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Reviews
Out of Rosenheim (1987)
A Film for "Thinking Men and Women" - Not Kids
This movie has been one of my favorites for a long time. In fact, I was first inspired to watch it only after listening to a CD of the soundtrack. I think one reason the kids don't "get it" is that the film is really a character study of adult behavior, without the typical gimmicks that sell movies nowadays: hand-to-hand combat, car chases, gunfire, million-dollar stunts, and bombastic sex. I think that this movie appeals primarily to people who watch a movie to learn something--about themselves or about human nature. And it delivers, providing a wonderful expose' of the intricacies and development of interpersonal relationships. The unusual setting of the desert café, along with the quirkiness of the characters and the outstanding musical score, just add spice to the sauce. Definitely a film for "thinking men and women," it takes some effort to "get it" - something most of today's moviegoers are unwilling to expend.
Taken (2008)
More Like James Bond Meets Death Wish
The more often I see this film, the better it gets (and it was terrific the first time I saw it!). The acting is first rate, with Liam Neeson perfectly cast and giving an outstanding performance as the ex-spy Dad on a rampage to rescue his kidnapped daughter from euro sex merchants. After the opening set-up, the action is non-stop and amply displays Neeson's training and an athletic skill that belies his late-fifties age. Written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, the dialog is crisp and compelling. All in all, a wonderful action film that has you pulling for the protagonist from beginning to end. Although many other reviewers cite the similarities to the Bourne franchise, they are probably too young to fully appreciate how closely the flow of the film parallels the Death Wish series, particularly in the efficient and dispassionate manner in which Neeson's character dispatches "the enemy" to meet their maker. Overall, a great movie you can watch again and again.
The Jack Benny Program: Jack Hires Opera Singer in Rome (1957)
Includes A Very Early James Bond Sighting
I have been a great fan of Jack Benny since his days on black and white television, as well as listening to his radio program rebroadcasts on "Old Time" XM Radio. I saw this episode last night as part of the local MyNetworkTV/Retro Television Network programming. As usual, Jack is appropriately funny, stingy, flabbergasted, exasperated, and frequently at a loss for words. What made this episode exceptional for me was seeing a very young Sean Connery pop on-screen as a porter lugging baggage! The future Mr. Bond....James Bond....had a comedic line or two, which he delivered in a manner befitting a wisecracking baggage-handler. Nonetheless, this very early James Bond sighting (1957) - albeit brief - made this episode of "The Jack Benny Program" worthwhile viewing to say the least.
Naked City: Button in the Haystack (1961)
Easily My Favorite "Naked City" Episode
I first viewed this series on television as a young child. I liked it then because of its "big city" setting and outstanding musical score. As a "boomer" adult, I've been collecting the series on DVD, and I believe I now have all the box sets and the single (four-episode) issues. I just viewed this episode yesterday, and it is easily my favorite. While viewing the other episodes (more than 50), I was struck by the extraordinary acting displayed by the recurring cast, and the series' ability to attract stellar motion picture/television talent. While this episode doesn't have some of the "big name" actors, its guest stars of Albert Salmi, Peggy Ann Garner, and Joseph Bernard definitely deliver the goods as the tortured ex-con on parole, his wife, and Assistant DA, respectively. The two things that make this episode my favorite are its main plot thread (tracking the gun), and the focus on Detective Flint's humanity and sense of justice. The more I watched this series on DVD, the more I was impressed by Paul Burke's acting ability: He is truly outstanding. All in all, I found this to be a wonderful episode that epitomizes the very best elements of the series. A special treat was the increased degree of voice-over narration by Lawrence Dobkin. Anyone who has seen this series knows who he is, even though they might not know his name. He's the guy who – at the end of every episode – delivers one of the most memorable tag lines in the history of television: "There are eight million stories in the Naked City. This has been one of them." While the IMDb cast list shows Dobkin as the uncredited narrator, it was neat to see him briefly on-screen in this episode (uncredited once again) playing a factory worker.