Tag: John Heard

Quick Thoughts – Christmas Classics

They just don’t make ’em like they used to.

Gremlins (1984)

June 8th, 1984 saw the release of one of the greatest movies ever; a comedy-horror classic that’s had an indelible impact on pop culture.  Naturally, I’m taking about Ghost Busters, but Gremlins was released on the same day, and is a very strong effort in its own right, not to mention it has one of the best title sequences ever thanks to Darlene Love.

Written by Chris Columbus (who we’ll come back to shortly) and directed by Joe Dante (who I’ve praised before), Gremlins is another one of those 80s movies that you couldn’t do today.  Sure, everybody loves a cuddly little hero, but can you imagine the audience reaction to the 3 Rules (“Uh, they don’t make any sense; nitpick, nitpick, nitpick!”)?  Or imagine how much action schlock they’d pack in since the Mogwai/Gremlins would be CGI (and probably look terrible)?  Or how awful the comedy would be?

Gremlins works because the comedic elements and serious elements are in good balance, because it uses animatronic creatures which allows the actors to give more natural performances, and because we know who’s good, who’s bad, and what their motivations are.

Also, Jonathan Banks (aka “Mike” from Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul) is the Sheriff’s Deputy.

Rating: ★★★★½

 

Home Alone (1990)

It’s amazing how much your experience of a movie can change over time.

I’ve always enjoyed Home Alone.  I remember myself and a couple other guys would play Home Alone during preschool fun time or whatever (don’t ask me how it worked, my memory isn’t that good).  When you’re a child and you watch Home Alone, you totally want to enjoy the run of the house like Kevin McCallister, not to mention take down some burglars with some sweet booby traps.

Now that I’m older, I appreciate the sentimental moments a lot more.  I mean, what kid can really appreciate the Old Man Marley subplot?  But, as a mature adult, it gets me all emotional.

Written by John Hughes (who wrote way more movies than he directed) and directed by Chris Columbus (remember him?),  Home Alone is simply a wonderful family comedy that also uses violent slapstick to full effect, and is best enjoyed while eating some plain cheese pizza.

If you haven’t seen it, what are you waiting for, ya filthy animal!?

Rating: ★★★★½

 

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

I hear a lot of people dismiss this movie as saccharine schmaltz.

That was my impression as well, until I actually went to see it.

There’s no doubt that It’s a Wonderful Life is an emotional film designed to tug at your heartstrings, but what makes it so successful in that regard is that it’s not afraid to get real, and to go places most movies wouldn’t go.  I mean, how many “family movies” made today would ever show a main character preparing to kill himself?  My guess is not too many.

Sure, I can understand someone seeing the end of It’s a Wonderful Life out of context and thinking it’s way over the top, but when you’ve been there for two hours and experienced the depth of the story, and the sacrifice involved in George Bailey’s life, my friends, that is an ending well earned.

So, please, do yourself a favor and give this movie another chance next Christmastime.

Rating: ★★★★½

Quick Thoughts – Autumn Round-Up, Part 2

In November, I took a week’s vacation in Colorado, and I got to see a couple of classic movies at the Alamo Drafthouse in Littleton while I was out there.

After Hours (1985)

You know that Family Guy bit where Stewie keeps demanding Brian to name more songs named after girls?  If you did a similar exercise with movies directed by Martin Scorsese, I don’t imagine too many people would name After Hours.

Obscurity aside, the movie is essentially a version of Homer’s Odyssey played out over a night in SoHo.  All our protagonist (played by Griffin Dunne) wants is a little fun on a date with a girl he just met, and, once that fails, to just get home; but, despite all efforts, he can’t do it, and things only get worse as the night goes on.  It’s the sort of meandering story that you think you have figured out until you don’t.

Honestly, I liked the movie well enough once it was over, but I don’t really see myself revisiting it in the future.  I think I got more enjoyment out of spotting all the familiar faces (the cast is quite expansive) than the story itself, which is not to say I wouldn’t recommend it.

If you’re into darker comedies, New York-heavy movies, or are a Scorsese completionist, definitely give After Hours a whirl.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

 

The Shining (1980)

I’m sure I’ll take a lot of heat for this, but I think Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is vastly overrated.

Is the cinematography excellent?  Of course; that’s a Kubrick staple.

Is it sometimes successful at being legitimately creepy?  Yes.

Does it work overall as a movie?  No.

I don’t need to get into plot points or performances; I’m sure if you’re reading this then you’ve either seen the movie already or are familiar enough with it through cultural osmosis.

What it all comes down to is that the character of Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson playing Jack Nicholson) as written and portrayed in this film begins the movie as a jerk, and ends the movie as a jerk.  Regardless of any involvement of supernatural forces, he is essentially the same character throughout, which is to say he effectively has no arc, and if he doesn’t have an arc, then there is no real tension, and what is horror without tension?

All of this is not to say Kubrick is not an all-time great filmmaker.  Clearly, he is.  It’s just that in this particular area, he’s not as effective as, say, Alfred Hitchcock.

Rating: ★★½