humpty Reviews

The Ratings Game (1984 TV Movie)

The best, priceless

[23 January 2001]

THE RATINGS GAME is one of the funniest and well written movies of all time. Its the TV industry making fun of itself. The plot is unique and clever, the love story with DeVito and Perlman is very well done and touching, and there are cameos by many great stars and stars to be. Basically its a spoof of really bad sit-coms where the lead character fraudulently manipulates the ratings to make his patently bad show beat the World Series in ratings. Brilliant movie, probably not easy to find. There are very few comedies that get me. This one is side-splitting and a real bulls-eye insightful satire of the Hollywood TV industry and scene. Bravo.

The Two Jakes (1990)

Two Jakes - the plot that never was

[29 December 1999]

The Two Jakes allegedly had a plot. Unfortunately neither I, nor my wife could find it. Every ten minutes one of us would ask the other, 'Do you have ANY idea whats going on here?' The other would answer, 'no'. I called my friend in Cleveland who is a newspaper writer and asked him what he thought of the movie THE TWO JAKES. He replied with some emphasis, "Man, I had absolutely no idea what that movie was about. I was lost from the start.' Nicholson looked like he was just going through the motions and he looked fat. Not a small fraction the charisma he commanded in CUCKOO'S NEST. All I know is that it was a retro setting who dunnit and a sequel to CHINATOWN. By all means rent it ... if you enjoy wasting time.

In This Our Life (1942)

don't drink and drive

[27 April 1999]

My wife and I enjoyed this classic black and white Bette Davis movie. Bette plays quite a dislikable character who steals husbands, drives people to suicide and drives herself to a destructive climax. Olivia DeHavilland as is usual, plays a woman of fine charachter, victimized by a witch like co-star. Not Bad.

The Hasty Heart (1949)

Moving picture

[26 February 1999]

The Hasty Heart is one of the finest and most sensetive films ever made. Ronald Reagan gives his best acting performance and this story should bring a tear to the most cynical eyes. It is a story about a man with a terminal illness and his battle with self pity. As sad as it is, it is a celebration nevertheless, of the human condition. Its about real people and real feelings, not some hyped up special effects extravaganza of all prop and no plot. Although the film is not religious, per se, and does not mention God, it is a spiritual film, a gut wrenching exercise of the soul.

The Midnight Man (1974)

a pan on the Midnight Man

[22 February 1999]

After seeing Burt Lancaster in films like THE SWIMMER and SORRY WRONG NUMBER, he is certainly a let down in THE MIDNIGHT MAN. So is the movie. It's two and a half hours long and is a who-dun-it that leaves this viewer thinking, "I don't care who- dun-it. Burt looks tired, as though he'd rather be doing anything but working on this picture. At no point does he manage even a spark of that old vibrant Lancaster attitude. The plot is confusing at best. Burt is a security guard on a college campus where a series of murders take place. He also manages to get a woman 30 years his junior to fall for him. The kissing scenes would make Woody Allen cringe. And the fight scene where Burt beats up two young guys is laughable. Later in his career Burt is cast in some parts that fit the dignity of an older man. He makes a poor imitation of Harry Callahan in this one.

This film's only value is as a time capsule for 1974. It has the flavor and atmosphere of a 2 1/2 hour episode of Hawaii Five-O, except not as exiting. Avoid this one my friends. Humpty