DepartmentStoreLover Reviews

Loving (1970)

Slow-going, but worth it

[8/10 · 11 July 2004]

LOVING is a film for the patient movie buff. It is not a film for those who want to see murders or car crashes every five minutes. It is a maturely-told, sensitively-acted, -written and -directed film about a commercial artist's marital (and extra-marital) entanglements. It relies on character rather than plot to convey its points.

All the actors are spotless in their portrayals, especially George Segal and Eva Marie Saint as the artist and his harried wife. It is a film that slowly builds interest in the characters which is amply rewarded for the audience by the film's conclusion. LOVING is a film that will leave you silent at the end, and thinking about it for days afterward.

Buster and Billie (1974)

An underrated film

[9/10 · 20 February 2004]

I also subscribe to the views of other IMDB writers concerning this film. BUSTER AND BILLIE made an enormous impression on my consciousness as a film viewer. I first saw it years ago, very late at night. Being teenaged at the time, this story of unconventional love in 1948 Georgia proved to be thoroughly eye-opening. This film affected me so much that, as I did not have a copy of it, I actually advertised in a newspaper for it, and someone forwarded a dubbed copy to me!

The excellent acting of Joan Goodfellow (Billie) and Jan-Michael Vincent (Buster) made watching this film a great experience. Their belief in the love of these two characters is reflected in their acting, reactions, and the little moments that these characters share. I have to admit that I have seen the film many times, but it is never a boring or predictable experience, even though one has knowledge of how it ends.

While this film has been described as cliched and a film with only a desparate appeal to oversexed teenagers, this is simply not true. It tells a good story beautifully, with great acting, and period atmosphere. If only the films of the 1990s and the 2000s could be like this.

All in a Night's Work (1961)

'Oh Mr Ryder!'

[2 February 2004]

This is one of the funniest films ever made (in my opinion). To not give away too much for those who have not seen it, this mistaken identity farce has Dean Martin, various character actors, and especially, Shirley MacLaine, in fine form. It is one of those rare films that one can watch time after time, and never get bored with. And don't forget, 'Oh Mr Ryder!'

Santa Barbara (1984–1993)

A well-done soap opera

[25 October 2003]

I have good memories of this daytime serial, which debuted in Australia in 1987, when I was in high school. Even though the later years of the show were unwatchable, when the head writers in the early years were Bridget and Jerome Dobson, it was simply magical. I remember well the beautiful romances of Kelly and Joe (Robin Wright and Dane Witherspoon), the high-camp aristocratic antics of Augusta and Lionel (Louise Sorel and Nicolas Coster) and, and best of all, the heavenly romance between ex-nun Mary and the hard-bitten, cynical Mason (Harley Kozak and Lane Davies). This storyline in particular was brilliantly acted, movingly written, and thoroughly touching. Mason's transformation into a more sympathetic character through his love affair with Mary was wonderfully handled.

It is a shame that the programme is no longer on the air, but if it had firmer handling, it may have caught on and built a substantial audience. All it needed was more story consistency, and some more appealing love stories to hook the audience. SANTA BARBARA's penchant for the quick fix, and inability to give its actors stable storylines may have contributed to its undoing. Anyway, I hope that the show one day either turns up again on TV, if not in its full run, but even in 'best of' shows. I rate it as one of the best shows on TV, then, now, and everafter.

Lost Horizon (1973)

Give it a chance

[15 October 2003]

Although the general consensus has been that this is an awful movie, I do not agree with this view. Granted, the film does have its lapses, but makes up for this in sheer scope and atmosphere. I believe that the fine cast, especially Peter Finch, did more than their best in making the film believable for audiences. Its failure at the box-office may have been somewhat surprising, but understandable given the context of the changing winds of 1970s cinema, and its increasingly fickle audiences.

With regards to the songs which were in the film, I did not find these off-putting, but in fact, found that they added to its heavenly feeling. I think that the problem has been a comparison with the earlier version, but this can stand on its own feet as a thoroughly professional remake.

The Love Machine (1971)

At least one good performance

[5/10 · 15 October 2003]

Even though this film was nothing special as such, I am drawn to comment on at least one factor that ruled in its favour - that of the lead female performer in the film, Dyan Cannon. In spite of the film's ridiculous storyline and what she goes through here, hers was the best acting job in the film, making the unbelievable seem more plausible. Her raucous scene with the gay photographer David Hemmings has to be seen to be believed. Good work, Dyan.

Lovers and Other Strangers (1970)

A wonderful film

[8/10 · 15 October 2003]

This film is a wonderful comedy, with glowing portrayals, a great comic atmosphere, and some deliciously insightful moments of human interaction. I wish that I owned it on video. Watch for Bea Arthur and Richard Castellano, they are simply marvellous. Highly recommended.

Glass Houses (1972)

Don't listen to the reviews

[10/10 · 27 September 2003]

Unfortunately most of this film's reviews are mostly skewed towards the negative, which does the film an injustice. Although the film's scenario sounds porno-esque (that is. infidelity and incestuous desire occurring within a middle-class Californian family), GLASS HOUSES does have a lot going for it. I first saw it on TV when I was seventeen years old, and it has remained in my memory.

When watching the film I was struck by the acting of the cast, the beautiful cinematography, and the highly evocative score by David Raksin. The film's final scene is exemplary in its use of cutting, and, in my opinion, has as much mystery as that of the French film LAST YEAR IN MARIENBAD (1961). The time has come for this sleeper film to finally be unearthed, and put on video or DVD, where the film buffs of the world can decide for themselves about GLASS HOUSES.