Movie Review: Come Back, Little Sheba (1952)

Genre: Drama  

Director: Daniel Mann  

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Shirley Booth, Terry Moore, Richard Jaeckel  

Running Time: 99 minutes  

Synopsis: Middle-aged childless couple Doc and Lola Delaney (Burt Lancaster and Shirley Booth) are stuck in a loveless marriage. He is a chiropractor and recovering alcoholic, while she is frumpy, lonely, and still grieving the disappearance of her dog Sheba. They rent a room in their house to vivacious college art student Marie (Terry Moore), who has a serious boyfriend back home but nevertheless starts flirting with classmate Turk (Richard Jaeckel). Marie's presence stirs up Doc's passion and upsets the household dynamics.

What Works Well: This adaptation of the William Inge stage play is an in-depth, soaked-to-the-soul exploration of loss. Doc and Lola have endured the loss of innocence, a lost child, the loss of her parents' support, the truncation of his career, and his descent into alcoholism. Now her dog's disappearance is a sad postscript residing on top of a cold marriage with a wrecked past and no present. Marie waltzes into this context full of vibrancy and hope, rocking Doc and Lola out of complacency and into emotional and unstable reactions. Director Daniel Mann creates dynamism through searing but understated character interactions, and Shirley Booth excels in translating her stage role to the screen, portraying Lola as a pathetically grating wife clinging to selected memories as a survival mechanism.

What Does Not Work As Well: Burt Lancaster's performance cannot be faulted, but his robust and confident screen persona is misaligned with Doc's fragile psychology.

Key Quote:

Doc: Alcoholics are mostly disappointed men.

Lola: Sure, I know...you was never disappointed, were you, Doc?

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Movie Review: The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967)

Genre: Historical Gangster Action  

Director: Roger Corman  

Starring: Jason Robards, George Segal, Ralph Meeker  

Running Time: 100 minutes  

Synopsis: It's 1929, and rival gangs vie for control of the lucrative illegal alcohol trade in Chicago. Al Capone (Jason Robards) is convinced his rival George "Bugs" Moran (Ralph Meeker) cannot be trusted, and flashbacks reveal the history of reprisal attacks between their syndicates. Capone now orders his henchman Jack McGurn (Clint Ritchie) to organize a hit on Moran, who is equally intent on eliminating Capone. The levels of violence increase as St. Valentine's Day approaches. 

What Works Well: Using a narration-heavy docudrama style, the plot is faithful to the known facts leading to the notorious abolition-era bloodbath. Working with a decent budget and for a major studio, director Roger Corman still adheres to an economical no-wasted-scenes ethos, and recreates the late 1920s with crisp sets filled with vintage cars and wardrobes. A drawn-out fight between gangster Peter Gusenberg (George Segal) and his moll (Jean Hale) is a treat, while Bruce Dern and Jack Nicholson appear in small roles.

What Does Not Work As Well: The story is limited in scope to violent gangsters intent on killing other violent gangsters, and boredom sets in early. Every character receives a dry staccato introduction (birth year, birth city, arrest record, marital status, gang role, cause and date of death), but none of them are afforded a soul or emotional depth. Jason Robards chews the scenery in several sputtering over-the-top scenes, while most of the other goons are interchangeable villains in suits. Despite the sparkling aesthetics, the visuals never escape the studio backlot. 

Key Quote:

"Bugs" Moran: I say it's time we put Capone and his bums out of business...for good.

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Movie Review: The Undefeated (1969)

Genre: Western  

Director: Andrew V. McLaglen  
Starring: John Wayne, Rock Hudson, Ben Johnson, Jan-Michael Vincent  
Running Time: 118 minutes  

Synopsis: After the end of the Civil War, Union Colonel John Henry Thomas (John Wayne) resigns from the military and leads his men on a round-up of 3,000 wild horses, intending to sell them to the army. Meanwhile, Confederate Colonel James Langdon (Rock Hudson) embarks on a journey to relocate his family and surviving soldiers to Mexico. Thomas is offered a better price to sell his horses in Mexico, and crosses paths with Langdon. The two former enemies have to cooperate to confront bandits and the murky alliances of an unfolding Mexican revolution.

What Works Well: This is a sturdy if unspectacular Western focusing on post-Civil War reconciliation, John Wayne and Rock Hudson representing the two sides of the conflict and developing a quick but still spiky rapport. The concept is extended to an inter-racial romance featuring Thomas' adopted Cherokee son and Langdon's daughter. Andrew V. McLaglen fills the screen with impressive shots of thousands of horses galloping to Hugo Montenegro's grandiose music score, and the final act surprisingly avoids genre cliches. 

What Does Not Work As Well: At 62-year-old, John Wayne mostly stands to the side and contributes quips and reaction shots. The bad guys are non-descript bandits and imported French troops, robbing the narrative of meaningful antagonists. The middle act is a low energy waiting game with not much plot advancement, and in the context of late 1960s westerns from Peckinpah and Leone, this one is almost quaint.

Key Quote:

James Langdon's sister-in-law Ann: You went out there to talk, why did you have to shoot the man?

John Henry Thomas: Conversation kinda dried up, ma'am.

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Movie Review: Judge Dredd (1995)

Genre: Science Fiction Action Thriller  

Director: Danny Cannon  

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Armand Assante, Diane Lane, Max von Sydow, Rob Schneider, Jurgen Prochnow  

Running Time: 96 minutes  

Synopsis: In a dystopian future, humanity is packed into megacities to shelter from the devastated Cursed Earth. "Judges" act as police officers, juries, and executioners to try and keep the peace. Fearless Judge Joseph Dredd (Sylvester Stallone) is a protege of Chief Justice Fargo (Max von Sydow), whose rival Judge Griffin (Jurgen Prochnow) advocates for a stricter law-and-order agenda. Dredd is framed for murder, Fargo is sidelined, and Dredd's former partner Rico (Armand Assante) is unleashed to cause mayhem. With help from Judge Hershey (Diane Lane), Dredd has to exonerate himself and uncover a conspiracy involving his own past.

What Works Well: This comic book adaptation is packed full of special effects and quirky humour, and provides a sturdy platform for star Sylvester Stallone to deliver plenty of zingers. The plot is a familiar conflict between the light and dark sides of human aspirations, but never takes itself too seriously. Director Danny Cannon inserts action interludes at regular intervals to maintain momentum, with most of Rob Schneider's comic relief contributions landing just on the right side of the line separating entertaining from annoying.

What Does Not Work As Well: The visual style and star salaries appear to have consumed most of the budget, resulting in a short running time and a sense of muddled expediency. Ideas introduced but truncated include the complex relationship between Dredd and Rico, the rupture between Rico and Griffin, the genetic cloning sub-plot, and the role of Dr. Ilsa Hayden (Joan Chen). What remains is more a highlight reel than any attempt at serious world building or character depth.

Key Quote:

Rico (to Dredd): The only difference between us, Joseph, is you destroyed your life to embrace the law. And l destroyed the law to embrace life.

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Movie Review: Lured Innocence (1998)

Genre: Suspense Drama  

Director: Kikuo Kawasaki  

Starring: Dennis Hopper, Marley Shelton, Talia Shire, Devon Gummersall  

Running Time: 99 minutes  

Synopsis: In Phoenix, newspaper reporter Elden (Devon Gummersall) is assigned to cover the trial of Elsie (Marley Shelton), who is accused of murder. Flashbacks to Elden's high school days reveal his crush on the alluring Elsie. But she is more interested in Rick Chambers (Dennis Hopper), an older businessman married to the wealthy Martha (Talia Shire), who suffers from a weak heart. Rick and Martha would both like to get rid of each other, inspiring Elsie to hatch a self-serving plan.

What Works Well: The first half generates some small-town intrigue as diner server Elsie (looking for a ticket out of town), businessman Rick (looking for wealth), and his wife Martha (looking for respect) reveal self-serving agendas and plot against each other.

What Does Not Work As Well: This is a low-budget attempted neo-noir with rudimentary production values, but spiced with a few steamy sex scenes. The narration is cringey, the acting wooden, plot ambitions are undermined by shortcuts, and key pivot points like Martha's heart condition and Elden' bizarre affliction (arousal + alcohol = fainting) are loudly pre-announced. All in a matter of a sentence, one key character gets married to a hitherto unintroduced partner, another character is imprisoned, and a murder accusation makes its way to trial except that it's debatable whether a murder ever actually took place.

Key Quote:

Rick (to Elsie): You just want to get away from it all.

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Movie Review: Set It Up (2018)

Genre: Romantic Comedy  

Director: Claire Scanlon  

Starring: Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs  

Running Time: 105 minutes  

Synopsis: In New York City, Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell) are two overworked assistants. Harper's boss is celebrity sports journalist Kirsten (Lucy Liu), while Charlie serves venture capitalist Rick (Taye Diggs). Realizing they will not have a life unless their bosses are distracted by romance, Harper and Charlie concoct a plan to have Kirsten and Rick meet and fall in love. 

What Works Well: The writing is occasionally witty, and Zoey Deutch brings quirky self-aware energy to Harper's frazzled life. 

What Does Not Work As Well: As predictable as rom coms get, this one is beset by the protagonists meekly surrendering to obnoxious boss behaviour, and for dubious reasons. Harper is hoping to become a writer having never written anything, and Charlie at age 28 is still at the bottom rung of his career ladder (but somehow hanging on to a glamorous model as a girlfriend). Maybe Harper and Charlie deserve each other, but they don't earn central roles in any romance. The Cupid contrivances to match Rick with Kirsten (including engineering an elevator mis-hap and a kiss-cam moment at Yankee Stadium) are exceptionally far fetched.

Key Quote:

Harper: Hard-to-get makes no sense. It's evolutionarily unsound. Why would a caveman want a cave woman who was like 'Go get me food, and when you come back maybe there will be a cave for you, maybe there won't be'.

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Movie Review: Shell (2024)

Genre: Horror  

Director: Max Minghella  

Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Kate Hudson  

Running Time: 101 minutes  

Synopsis: In the near future, Samantha (Elisabeth Moss) is a frumpy 40-something actress, single and finding roles increasingly hard to come by. She is encouraged to undergo skin rejuvenation treatment at Shell, a company founded by Zoe Shannon (Kate Hudson) and using leading edge anti-aging technology. Samantha's skin psoriasis clears up, her career receives a boost, she finds a boyfriend, and becomes good friends with Zoe. But then Chloe (Kaia Gerber), another Shell client, mysteriously disappears, and Samantha starts experiencing disturbing side effects. 

What Works Well: Elisabeth Moss and Kate Hudson have fun in their roles, fueled by a buzzy current of mean humour (watch out for those self-driving taxis) and satire. The commentary on society's eternal body image obsession is familiar but on-target and delivered with conviction. Director Max Minghella keeps the pacing brisk with efficient character and setting introductions, saluting B-movie conventions. 

What Does Not Work As Well: The plot abruptly transitions from suspense and body horror to crazed monster-on-the-loose, shortchanging both sub-genres. Some key plot points, including Zoe cozying up to Samantha, the detectives poking around Chloe's disappearance, and the monster's storage and release timing details, serve the script rather than any logic.

Key Quote:

Samantha (line reading at an audition, but also describing herself): I wanted to be noticed...just have another person look at me and think I was funny...or pretty. I guess I just wanted you to look at me and see someone else.

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Movie Review: Bad Lieutenant (1992)

Genre: Drama  

Director: Abel Ferrara  

Starring: Harvey Keitel  

Running Time: 96 minutes  

Synopsis: The Lieutenant (Harvey Keitel) is a police detective in New York City, addicted to drugs and sports betting, currently placing large bets he cannot afford on the unfolding Mets/Dodgers baseball playoff series. The city is beset by violent crimes, but the Lieutenant exists in a haze, interested only in the baseball score and securing drugs for his next hit. When a nun is shockingly raped in a church, the Lieutenant almost finds a cause to believe in, but salvation will not be easily attained.

What Works Well: This intense character study zooms into the soul of a deeply damaged man as he spirals into the abyss. Harvey Keitel is in every scene, and delivers a performance spiked with painful intensity. No other characters matter, because nothing matters to the jaded Lieutenant except drugs and bets. The sight of crime victims with their heads blown off is an opportunity to illegally seize drugs for his own use. Some scenes have kids in his orbit, but they may as well be strangers, and while the rape of a nun could be a wake up call, the path to redemption is treacherous.

What Does Not Work As Well: This is an emotionally exhausting and grimy experience. The journey to hell retraces some repetitive routes, and scenes exposing the darkest corners of the Lieutenant's soul are quite disturbing.

Key Quote:

The Lieutenant: No one can kill me. I'm blessed. I'm a Catholic.

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Movie Review: Seven Days In Utopia (2011)

Genre: Faith-Based Sports Drama  

Director: Matt Russell  

Starring: Robert Duvall, Lucas Black, Melissa Leo, Deborah Ann Woll  

Running Time: 98 minutes  

Synopsis: In Texas, amateur golfer Luke Chisholm (Lucas Black) has a meltdown in a qualifying tournament, damaging his professional prospects. Distressed and distracted, he crashes his car near the tiny community of Utopia. There he meets grizzled rancher and retired golfer Johnny Crawford (Robert Duvall), as well as local girl Sarah (Deborah Ann Woll). As they wait for the car to be repaired, Johnny works with Luke for seven days to improve his golf game. 

What Works Well: Robert Duvall is almost able to save a few scenes through his effortless presence.

What Does Not Work As Well: This is an adult version of The Karate Kid as filtered through the Bible. Lucas Black at 28-years-old is unconvincing as a fresh-faced aspiring pro golfer, and Melissa Leo is wasted in a nothing role. The faith-saves-all hokey plot points include Luke improving his mental game by spending one day painting, one day fly fishing, one day playing a version of horseshoes, and one night avoiding a charging bull while hanging on to a folding chair. It's as as bad as it sounds, and all before the villain of the piece (Luke's father) undergoes a remarkable transformation and helps his son in the corniest of tournament showdown endings.

Key Quote:

Johnny: You don't choose the game, it chooses you.

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Movie Review: Two Lovers (2008)

Genre: Romantic Drama  

Director: James Gray  

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Isabella Rossellini, Elias Koteas  

Running Time: 110 minutes  

Synopsis: In Brooklyn, Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix) is bi-polar, suicidal, and living with his parents Ruth and Reuben (Isabella Rossellini and Moni Moshonov). They arrange for him to meet Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), the daughter of Reuben's business partner. She is willing to try a relationship, but Leonard is distracted by Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), the more glamorous upstairs neighbour. Michelle is a troubled party girl and having an affair with a married lawyer (Elias Koteas), but Leonard nevertheless grows increasingly attached to her.

What Works Well: This is a refreshingly organic romance featuring imperfect people flailing within messy lives. Leonard has failed to launch and is close to imploding, director and co-writer James Gray introducing his protagonist with a jump-off-a-low-bridge half-hearted suicide attempt. Sandra may be a saviour but Michelle is compelling, her maelstrom of clubs, ecstasy, and infidelity shrouding her ability to pursue any rational future. Bypassing romantic movie cliches, the drama seeks next-best options when ideal resolutions are far out of reach. 

What Does Not Work As Well: The commitment to stripped emotions exposes gaps in realism, judgement, and avoided conversations. After the introduction, Leonard's mental health is relegated to an afterthought, and the script conveniently ignores the future prospects of a relationship with the equally fragile Michelle. The stable Sandra is aware of what she may be getting herself into, suggesting a misdirected mothering instinct rather than true passion. The final act reaches for a superficially satisfactory ending riding on a brittle foundation.

Key Quote:

Sandra (to Leonard): I wanna take care of you. I feel like I understand you.

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