The Movie Journal

  Predator (1987) If Alien and Rambo decided to have a baby together, Predator would be their child. It begins like Rambo but ends in the horrifying style of Alien . In essence, this film is a product of the 1980’s. It is a B-film creature feature that dials it up from scene one and does not relent until the credits. There are hammy one-liners that we come to love from Arnold Schwarzenegger. The script dares you to defy logic, which you shall need to do if you are going to give the film a passing grade. Once I put all my smartness aside, the film is plenty of fun! It is certainly a macho movie, but any film that combats an alien against humans is fine by me. The action is well-choreographed and I loved the fight sequences. The visual effects are ahead of its time. The movie really wanted to show off Stan Winston’s creature design. This is one of those heavy action movies designed to take you on an escapade. Too bad none of the sequels (mostly) were able to take suit. Oh…and the jun...

  The Untouchables (1987) Without a doubt, Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables is one of the favorite movies to come from this decade. As someone who intensively studied the Prohibition era and the legend that is Al Capone, I knew this film would be up my alley. Add in Brian De Palma as director and Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, and Robert De Niro as the film’s leads, you cannot go wrong right? In my own humble opinion, that is correct. I really loved the film so much, I was surprised to see how many lukewarm reviews it received (although it still received generally high marks from critics and regular folks alike). Why does this film speak to me so much? Firstly, the film has an authentic look and feel. The streets of Chicago were perfectly embroidered with 1930’s era cars, clothes, buildings, etc. The costume design from Marilyn Vance is impeccable, along with the production design of the sets which was put together by Hai Gausman. I loved the shiny, sleek feel of everything. Secon...

  Big Little Lies: Season 1, Episode 6 "Burning Love" March 26, 2017 “Burning Love” is a very riveting episode that leads up into the finale. Some characters begin to play around with the pieces designed to be placed in the finale. These characters begin to lose their façade here. For example, Celeste begins to take her therapist’s advice to find a new place, to protect herself from Perry. That happened when Perry claimed, “I could have killed you,” after she whacked him with a tennis racket in self-defense. Also, Renata takes down her controlling persona a notch when Jane confronts her about Ziggy. Could these women, who differ so much yet are caring mothers, could become friends? I really liked how the episode gave Bonnie more to do. She became front-and-center in terms of Abby’s project and discussing it with Nathan. Yeah, this is another excellent episode that reminds you how gifted all of these actors are and how well they perform together. In this episode, Celeste’s t...

  Big Little Lies: Season 1, Episode 5 "Once Bitten" March 19, 2017 “Once Bitten” is the most powerful episode of Big Little Lies yet. This is the episode where everything falls apart for the three main leads; Celeste, Madeleine, and Jane. Each woman gives a heartfelt, emotional performance as they try to escape the demons within their lives. Jean-Marc Vallee’s direction is as showy as it gets and he revels in his directorial duties with the big stuff, such as car accidents, happening. The writing remains as strong as ever. They really did an excellent job capturing the realism of domestic violence, as I have pointed out in past episodes. Here, they take it to another level. The therapy session is a very strong, emotional scene. Robin Wiegert, who channels her inner Judd Hirsch from Ordinary People , is able to draw out the truth from Celeste about her abusive relationship. The episode incorporates flashbacks to show the searing pain and suffering that Celeste takes from the ...

  The Wicker Man (1974) The Wicker Man is a horror film that will stay with you for ages, if not forever. You will never forget the shocking images, the battle between paganism and Christianity, and that unbelievable ending. Heading into the film, I was expecting something more visceral and bloody. Maybe the trailers for the 2006 ill-conceived remake brought different ideas into my head, but the chills here are more subtle. After the initial disappointment, I was entranced by this British folk horror film. It is an intelligent film that blends together a mixture of genres; horror, thriller, and musical. Yes, you have heard that last part correctly. As someone who studied history and religion, this film spoke measures to me. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, actor Christopher Lee appeared in a series of films called Hammer Horror. While he did well in those roles, they were often devoid of much substance and Lee wanted to take on more challenging roles. He got his wish in 1971 when he met...

Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) In 1984, the world was treated to Beverly Hills Cop , a highly-energized action film that put Eddie Murphy on the map and it remains a classic to this day. Plus, it made a boatload of money. So, in the eyes of producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, it made sense to make a sequel. While the film was financially successful despite making less than the first film (was the third highest-grossing film of 1987), Beverly Hills Cop II fails to live up to its predecessor’s reputation. While there are some genuinely charming and amusing moments, the action is a bit brainless and Eddie Murphy comes across as more grating than funny. And some things within the plot does not make much sense. Like after the animosity shown between them in the first film, how are Axel Foley and Andrew Bogomil like best friends now? Not much of an explanation was given. If you were to draw comparisons to the original film, this film is driven on its action sequences rather than plot...

  Gardens of Stone (1987) The last time Francis Ford Coppola made a Vietnam War film, global audiences were introduced to the harrowing Apocalypse Now , still considered to be one of the finest Vietnam War films ever made. Really that film and maybe Platoon and The Deer Hunter could rival Coppola’s masterpiece. With Coppola returning to the subject of the Vietnam War, we are in for another special treat, right? In this particular case, unfortunately not. The film itself is well-made, has excellent performances everywhere, and hits the emotional beats more often than not. But there are no surprises or shocks. No crazy violent scenes. Just a story that meanders and takes its time, which can be frustrating from time to time. Coppola directs the film from the screenplay written by Ronald Bass. Bass’s screenplay tackles the homefront during the war, which is definitely something to explore considering how explosive the anti-war protests were. In fact, I would even call the film anti-...

  Big Little Lies: Season 1, Episode 4 "Push Comes to Shove" March 12, 2017 In “Push Comes to Shove,” control and power are some of the main themes that are heavily on display. Celeste begins to show command and power that she thought she had lost when she gave up lawyer duties to become a full-time mom. Her husband, of course, objects because he is the man in control. Jane tries to find power as she internally struggles with how to find the man who raped her. Madeleine tries to find control within her marriage as she complains about her sexless life, yet kisses Joseph, the play director. As you can tell, each character internally struggles with how much power and control they have. That said, I find it hard to believe that any woman would turn down Adam Scott in a vampire Elvis costume. Like all episodes to this point, the acting has been magnificent. Heavy themes are tackled throughout. The cinematography and the music remain exquisite and gorgeous. Madeleine’s quest to h...

  Big Little Lies: Season 1, Episode 3 "Living the Dream" March 05, 2017 “Living the Dream” is an excellent episode. You start to see some of the strings being pulled as we march towards the end of our murder mystery conclusion. This episode is not about the murder mystery at all. It tackles serious themes of motherhood. Plus, we go deeper into the lives of some of the characters. Renata, for example, is truly not the villain. She is just a mother who is willing to humiliate herself to make sure her daughter gets what is best. The viewers also see that her rather deadbeat husband may be the best husband in the show…and that is saying something. Rape is also a central theme with Jane and Celeste both at the forefront. It can be a hard watch, but it is a necessary one. This is a powerful, emotional, and well-acted episode, Witherspoon, Kidman, Woodley, and Dern all deserve Emmy recognition. Let’s throw Skarsgard in there while we are at it. Renata’s daughter, Amabella is havi...

  Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a charming, whimsical romantic film that showcases the legendary, beautiful Audrey Hepburn. I was first introduced to Hepburn’s charms in the 1964 classic My Fair Lady , where even playing a common, poor, dirty woman still made her absolutely beautiful. Three years earlier, Hepburn graced the world with perhaps her best-known role. As for the film itself, there was much to enjoy. Hepburn and her extroverted character is the main draw, but the charming romance, the supporting cast, the excellent music, and the love story to New York City are just some of the attention the movie gets. This story is actually based off a novella from Truman Capote. Capote was disappointed with the film on the whole especially since he wrote his story with Marilyn Manson in mind. Manson was convinced that the part was not for her and passed on the role. Hepburn was later casted which drew the ire of Capote. Capote originally wrote the story as ...

  Extreme Prejudice (1987) Two men. One good. One evil. Fighting for the same girl…..does this plotline sound familiar? If so, congratulations! You have witnessed one of the many action films from the 80’s and 90’s with similar taglines…such as the case of Walter Hill’s Extreme Prejudice . The man behind 48 Hrs and The Warriors definitely knows a thing or two about creating exciting action flicks. He takes a familiar storyline and tries to pump it up a notch or two. The thing is…this movie is not all that memorable. It has a good cast, but I have seen this type of film too many times to count…and done better. It certainly is fun in the moment especially watching Nick Nolte channel his inner Gary Cooper, but memories of the movie most certainly will escape your head within minutes of conclusion. In essence, this movie is a child of 1980’s action cinema. The project got its start in the mid-1970’s under the guidance of John Milius who drafted the original screenplay. He likened the...

  Project X (1987) Project X is one of those films that fly under the radar but when discovered, results in solid entertainment and a fun time. Prior to watching this, I have never heard of this movie. I was intrigued by the solid cast, the good reviews, and the simple premise. It was also produced from the same people who produced the excellent 1983 feature, WarGames . Plus, I love animals. Any animal feature wins me over in a heartbeat. The plot is very simple, but it has a conscience. The main theme is the rights of animals and should they be allowed to be test subjects. This is the kind of feature that is aimed for young, intelligent people and I think it achieved its goals. It is nothing special, but the film is endearing, humorous, and a delight to watch. Willie, who plays the main chimpanzee, almost (not quite) upstages Matthew Broderick. Willie is a handsome fellow and quite the charismatic chimp! This film is directed by Jonathan Kaplan and written by Stanley Weiser. Th...

  Big Little Lies: Season 1, Episode 2 "Serious Mothering" February 24, 2017 In “Serious Mothering,” themes the show is trying to display is coming to life in this season’s second episode. One of the main themes is bravery. Ziggy going back to school after the accusation, Ed standing up to his wife about a relationship that ended fifteen years prior, Madeleine confronting Renata about a birthday party, etc. These characters show exemplary acts of bravery in this episode. The tension is unreal during this episode. I had to double check to see that no act of murder was secretly committed behind everyone’s backs. This episode proved that the pilot was no fluke. I am truly immersed in everyone’s lives now. People often compare Madeleine to Witherspoon’s character in Election, but all grown up. She is the busy bee who needs to be at the center of attention. Her loyalty to her friends is unwavering, but some people do not like her kind of craziness. Just ask Bonnie or the guy di...

  Big Little Lies: Season 1, Episode 1 "Somebody's Dead" February 19, 2017 Big Little Lies hooked me from the very first shot. The show has an interesting premise. It is advertised as a murder drama wrapped around several domestic fronts. At first glance, the show has the elements to be pure trash. After all, it is based off one of those airport fodder stories. Within the first fifteen seconds, you know the show goes above and beyond. Season 1 is helmed by Jean-Marc Vallee, the man behind Wild and The Dallas Buyers Club . The cast is A-grade, led by Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and so much more. The narrative is driven in a unique way led by flashbacks and interwoven investigation interviews of supporting characters. While the “murder” may be the main draw, the story is about the characters and their families and the type of lives they lead. I love the soundtrack and the beautiful California cinematography. Any shot of crashing waves at ...