Movie Review: The Idolmaker (1980)

Genre: Musical Drama  

Director: Taylor Hackford  

Starring: Ray Sharkey, Peter Gallagher, Tovah Feldshuh, Paul Land, Joe Pantoliano, Olympia Dukakis  

Running Time: 117 minutes  

Synopsis: In New York City of 1959, 27 year-old songwriter Vinnie Vacarri (Ray Sharkey) is still working as a waiter at his brother's restaurant. Finally admitting he does not have the looks for stardom, Vinnie decides to promote the career of his more charismatic friend Tommy (Paul Land), and secures the help of magazine editor Brenda (Tovah Feldshuh). Vinnie next spots the exceptionally good looks of busboy Guido (Peter Gallagher), and starts to mastermind another rise to the top.

What Works Well: Loosely based on the career of music promoter and producer Bob Marcucci, this is a behind-the-scenes look at the business of manufacturing stars. Vinnie Vacarri is restless, inventive, and savvy, but also hard-driving and not too sympathetic. Ray Sharkey's edgy performance electrifies the imperative to succeed through others in order to satisfy the gaping hole within. The Edward di Lorenzo script efficiently defines Vinnie's key influences, including his successful but distant father, and debut director Taylor Hackford packs plenty of not-bad teen pop music within the rich human drama.

What Does Not Work As Well: Perhaps consistent with the fogettaboutit Italian-American milieu, nuance is skipped and emotions are always close to the surface. Significant time is invested in Tommy and Guido's journeys and performances, but they are ultimately to the side of the core story and both their narrative arcs fade. The romance between Vinnie and Brenda is confined to superficialities.

Key Quote:

Vinnie (to Tommy): You know something? With the right handling, you can go all the way.



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Movie Review: Sex, Lies, And Videotape (1989)

Genre: Psychological Dramedy

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Starring: James Spader, Andie MacDowell, Peter Gallagher, Laura San Giacomo

Running Time: 100 minutes

Synopsis: In Baton Rouge, the sexually repressed Ann (Andie MacDowell) is married to lawyer John (Peter Gallagher), who is having an affair with her sister Cynthia (Laura San Giacomo). John's old high school friend Graham (James Spader) moves back into town. Ann is intrigued by her husband's ex-pal, and discovers his psychological ailment plus his hobby of videotaping women discussing their sexual desires. Cynthia is soon vying with her sister for Graham's attention.

What Works Well: Steven Soderbergh's grounded directorial debut overcomes a modest budget to deliver a jolt to adult-oriented dramas. Puncturing the facade of normalcy, the quietly potent narrative delves below the surface of decorum to reveal rarely disclosed social drivers and tumultuous emotions. The four characters all have secrets and talents, and are ironically united in innovating devious pathways around painful truths. The video camera is a mirror, a non-judgmental observer, and a hiding place, offering refuge from the discomforts of human to human discourse. James Spader, Andie MacDowell, Peter Gallagher, and Laura San Giacomo all achieve career highlights.

What Does Not Work As Well: Graham's essential back-story is tangentially described but never shown.

Conclusion: When the video camera is on, sex and lies have nowhere to hide.



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