otterswimshome Reviews

The Gambler (1980 TV Movie)

Light and pleasing fluff

[7/10 · 13 February 2006]

This vehicle for Kenny Rogers has a warm avuncular charm. Rogers is not much of an actor, but he's mainly called upon to lend his considerable atmospheric presence to scenes in which others do (or attempt to do) the heavy lifting. And he's good at that: he doesn't chew scenery, he doesn't attempt moments of deep emotion, but his presence keeps the lightweight script from becoming an embarrassment.

The movie is unabashedly sentimental, like a good country song. Plot elements are formulaic, but successful enough, and the direction shows a sure touch, never letting the movie get either maudlin or silly.

A must-see for the Eight-Track-Tape crowd, but not a bad choice for those who just like a little unchallenging fluff now and again.

Derailed (I) (2005)

Spoilers: Ho-Hum

[5/10 · 11 January 2006]

This movie was incredibly predictable, and required way too much suspension of disbelief: "Hey, honey, I'm going to teach at a prison so I can murder the guy who ruined my life after I had an affair with his girlfriend..." Sure, an American suburban housewife is gonna get behind that and stand by her man. And the holes in the "detective work" are inexplicable.

The dialogue was predictable, the acting so-so: Clive Owen had some good moments in spite of the totally unbelievable dialogue, and RZA was rather good. He probably had the best lines, by the way.

Vincent Cassel chews the scenery in a lovely baddie role.

Jennifer Anniston is the real mystery here. I disagree with other reviewers who say she really broke out in this role: she tried to go for an enigmatic look, but she usually just looks blank. Which may be realistic in a confidence game, but has to be a lot more lush to be enjoyable to watch (see "House of Games" for better "blank").