Daniel-Couri Reviews

The Family Man (1979 TV Movie)

It´s a sad affair

[19 May 2002]

Eddie, a married mature man (Edward Asner) falls in love with much younger woman (Family Ties´ Meredith Baxter) and they start a passionate romance. But as their relationship develops and they become increasingly close, Eddie gets concerned about the growing crack in his marriage and his neglected wife, ending up without his younger lover. It´s sad to see that their relationship promised so much, they were so in love, and just like that, they broke up. The pressures of society always win. People just can´t accept the fact that two people with an age difference have emotionally the same capacity to love each other, no matter how big is the difference. That´s what happened to Eddie and his lover, and although they loved each other, he decided to remain married with his old wife. Just to keep the status quo. But the movie is worth seeing.

54 (1998)

Dancing on life's dance floor

[6 November 1999]

I found this film really good despite its rather "wafer-thin" plot. It's almost a documentary about the legendary disco Studio 54 (and the end of the 70's). The characters seem to have something in common: they all wanna win in life, they want to become something important, and that's what I most liked about "54". The will to grow, to become big, the necessity to be a big shot; it hasn't changed. Everybody wants to be (a big) part of the party, and we know life is the greatest party. Shane, Julie, Anita, Gregg, they all wanted to create their respective "real" lives as they created inside the glamourous 54, where everybody could be a star. I see it as a metaphor about the race of life, our desire to be important or at least to do something important. If I'm saying too much bullshit, just think the film is still enjoying. It describes just perfectly how was the aura that surrounded Studio 54 and its guests plus that "late 70's feeling". The cast and the soundtrack are also great. I found the whole thing a little bit sad although disco music is spread all over the film.

Summer of Fear (1978 TV Movie)

She knows her ground...

[10 July 1999]

Yes, Linda Blair knows her ground quite well. In "Summer Of Fear" she has to fight against her cousin's witchcraft powers. But this time she's not possessed, folks! Her beautiful and sweet cousin captivates all the family with her gentle manners, and Blair has to pull her off before she destroys her home and family. Look out for the subtle end. Sheer 70's fun.

Cruel Intentions (1999)

Surprisingly good

[10/10 · 9 July 1999]

I assume that when I sat down to watch this movie, I wasn't expecting much, but within the first 15 minutes I was already loving the whole thing. It is greatly due the outstanding teen cast, especially Sarah Michelle Gellar. They portrait extremely sarcastic, smart, appealing and non-usual teens in a wealthy and non-usual atmosphere as well. And the story keeps on hypnotizing you as you get captivated by the characters. One of the best movies of the 90's, I really recommend it.

Perfect (1985)

Practice makes John perfect

[19 June 1999]

I rather liked this wafer-thin flick although it's not the best John Travolta movie. But it is worth a look, man! Travolta is as sexy as usual, especially in the academy scene. Jamie Lee Curtis is good as well. Lots of gorgeous hunks, but John is still the hottest.

Christiane F. (1981)

Peering at an obscure life

[18 April 1999]

Everybody talks a lot about the book which originated this movie, so I decided to watch it since I wasn't able to find the book. Well, this movie (based on a true story)is really depressing, but it's surely WORTH SEEING. David Bowie fan Christiane F. is a German teenager whose life seems to have no meaning or direction. What starts as a naive "stroll" in the nightlife of Berlin's teenagers ends up as a tragic trip with no return. Christiane becomes a drug addicted in potential influenced by her friends. What I couldn't understand is why her mother is almost always absent? Besides, the entire film has an annoying darkness. Drugs and prostitution galore.

Annie Hall (1977)

La-di-da, la-di-da, la la...

[10/10 · 18 April 1999]

One of the best Allen's movies ever, maybe THE best. Everything just works so fine. A MUST SEE.

Turkish Delight (1973)

The best Verhoeven movie ever

[10/10 · 18 April 1999]

No need to tell this is the best Verhoeven work in my opinion, and one of the best European films I've ever seen. Funny, realistic and psychedelic, this film is so catchy that you don't even notice the time passing by. Rutger Hauer is in one of his first roles here, and appears in the nude almost all the time. Many will enjoy...

Carrie (1976)

Loathe among the stars

[24 March 1999]

No doubt "Carrie" is the best horror movie ever - a masterpiece - and one of my all time favorite too, of course! Carrie's sad (and tragic) story is told by Brian De Palma with such brilliance and care that even if you hate horror movies, you'll adore this one. It has not that 'second-rate' treatment of the normal movies of this genre. De Palma is an assumed Hitchcock follower. Sissy Spacek is REALLY outstanding as Carrie, she depicts her role breathtakingly through the whole film and Piper Laurie (playing Carrie's mother) is no less worth mentioning too. Both were Oscar Nominees in 1976 (Spacek as Best Actress and Laurie as Best Supporting Actress) but they didn't win. What really matters is that never had a horror movie got such achievement. The rest of the cast is also excellent (many of them became stars after this film) and keeps spectators unmovable until the final sequence. Simply terrific.

The Initiation of Sarah (1978 TV Movie)

A very good supernatural flick

[17 March 1999]

Here we have kind of a 'Carrie-look-alike' film, but I'd say a little bit moralist. Sarah (Kay Lenz), a weird girl (yes, she does have telekinetic powers) scorned by snobbish dull colleagues is admitted in a strange sorority where she is manipulated by the evil house mother Mrs. Hunter (Shelley Winters). On the other hand, her beautiful and ingenuous sister Patty (Morgan Brittany) joins a renowned sorority where she is forced to cast Sarah away by no less manipulative Jennifer Lawrence (Morgan Fairchild). The entire film has a 'gloomy aura', it's a somewhat sad story which could never have happened if it wasn't for the juicy 70's!... The TV production is poor, nevertheless it doesn't matter once this is a very enjoyable flick.

Staying Alive (1983)

Not far from over

[16 March 1999]

I don't understand why critics always scorn this film. OK, it doesn't have the magic of its predecessor "Saturday Night Fever", but it works as an "80's point of view" of the original film. The thing is that you should watch this film as a single one, not a 'sequel'. It has nothing to do with "Saturday Night Fever" but the main character Tony Manero (once again played by John Travolta) and his mother (Julie Bovasso) in a brief appearance. Fast forward from 1977 to 1983. Now Tony wants to be a Broadway star and keeps his struggle for a more mature purpose, as he himself is more mature. Manero's "moody girl" here is Laura (Finola Hughes, not so convincing), who also looks down on him. The funniest thing about "Staying Alive" is that it is directed by Sylvester Stallone! (No one remembers...) The soundtrack is one of my favorite, although it didn't received the deserved attention at the time of its release, nor did the movie itself. (I think people were afraid of another 'Bee Gees fever'). After this film, Travolta's career fell out of the spotlight only to be retaken in late 80's with "Look Who's Talking". Summarizing, in my opinion it is a very good movie, but don't expect this to be another "Saturday Night Fever".

Saturday Night Fever (1977)

To the night fever

[10/10 · 16 March 1999]

One of the catalyzers of the disco fever, this film is much more than a flick, as some critics insist. It definitely has become a classic, the best view of the Seventies and one of my all time favorite movies. (I've seen it a thousand times!) Tony Manero, a young Brooklyn guy (played extraordinarily by John Travolta) struggles to be the disco king at a local disco where he's already recognized as a dance master. He also meets Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney) there, a beautiful and snob woman who despises him until she realizes how pretentious she was being. Even though, she's not in love with Manero but became his friend. Parallel plots develop around Manero's family and friends during the film. Director John Badham adds an erotic touch to all dance sequences while Travolta (wearing his classic black and white sport suit) reigns as the greatest find of the film. The great soundtrack by the Bee Gees (which was a smash hit worldwide) remains one of the most popular movie albums of all time.

Taking a nostalgic look at the film's costumes is a funny (!) experience too. Wanna know where to go when the record is over? Go get this video to watch the film!

Prom Night (1980)

Prom night, everything is alright...

[10/10 · 9 March 1999]

I can't help loving this film. It's not the usual kind of horror movie, it's a sad one. During the prom (and among the bloody murders) there is plenty of disco music and very good dance sequences (especially with Jamie Lee Curtis and Casey Stevens). The great difference in "Prom Night" is that the murderer has human motivations rather than "supernatural powers" or things like that. He is as human as anyone and doesn't "resuscitates" like Jason or Freddy Krueger. Another favourable point is that "Prom Night" has very good actors, from the children cast to the grown up ones, including Leslie Nielsen as Jamie Lee Curtis' father. If you want to see an 'I Know What You Did Last Summer-kind-of-movie', then watch "Prom Night". You won't be disappointed.

Keep My Grave Open (1977)

Obscure and bizarre

[9/10 · 7 March 1999]

This poor and obscure production from 1978 is the weird story of a psychotic woman, Lesley Fontaine (Camilla Carr), who isolates herself in a house where no one can ever trespass. Although the "keep out" warning is quite visible on the front gate, some people simply ignore it and end up brutally murdered by the disturbed woman. Dressed like a man (her long lost brother/lover Kevin), Lesley goes on with the gory murders as her personality becomes more and more confused. But who is really Kevin? You almost believe there's no such man, but the final scene manages to confuse you even more. Only for hardcore "B Movie" fans. This one is really schlock...