Pale-4 Reviews

Alex in Wonderland (1970)

re: the dude who got all pissy about the left wing hippie angle of the film

[8/10 · 8 June 2007]

It is so blatantly obvious that Mazursky is gently parodying the self righteousness of the hippie movement. When discussing the black uprising movie, it's the black dude who tells him it's a rotten idea. In a more stern observation, his wife is clearly upset and his family life is clearly hitting the skids and he goes on about an acid trip he and his friend took. His wife makes the incredibly accurate observation that he wants her to do what he wants her to do not what she wants to do.

Look I fly a little to the left of the left wing but to blather on about Hollywood being left wing when they want nothing more than to do movies where "things blow up real good" is kind of ridiculous.

The movie is good. It's not great. But it is a keen and well observed characterization of a creative man who is trying to keep his personal and creative life together and vibrant but falls prey to his own self doubts.

Unconditional Love (2002)

What the Hell?!?!?!?!

[3/10 · 21 November 2003]

This movie is stuffed like a tortilla with like six different genres. Which is fine. But it's like Taco Bell tortilla. It's all mushy inside. Now get this straight cause I'm only going to say it once. Kathy Bates plays a housewife who's only joy is to hear her favorite singer Victor Fox (Jonathan Pryce). He is killed the same time her husband (Dan Ayckroyd) leaves her. On impulse, she goes to London to Victor's funeral and meets his lover (Rupert Everett)and together, they decide to hunt down the serial killer who killed Victor. Oh, it's a comedy, I mean drama, I mean . . . i don't know what the hell this is.

And there's a dwarf. Who easily steals the film. Why? Because she's funny, spunky and a joy to watch. She is played by Meredith Eaton.

The rest of the film is a train wreck. A well shot train wreck but a train wreck none the less. Or was that a tortilla. I can't remember. My brain hurts.

The Haunting of Julia (1977)

Like watching a snail crawl over a leaf in slow motion

[1/10 · 7 March 2002]

Veddy British, veddy dull horror film. Mia Farrow is a very frail, timid woman who moves to a very large, built to be haunted house after her daughter dies and, surprise, it turns out to be haunted by a young blond girl who (gasp) looks just like her daughter!! The acting is bland and one note save for Tom Conti as Mia's brother-in-law and a bit part by Robin Gammell as a drunk with a "very big secret". The score is atrocious. The cinematography is gorgeous but it certainly doesn't help any. The book that it's based on "Julia" by Peter Straub is only slightly more interesting. For a good old fashioned ghost story from the same era, rent "The Changeling" with George C. Scott.

1969 (1988)

**

[5/10 · 30 August 2000]

Mediocre film about two young men coming of age in the title year. The acting is fine, obviously, considering the cast, but the script and direction pummels every point home with all the subtlety of a good Pete Townshend guitar smash. P.S.- - any scene in any film that uses the opening stanzas of the Hendrix version of "All Along the Watchtower" gets your adrenaline flowing. Didja ever notice that? (It happens once here)

1776 (1972)

***

[8/10 · 29 August 2000]

Solid, enjoyable version of the Broadway musical highlighted by an ensemble cast that is spearheaded by William Daniels, Howard Da Silva and Ken Howard as Adams, Franklin and Jefferson, respectively. Funny and irreverent, yet respectful of its subject matter. Features wonderful songs, particularly the haunting "Momma Look Sharp" and the chilling rationalization of slavery "Molasses to Rum" (sung by John Cullum of "Northern Exposure" fame).