Tootsie

Tootsie (1982)
Director: Sydney Pollack
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Terri Garr, Bill Murray, Dabney Coleman, Charles Durning
Memorable Line: "I think we're getting into a weird area here."

Tootsie hit the big screen and was a huge sensation (winning a Golden Globe) and I'm a huge fan of Sydney Pollack, but this isn't one of favorite Pollack films. I know I'm in the minority, but there a moments that this money seems like it's pandering. Maybe I missed something.

The Plot of Tootsie
Michael Dorsey (Hoffman) is an out of work actor who has little chance of getting work because he's a bit difficult to be worked with when he comes upon a kooky idea to try out for a female part on a soap opera -- as a woman. And he gets it. That's where the fun begins. Dorsey being a difficult male actors works back to his propensity for being a pain in the neck and his character on the soap suddenly becomes a sensation. As a female, he takes the name Dorothy and Dorothy becomes a confident and role model for another one of the actresses on the show, Julie (Lange). Michael, the man beneath the woman, starts to feel an attraction to Julie. Of course, this is only a small tip of the ice berg for him. Along with juggling this female impersonation, he has to keep his secret safe from his girlfriend (Garr). He gets assistance from his roommate, Jeff (Murray), but the whole thing is a high wire act that gets too much to bear as Dorothy gets a marriage proposal from Julie's father, another man serenading him and his desire to be closer to Julie starts to overwhelm him. Plus, there's the fact that he's not a woman.

The Performances, Writing and Direction of Tootsie
The story of Tootsie is pure farce, but it works. The writers know how to provide comedic tension and keep piling on the complications. The performances excellent. Hoffman plays the Michael/Dorothy character well. Lange carries off the confused woman with grace and style. All the supporting roles are very well played with Murray getting some of the best lines.

My bone to pick with Tootsie is the direction (mostly the editing) and with some of the writing. I'm a huge Pollack fan, but there are times in this movie where he is either trying to make a throw-back movie or he's just pandering. There are too many pat montage sequences that seem clumsy. The writers, when writing the comedic complications are great, but at times, it seems preachy and thematic.

Summary Judgment of Tootsie
There's a lot to like about Tootsie. Hoffman brings his considerable talent to the film. The gags are good. The supporting cast is wonderful. But it just seems that Pollack makes some choices with the story and editing that seems to want to appeal to the lowest common denominator of the audience. No, this movie isn't a total sell-out. It's intelligent writing and an idea that has appeal, but the treatment didn't work for me. Sorry, Sydney.

The Fly (1986)

The Fly (1986)
Director: David Cronenberg
Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Genna Davis, John Getz
Memorable line(s): "Be afraid. Be very afraid."

Director Cronenberg decides to re-make the sc-fi- horror classic The Fly (starring Vincent Price) and Cronenberg clearly puts his own stamp on this version. Albeit, a more engaging and gross stamp.

The Plot of The Fly
Seth Brundle (Goldblum) is a scientist attempting the unattainable -- teleportation. Completely convinced, when no one else is, that he can make teleportation a reality, the only interest he garners is from a lone reporter (Davis). As she delves deeper into the story, she becomes romantically involved with Brundle.

Working alone, Brundle has a huge breakthrough and decides it's time for the ultimate test -- teleporting himself. The only problem is that the teleportation process must be pure and his ultimate test is spoiled when a fly enters one of his telepods, causing a genetic fusing of man and insect to disastrous results. Initially, Brundle emerges from the experiment with amazing powers that develop more each day until they start to devolve -- or evolve as Brundle becomes less man and more fly.

The Performances, Writing and Direction of the The Fly
Goldblum's casting seems to be an effort of working against type, but it's this choice and his quirky style that gives the character of Brundle a believability and energy that is both engaging and wins us to the movie. In many ways, Davis is given a thankless role as the supportive and earnest reporter/girlfriend.

The script is a total re-working of the initial film and works quite well, seemingly only using the only using the original movie as inspiration. Brundle has facets and the script displays a deftness with dialog that fits Goldblum's performance accordingly.

Cronenberg has his roots in low budget horror, but his films have always been more thoughtful than the typical monster/slasher movies and The Fly is no exception. Intelligent and sometimes funny, Cronenberg makes The Fly stand out from what could have been a man becomes monster film.

Summary Judgment on The Fly
Some will say that The Fly devolved into a gross out flick about two-thirds into the movie and the special effects are quite graphic and shocking, but there's more to the film than just that. Goldblum makes the Brundle character quite convincing and Cronenberg delivers both the intelligent and visceral and graphic details to make The Fly an enjoyable movie for those who like some depth to their horror films and those that want some gore.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Director: John Hughes
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Gray
Memorable Line(s): "Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?" Really, was there a more likable film in the 1980's than Ferris Bueller's Day Off? Mostly innocent, warm-hearted with a little bit of snarkiness, this film is the no-contest winner of the easiest film to watch and watch too many times.

The Plot of Ferris Bueller's Day Off Ferris (Broderick) is the title character and he's a ultimate high school inside - friends with everyone and the envy of many. The film chronicles his ruse to take the day off school. His accomplice is the reluctant Cameron (Ruck) and the all too willing Sloane (Sara). Their day off is a real lark as they attend a Cubs game, visiting the arts museum and taking over a float in a parade. No film is without conflict and there are those that wish to bring Ferris down. One of those is Ferris' own sister (Gray) and the other is the bumbling, but Ferris-obsessed principal (Jones). But no matter hard they try, Ferris just has too many tricks up his sleeve to loose the day.

The Performances, Writing and Direction of Ferris Bueller's Day Off Broderick is absolutely winning as Ferris. Charming and disarming, Broderick fully inhabits Ferris' winning ways and you can't help but like him. Ruck plays the sad-sack Eyore-type character quite well. We feel Cameron's woe. Sara's role isn't given a lot to work with and she does her best to stand in the shadow of Broderick's Ferris. Gray is wonderfully jealous of Ferris' effortless existence. Jones is given an over-the-top character and he pulls it off quite well. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is John Hughes at the top of his game when it comes to making light hearted comedies. He lets the heavy moments in, but only briefly and just enough to give the lighter moments have their full effectiveness. The dialog works so well and there are many quotable lines.

Summary Judgment of Ferris Bueller's Day Off John Hughes was one of the kings of the 80's in the delivering movies to the youth market and Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one of his crowning achievements. It's a true joy and there are few films that don't stoop to pandering and low brow humor that are has warm and funny as Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Legend

Legend (1985)
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, Tim Curry
Memorable Line: "What is light without dark?"

To be charitable, Legend isn't really a misfire, but more of case of missing the bulls eye by about seven rings. In spite of this, there are still many things about Legend to enjoy.

The Plot of Legend
Legend places us in a fairy tale land with Jack (Cruise) and Lili (Sara) as two of creatures that live in the land of Light, while in the land of the Dark resides the Lord of Darkness (Curry) wanting to blot out the land of light. Jack and Lili, being innocent, frolic and cavort, generally have a good time being in love and everything goes well until Jack takes Lili to see the last two unicorns. These unicorns hold the key for the survival of the land of Light. Lili against all better judgment interferes with the unicorns, making an opening for the Lord of Darkness to destroy the unicorns which will bring eternal darkness to the land of light.

Now, it's up to Jack to save not only his lady-love, but all of mankind. Aided by elves and other hobbit-like creatures Jack has to face off the Lord of Darkness to make it happen.

The Performances, Writing and Direction of Legend
There's something that just doesn't seem quite finished about Legend. One of the major clues to this is the fact that Scott changed the musical score completely before the U.S. release of the movie, switching from Jerry Goldsmith's orchestral score to Tangerine Dream's synth score. But that isn't the only symptom of something not quite right. The story has a disjointedness to it that is jarring at times.

Cruise seems wasted in a role that seems ill-fitted to him. Sara is somewhat forgettable, but Tim Curry, even beneath the fantastic make-up, is quite menacing and imperious.

What saves the movie from the brink of mediocrity is Scott's strength, the visual style of the movie. It's simply a resplendent in it's beauty, both in design and cinematography and that's what makes the movie worth watching.

Summary Judgment on Legend
Despite the problems with Legend, it is a movie worth watching simply for the visuals. The story, while fractured and unpolished, is still compelling to some extent. Whole not a whole hearted endorsement, I can say that Legend is a movie worth your time.

Three O'Clock High

Three O'Clock High (1987)
Director: Phil Joanou
Cast: Casey Siemaszko, Anne Ryan, Richard Tyson, Jeffrey Tambor, Philip Baker Hall
Memorable Line: "You made me mad Jerry and now I'm gunna have to do something to work it off."

* Underrated and Overlooked *
This seems like one of the universal situations for many teenage boys in high school -- the "arranged" fight with the school bully. It happens in every high school. Three O'Clock High has this fertile ground to plow and for the most part makes it work.

The Plot of Three O'Clock High
Jerry Mitchell (Siemaszko) is just your average high school guy, not popular, not nerd, just keeping a low profile in the middle of the pack when, as a write on the school paper, he has to interview the class uber-hood, Buddy Revel (Tyson). Somehow, as with dealing with most psychopaths, Revel takes offense at Jerry and the fight is on -- Three O'Clock in the parking lot. The word spreads like wild-fire and suddenly low-profile Jerry is the talk of the town. But he wants nothing to do with it. Revel is a monster in just about every sense of the word and Jerry is now desperate to do anything to save what little dignity he has and to avoid the fight. Too bad, the fates do everything they can to get Jerry and Buddy together in the parking lot at Three O'Clock High.

The Performances, Writing and Direction of Three O'Clock High
The cast is completely believable, although some of the adults have some cardboard on their edges. Siemaszko is both captivating and pathetic as the wimpy Jerry. We, at first, cringe for him, but ultimately end up rooting for him. Tyson is fantastic as the menacing Buddy Revel. When he speaks, you believe that he's broken a kids neck and beat up a coach.

Joanou's direction is crisp and kinetic, keeping the plot moving and not allowing the viewer to get caught in what could have been slow moments. The energy derived from the script and the direction powers us to the inevitable showdown in that parking lot. Some are not happy with the ending, but this is the stuff that Hollywood movies are made of and has little do with reality.

Summary Judgment on Three O'Clock High
Underrated and mostly forgotten, Three O'Clock High fell off the map before it even made a blip, but I think it is a movie worth your consideration. If you're cruising the cable listings and have nothing to do, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised if you give Three O'Clock High a chance.

Christine

Christine (1983)
Director: John Carpenter Cast: Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, Robert Prosky, Harry Dean Stanton
Memorable line: "There's nothing like being behind the wheel of your own car!"

A boy and his first love. In the case of Christine, the first love is a car and there's something quite unholy about this story of devotion.

The Plot of Christine
Arnie (Gordon) and Dennis (Stockwell) are best friends. Arnie is the nerd and Dennis is the star athlete. Things are status quo until Christine enters. Christine is a 1958 Plymouth who, from the first look at her, looks like her best years are behind her and is well past recovery, but there's something sinister beneath her hood that draws the nerdy Arnie to the car, but it isn't something he recognizes.

Against all better judgment, Arnie buys Christine and takes her to a local garage which is under the auspicious of the incorrigible Mr. Darnell (Prosky) and Arnie begins his love affair with Christine and he starts to rehab her. A dual transformation occur during the rehab project -- Christine returns to splendor and Arnie emerges from his nerdy shell to become more confident, assertive and even a little dangerous - which attracts the new girl to school, the sexy, yet innocent, Leigh (Paul).

The all-new Arnie seems like an improvement at first, but the evolution doesn't cease and Arnie turns from being playfully dangerous to outright dangerous. Christine becomes lethal, too. Leigh is a threat to Christine as Arnie's devotion turns her way and when Leigh almost dies in the car, she refuses to go with Arnie anymore and Arnie is forced to choose -- the car or the girl. The bond is too strong and Arnie sticks with Christine.
All along this evolution, Arnie tangles with local hoods who in retribution from being expelled from school "because of Arnie," decide to trash Christine and do a pretty thorough job. But Christine decides to enact revenge in the most lethal way.

Both Dennis and Leigh decide it's time to break-up the unholy couple before it's too late. But will they be in time.?

The Performances, Writing, and Direction of Christine
Christine is based on the Stephen King bestseller by the same name and this is one of Carpenter's more polished movies. The action scenes are well directed and the character relationships seem genuine and provide a real depth to the movie that could have been missing. Gordon performs well in the ugly duckling emerging role and quite convincing as both the nerd and the man with menace in his eyes. Stockwell and Paul are handed difficult roles as the sympathetic friend and girlfriend, but they pull them off. Stockwell is more convincing than Paul who keeps her acting simple. Prosky eats screen real estate when he's on screen is a well written supporting role.

Carpenter keeps it all moving like a well oiled car all the way up to the end with only some slight hitches in the climax. He does a good job of making the characters real instead of just cardboard cut-outs for the plot. Carpenter intersperses '50's music throughout the movie for great affect.

Also, the special effects with Christine "healing" herself are fantastic.

Summary Judgment on Christine
While Christine will never be considered cinema-art, it does have a solid story beneath it and Carpenter balances out keeping the character's identifiable and likable with the action/horror. With his touches, Christine could have become completely forgettable, but there's a well made film here.

The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Director: Irvin Kershner
Cast: Mark Hammill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams
Memorable Line: "Luke, I'm your father."

Although it is a bridging movie in the Star Wars saga, The Empire Strikes Back is considered by many to the best of the entire series and I must say that I agree.

The Plot of The Empire Strikes Back
The movies starts as we find Luke (Hammill), Han (Ford) and Princess Leia (Fisher) secluded with rebel forces on a frozen planet. After some initial intrigue when Luke encounters a Yeti-like creature, the rebels find themselves ran off the planet by empire forces. Han (andChewie ) and Princess Leia head off with the fleet of rebels, but Luke, directed by the ghostly influence of Obi Wan, detours off to a jungle planet to be mentored in the ways of the force by the mysterious Yoda.

Han pulls out every thing in his bag of tricks to escape the empire's forces and they do finally make their way to a remote sky complex that just happens to be led by Han's old friend,Lando Calrissian (Williams). Meanwhile has started his Jedi studies with Yoda. The tables get turned on Han and empire forces along with Darth Vader close in on Han and Princess Leia. Luke sensing their peril heads off to rescue them and face off with Darth Vader only to have a terrible truth revealed to him.

The Performances, Writing and Direction of The Empire Strikes Back
It seems as if Lucas let go of the reigns of the Star Wars series in this movie. Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasden have crafted the most mature script of all the Star Wars movies and the Kershner's direction supports this maturer and darker take on the series. The actor's performances seem invigorated by Kershner's handling because all of the cast members do their best work in this episode, specifically Ford. My only criticism is that the character of LukeSkywalker seems to come off as petulant at times.

Summary Judgment on The Empire Strikes Back
There's a depth of story and character in this movie that seems lacking across all the other installments. There is time taken to allow the character's and their relationships to breath and mature. Some might find this bridge episode in the series unfulfilling, but I've always found The Empire Strikes Back to be the best of the series.