This show may have been to mushy for some. I was already a fan of Landon's back to the Bonanza days. "Highway To Heaven" really allowed Landon a broad base a touch on every subject. The stories dealt with mentally and physical disabilities to obesity, lying, cheating, greed, gambling, poverty, literacy to just about every subject within the human spectrum and beyond. This show gave Michael Landon a real pair of wings to express his undying love to the human race. I managed to record 75 episodes from TV. These are truly heartwarming stories so if you think they're to mushy you may just need to watch the show more then the rest of us. This show was TRULY INSPIRATIONAL and ALL HEART.
Reviews
14 Reviews
May
(2002)
What a GREAT movie!
26 June 2004
I tried to write my thoughts about this movie but can't keep in under 1600 words so I'll keep this short. I first seen Angela Bettis in the TV movie remake of "Carrie". I thought the story was good and I was very impressed with the lead player Angela Bettis. I few months later I looked her up at the IMDb. I had read about "MAY" and liked the fact "Ebert" had given the movie 4 stars, his highest rating. This was unusual for him to give such high praise to any horror movie or like genre. I ordered "MAY" on DVD having never seen it. I had high expectations and was not disappointed. Angela Bettis is not only very talented with her many fantastic subtle facial expressions of her characters (rarely seen in the best actors of all time) but she is just a great actress in general. Sad that she has not been recognized and given her due credit but then I like it that she is not mainstream, makes her more special. Angela has a very unique beauty and she is with out a doubt one of the most beautiful women acting today. The movie MAY as it turns out has one thing in common with the "Carrie" remake and also the movie "Sparrow" (Avail. DVD-private dealers-ebay) with Angela as the main character "Maria" from 1993 when Angela was about 17 or 18 years old, she's now 29. The character in all three of these movies were more or less loners looking for LOVE wherever it may find them. All three movies end with a very sad ending for her character at that time and course we don't see the rest of her life. I have watched "MAY" several times and have the soundtrack (bought from a private party-Luckett) and both are excellent.
The Breeders, Kelly Deal 6000 & others as well as the music score by Luckett and her ATE13 music really set the mood. Angela's singing in one of the versions of FROX was very cool as well. I very much liked Anna Faris and her and Angela's scenes together are a rear treat. The best line with them was when Polly (Anna Faris) ask May (Bettis) "Do you like pussy" and the followup to that scene, it's quite sexy and provocative. I believe Angela Bettis will get her long overdue credit. I liked the doll "Soozy" in this movie, the whispering noises and the cracking glass sounds all added to the atmosphere. This is a "cut em up" movie done in a stylish black comedy setting. All the other characters and the movie as a whole were very well done. I encourage anyone who likes unique movies like "Harold & Maude" or that fit into dark\black horror comedy will enjoy this movie. This movie is not for everyone but it was 100% for me. I will watch for others movie by Lucky McKee and most of all I will watch for movies with Angela Bettis of which I find intoxicating.
The Breeders, Kelly Deal 6000 & others as well as the music score by Luckett and her ATE13 music really set the mood. Angela's singing in one of the versions of FROX was very cool as well. I very much liked Anna Faris and her and Angela's scenes together are a rear treat. The best line with them was when Polly (Anna Faris) ask May (Bettis) "Do you like pussy" and the followup to that scene, it's quite sexy and provocative. I believe Angela Bettis will get her long overdue credit. I liked the doll "Soozy" in this movie, the whispering noises and the cracking glass sounds all added to the atmosphere. This is a "cut em up" movie done in a stylish black comedy setting. All the other characters and the movie as a whole were very well done. I encourage anyone who likes unique movies like "Harold & Maude" or that fit into dark\black horror comedy will enjoy this movie. This movie is not for everyone but it was 100% for me. I will watch for others movie by Lucky McKee and most of all I will watch for movies with Angela Bettis of which I find intoxicating.
May
(2002)
A GREAT Movie
26 June 2004
I tried to write my thoughts about this movie but can't keep in under 1600 words and I could only write a max of 1,000, oh well. I'll keep this short. I first seen Angela Bettis in the TV movie remake of "Carrie." I thought the story was good and I was very impressed with the lead player Angela Bettis. I short while later I looked her up at the IMDB. I had read about "MAY" and liked the fact "Ebert" had given the movie 4 stars, his highest rating. This was unusual for him to give such high praise to any horror movie or like genre. I ordered "MAY" on DVD having never seen it. I had high expectations and was not disappointed. Angela Bettis is not only very talented with her many fantastic subtle facial expressions of her characters (rarely seen in the best actors of all time) but she is just a great actress in general. Sad that she has not been recognized and given her due credit but then I like it that she is not mainstream, makes her more special. Angela has a very unique beauty and she is without a doubt one of the most beautiful women acting today. The movie MAY as it turns out has one thing in common with the "Carrie" remake and also the movie "Sparrow" (Avail. DVD-private dealers-ebay) with Angela as the main character "Maria" from 1993 when Angela was about 17 or 18 years old, she's now 29. The character in all three of these movies were more or less loners looking for LOVE wherever it may find them. All three movies end with a very sad ending for her character at that time and of course we don't see the rest of her life. I have watched "MAY" several times and have the soundtrack (bought from a private party-Luckett) and both are excellent. The Breeders, Kelly Deal 6000 & others as well as the music score by Luckett and her ATE13 music really set the mood. Angela's singing in one of the versions of FROX was very cool as well. I very much liked Anna Faris and her and Angela's scenes together are a real treat. The best line with them was when Polly (Anna Faris) ask May (Bettis) "Do you like pussy" and the followup to that scene, it's quite sexy and provocative. I believe Angela Bettis will get her long overdue credit. I liked the doll "Soozy" in this movie, the whispering noises and the cracking glass sounds all added to the atmosphere. This is a "cut em up" movie done in a stylish black comedy setting. All the other characters are well portrayed and the movie as a whole was very well done. I encourage anyone who likes unique movies like "Harold & Maude" or that fit into dark\black horror comedy will enjoy this movie. This movie is not for everyone but it was 100% for me. I will watch for other movies by Lucky McKee and most of all I will watch for movies with Angela Bettis of which I find intoxicating. Where is the "Toolbox Murders" movie with Angela, can't find it anywhere?
Storia di una capinera
(1993)
Storia di una capinera AKA Sparrow
19 June 2004
I have seen Angela Bettis in MAY and CARRIE (Remake) and she is just so beautiful and sweet I thought I'd buy a copy of Sparrow. I now have 3 CD's of hers, she's quite intoxicating. The story in a way is like MAY or CARRIE in the respect that Angela's character "Maria" has led a sheltered life (in a convent) and is out of touch with love and interpersonal relationships. So far all three movies I have seen Angela Bettis in all have a very similar personality. I very much liked this movie but I don't think I will watch it as often as I have MAY. Angela Bettis is a fine actress and has a nice way of using lots of facial expressions that you usually only see in a very few great actors. I guess what this movie ultimately says is, if you are at a serious crossroads in your life and you need to make a decision. Then take your sweet time and let others know that you are not sure if you are not. Telling someone you are certain about things may influence them into making changes in their life that don't include you and it may come back to bite you. Angela is an Angel! This movie is well worth seeing and the cinematography is beautiful.
Blood Simple
(1984)
A Great Film
9 May 2004
Warning: Spoilers
Spoilers ahead.
I have been a Coen brothers fan since I seen there first film Blood Simple. For me what really sets the style we have come to experience from the Coen's in such films as this and others like "The Man Who Wasn't There." In these movies we as the viewer are much more in on the story then any of the characters in the movie. We see everything that happens while the characters only see bits and pieces. The characters are reacting in what appears to be foolish or perhaps stupefied fashion to the situation but taken from what they see the choices are logical. Take the boyfriend in Blood Simple, he finds his girlfriends husband dead and her gun on the floor. Knowing she wanted her husband out of her life, putting 2 and 2 together any one in that situation would conclude that she did in fact kill her husband, logical conclusion. The boyfriend reacts accordingly. There are many many situation just like this in Blood Simple where you actually can get irritated and angry at the characters for making very stupid mistakes and assumption, one has to remind themselves of what each character sees and realize that based on the little information the character has at that particular given moment that their reactions are not really stupid. This style in itself allows the viewer of the movie to be much more a part of the movie itself then the characters viewed on the screen. You feel like you have left your seat and are and active part of the movie, like God looking down from above. I very much like this style. I seen one users comments about this film that stated under the comment title "An Indie Classic" and then proceeded to bash everything about the movie. How can a movie be a classic and terrible? This in my opinion is a great film. If I picked my favorite Coen films they would be "The Big Lebowski", "Blood Simple", "Raising Arizona", "The Man Who Wasn't There", & "Fargo" My opinion about the people that don't like this movie is that some people just DON'T GET IT. There are people that don't like movies they have never seen, how does that work? There are movies and music I didn't like the first time around but after giving it a second or even third chance I realized that I not only like it but I love it. This goes for music as well. I seen a review about a very popular rock band (Evanescence) and the person said they sucked and if you wanted real music get Britney Spears or Janet Jackson? I realize we all have different taste but some have no taste at all. Blood Simple is without a doubt a classic movie.
I have been a Coen brothers fan since I seen there first film Blood Simple. For me what really sets the style we have come to experience from the Coen's in such films as this and others like "The Man Who Wasn't There." In these movies we as the viewer are much more in on the story then any of the characters in the movie. We see everything that happens while the characters only see bits and pieces. The characters are reacting in what appears to be foolish or perhaps stupefied fashion to the situation but taken from what they see the choices are logical. Take the boyfriend in Blood Simple, he finds his girlfriends husband dead and her gun on the floor. Knowing she wanted her husband out of her life, putting 2 and 2 together any one in that situation would conclude that she did in fact kill her husband, logical conclusion. The boyfriend reacts accordingly. There are many many situation just like this in Blood Simple where you actually can get irritated and angry at the characters for making very stupid mistakes and assumption, one has to remind themselves of what each character sees and realize that based on the little information the character has at that particular given moment that their reactions are not really stupid. This style in itself allows the viewer of the movie to be much more a part of the movie itself then the characters viewed on the screen. You feel like you have left your seat and are and active part of the movie, like God looking down from above. I very much like this style. I seen one users comments about this film that stated under the comment title "An Indie Classic" and then proceeded to bash everything about the movie. How can a movie be a classic and terrible? This in my opinion is a great film. If I picked my favorite Coen films they would be "The Big Lebowski", "Blood Simple", "Raising Arizona", "The Man Who Wasn't There", & "Fargo" My opinion about the people that don't like this movie is that some people just DON'T GET IT. There are people that don't like movies they have never seen, how does that work? There are movies and music I didn't like the first time around but after giving it a second or even third chance I realized that I not only like it but I love it. This goes for music as well. I seen a review about a very popular rock band (Evanescence) and the person said they sucked and if you wanted real music get Britney Spears or Janet Jackson? I realize we all have different taste but some have no taste at all. Blood Simple is without a doubt a classic movie.
Tape
(2001)
Talk, Talk, Talk (I like talk)
2 March 2004
Warning: Spoilers
Spoilers Ahead.
This movie is obviously a low budget movie. Not low budget that it is cheap. There are no car chase scene's, nothing blows up, no special effects. The movie is simply two and then three people having a conversation in a hotel room. The main character is Vince (Played by Ethan Hawke) who has come to town to see his high school best friend Jon Salter (Played by Robert Sean Leonard) who has a film showcasing in a local theatre. This all takes place ten years after high school so we can assume all these characters are about twenty-eight years old, late twenties in any case. The entire movie takes place in an average typical hotel room where Vince is waiting for his friend Jon to show up. Jon has no intention of having anything but a get together regarding his movie and seeing an old friend. Vince on the other hand has a specific reason for seeing Jon and it isn't the movie he made. Ten years earlier in high school when Vince and Jon were best friends there was an incident that happened. Vince had a girlfriend Amy Randall (Play by Uma Thurman) whom he had gone together with for some time but never had sexual intercourse with. Vince and Amy broke up and some time after that break up Amy had sex with Jon, Vince's best friend. Needless to say Vince was very hurt and felt deceived even though him and Amy had broken up. Amy really had the right to do what ever she pleased and it really wasn't any of Vince's business but given the same circumstances most guys would feel the same as Vince did and still does. Any other guy but your best friend, please. Vince was either told by Amy (Vince claims he was told by Amy) or just highly suspected that Jon had actually forced himself on Amy since he knew first hand that Jon was not a person who took "No" for an answer. Vince really went to confront Jon first hand about what went on ten years earlier with Amy & Jon and to get a confession from Jon about the suspected forced sex or rape. Vince isn't really respected much by Jon because Vince sells drugs for a living and works as a voluntary fireman where he sells drugs to the fire chief and other volunteer fireman. Vince is actually an ethical person, he only sells drugs to consenting adults and has his scruples. Jon still sees him just as a drug pusher and Vince sees Jon as a guy who has pushed and shoved and did what ever it took to further his own career in the movie business. Vince wants to get an admission of rape from Jon and after much prodding and getting Jon high on some pot he does finally succeed in getting this verbal admission from Jon. At this time Vince pulls out the hidden tape recorder and plays back the recorded confession of Jon. Jon doesn't really seem to concerned about it until he finds out Vince has invited Amy to come to town and she will be there shortly. Amy has no more intention of talking about what happened ten years earlier any more then Jon did. Eventually Amy shows up and with the threat of her either hearing it directly from Vince and Vince playing her the taped confession or hearing it from Jon himself and an apology being offered. Once Amy is involved with the whole ordeal she gets somewhat annoyed by the game Vince is playing and after Jon admits what he had done, Amy after some time finally says to Jon what she thinks Vince wants to hear her say. Amy has become a District Attorney and she has gotten to the point where she has had enough games being played that she plays one of her own and this is where the movie ends. I'll let you watch the movie to see what game she plays and how it affects both Vince & Jon. It was kind of a rotten thing to do but then it was somewhat justified after what Vince had done. This type of movie is not for everyone. Like "My Dinner With Andre" there are points where it is slow but if one watches the whole thing before trying to judge the movie then one finds there are redeeming qualities. I liked "My Dinner With Andre" better then "Tape" only because "My Dinner With Andre" had more conversation about everyday life. Both are fine movies and if you like movies about verbal communication you should like both of these movies.
This movie is obviously a low budget movie. Not low budget that it is cheap. There are no car chase scene's, nothing blows up, no special effects. The movie is simply two and then three people having a conversation in a hotel room. The main character is Vince (Played by Ethan Hawke) who has come to town to see his high school best friend Jon Salter (Played by Robert Sean Leonard) who has a film showcasing in a local theatre. This all takes place ten years after high school so we can assume all these characters are about twenty-eight years old, late twenties in any case. The entire movie takes place in an average typical hotel room where Vince is waiting for his friend Jon to show up. Jon has no intention of having anything but a get together regarding his movie and seeing an old friend. Vince on the other hand has a specific reason for seeing Jon and it isn't the movie he made. Ten years earlier in high school when Vince and Jon were best friends there was an incident that happened. Vince had a girlfriend Amy Randall (Play by Uma Thurman) whom he had gone together with for some time but never had sexual intercourse with. Vince and Amy broke up and some time after that break up Amy had sex with Jon, Vince's best friend. Needless to say Vince was very hurt and felt deceived even though him and Amy had broken up. Amy really had the right to do what ever she pleased and it really wasn't any of Vince's business but given the same circumstances most guys would feel the same as Vince did and still does. Any other guy but your best friend, please. Vince was either told by Amy (Vince claims he was told by Amy) or just highly suspected that Jon had actually forced himself on Amy since he knew first hand that Jon was not a person who took "No" for an answer. Vince really went to confront Jon first hand about what went on ten years earlier with Amy & Jon and to get a confession from Jon about the suspected forced sex or rape. Vince isn't really respected much by Jon because Vince sells drugs for a living and works as a voluntary fireman where he sells drugs to the fire chief and other volunteer fireman. Vince is actually an ethical person, he only sells drugs to consenting adults and has his scruples. Jon still sees him just as a drug pusher and Vince sees Jon as a guy who has pushed and shoved and did what ever it took to further his own career in the movie business. Vince wants to get an admission of rape from Jon and after much prodding and getting Jon high on some pot he does finally succeed in getting this verbal admission from Jon. At this time Vince pulls out the hidden tape recorder and plays back the recorded confession of Jon. Jon doesn't really seem to concerned about it until he finds out Vince has invited Amy to come to town and she will be there shortly. Amy has no more intention of talking about what happened ten years earlier any more then Jon did. Eventually Amy shows up and with the threat of her either hearing it directly from Vince and Vince playing her the taped confession or hearing it from Jon himself and an apology being offered. Once Amy is involved with the whole ordeal she gets somewhat annoyed by the game Vince is playing and after Jon admits what he had done, Amy after some time finally says to Jon what she thinks Vince wants to hear her say. Amy has become a District Attorney and she has gotten to the point where she has had enough games being played that she plays one of her own and this is where the movie ends. I'll let you watch the movie to see what game she plays and how it affects both Vince & Jon. It was kind of a rotten thing to do but then it was somewhat justified after what Vince had done. This type of movie is not for everyone. Like "My Dinner With Andre" there are points where it is slow but if one watches the whole thing before trying to judge the movie then one finds there are redeeming qualities. I liked "My Dinner With Andre" better then "Tape" only because "My Dinner With Andre" had more conversation about everyday life. Both are fine movies and if you like movies about verbal communication you should like both of these movies.
You can't pretend to be friends unless you have no feelings!
20 October 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Spoilers ahead:
Jen Robins is the most popular girl at her high school. She's a cheerleader and hangs out with the in-crowd. The trouble with Jen is she is all surface and no substance. Jen is aware of her insecurities and deals with them privately. It is for this reason that her surface personality subconsciously teaches her inner self a beautiful lesson. Jen has a boyfriend and he also sees some of the weaknesses in Jen as well as her other close friends. Jens boyfriend is doing a study in the form of a biology experiment for his biology class which he hopes to prove that taking two mice and isolating one in a cage with no contact or affections, and the other one being played with and loved and nurtured. He hopes to prove that the mouse that has been loved and pampered will out perform the unloved\ignored mouse in all respects. Jen gets the idea to try the experiment on a real person, but who? She's talks her boyfriend and close friends into helping and they reluctantly agree. They all take a vow of silence to keep it a secret, always. This is about the time that "Maude Harris" shows up and is very clumsy. Jen decides then and there that Maude was going to be there experimental subject. Jen cooks up scheme after scheme from making the initial meeting and then working her magic with the other friends she knows that are guys by having them ask Maude out on dates. Jen does a makeover on Maude and builds her self confidence as a young woman and person. The story is not original in the sense that you can figure where the movie is headed. The rising popularity of Maude is great at first for Jen because she feels successful that her plan is working. Jens other friends and acquaintances that aren't part of the secret experiment are a little jealous about Maude and can't figure out why Jen has all of a sudden taken an interest in spending time with Maude. Pretty soon Jens boyfriend finds it very nice to talk to Maude as well as her other friends. Maude is a very down to earth girl with her personality and Jen is a very superficial girl with a facade for a personality. The more these two personalities are two together the more jealous Jen becomes, she's feels like a phony. Her boyfriend and other friends like being with Maude and talking to her because "She is so real" She's not like some kind of a wind-up doll and you guessed it, Jen feels just like a wind-up doll. Jens jealously builds to the point where she tells Maude about the experiment and it breaks Maude's heart. In the end everyone learned a valuable lesson about friendships and we have our happy ending. All in All for a short simply story it leaves you with a nice warm fuzzy feeling. I have seen it several times and each time I get this warm feeling. This kind of show would be good for any age person to see and will leave it's message in your heart long after seeing it.
Jen Robins is the most popular girl at her high school. She's a cheerleader and hangs out with the in-crowd. The trouble with Jen is she is all surface and no substance. Jen is aware of her insecurities and deals with them privately. It is for this reason that her surface personality subconsciously teaches her inner self a beautiful lesson. Jen has a boyfriend and he also sees some of the weaknesses in Jen as well as her other close friends. Jens boyfriend is doing a study in the form of a biology experiment for his biology class which he hopes to prove that taking two mice and isolating one in a cage with no contact or affections, and the other one being played with and loved and nurtured. He hopes to prove that the mouse that has been loved and pampered will out perform the unloved\ignored mouse in all respects. Jen gets the idea to try the experiment on a real person, but who? She's talks her boyfriend and close friends into helping and they reluctantly agree. They all take a vow of silence to keep it a secret, always. This is about the time that "Maude Harris" shows up and is very clumsy. Jen decides then and there that Maude was going to be there experimental subject. Jen cooks up scheme after scheme from making the initial meeting and then working her magic with the other friends she knows that are guys by having them ask Maude out on dates. Jen does a makeover on Maude and builds her self confidence as a young woman and person. The story is not original in the sense that you can figure where the movie is headed. The rising popularity of Maude is great at first for Jen because she feels successful that her plan is working. Jens other friends and acquaintances that aren't part of the secret experiment are a little jealous about Maude and can't figure out why Jen has all of a sudden taken an interest in spending time with Maude. Pretty soon Jens boyfriend finds it very nice to talk to Maude as well as her other friends. Maude is a very down to earth girl with her personality and Jen is a very superficial girl with a facade for a personality. The more these two personalities are two together the more jealous Jen becomes, she's feels like a phony. Her boyfriend and other friends like being with Maude and talking to her because "She is so real" She's not like some kind of a wind-up doll and you guessed it, Jen feels just like a wind-up doll. Jens jealously builds to the point where she tells Maude about the experiment and it breaks Maude's heart. In the end everyone learned a valuable lesson about friendships and we have our happy ending. All in All for a short simply story it leaves you with a nice warm fuzzy feeling. I have seen it several times and each time I get this warm feeling. This kind of show would be good for any age person to see and will leave it's message in your heart long after seeing it.
But I'm a Cheerleader
(1999)
Great Satire, destined to be a cult classic!
22 September 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Spoilers Ahead!!!
This is one of those stories that could be summed up as "I had to go to AA meetings to become an alcoholic" I had seen "Sugar & Spice" and "Bring It On" and enjoyed both of them. With "But I'm a Cheerleader" and "Sugar & Spice" intended as movies that are fun yet actually both contain controversial material such as robbing a bank, teenage pregnancy, homosexuality and more. The way these subjects are handled is very thought out. It is presented in a surreal atmosphere where we know we are not to take it serious yet doesn't make it look like pure slapstick comedy. It's always portrayed in a way that doesn't make the characters look real smart but doesn't make them look like idiots either, more like average people.
The main character "Megan Bloomton" (Natasha Lyonne) is a typical high school girl on the cheerleader squad. She has a boyfriend but it's apparent that a sexual attraction for him would be almost impossible for her. During their makeout sessions Megan is fantasizing about the girls on the Cheerleader Squad which is more understood when you see him kiss. The boyfriend feels rejected because Megan doesn't like to kiss him and the girls on the Cheerleader Squad feel Megan has been a little to close with them physically by brushing against them and touching them more often then needed, but what the hey! We have "AA" and "Drug Rehab" etc., so lets send Megan to "Homosexual Rehab" Megan is confronted with an intervention after school one day with her family and friends as well as "Mike" (RuPaul Charles) from "True Directions" the rehab representative. So off to rehab Megan goes for about 2 months. Megan's first day at rehab she meets the folks at the rehab house that have already taken the first step in the program "Admitting they're a homosexual" Megan is reluctant to admit she has homosexual tendencies but after a short confrontation in front of the group she breaks down, cries and admits "I'm a Homo" which is a classic scene in itself. It's nice to see "Bud Cort" who plays Peter Bloomton (Megan's father). After Bud Cort got injured\scarred in a car accident many years ago he kind of disappeared for a long while.
Megan meets "Graham Eaton" (Clea DuVall) who likes girls "A Lot" and really has no desire to change who she it but wants to appease her parents for her trust fund, her parents are blackmailing her over it. "Hilary Vandermuller" (Melanie Lynskey) who initially shows Megan around the rehab center is still much attracted to women. One night Graham decides to sneak out and go to the local gay bar (The Cocksucker) and has several others going with her, Megan is talked into going with them at the last minute. At the gay bar while Graham is dancing with another girl and starts getting intimate with her is when Megan realizes she is attracted to Graham.
The whole setting of the Rehab center revolves on very traditional sexual roles such as the mans role in fixing the car, chopping wood and making the proper male crotch adjustments. Of course the women's roles in taking care of the baby, vacuuming the house and cooking. The use of Blue and Pink are used to separate the genders and role playing is part of the course.
In the end Megan & Graham find out who they are and come to terms with just being who they are regardless of the consequences, although Megan's father at the end gets help to come to terms of his daughter being homosexual.
There is not one single part of the movie that is supposed to be taken seriously and like "Sugar & Spice" it is just a movie for the fun of it. I really enjoyed this movie and also liked many of the songs.
The music in this movie was very upbeat and emotional at times. It's too bad there was no soundtrack released, I had to spend a pretty penny to get Chick Habit..April March, Trailer Song..Sissy Bar, If You Should Try To Kiss Her..Dressy Bessy, Ray of Sunshine..Go Sailor, Together Forever In Love..Go Sailor, Glass Vase, Cello Case..Tattle Tale and then had to compile them on one CD so I could easily hear them in one sitting without using 5 CD's, what a pain.
I think this is a very good movie and I enjoyed the music. Again, some movies you need to go out to your front porch and set your brain out there and come back for it after you have watched the movie. This is one of those movies that are for entertainment value only. If you're the kind of person that feels you need to have redeeming qualities or some philosophical meaning or walk away somehow as a better person from the experience and can't check your brain at the door then this movie will not be for you. For us folks who still have that kid inside us that doesn't need constant reasoning, this movie will be fun. Besides, it can be nice to give the brain a rest once in awhile.
This is one of those stories that could be summed up as "I had to go to AA meetings to become an alcoholic" I had seen "Sugar & Spice" and "Bring It On" and enjoyed both of them. With "But I'm a Cheerleader" and "Sugar & Spice" intended as movies that are fun yet actually both contain controversial material such as robbing a bank, teenage pregnancy, homosexuality and more. The way these subjects are handled is very thought out. It is presented in a surreal atmosphere where we know we are not to take it serious yet doesn't make it look like pure slapstick comedy. It's always portrayed in a way that doesn't make the characters look real smart but doesn't make them look like idiots either, more like average people.
The main character "Megan Bloomton" (Natasha Lyonne) is a typical high school girl on the cheerleader squad. She has a boyfriend but it's apparent that a sexual attraction for him would be almost impossible for her. During their makeout sessions Megan is fantasizing about the girls on the Cheerleader Squad which is more understood when you see him kiss. The boyfriend feels rejected because Megan doesn't like to kiss him and the girls on the Cheerleader Squad feel Megan has been a little to close with them physically by brushing against them and touching them more often then needed, but what the hey! We have "AA" and "Drug Rehab" etc., so lets send Megan to "Homosexual Rehab" Megan is confronted with an intervention after school one day with her family and friends as well as "Mike" (RuPaul Charles) from "True Directions" the rehab representative. So off to rehab Megan goes for about 2 months. Megan's first day at rehab she meets the folks at the rehab house that have already taken the first step in the program "Admitting they're a homosexual" Megan is reluctant to admit she has homosexual tendencies but after a short confrontation in front of the group she breaks down, cries and admits "I'm a Homo" which is a classic scene in itself. It's nice to see "Bud Cort" who plays Peter Bloomton (Megan's father). After Bud Cort got injured\scarred in a car accident many years ago he kind of disappeared for a long while.
Megan meets "Graham Eaton" (Clea DuVall) who likes girls "A Lot" and really has no desire to change who she it but wants to appease her parents for her trust fund, her parents are blackmailing her over it. "Hilary Vandermuller" (Melanie Lynskey) who initially shows Megan around the rehab center is still much attracted to women. One night Graham decides to sneak out and go to the local gay bar (The Cocksucker) and has several others going with her, Megan is talked into going with them at the last minute. At the gay bar while Graham is dancing with another girl and starts getting intimate with her is when Megan realizes she is attracted to Graham.
The whole setting of the Rehab center revolves on very traditional sexual roles such as the mans role in fixing the car, chopping wood and making the proper male crotch adjustments. Of course the women's roles in taking care of the baby, vacuuming the house and cooking. The use of Blue and Pink are used to separate the genders and role playing is part of the course.
In the end Megan & Graham find out who they are and come to terms with just being who they are regardless of the consequences, although Megan's father at the end gets help to come to terms of his daughter being homosexual.
There is not one single part of the movie that is supposed to be taken seriously and like "Sugar & Spice" it is just a movie for the fun of it. I really enjoyed this movie and also liked many of the songs.
The music in this movie was very upbeat and emotional at times. It's too bad there was no soundtrack released, I had to spend a pretty penny to get Chick Habit..April March, Trailer Song..Sissy Bar, If You Should Try To Kiss Her..Dressy Bessy, Ray of Sunshine..Go Sailor, Together Forever In Love..Go Sailor, Glass Vase, Cello Case..Tattle Tale and then had to compile them on one CD so I could easily hear them in one sitting without using 5 CD's, what a pain.
I think this is a very good movie and I enjoyed the music. Again, some movies you need to go out to your front porch and set your brain out there and come back for it after you have watched the movie. This is one of those movies that are for entertainment value only. If you're the kind of person that feels you need to have redeeming qualities or some philosophical meaning or walk away somehow as a better person from the experience and can't check your brain at the door then this movie will not be for you. For us folks who still have that kid inside us that doesn't need constant reasoning, this movie will be fun. Besides, it can be nice to give the brain a rest once in awhile.
Sugar & Spice
(2001)
A movie just for the fun of it!
21 April 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Spoilers Ahead:
I have seen this movie a few times and the play off of movies like "Heat", "Dog Day Afternoon", "Reservoir Dogs" & "Point Break" was sheer brilliance. The characters were fun as well as the entire movie. I feel the soundtrack was fun as well with some cool rock & roll tunes. I bought both the movie on DVD and the soundtrack on CD and would recommend this movie to anyone who has not aborted their sense of humor and can just leave the critical part of the brain at the doorstep and just watch a movie for the fun of it. We can all pick things to pieces with critical thinking but this is not that kind of movie. Very few movies involving teenagers and adults can put a story together that tries not to be condescending or serious for either generation and that's what makes this unique satire such a hidden gem. If you haven't seen this movie but like movies that are fun just for the sake of being fun then this movie is for you!
About the movie: The entire movie is told in retrospect by a second string (B Squad) cheerleader named Lisa (Marla Sokoloff). The movie starts with Lisa at the police station looking at a lineup of suspected Bank robbers she witnessed. The bank robbers are the "A" Cheerleader Squad Team. The captain of the "A" Team is Diane Weston (Marley Shelton) whom upon meeting a new boy Jack Bartlett (James Marsden) the new football quarterback, gets an instant crush on him and then is asked to the Prom dance by him. They fall in love and she gets pregnant. After being rejected by their parents they find a dump of an apartment and make the best of it. While the "A" team is at Diane's watching Point Break it occurs to Diane how she can get the money she needs for her family-to-be. MONEY, money can give you what you want? They can rob a bank? After a few moments they go hands in on the deal and make a pact with each other. Each watch a movie like "Reservoir Dogs" and "Dog Day Afternoon" and "Heat" as well as "The Apple Dumpling Gang" by one of the girls who's from a Christian home who can only watch G movies. They make a practice run by stealing the schools lunch money and build a little self-confidence. The bank robbery looks like a combination of all the movies they had watched. If you want to see how it ends then you just have to watch it. If you like looking at pretty girls then this is a pleasing movie for this as well. When the movie was made the girls actual ages ranged from Mena Suvari being the youngest at age 21 and Marley Shelton being the oldest at age 26, The girls all pull off playing teenage girls quite convincingly and appear to have all had fun making this movie and working with each other. If I had any gripe at all it would be that the soundtrack for this movie did not include several songs heard in the movie and the soundtrack is only 36.5 minutes so it's not like there wasn't room on the CD. Anyway, watch the movie and have fun.
I have seen this movie a few times and the play off of movies like "Heat", "Dog Day Afternoon", "Reservoir Dogs" & "Point Break" was sheer brilliance. The characters were fun as well as the entire movie. I feel the soundtrack was fun as well with some cool rock & roll tunes. I bought both the movie on DVD and the soundtrack on CD and would recommend this movie to anyone who has not aborted their sense of humor and can just leave the critical part of the brain at the doorstep and just watch a movie for the fun of it. We can all pick things to pieces with critical thinking but this is not that kind of movie. Very few movies involving teenagers and adults can put a story together that tries not to be condescending or serious for either generation and that's what makes this unique satire such a hidden gem. If you haven't seen this movie but like movies that are fun just for the sake of being fun then this movie is for you!
About the movie: The entire movie is told in retrospect by a second string (B Squad) cheerleader named Lisa (Marla Sokoloff). The movie starts with Lisa at the police station looking at a lineup of suspected Bank robbers she witnessed. The bank robbers are the "A" Cheerleader Squad Team. The captain of the "A" Team is Diane Weston (Marley Shelton) whom upon meeting a new boy Jack Bartlett (James Marsden) the new football quarterback, gets an instant crush on him and then is asked to the Prom dance by him. They fall in love and she gets pregnant. After being rejected by their parents they find a dump of an apartment and make the best of it. While the "A" team is at Diane's watching Point Break it occurs to Diane how she can get the money she needs for her family-to-be. MONEY, money can give you what you want? They can rob a bank? After a few moments they go hands in on the deal and make a pact with each other. Each watch a movie like "Reservoir Dogs" and "Dog Day Afternoon" and "Heat" as well as "The Apple Dumpling Gang" by one of the girls who's from a Christian home who can only watch G movies. They make a practice run by stealing the schools lunch money and build a little self-confidence. The bank robbery looks like a combination of all the movies they had watched. If you want to see how it ends then you just have to watch it. If you like looking at pretty girls then this is a pleasing movie for this as well. When the movie was made the girls actual ages ranged from Mena Suvari being the youngest at age 21 and Marley Shelton being the oldest at age 26, The girls all pull off playing teenage girls quite convincingly and appear to have all had fun making this movie and working with each other. If I had any gripe at all it would be that the soundtrack for this movie did not include several songs heard in the movie and the soundtrack is only 36.5 minutes so it's not like there wasn't room on the CD. Anyway, watch the movie and have fun.
The Enchanted Cottage
(1945)
Proving once again that it's inner beauty that counts.
20 January 2002
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILERS AHEAD ---- SPOILERS AHEAD Do not read this unless you have seen the movie or do not mind knowing in detail what this movie is about.
This movie takes place over an 18 month period but the entire story of the cottage dates back to the mid 1700's. Oliver (Robert Young) and his fiancee make plans to stay at the Cottage after they marry. Oliver is called to war and the wedding is postponed. Oliver gets injured in the war and comes home. His injuries are a badly scarred face including the cheek, eye and mouth. He has also lost the use of the arm on the same side of his body as the facial injuries. He returns to the Cottage after being released from the armed services and has already seen his fiancee and because of her reaction is hiding out at the cottage. Oliver's fiancee and his parents try briefly to convince him to come back home to no avail. Laura (Dorothy McGuire) is working as a maid at the cottage and feels sorry for herself and unattractive and out-casted as does Oliver. Over the next 3 or 4 months they have bonded and marry more out of need then love. The cottage doused it's magic dust over them and on their wedding night they see each other in a different light. They are both interesting and beautiful. Is it really the cottage or is it true love?
Time Line of the Cottage
1750-1790 English nobleman built the estate on a New England State coast beach--During this time most of the estate burned except one wing which was refurbished and the son of the English Nobleman lived in the cottage with his new wife for several years and then it was used for newlyweds which the son of the English nobleman appears to have been the first. The English Nobleman continued the tradition after the son moved out of the cottage. It is stated that the Son and his new bride were the first to live in the cottage. We are made to understand the main estate had burned before the cottage was ever used as a newlywed home and was remodeled which means it might have encountered minor repairable damage or clean-up from the fire but we can conclude that the fire happened prior to 1790 when we see that newlyweds had been living in the cottage.
1790 We see signitures of newlyweds as early as 1790 on the glass window. (Judith & Richard 1790)
The cottage burned down at least a hundred plus years before Abilgail or her husband were even born. Abilgail didn't lose any property to fire, the English Lord that built the estate lost it to fire. Abilgail received it as it was when it was given to her husband as their wedding present.
1915-1917 Approx. when Abigail and her new husband move into the cottage which was a wedding gift to the husband.
April 6 1917 Abigail's husband leaves to go to World War I and gets killed, Abigail stopped the calendar the day her husband went to war. (The calendar reads April 6, 1917)
December 07, 1941 (Sunday) Laura moves into the cottage, this is the same day Oliver & his fiancee come to make payment and planed on getting married on Tuesday Dec 9, 1941 and returning to the cottage that same Tuesday. Abilgail Minnit has lived alone for at least 24 years, 8 months, and one day until Laura moves in.
December 07, 1941 (Sunday) Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor and Oliver is called to active duty immediately. His fiancee notifies Mrs. Minnit by tele-gram that the cottage will not be needed and sends compensation for the inconvenience Approx. Jan-Feb 1943 Mrs. Minnit receives a tele-gram that Mr. Bradford (Oliver) will be there that same day and Laura states that it is amazing he even remembered the cottage, that it had been over a year since he and his fiancee had been there. June 06, 1943 Oliver and Laura get married, Mrs. Minnit sets the calendar the day of the wedding. Laura had already lived in the cottage for 1 1/2 years and Oliver for about 5 to 6 months.
This movie takes place over an 18 month period but the entire story of the cottage dates back to the mid 1700's. Oliver (Robert Young) and his fiancee make plans to stay at the Cottage after they marry. Oliver is called to war and the wedding is postponed. Oliver gets injured in the war and comes home. His injuries are a badly scarred face including the cheek, eye and mouth. He has also lost the use of the arm on the same side of his body as the facial injuries. He returns to the Cottage after being released from the armed services and has already seen his fiancee and because of her reaction is hiding out at the cottage. Oliver's fiancee and his parents try briefly to convince him to come back home to no avail. Laura (Dorothy McGuire) is working as a maid at the cottage and feels sorry for herself and unattractive and out-casted as does Oliver. Over the next 3 or 4 months they have bonded and marry more out of need then love. The cottage doused it's magic dust over them and on their wedding night they see each other in a different light. They are both interesting and beautiful. Is it really the cottage or is it true love?
Time Line of the Cottage
1750-1790 English nobleman built the estate on a New England State coast beach--During this time most of the estate burned except one wing which was refurbished and the son of the English Nobleman lived in the cottage with his new wife for several years and then it was used for newlyweds which the son of the English nobleman appears to have been the first. The English Nobleman continued the tradition after the son moved out of the cottage. It is stated that the Son and his new bride were the first to live in the cottage. We are made to understand the main estate had burned before the cottage was ever used as a newlywed home and was remodeled which means it might have encountered minor repairable damage or clean-up from the fire but we can conclude that the fire happened prior to 1790 when we see that newlyweds had been living in the cottage.
1790 We see signitures of newlyweds as early as 1790 on the glass window. (Judith & Richard 1790)
The cottage burned down at least a hundred plus years before Abilgail or her husband were even born. Abilgail didn't lose any property to fire, the English Lord that built the estate lost it to fire. Abilgail received it as it was when it was given to her husband as their wedding present.
1915-1917 Approx. when Abigail and her new husband move into the cottage which was a wedding gift to the husband.
April 6 1917 Abigail's husband leaves to go to World War I and gets killed, Abigail stopped the calendar the day her husband went to war. (The calendar reads April 6, 1917)
December 07, 1941 (Sunday) Laura moves into the cottage, this is the same day Oliver & his fiancee come to make payment and planed on getting married on Tuesday Dec 9, 1941 and returning to the cottage that same Tuesday. Abilgail Minnit has lived alone for at least 24 years, 8 months, and one day until Laura moves in.
December 07, 1941 (Sunday) Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor and Oliver is called to active duty immediately. His fiancee notifies Mrs. Minnit by tele-gram that the cottage will not be needed and sends compensation for the inconvenience Approx. Jan-Feb 1943 Mrs. Minnit receives a tele-gram that Mr. Bradford (Oliver) will be there that same day and Laura states that it is amazing he even remembered the cottage, that it had been over a year since he and his fiancee had been there. June 06, 1943 Oliver and Laura get married, Mrs. Minnit sets the calendar the day of the wedding. Laura had already lived in the cottage for 1 1/2 years and Oliver for about 5 to 6 months.
Buster and Billie
(1974)
A very touching bittersweet love story.
2 July 2000
(Story takes place in Georgia 1948) Very touching bittersweet love story. If you have not seen this movie then don't read this review and comments, instead go get a copy. Beg, barrow or steal it and watch it as I wouldn't want to spoil it for you.
I recommend seeing this movie in one sitting because it is a movie that slowly builds your feelings for the characters which will impact you more at the end of the movie.
Buster Lane (Jan-Michael Vincent) is a typical country boy with maybe a little more scruples then the average southern country poke. Buster is engaged to be married to Margie (Pamela Sue Martin) in the upcoming June and he has been playing touchy feely with her but she wants to wait until they're married to have intercourse. Buster's main friend is Whitey (Robert Englund--"Freddy Krueger") and they hangout and drink beers together and take a trip to the ocean and we get an idea where Buster's friends minds and morals are at and this suffices as the story comes to a close later in the movie. I little more about these friends in the next paragraph.
In the meantime Billie (Joan Goodfellow) who is a very very shy country girl from a very poor family has been having sex with several of Buster's friends in a way of getting some attention. You are never made to feel anything but compassion for Billie, you never think of her as a slut. Her performance radiates innocents and loneliness and sadness and then joy and happiness later in the movie, you can feel all her feelings as the movie progresses.
When Buster can't holdout any longer for sex with Margie his attentions turn to Billie and are not honorable at first. He finds her to be very very innocent and sees the beauty in her and finds himself falling in love but is not sure of his feelings reflecting his own youth and lack of experience to this new feeling called love.
Before Buster even realized what his feelings are he acts on his basic instinct and feelings and breaks off his relationship with Margie and is seeing Billie exclusively. You feel their new found love and see it as a rosebud just beginning to form. Billie is taken to her first movie with Buster to see a Tarzan movie, and you can see her elated joy at this new experience. When Billie and Buster go swimming Buster looks over at her to see if she is taking off all her clothes before he strips to the bare-ass as if to not offend her. It's little moments like this throughout the movie that all add up. The getting up in the middle of the night and waiting for the sun to show itself at the horizon and they jump up and down and then hold each other in a very very loving manner is touching as well. There are exchanges of gifts to one another and they both realize they love one another. Billie is taken to a dance with Buster and you again feel her joy. Billie is lit up like a Christmas tree by this time and you can actually feel her and his joy and happiness. but especially hers.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, the boys that were getting laid by Billie before her self-esteem got elevated by her new love comes for some more poontang. Of course Billie resist and fights back but is beaten, raped and killed by these boys.
Buster finds her body shortly after the killing and ends up killing two of the boys who had the evidence literally written on their faces. Buster is released from jail just after Billie's funeral and she was buried with only Buster's parents and the preacher being present, her parents weren't even there. The movie closes with the opening song and you get a big lump in your throat in the closing scene at the cemetery with Buster at Billie's graveside.
I have seen reviews that see this movie as a sweet movie that turns into a sadistic mean spirited movie and was rated as a poor to fair movie because of it. I do not subscribe to this view. We live in a world where ugly things happen every day. We can be sure of two things, it was inevitable that these boys were going to come back for more poontang and that she would refuse them. I'm not sure how else this outcome might be played out. I suppose she could have been assaulted and then just told Buster about it and he could deal with it in a nonviolent manner. We all like happy endings and I love a good Cinderella story as much as anyone. American Beauty is a great movie and didn't end on a very happy note for the main character either, but these same reviewers don't knock that, go figure?
Bottom line is this is one of my favorite movies. I seen it at a drive-in movie theater as the second feature back in 1974 when it was released and just bought a copy last month from an e-bay seller. It was sweeter then I remembered from 26 years ago. Joan Goodfellow doesn't seem to have done any visible acting since 1984. She gives one very sweet performance in this movie. I give Joans performance an 11 and the movie a 10. This movie will always have a soft spot in my heart.
I recommend seeing this movie in one sitting because it is a movie that slowly builds your feelings for the characters which will impact you more at the end of the movie.
Buster Lane (Jan-Michael Vincent) is a typical country boy with maybe a little more scruples then the average southern country poke. Buster is engaged to be married to Margie (Pamela Sue Martin) in the upcoming June and he has been playing touchy feely with her but she wants to wait until they're married to have intercourse. Buster's main friend is Whitey (Robert Englund--"Freddy Krueger") and they hangout and drink beers together and take a trip to the ocean and we get an idea where Buster's friends minds and morals are at and this suffices as the story comes to a close later in the movie. I little more about these friends in the next paragraph.
In the meantime Billie (Joan Goodfellow) who is a very very shy country girl from a very poor family has been having sex with several of Buster's friends in a way of getting some attention. You are never made to feel anything but compassion for Billie, you never think of her as a slut. Her performance radiates innocents and loneliness and sadness and then joy and happiness later in the movie, you can feel all her feelings as the movie progresses.
When Buster can't holdout any longer for sex with Margie his attentions turn to Billie and are not honorable at first. He finds her to be very very innocent and sees the beauty in her and finds himself falling in love but is not sure of his feelings reflecting his own youth and lack of experience to this new feeling called love.
Before Buster even realized what his feelings are he acts on his basic instinct and feelings and breaks off his relationship with Margie and is seeing Billie exclusively. You feel their new found love and see it as a rosebud just beginning to form. Billie is taken to her first movie with Buster to see a Tarzan movie, and you can see her elated joy at this new experience. When Billie and Buster go swimming Buster looks over at her to see if she is taking off all her clothes before he strips to the bare-ass as if to not offend her. It's little moments like this throughout the movie that all add up. The getting up in the middle of the night and waiting for the sun to show itself at the horizon and they jump up and down and then hold each other in a very very loving manner is touching as well. There are exchanges of gifts to one another and they both realize they love one another. Billie is taken to a dance with Buster and you again feel her joy. Billie is lit up like a Christmas tree by this time and you can actually feel her and his joy and happiness. but especially hers.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, the boys that were getting laid by Billie before her self-esteem got elevated by her new love comes for some more poontang. Of course Billie resist and fights back but is beaten, raped and killed by these boys.
Buster finds her body shortly after the killing and ends up killing two of the boys who had the evidence literally written on their faces. Buster is released from jail just after Billie's funeral and she was buried with only Buster's parents and the preacher being present, her parents weren't even there. The movie closes with the opening song and you get a big lump in your throat in the closing scene at the cemetery with Buster at Billie's graveside.
I have seen reviews that see this movie as a sweet movie that turns into a sadistic mean spirited movie and was rated as a poor to fair movie because of it. I do not subscribe to this view. We live in a world where ugly things happen every day. We can be sure of two things, it was inevitable that these boys were going to come back for more poontang and that she would refuse them. I'm not sure how else this outcome might be played out. I suppose she could have been assaulted and then just told Buster about it and he could deal with it in a nonviolent manner. We all like happy endings and I love a good Cinderella story as much as anyone. American Beauty is a great movie and didn't end on a very happy note for the main character either, but these same reviewers don't knock that, go figure?
Bottom line is this is one of my favorite movies. I seen it at a drive-in movie theater as the second feature back in 1974 when it was released and just bought a copy last month from an e-bay seller. It was sweeter then I remembered from 26 years ago. Joan Goodfellow doesn't seem to have done any visible acting since 1984. She gives one very sweet performance in this movie. I give Joans performance an 11 and the movie a 10. This movie will always have a soft spot in my heart.
Buster and Billie
(1974)
A very beautiful but bittersweet love story
29 June 2000
(Story takes place in Georgia 1948) Very touching bittersweet love story. If you have not seen this movie then don't read this review and comments, instead go get a copy. Beg, barrow or steal it and watch it as I wouldn't want to spoil it for you.
I recommend seeing this movie in one sitting because it is a movie that slowly builds your feelings for the characters which will impact you more at the end of the movie.
Buster Lane (Jan-Michael Vincent) is a typical country boy with maybe a little more scruples then the average southern country poke. Buster is engaged to be married to Margie (Pamela Sue Martin) in the upcoming June and he has been playing touchy feely with her but she wants to wait until they're married to have intercourse. Buster's main friend is Whitey (Robert Englund--"Freddy Krueger") and they hangout and drink beers together and take a trip to the ocean and we get an idea where Buster's friends minds and morals are at and this suffices as the story comes to a close later in the movie. I little more about these friends in the next paragraph.
In the meantime Billie (Joan Goodfellow) who is a very very shy country girl from a very poor family has been having sex with several of Buster's friends in a way of getting some attention. You are never made to feel anything but compassion for Billie, you never think of her as a slut. Her performance radiates innocents and loneliness and sadness and then joy and happiness later in the movie, you can feel all her feelings as the movie progresses.
When Buster can't holdout any longer for sex with Margie his attentions turn to Billie and are not honorable at first. He finds her to be very very innocent and sees the beauty in her and finds himself falling in love but is not sure of his feelings reflecting his own youth and lack of experience to this new feeling called love.
Before Buster even realized what his feelings are he acts on his basic instinct and feelings and breaks off his relationship with Margie and is seeing Billie exclusively. You feel their new found love and see it as a rosebud just beginning to form. Billie is taken to her first movie with Buster to see a Tarzan movie, and you can see her elated joy at this new experience. When Billie and Buster go swimming Buster looks over at her to see if she is taking off all her clothes before he strips to the bare-ass as if to not offend her. It's little moments like this throughout the movie that all add up. The getting up in the middle of the night and waiting for the sun to show itself at the horizon and they jump up and down and then hold each other in a very very loving manner is touching as well. There are exchanges of gifts to one another and they both realize they love one another. Billie is taken to a dance with Buster and you again feel her joy. Billie is lit up like a Christmas tree by this time and you can actually feel her and his joy and happiness. but especially hers.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, the boys that were getting laid by Billie before her self-esteem got elevated by her new love comes for some more poontang. Of course Billie resist and fights back but is beaten, raped and killed by these boys.
Buster finds her body shortly after the killing and ends up killing two of the boys who had the evidence literally written on their faces. Buster is released from jail just after Billie's funeral and she was buried with only Buster's parents and the preacher being present, her parents weren't even there. The movie closes with the opening song and you get a big lump in your throat in the closing scene at the cemetery with Buster at Billie's graveside.
I have seen reviews that see this movie as a sweet movie that turns into a sadistic mean spirited movie and was rated as a poor to fair movie because of it. I do not subscribe to this view. We live in a world where ugly things happen every day. We can be sure of two things, it was inevitable that these boys were going to come back for more poontang and that she would refuse them. I'm not sure how else this outcome might be played out. I suppose she could have been assaulted and then just told Buster about it and he could deal with it in a nonviolent manner. We all like happy endings and I love a good Cinderella story as much as anyone. American Beauty is a great movie and didn't end on a very happy note for the main character either, but these same reviewers don't knock that, go figure?
Bottom line is this is one of my favorite movies. I seen it at a drive-in movie theater as the second feature back in 1974 when it was released and just bought a copy last month from an e-bay seller. It was sweeter then I remembered from 26 years ago. Joan Goodfellow doesn't seem to have done any visible acting since 1984. She gives one very sweet performance in this movie. I give Joans performance an 11 and the movie a 10. This movie will always have a soft spot in my heart.
I recommend seeing this movie in one sitting because it is a movie that slowly builds your feelings for the characters which will impact you more at the end of the movie.
Buster Lane (Jan-Michael Vincent) is a typical country boy with maybe a little more scruples then the average southern country poke. Buster is engaged to be married to Margie (Pamela Sue Martin) in the upcoming June and he has been playing touchy feely with her but she wants to wait until they're married to have intercourse. Buster's main friend is Whitey (Robert Englund--"Freddy Krueger") and they hangout and drink beers together and take a trip to the ocean and we get an idea where Buster's friends minds and morals are at and this suffices as the story comes to a close later in the movie. I little more about these friends in the next paragraph.
In the meantime Billie (Joan Goodfellow) who is a very very shy country girl from a very poor family has been having sex with several of Buster's friends in a way of getting some attention. You are never made to feel anything but compassion for Billie, you never think of her as a slut. Her performance radiates innocents and loneliness and sadness and then joy and happiness later in the movie, you can feel all her feelings as the movie progresses.
When Buster can't holdout any longer for sex with Margie his attentions turn to Billie and are not honorable at first. He finds her to be very very innocent and sees the beauty in her and finds himself falling in love but is not sure of his feelings reflecting his own youth and lack of experience to this new feeling called love.
Before Buster even realized what his feelings are he acts on his basic instinct and feelings and breaks off his relationship with Margie and is seeing Billie exclusively. You feel their new found love and see it as a rosebud just beginning to form. Billie is taken to her first movie with Buster to see a Tarzan movie, and you can see her elated joy at this new experience. When Billie and Buster go swimming Buster looks over at her to see if she is taking off all her clothes before he strips to the bare-ass as if to not offend her. It's little moments like this throughout the movie that all add up. The getting up in the middle of the night and waiting for the sun to show itself at the horizon and they jump up and down and then hold each other in a very very loving manner is touching as well. There are exchanges of gifts to one another and they both realize they love one another. Billie is taken to a dance with Buster and you again feel her joy. Billie is lit up like a Christmas tree by this time and you can actually feel her and his joy and happiness. but especially hers.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, the boys that were getting laid by Billie before her self-esteem got elevated by her new love comes for some more poontang. Of course Billie resist and fights back but is beaten, raped and killed by these boys.
Buster finds her body shortly after the killing and ends up killing two of the boys who had the evidence literally written on their faces. Buster is released from jail just after Billie's funeral and she was buried with only Buster's parents and the preacher being present, her parents weren't even there. The movie closes with the opening song and you get a big lump in your throat in the closing scene at the cemetery with Buster at Billie's graveside.
I have seen reviews that see this movie as a sweet movie that turns into a sadistic mean spirited movie and was rated as a poor to fair movie because of it. I do not subscribe to this view. We live in a world where ugly things happen every day. We can be sure of two things, it was inevitable that these boys were going to come back for more poontang and that she would refuse them. I'm not sure how else this outcome might be played out. I suppose she could have been assaulted and then just told Buster about it and he could deal with it in a nonviolent manner. We all like happy endings and I love a good Cinderella story as much as anyone. American Beauty is a great movie and didn't end on a very happy note for the main character either, but these same reviewers don't knock that, go figure?
Bottom line is this is one of my favorite movies. I seen it at a drive-in movie theater as the second feature back in 1974 when it was released and just bought a copy last month from an e-bay seller. It was sweeter then I remembered from 26 years ago. Joan Goodfellow doesn't seem to have done any visible acting since 1984. She gives one very sweet performance in this movie. I give Joans performance an 11 and the movie a 10. This movie will always have a soft spot in my heart.
Johnny Guitar
(1954)
It's a western, just not in the conventional sense.
22 April 2000
Funny thing about Johnny Guitar, I've heard this said in some reviews that the actual character of Johnny Guitar is a small part of this movie. I've seen this movie many times and the character of Johnny Guitar is pretty much there from the opening scene to the closing. I think the character of Emma Small (Mercedes McCambridge) is the most intriguing. She is so incredibly jealous that she would rather see The Dancin' Kid, (Scott Brady) the man she loves and the woman he loves Vienna (Joan Crawford) dead before she can face another day of it. Look at Emma's face after she runs out of Vienna's Saloon after shooting down the chandelier and the saloon is on fire, she looks like a mad dog. We're told that Emma has five years of hatred in her and it is anything but hidden. Vienna has had a relationship with The Dancin' Kid but she made it clear that there is another man. Vienna is in love with Johnny Guitar (Sterling Hayden) whom she has not seen in five years but misses and loves him even though she has gotten very bitter about men, but with good reason. Vienna sends for Johnny Guitar because she misses him and she sees the hatred that has reached it's pinnacle with Emma and fears for her safety. In addition to Vienna being in love with Johnny, he will serve as a bodyguard because he is a professional gunmen known as Johnny Logan. Emma has a death wish for Vienna out of pure jealousy and has gotten the townsmen to believe that The Dancin' Kid and Vienna are criminals for crimes they didn't commit and seeks the only solution she has, hang em'. Vienna has big plans on the railroad coming though this town from a reliable source and plans on getting in early and capitalizing in the business market and has already established the saloon called Vienna's. It would appear she is very intelligent in this area and is in fact a very head strong woman who is a hardworking and honest person. I think this is one of the best movies ever made, it's basically a story of total gender reversal. I recently got a copy of this movie because I hadn't seen it in about 30 years, it was even better then I remembered. I gave this movie a 10 as it is a one of a kind and was overlooked by Americans in 1954 because they just didn't know what to make of it, had Americans seen this in a present day setting (Mid 1950's) and not a western setting they would have seen this movie simply for what it is and it would have been haled a CLASSIC from the get go. Some movies are just ahead of their time and this one falls into that category. It's amazing that in the year 2000 we can see this western style movie for what it is easier then they could have 45 years ago. It shows that Americans have become more open to new ideas and are willing to accept things at face value and not try to rationalize them. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.
Manhunter
(1986)
Very intelligent script, great camera work, equal to "Silence of the Lambs."
14 March 2000
Very intelligent script, great camera work, equal to "Silence of the Lambs." Unfortunately this movie was a sleeper and most people missed out. If you have seen and enjoyed "Silence of the Lambs" then you should find this as fascinating to watch. This is the prequel to "Silence of the Lambs" and will give you insight into the man who put Hannibal Lekter (Also spelled Lecter) in jail and how the brilliance of Will Graham (Played by William L. Peterson) was capable of capturing Lekter. The brilliance of Will Graham is believable, hence only a very intelligent detective and script played in this fashion could pull this off. Note, Hannibal Lekter was originally played by Brian Cox III. This a great movie, don't miss it!
This film was made five years prior to "Silence of the Lambs" in 1986 and when I seen it the first time I knew it was a classic. Our villain this time was "The Tooth Fairy" who at monthly full moons liked to kill entire families, Will Graham is called out of retirement to assist in the case. He visits Hannibal Lekter to pick up the scent so to speak and get into the mind of the killer so he can predict his next move. Hannibal has already been behind bars for three years and Will Graham retired after capturing him, it took Will Graham three years before he felt mentally stable and had received lots of psychological help during this period and has started living a normal life with his wife & son. It's was only because of Will Graham's willingness and honor in the call of duty that "The Tooth Fairy" had better learn to cover his tracks, after all he has disadvantages, the same weakness has Hannibal Lekter. They're both insane.
This film was made five years prior to "Silence of the Lambs" in 1986 and when I seen it the first time I knew it was a classic. Our villain this time was "The Tooth Fairy" who at monthly full moons liked to kill entire families, Will Graham is called out of retirement to assist in the case. He visits Hannibal Lekter to pick up the scent so to speak and get into the mind of the killer so he can predict his next move. Hannibal has already been behind bars for three years and Will Graham retired after capturing him, it took Will Graham three years before he felt mentally stable and had received lots of psychological help during this period and has started living a normal life with his wife & son. It's was only because of Will Graham's willingness and honor in the call of duty that "The Tooth Fairy" had better learn to cover his tracks, after all he has disadvantages, the same weakness has Hannibal Lekter. They're both insane.
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