dynaman Reviews

The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

Just Bad

[5/10 · 1 July 2005]

Just another of those Hollywood movies about Hollywood movies with the predictable overworked story-callous ,egoist mogul uses everyone to make box-office hits. Obviously this kind of behavior is excusable and even admired so long as success is achieved. Why is that attitude so easy to believe about Hollywood?)And why does a suit look so inappropriate on the ham Douglas? Lana is awful as usual and Gloria Grahams considerable talent is buried beneath a dreadful Southern accent.Even the excellent Dick Powell is unable to salvage this homage to Hollywood silliness. But be of good faith; the victims of the mogul's scandalous antics finally realize,in fact,that he has done each of them an incalculable favor and that the success they later achieve on their own merits was possible only because of him. The ungrateful victims join our hero in a very typical and schmaltzy happy ending. The viewer now understands how terrible,selfish behavior is really an act of kindness. Only in LalaLand.

The Godfather Part II (1974)

Overrated and Tedious

[5/10 · 19 January 2005]

I had avoided watching this sequel for twenty years,fearful I would prefer it over the original. How wrong I was! Unlike most of the reviewers here who can't seem to gush effusively enough over this film, I feel it is a good distance behind the original. Here we have the overrated Al Pacino acting as if in a trance, stone-faced,humorless and cold-blooded, the epitome of egomania Nothing matters to him except crooked power and greed. A truly unsavory person.a rotten husband and father,he leaves little to admire,unlike his predecessor. Robert DeNiro gives another one of his elliptical performances. John Cazale as Fredo and Michael Gazzo as Freddie save the movie from being downright boring. What was the plot? Who cares?

S.W.A.T. (2003)

Just awful.

[3/10 · 26 January 2004]

This could just be the worst action picture of the century. The dialogue is trite and cliche-ridden. The acting is only passable and the action scenes are disconnected and predictable. This man should never be permitted to direct any kind of movie ---- EVER. Silly plot.

The Naked Dawn (1955)

An extremely talented actor finally scores a starring role.

[9/10 · 30 December 2003]

This movie provides the viewer with an opportunity to see a truly gifted,if unsung actor, in a role that he owns. Arthur Kennedy played many supporting roles in the 40's and 50's and was nominated five times for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor. During that time he acted for most of the outstanding directors of the period and with actors like Mitchum,Sinatra,Douglas,to name a few. Long overdue for a memorable starring role, he finally has the lead in this movie. As Santiago he demonstrates how callousness and gentleness of spirit can reside believably in the same person. His contact with th peasant couple ultimately changes forever their views of the future as well as his own and final redemption. This is a movie one can see only on TV late shows. A pity, but if you're lucky enough to catch it, you'll be rewarded. Guaranteed.

The Green Scarf (1954)

Excellent mystery

[9/10 · 6 November 2003]

I saw this movie in 1954 at a theatre in West Phila where it played continuously for almost six months, an indicator of its popularity. Recalling the movie these many years later, I can nevertheless state that it was a mystery, wonderfully acted, especially by Kiernan Moore. he plot had so many twists that you were cosntantly guessing and yet still astonished at the amazing ending. Why this movie disappeared so soon and why it isn't on video nonpluses me.

Gates of Heaven (1978)

Too turgid for me

[4/10 · 7 July 2003]

This video has me half- crazed in trying to ascertain just what was the point of the whole thing. Does anyone need a movie to learn that humans have strong and sometimes bizarre pet relationships? Why mix a man"s dedication to building the best pet cemetary in the world with the tiresome motivation theory of his one son and the aimless meanderings of the other? What is the message here and why does this lame documentary deserve a cult following? Errol Morris is a favorite of mine, but this amateurish attempt of explaining death ia hardly a harbinger of his later,much greater efforts. Sorry, Ebert.

Track of the Cat (1954)

Talk,talk. Not enough Mitchum.

[6/10 · 26 February 2003]

This might have been an outstanding movie if Eugene O'Neill had'nt intruded. Mitchum ,as bad as the killer cat he vows to kill for the death of his brother, dominates the first part with virility and meanness. Suddenly he almost vanishes from the scene as an O'Neilesque family accusations and recriminations sequence (much too long) ensues with the usual angst, self-guilt syndrome. Meanwhile back in the beautifully photographed wild forest our hero suddenly slides down a hill into a chasm. Just like that. If the movie had spent more time on the track of the cat, it would have stayed on track and been just fine.