gf1701 Reviews

High Wall (1947)

Preposterous in the extreme

[1/10 · 29 January 2023]

This is a BAD movie. It's preposterous. Its promoters portray it as some kind of lost gem, but in reality, it's little known because it was a box office failure and, as I said, bad. It's not exactly noir, as the only femme fatale is the murder victim, who is offed within the first few minutes of the film. People in this movie behave in ways no real people do, and do things they would never be allowed to in the real world. The acting ranges from mediocre (the two leads and secondary) to embarrassing (the murder victim). Scenes shift from the dark of night to the bright of day within minutes; time seems to have no meaning. I'm not detailing any of the preposterous plot points, in order to avoid spoilers, but if you're sufficiently forewarned to skip this film, some of the other reviews will clue you in. (By the way, although the film is inane, I didn't find it boring. That would be worth a couple of stars, if the whole thing wasn't so ludicrous. It could have made a great farce.)

The Fugitive: Coralee (1966) Season 3, Episode 30

Maybe the worst episode of the series (certainly the most ridiculous)

[1/10 · 17 August 2022]

Despite being one of the finest television dramas of all time, The Fugitive had many instances where the writers had Richard Kimble taking foolish risks that would be inconceivable for a man of his experience and intelligence. This episode stands out as possibly the worst example of this flaw. But this time, they also have one of the supporting characters take an action that is so horrendously stupid, that for the first time ever, I considered not finishing the episode. I won't get specific, so as to avoid spoilers (though I recommend that you skip this episode, which although the last one of the season, contains no cliffhanger or anything relevant to the following season). But the foolishness begins within the first few minutes. First, Kimble discovers that he is working for an underwater salvage company that may be guilty of either negligence or murder, and instead of high-tailing it for the road, he sticks around. Then he is warned by many to avoid getting involved with a local woman, so . . . You get the picture, but that's only the first few minutes of the episode. The worst is yet to come.

The Fugitive: When the Wind Blows (1965) Season 3, Episode 15

A Special and Memorable Episode

[10/10 · 27 July 2022]

When the episode begins, Kimble has been spotted in Caspar, Wyoming, but he does not know that an alert is out on him throughout the state. He stops to eat at a greasy spoon in a small Wyoming town, but is spooked when he notices the owner's Constable badge, and immediately hitches a ride out of town-but not far enough. He sees a "help wanted" sign near where his ride drops him off, and hires on as a handyman for a single woman with a small child. The boy is very sensitive and insightful, and sees the world differently than others, both children and adults, and people consider him weird.

This episode of "The Fugitive" touched me more than any other. I first remember seeing it in the 1980's, and every time I make my way through the series, I look forward to watching it again. It's usually about once every 10 years, so I never remember the details of the episode, but the relationship between Kimble and the little boy, who no one else tries to understand, always sticks with me. Although there is, of course, a jeopardy situation for Kimble in this episode (when isn't there?), the boy, Kimble, and the worried mom are the focus, and what makes the show so special. With a surprisingly good performance by the nine-year old actor, and-as always-a top-notch supporting cast, this one is a gem.

Os Verdes Anos (1963)

All Style and No Substance

[2/10 · 24 April 2022]

For all that they show of the city of Lisbon, the filmmakers reveal little about the characters. We hear talk about how difficult city life is for those coming from the country, but we don't actually see it. In the second half of the film, the lead male character has a sudden change of attitude and behavior that seemingly comes out of nowhere and is never explained. And the ending comes from even farther afield and is an insult to the viewer. Yes, the the cinematography is beautiful, but there's nothing there there. Considering the hype, this was a big disappointment.

Coherence (2013)

Camera movement ultimately made it unwatchable for me

[2/10 · 7 November 2020]

I tried hard to watch this, as it had good reviews and an interesting premise, but I had to give up after 20 minutes. The camera movement was way off the scale, not just typical hand-held camera jerkiness, but additional cameral tilting on top of that, intended, I believe, to heighten the impression of surrealism, and I was literally starting to feel queasy. I skimmed ahead to see where it was heading, and if intense camera movement doesn't bother you, "Coherence" might be worth checking out. But if shaky camera bothers you, don't even attempt to watch this film.

The World Between Us (2019– )

Shaky Camera and Unbelievable Character

[1/10 · 13 May 2020]

Do not believe that abnormally high rating for this show. The first episode focused on the totally unbelievable-and poorly acted-defense lawyer for the murderer. First we see him interviewed live and getting a bucket of feces thrown at him. When he goes home to his wife, we are supposed to believe that she knows nothing about it and fully accepts his story of having fallen into a cesspool. Then the clueless lawyer, showing no deference, goes to ask for help from a reporter whose son was a victim of the mass murderer. Meanwhile, the camera never stays still, and I was getting dizzy and headachy from the constant movement. I had seen no reason to continue watching, so I cut my losses and bailed after a half hour.

Diamond Tongues (2015)

If you like films about detestable human beings, you'll love this one

[1/10 · 29 December 2018]

Diamond Tongues is about Edith, a struggling actress who is one of the most despicable people (excluding murderers, rapists, and that ilk) that you will ever meet. She's a liar and a tease. She roots for her friends to fail, and sabotages them whenever she gets the chance. This is what you see for all but the last 7 or 8 minutes of the film, if you can last that long. I forced myself to. I watched it because of its 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes (11 reviews), so if you're a film critic rather than a regular human being, you'll probably love it. Otherwise, I hope I've saved at least one person from wasting time on Diamond Tongues; it would give meaning to the time I wasted enduring it.

Tell Me a Riddle (1980)

Maudlin and Unbelievable

[1/10 · 18 June 2016]

Maudlin, saccharine, and unbelievable, with some excruciatingly bad acting and emoting. It begins with an estranged elderly couple, the husband nasty and acerbic, the wife frail, timid, and losing touch with reality. We then meet some of their adult children (see: bad acting and emoting), who make one want to gag and run from the room. Throughout, we get schmaltzy flashbacks to the couple's dynamic youth in old Russia. Then the wife is diagnosed with a terminal illness, nobody tells her what's wrong, and the family ships the cancer-ridden woman and her husband across the country to stay with relatives and decline far away from home (see: unbelievable). If you like maple syrup cookies, covered with powdered sugar and honey, this might be a movie for you. Otherwise, I say skip it.

China Blue (2005)

Authentic: Makes Personal What We Only Knew As a Concept

[10/10 · 12 October 2006]

I've read about the exploitation of workers in third-world countries, but could not really relate to the reality. This film brings that home. Not only do we get to know and care about some of the workers and what they experience, but we also get to know the factory owner quite well. His attitude towards his workers is completely disconnected from the reality of their lives. And his is one of the better factories in China. I saw this film at the Mill Valley Film Festival, and the filmmaker spoke and answered questions after the film. I have to wonder about the agenda of the people in this forum who attacked the integrity of the filmmaker. He was completely open about how the film was made; the need to replace his original main subject with Jasmine; the fact that the narrator's voice was not Jasmine's (but the words are hers). The film was NOT scripted. Although the subject was grim, the workers still make you smile at times, as they somehow retain their humanity amidst their degrading conditions.

The Upside of Anger (2005)

Unbelievable, overwrought, and overbearing

[1/10 · 15 March 2005]

The summary--unbelievable, overwrought, and overbearing-- applies to both the film and to Joan Allen's character. This is a film where the plot dictates everyone's actions, instead of vice versa. Joan Allen plays a bitch who is nasty to everyone, including her four lovely daughters. She is detestable and totally unsympathetic--except to some movie critics. Almost everything in the film happens according to movie convention, except for a surprise near the end, which I found ludicrous. (P.S. I thought Kevin Costner was good. I think he made me laugh without squirming on one occasion, though I can't remember which, at the moment.)

My Side of the Mountain (1969)

Entertaining Family Film

[9/10 · 13 February 2005]

"My Side of the Mountain" is an entertaining family film that I enjoyed both as a teenager and as an adult.

The movie has adventure and a sense of wonder in its portrayal of a young boy intent on making his way alone in the wilderness. The lead character, Sam, does sometimes overact and can get on one's nerves, but the supporting cast--human, mammalian, and avian--keeps the film interesting and prevents Sam from become too overbearing. Kids can learn lessons on self-reliance and interdependence from the film, in addition to enjoying San's adventures and the beautiful scenery of the Laurentian Mountains.

Caterina in the Big City (2003)

Caterina is the only 3-dimensional character in the film

[4/10 · 19 October 2004]

I rooted for Caterina as she discovers herself and the world around her, but it is a world full of one-dimensional people. All the secondary characters in this film--with the exception of Caterina's neighbor, Edward, who appears too briefly--show only one side of themselves. Her father rants and raves throughout, except for his period of deep depression, where he does nothing at all. Her mother is meek and clueless. Her friends are either spoiled brats or angry rebels. I found them all to be insufferable, and the movie suffered for it. Both we and Caterina deserved better.

("Mean Girls" covers some of the same ground as this film, minus the politics, and does it much better.)

Christmas in the Clouds (2001)

Amusing Diversion, but...

[6/10 · 10 October 2001]

I found myself amused for about the first half hour of this film, and then sporadically thereafter. (Vegetarians will particularly appreciate the humor provided by the chef, played by Graham Greene.) The characters are appealing, but two-dimensional, and the hackneyed mistaken-identity plot was tiresome. It's visually beautiful, but not very deep. And why is the Native American male romantic lead played by a white, very Anglo-looking actor? (Not that it was easy to imagine Native American physical traits in the female lead.)