There’s no vengeance like a woman scorned, as Union soldier John McBurney learns the hard way in “The Beguiled.” Director Don Siegel and actor Clint Eastwood had already become an item before they teamed on this Southern gothic morality play. Siegel had directed Eastwood in “Coogan’s Bluff” and “Two Mules for Sister Sara,” and would go on to direct Eastwood in his signature role in “Dirty Harry. Read the rest of this entry »

Oh, Mrs. Peel, what have they done to you? It’s been a bad month for my 60’s icons. Shari Lewis. Roy Rogers. Buffalo Bob Smith. And now Emma Peel. What have I done to deserve this? It took Hollywood over thirty years to smarten up and bring the campy 60’s television show “The Avengers” to the big screen, and this is what they come up with? Oh, the horror. Oh, the humanity. Read the rest of this entry »

When “Beauty and the Beast” was released, it set a new standard for animated film. Walt Disney Pictures animation division was experiencing a renaissance thanks to “The Little Mermaid.” Thanks to clever storytelling, rich animation, outstanding voice talent and memorable songs by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, “Beauty and the Beast” went on to become the only animated film to be nominated for “Best Picture.” Read the rest of this entry »

They’re not the police. They’re musicians. They’re on a mission from God, and will do whatever it takes to fulfill that mission. In “The Blues Brothers,” that includes trashing half of Chicago, including a shopping mall, the Daley Center and about one-hundred police cars. “The Blues Brothers” is marvelous mayhem, one outrageous stunt or gag after the other. Read the rest of this entry »

Money. It’s as intoxicating as power and can be just as dangerous in the wrong hands. It makes the world go round. It makes people do strange things. People will go to the ends of the earth for it, and in desperation, some people would kill for it.
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Before I begin, it is important to note that I absolutely adore Whoopi Goldberg. Sure, she has been in some crappy films, but for the most part, I find her very watch-able. Goldberg did several films for Disney, including the extremely popular “Sister Act.” She later did two films back-to-back that didn’t fare so well at the box office, but found favor with me. They were corny, good, old-fashioned entertainment, but they weren’t crowd pleasers. Read the rest of this entry »

Brad Pitt better watch out. There’s a new kid in town, and his name is also Brad. Brad Rowe. Remember it. He’s one of the stars of writer-director Tommy O’Haver’s hilarious romantic comedy, “Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss.” He’s what you call dangerously handsome. Oh yeah, and he can act. Read the rest of this entry »

More than thirty years after it’s Broadway debut, “Cabaret” is alive and well. There’s a new Tony Award- winning Broadway revival, and now this very special “Special Edition” DVD. The Bob Fosse-directed musical-drama was an instant hit when it was released in 1972, and garnered eight Academy Awards, including Best Director, Actress and Supporting Actor. “Cabaret” lost the Best Picture nod to “The Godfather,” but Fosse’s decadent vision of Berlin in 1931 beat out Francis Ford Coppola for Best Director. Read the rest of this entry »

“American Graffiti,” the film that asks the question: “Where we you in ’62?” I was five-years old. I don’t remember where I was. So I left it to writer-director George Lucas to fill me in. I was sixteen years old when I first saw “American Graffiti.” Even though I spent my formative teen years in the seventies, I really identified with the music of the sixties. I don’t know. Read the rest of this entry »