Good lord, it’s been way too long!
Let’s get back to cleaning out this old backlog.
‘Goon’ (2011)
When it comes to comedy films, I’m like Batman, I have one rule: make me laugh.
That’s not to say I’ll put up with anything for the sake of laughter, I can only take so much pure, unfiltered stupidity, but I’ll give a good bit of leeway if I feel like the comedy is succeeding.
‘Goon’ made me laugh, and in that sense, it passed the test. It’s not perfect, I wish a couple of key roles had different actors, but Seann William Scott and Liev Schreiber really make the movie in the end, and, for a low-budget comedy, the hockey scenes are done surprisingly well.
It’ll get compared to ‘Slap Shot’, and that’s fine, although they are very different stories; both have a crass, brutal (and bloody, in the case of ‘Goon’) minor league charm to them.
Remember, fighting solves everything.
Rating: ★★★½
‘Tremors’ (1990)
I’m disappointed to say this, but, ‘Tremors’ has not held up to what I remember from watching it on cable many, many times as a child, despite now having seen it on the big screen.
That said, it still commands quite a bit of respect.
I guess you could call it a horror-comedy, but the comedy doesn’t come though quite as much now. As a creature feature though, it’s pretty top notch. The practical effects still look great, and, as pointed out by our special guest, for a “scary movie” that takes place almost entirely during daylight, it’ll creep you out.
Speaking of special guests, Kevin Bacon dropped in after the movie for a Q&A. For someone of his celebrity, I found him to be most gracious and humble, as he answered every question genuinely and politely (even when some goofball suggested he should start a brand called “Kevin’s Bacon” *GROAN*). What stuck out to me most is when he stated that at a certain point in his career he made a decision that three factors would no longer affect his decision whether or not to take a part: the size of the paycheck, the size of the role, and the size of the budget for the movie. I’m not sure when exactly he made this decision, but if you look at his body of work the past 25 years, it certainly rings true.
Rating: ★★★½
The man himself:
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014)
Anyone with even a passing knowledge of 80s cinema has most likely run into a Cannon picture at some point in their life, even if by complete accident. I know I had seen my fair share even before Alamo Drafthouse took a month to celebrate them, but to get a glimpse behind the schlock and into the madness of Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus was truly revealing as well as entertaining. Frankly, I wish ‘Electric Boogaloo’ was a TV miniseries, because after a hundred minutes, I still wanted to know so much more.
Like many Cannon films themselves, this is not one to watch with children present (NSFW, as they say), but whether you have memories to revisit (fond or otherwise), or are just looking for a documentary that’ll keep your interest, I highly recommend this one.
Rating: ★★★★☆
‘The Third Man’ (1949)
This is a movie I watched a handful of years ago and definitely did not fully appreciate. Maybe my exceptions weren’t probably calibrated, but I just didn’t get it.
Having seen it again, and in the proper setting, I now understand why ‘The Third Man’ is considered an all-time great.
For one thing, and this was pointed out to me before seeing it again, it’s funnier than most people seem to realize (like, actually laugh out loud funny). In addition to its film noir hallmarks, I’d classify ‘The Third Man’ as a black comedy; call it proto-Coen Brothers, if you will (not that Joseph Cotten would ever be mistaken for “The Dude”)
If I have one negative thing to say about it, I think the climax goes on for a bit to long, but it’s a small price to pay for a classic piece of cinema history. If you’ve not seen it already, check it out, and if you think it’s overrated, give it a second chance.
Rating: ★★★★½
Breakin’ (1984)
In all honestly, this is more interesting as a cultural artifact than as an actual movie, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t recommend it. If you’re interested in breakdancing, the early days of hip hop (a young Ice-T is featured throughout), Christopher McDonald (aka Shooter McGavin) in a non-antagonist role, or uncredited Jean-Claude Van Damme cameos, then you’ll definitely want to check this out.
It’s fun, it’s only ninety minutes, and it’s got the low budget Cannon charm.
Rating: ★★★☆☆