Doug-135 Reviews

Stuck on You (2003)

Better than the previews lead you to believe.

[7/10 · 12 December 2003]

There is more to recommend this movie than to warn against. I'll go with the warning first. Its too long. You are guaranteed to squirm and begin to check your watch before the warm and fuzzy ending finally arrives.

On the other hand, the Farrelly brothers have crafted a cute movie with a lot of heart and coaxed some great performances out of it's stars. Seymour Cassel steals every scene he is in. Greg Kinnear is spot-on perfect as 1/2 the star character, and Cher does Cher better than anyone alive.

The funny parts were very funny. I'm not sure how they would hold up to repeated viewings as they rely on shock and/or surprise. But I'm ready to go see this one again.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

As good as or even better than the first!

[9/10 · 18 December 2002]

First let me say that any movie is bound to be a pale imitation to the book version. But so far (two out of three) these epic movies are pretty darn good. This one didn't spend any time getting us up-to-speed, it just took off and for three hours, never stopped. The CG Gollum looks quite believable, and I loved the ents. Of course see the movie, but if you have not read the books, make that your priority. The sense of dread, the weariness of the journey and the depth the darkness and the vastness of the woods only comes across thru reading the books and using your own imagination.

Brideshead Revisited (1981)

The best mini-series since Shogun.

[10/10 · 7 June 2002]

This is the finest series I've ever seen on television. The fact that is based upon an excellent novel is only part of the equation. The locations, the music, the acting - everything comes together so beautifully in this project. Who else, besides Evelyn Waugh, writes lines like: "I was taken by the double illusion of familiarity and strangeness." or "A thin bat-squeak of sensuality..." or " I found myself close to heaven in those days."

I must single out Sir John Gielgud. Every time he is on screen, he is hilarious. What a treasure.

Watching this series is a bit like getting lost in reading "Lord of The Rings." You like the 'place' that they take you so much, you don't want it to end. If cable ever offered a Brideshead Revisited channel, I'd be among the first to subscribe.

Memento (2000)

Keeps your interest from end to beginning.

[9/10 · 12 June 2001]

What a refreshing movie. The film makers actually expect us to think! One caution though, go see this one with a friend, because there is no way you can figure it all out yourself. It's one of those movies where, for the next few days after you've seen it, small things will come back to you and suddenly whole segments of the plot will make sense. Repeated viewings are a must.

Good Neighbor Sam (1964)

As Mr. Nurdlinger might say, good clean fun!

[8/10 · 3 May 2001]

I also saw this movie as a child, and fell in love with it. I particularly liked the wacky gadgets Sam would build, and the theme song (by Frank De Vol) is very catchy. One time when it was on TV, I was able to make an audio tape of it on this crummy little portable real-to-real tape recorder my dad gave me. I played it so much that I was able to memorize whole lines of dialog - "you can't alter a man's death-bed request with a lot of childish spying and gossip. Now obviously this man and woman are husband and wife, Mr and Mrs Howard Ebbets, and as such, I set the distribution of the Lagerlof will for 9am tomorrow morning. Now good day..."

It's nice to see Mike Connors in a pre-Mannix role, and you can never get enough of Louis Nye. Edward G Robinson does a good job of playing the wealthy dairyman, Mr Nurdlinger. Plus his participation gives the whole production a needed bit of weight. This is the kind of movie they're talking about when they say - "they don't make 'em like that anymore." And I say, it's our loss.

Gladiator (2000)

No big deal.

[4/10 · 1 May 2001]

This is a good movie for watching on TV if there are no Star Trek reruns on. Heck, I've even seen some infomercials that were more entertaining than this. It sure wasn't "Best Picture" material.

Wild Wild West (1999)

What were they thinking?

[1/10 · 30 April 2001]

They took my favorite TV show. They hired Kevin Kline. They spent 170 million. And this is what they came up with? Why?

Local Hero (1983)

A gentle, fun movie.

[9/10 · 30 April 2001]

This is the kind of movie you watch with a smile on your face. There are so many fun, or cute scenes throughout. But the movie has a bite too. At the end, when Peter Riegert's character ends up back in his apartment in Dallas with all the noise, the lights, the people and the pollution in contrast to the town he just left, it really gets to me.

Besides all the quirky characters and beautiful scenes, you have to watch for Burt Lancaster's parts. Each time he's on the screen it's magical.

Atlantic City (1980)

They don't get much better than this.

[10/10 · 30 April 2001]

Susan Sarandon, Burt Lancaster and directed by Louis Malle. You just can't go wrong.

I don't know how much older Burt Lancaster was than Susan Sarandon (And please, don't e-mail me the answer as I don't really care. I could figure it out too you know.) but the chemistry between these two, especially from Burt, had me convinced that these two were capable of having a real affair.

Burt pretty much steals every scene he's in, he's that good. But I also like the story - about an aging town and the aging characters in it who are holding on to past glory, yet brave enough to make one last stand.

For another great performance by Burt Lancaster, check out "Local Hero."

Danger Lights (1930)

A must-see for rail fans.

[8/10 · 30 April 2001]

I was lucky enough to tape a copy of this once when the local public television station ran it (no commercials!) cause it sure is hard to find. Its not the kind of movie you watch for the story (though it has one) or for it's great acting (its about as bad as "Plan 9 from Outer Space") but if you enjoy trains and a look back at all the work that went on behind the scenes to keep them running, this is the movie for you. One of only a few movies shot in "Natural Vision." I would love to see this projected in a theater where the large vistas would rally come alive.

Driven (2001)

Do they give awards for the loudest movie?

[1/10 · 27 April 2001]

What a mess. There isn't enough here to make a decent music video, let alone a full length motion picture. What happened to the characters? The story? Of course if there was a story, you couldn't hear it over the overblown background noise and loud music. I'm still trying to figure out what, in an empty stadium, can make so much noise??? Gena Gershon was a total waste, same with Burt Reynolds. The best acting came from Til Schweiger, and he sure didn't set that bar any too high. The one scene where they go racing through downtown Chicago was fun. But come on, after the two finally stop, they just stand there and have a nice leisurely chat on the shoulder of the road and no police? Plus, are these cars just sitting there with the keys in 'em waiting for a joyrider to come along and just drive them off? One last question, I wonder if they had to pay all the T & A women for their "efforts" in making this film?

Fernwood Tonight (1977)

One of the best things to come out of the '70s.

[25 April 2001]

Other than Monty Python, I can't think of too many shows where I would actually hurt from laughing so hard, but this was one of those shows.

I think there were a lot of elements that made this show so great: all the characters were wonderful, and I like how they were so earnest in the way they went about doing their show in the small town of Fernwood Ohio, the guests who happened along and got their 15 minutes of fame momentarily, the non-PC way Barth and Jerry conversed about pretty much any topic or person, and of course, Happy Kyne and the Merthmakers.

I'd like to see the shows again to see if they were all as good as I remember.

Rushmore (1998)

A dark comedy that succeeds.

[9/10 · 9 March 2001]

A great dark comedy featuring solid performances from both it's new star Jason Schwartzman (as Max Fisher) and veteran Bill Murray (as Herman Blume.) Max Fisher is a visionary trapped in the body of a 10th grader. His inability to attend to matters at hand get him expelled from his private prep school. He also enters into a battle for the affection of his teacher with his now mentor Herman Blume. Eventually Max matures, a little, and is able to deals with the harsh realities of the world

Waiting for Guffman (1996)

Don't wait to see this movie.

[10/10 · 9 March 2001]

The title alludes to the Samuel Beckett play "Waiting for Godot," in which the protagonists engage in absurdist acts and dialogue while waiting for the elusive character who will purportedly be their salvation. Things aren't much different in Blaine Missouri when local thespian Corky St Claire (Christopher Guest) stages his play "Red, White and Blaine" for the town's sesquicentennial celebration. The proceedings are filmed documentary-style, a la "Spinal Tap," the brilliant 1985 rockumentary spoof, which Guest also starred in and co-wrote. The tone in this movie is much kinder to the characters though, and you will want to sit though several screenings to catch all the delicious jabs. Also, don't skip the credits.

Marvin's Room (1996)

Way more enjoyable than you'd think.

[7/10 · 9 March 2001]

This is a surprising movie. Considering the subject matter - sickness, old age and mental illness - the film turns out to be very funny and warm. This is due to no small measure by the excellent performances of some of the best actors in Hollywood. Hume Cronyn, whom we've come to expect only good things from, is effective and moving without saying one intelligible thing! Leonardo DiCaprio is perfect as the disaffected son. But the strong, convincing work by Meryl Streep and Diane Keaton as long-estranged sisters carries the movie along. Two more treats are the performances of Robert De Niro as a befuddled doctor and Gwen Verdon as a slightly-off-center aunt.

Daylight (1996)

See if anything else is on first.

[3/10 · 9 March 2001]

Think "Poseidon Adventure" in the Hudson Tunnel. Sylvester Stallone is Kit Latura, an ex-emergency medical chief. He is able to redeem himself when a bizarre traffic accident traps the usual bunch of formula characters in the Hudson Tunnel. One wonders what would happen if Bruce Willis or Steven Segal were among the people trapped.

This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

A movie to watch again and again.

[10/10 · 9 March 2001]

It's not hard to be the best "Rocumentary" ever made if the category only contains one entry. In this case though, Rob Reiner's dead-on spoof is about as good as it can get. Thanks in no small measure to the excellent performances of the members of his invented "world's loudest band." The breath and depth of Reiner's delightful vision is endless. Every time you watch you'll discover something new. Catch the DVD with hours of additional dialogue, most of it made up by the actors as they went along.

Citizen Kane (1941)

This is one of the best movies ever made.

[10/10 · 9 March 2001]

Listed as one of the best movies ever made and #1 on the American Film Institute's list of greatest movies, this is a remarkable movie for a number of reasons. Wells made this movie when he was only in his mid twenties! RKO studio's gave him full run of the studio's facilities, yet he'd never made a movie in his life. Most of the cast were friends of his from his radio days in New York. The obvious real-life Kane, William Randolph Hearst, did everything in his (considerable) power to stop the movie. He nearly succeeded. Refusing to show the movie at any of his theaters, it was could only be seen at a few RKO movie houses. Had the movie played on more screens at its release, it would have been much more successful. Wells won an Oscar for the screenplay (his only one) but credit must be shared with Herman Mankiewicz.

Love and Death on Long Island (1997)

Top notch acting.

[8/10 · 8 March 2001]

A dusty old British writer Giles De'Ath (John Hurt) lives his life in blissful ignorance of the technology age, until he stumbles into the wrong cinema by mistake. Instead of an E. M. Forster movie, he sees a teen flick starring Ronnie Bostock ( Jason Priestley.) Before he can exit in disgust, he is stopped dead in his tracks by the big-screen image of this young teen idol. Later he discovers he can continue his infatuation by watching Bostock at home, since all his movies are on tape. But this requires an embarrassing trip to a video store, which leads to a VCR which, naturally, leads to a television. Soon he has a scrapbook started with pictures cut out of fan magazines. Eventually Giles makes to the States where he hopes to meet young Bostock. Great performances by all, especially Hurt and Priestley.

Casablanca (1942)

Unforgettable.

[10/10 · 8 March 2001]

Thank goodness this movie isn't associated with a specific holiday or it would be as over-played as "It's a Wonderful Life." Members of the cast and crew have said that working on this picture was just like any other - no one had any idea that it would go on to become such a classic. Even while shooting it, changes were being made - the famous ending where Claude Rains and Humphrey Bogart walk off into the fog was not in the original script. (TV's The Simpsons even featured an alternative ending in one of their shows!) The plot involves wartime refugees gathering in Morocco hoping to obtain scarce exit visas to Lisbon. All of the elements - production, story, music, script and direction are woven together to create a motion picture masterpiece. But more than anything it is the rogues gallery of supporting players that makes this picture so memorable.

The Hunt for Red October (1990)

One movie I'll stop and watch when I happen to catch it.

[10/10 · 26 October 2000]

I can count the number of really, really good movies that I've ever seen on just two hands - and this is most certainly one of them. One real proof is that when I'm channel surfing, if I happen across this movie, I have to watch it to the end. What's to like? Well, what's not to like. Great cast, great story line, a nice but bitter-sweet ending and nonstop excitement. Sean Connery is excellent at the maverick Russian Captain Marco Ramius. I like his line that goes something like " there's some things in here that don't react too well to bullets." An excellent Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan then does a pretty fair imitation of this line minutes later. The rest of cast is up to the task of playing the usual characters found in this sort of movie. The shoot first ask questions later commanders, the unnaturally gifted radio operator, the doubtful-yet-willing-to-listen "buckaroo." If you have never seen it, put it at the top of your list to rent. If you have seen it, well, I know you'll be watching it again, I sure will.

Magnolia (1999)

Too long, but quite a story.

[8/10 · 22 August 2000]

If you enjoy Robert Altman movies, you're sure to like this one. Lots of storylines going on all at once, and some even come together once in a while - I loved it when all the characters are singing the same song. At three hours eight minutes its quite long, but I never lost interest in the movie. I do have one request though. Could someone explain the frogs to me?

Eye of the Beholder (1999)

What the hell was that?

[1/10 · 9 May 2000]

I've heard of films being shot before the final script is done, but usually by the time they shoot the ending, they have their script. It didn't happen in this movie. It just ends. Even overlooking the obvious holes and messy sub-plots, this movie was a big waste of time, and a Rolls Royce.

The Insider (1999)

Holds it's own against All the President's Men. Silkwood or The China Syndrome.

[9/10 · 17 April 2000]

Sure, Russell Crowe did a good job in portraying Jeffery Wigand, but the real star for me was Christopher Plummer playing Mike Wallace. Not that he was Mike Wallace in the way that Jim Carrey was Andy Kaufman, but his attitude and presence was letter perfect. It reminded me of Jack Nicholson's cameo in Broadcast News - self important, pompous and so sure of himself.

Weekend at Bernie's (1989)

Right up there with 1941 as worst movie ever made.

[1/10 · 22 February 2000]

Its hard to believe they would make a movie this lame, let alone a sequel. My wife and I watched in stunned silence as scene after scene of uncomfortable crude attempts at (I'm guessing here) humor went by. I used to think 1941 was the biggest waste of film stock, talent and energy, but this has to be right up there as worst movie ever made.