests.

While I love some melodrama when done right, please keep that out of Don Siegel films. There are some really beautiful late 60s NYC location shots in the opening credits. 6.5/10


Cockfighter (1974) - Warren Oates had to be the single best choice at that time to play a character that takes a vow of silence - his expressions and facial tics are really put on display here. Hellman brilliantly succeeds at perfecting the docudrama style and manages to accomplish that feat in the most humble way possible - this movie's south feels as real as something like Heartworn Highways. 8.5/10

[Big Boss 1971]

Kung Fu Mama 4/6 , its okay

Revenge 4/6 , with Joan Collins

Bravados 3/6 , i found it tedious

[cigar joe]

Django Kill, If You Live Shoot! (1967) Director: Giulio Questi Stars: Tomas Milian, Marilù Tolo, Piero Lulli, and others. The first 20 minutes or so had great promise. I wasn't expecting much but was surprised with some of its impressive style, but that all goes to shit pretty fast with endless shootouts.

It reminds me what I don't like about HBO's new West World mini series redo, constant shootouts between people you couldn't give a shit about and you don't know if they are robots or not.

Anyway, I like Tomas Milian and enjoyed my recent viewing of Sonny & Jed so when I found it on Youtube I gave it a screening on the big screen TV.  5/10

Sonny and Jed (aka La banda J. & S. - Cronaca criminale del Far West (original title)) (1972) 6-7/10

Stars Tomas Milian, Susan George, and Telly Savalas along with the usual Spaghetti Western regulars. OK I actually found this on line and in a pretty good print. Never seen it before and was pleasantly surprised, Corbucci actually restrained himself and didn't go overboard. It's a sort of a reluctant Bonnie & Clyde story set along the Mexican Border in the early 20th century. It was sufficiently entertaining. As with most Spaghetti Westerns the cinematography  by Luis Cuadrado was gorgeous. It has a Morricone score similar to Cheyenne's Theme from Once Upon A Time In The West and the soundtrack for Companeros.

What Am I Doing in the Middle of a Revolution? (1972) Che c'entriamo noi con la rivoluzione? (original title)
Third Zapata Western in Sergio Corbucci's Revolution Trilogy, stars Vittorio Gassman, Paolo Villaggio, Riccardo Garrone and staple Corbucci actor Eduardo Fajardo.

This one is a full on Comedy Western with quite a bit of slap stick humor. Watchable 6/10.

Can be found online in a crappy multi-generational print.

[dave jenkins]

Cockfighter (1974) - Warren Oates had to be the single best choice at that time to play a character that takes a vow of silence - his expressions and facial ticks are really put on display here. Hellman brilliantly succeeds at perfecting the docudrama style and manages to accomplish that feat in the most humble way possible - this movie's south feels as real as something like Heartworn Highways. 8.5/10

How did you see this?

[PowerRR]

How did you see this?

It's on Amazon Prime. A pretty bad-looking VHS Rip. Might watch it later.

[T.H.]

How did you see this?

It's streaming on the Tubi app, it has a huge selection of (mostly B/genre) movies with limited ads. The transfer was actually pretty decent.

I can relate to this question because I wanted to see this movie for at least a decade.

[cigar joe]

Once Upon A Time In... Hollywood (2019) Tarantino epic, excellent adult fairy tale. If only.... 9/10

[PowerRR]

Once Upon A Time In... Hollywood (2019) Tarantino epic, excellent adult fairy tale. If only.... 9/10

totally agreed. Brilliant fairy tale.

The scene of Sharon Tate watching her own movie and being excited at the audience reactions was fantastic. Among many other scenes. It’s a perfect buddy movie.

9/10, will likely watch many more times.

[cigar joe]

totally agreed. Brilliant fairy tale.

The scene of Sharon Tate watching her own movie and being excited at the audience reactions was fantastic. Among many other scenes. It’s a perfect buddy movie.

9/10, will likely watch many more times.

Agree!

[PowerRR]

"The second best Italian director"

[titoli]

Once Upon A Time In... Hollywood (2019) Tarantino epic, excellent adult fairy tale. If only.... 9/10

"If only" what? And what did the wife say about it?

[cigar joe]

"If only" what? And what did the wife say about it?

The wife liked it. If I told you the "if only" I'd be giving the plot away.