‘The Friends of Eddie Coyle’ (1973): Grimy, low-key gangster flick – a little-seen gem
The Anti-Godfather.
Tag: 1970s
‘The Cowboys’ (1972): Exciting, emotional coming-of-age tale, one of Wayne’s best
A perfectly tempoed coming-of-age Western, with clear meditations on the difference between boys and men, between crime and moral fortitude…and between murder and justice.
‘Billy Jack Goes to Washington’ (1977): Senator Billy Jack – a crusader against corrupt government!?
It’s the end of the line for Billy Jack.
‘The Trial of Billy Jack’ (1974): A spectacularly unwieldy mess of a movie
Ready for some more Billy Jack? Of course you are.
‘Billy Jack’ (1971): Long, talky, action-sparse – a mixed-signals ‘message’ exploiter
“Watch his feet, man. He can kill you with his feet.”
‘Fragment of Fear’ (1971): Taut, effective British shocker
Terrific, little-seen U.K. suspenser.
‘The Adventures of the Wilderness Family’ (1975): City life intolerable? Watch this exciting bedtime story for kids
Entertaining, well-crafted G-rated family adventure…the kind Disney used to make before becoming Satan’s toilet brush.
‘Payday’ (1973): A low profile gem, Rip Torn’s finest movie performance
Sad news: that multi-talented actor, Rip Torn, passed away the other day at 88 years old. Most of the news items I read led off with his well-remembered stint on The Larry Sanders Show, but I didn’t see any mentions of his best performance: 1973’s country drama, Payday.
‘Disaster on the Coastliner’ (1979): It’s Shatner to the rescue when Amtrak goes off the rails
So. It’s getting late and I don’t want to screw around. I don’t want “good” TV or “fine television” (blech), and I don’t want what everyone else wants, like GOT (this country, no question, is doomed). I want old timey stuff from my youth, with grown-up actors and actresses whom I recognize, in plots I… Read More ‘Disaster on the Coastliner’ (1979): It’s Shatner to the rescue when Amtrak goes off the rails
‘Eyes of Laura Mars’ (1978): Stylish but cold – there’s a movie in here somewhere
Chilled, stylish Americanized giallo thriller, with just acceptable TV-level suspense, a glamorously grungy New York City production design, a solid lead performance from wide-eyed Faye Dunaway…and a seriously dopey message about “women” and “fashion” and “violence” and “photography” that not one person involved with this movie could believably hawk to you…even with a gun at… Read More ‘Eyes of Laura Mars’ (1978): Stylish but cold – there’s a movie in here somewhere
Movies & Drinks 