The Movie Journal

Thief (1981) 1981’s Thief was a very pleasant surprise for me. I heard many good things going into the movie, and now I realize why this movie is one of the 1980’s most underrated gems. This is a hardboiled crime classic that marks the directorial debut of veteran TV director Michael Mann who would produce future classics such as Heat and The Insider . The movie was also produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, who would later be known for producing blockbusters. This movie also features one of the best career performances from James Caan, whom reeks with charisma. Frank (James Caan) is a man who makes a living cracking safes and stealing diamonds. After spending eleven years in prison, Frank wants a normal life for himself. He wants a wife, children, and a life not spent in the criminal world. In order to make the money to live his comfortable life he wants, he takes one last score from a well-known gangster, Leo (Robert Prosky). However, the score does not go well and Frank may have p...

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) The Postman Always Ring Twice is a noir-thriller that reminds me of the film noirs made in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Ironically enough, this movie happens to be a remake of the 1946 film with the same name starring John Garfield and Lana Turner, which was previously adapted to screen by the immensely popular 1934 novel written by James M. Cain. This movie was brought more explosively to the screen when compared to the movie that came out nearly forty years prior. With less censorship this time around, the movie is told in a style where murder, blackmail, and lust lurks around every corner. The movie wants to be shocking, and it mostly succeeds by the standards of 1980’s. Frank Chambers (Jack Nicholson) is a drifter and an ex-con man who stops at a roadside diner one night. He decides to linger when he puts his eye on the very attractive cook, Cora (Jessica Lange). She so happens to be in a loveless marriage with the Greek owner of the resta...

Fort Apache, the Bronx (1981) Ah, nothing like watching a movie that is beholden with cop movie clichés. Fort Apache, the Bronx is a film that depends on its cop clichés to move it along. That being said, I still enjoyed the heck out of this movie. The movie works based on acting and the atmosphere alone. The plot, riddled with clichés, doesn’t work as well as it could have been. If your movie stars Paul Newman, Edward Asner, and others, then it is still worth a watch no matter the plot. Here in 2018, I live in the South Bronx. Boy, do times change! The depiction of the Bronx in this 1981 movie is bleak, raw, and violent. It is hard to fathom that the Bronx was like how it was shown here in the movie. But as I am told, the authenticity of this film is spot-on.   From the look of the urban wasteland to the shots of pimps beating up hookers to the police force not being able to do much with all the crime. In 1981, this movie was made as if to enlighten the public to the...