Castle Rock
This much touted release actually lives up to its hype by surpassing all previous
Stephen King movies in every way except scariness. In fact, King's first real drama
will make you feel like you just had your emotional nuts wrenched in Freud's shop.
The plot, despite relying heavily on flashbacks, is surprisingly smooth and
believable, with a subtle but decisive ending. Decent supporting performances from
Jennifer Jason Leigh and Christopher Plummer enhance Kathy Bates's portrayal of
the title character, which is exceptional in spite of her unsettling resemblance to
Joe Don Baker in Cape Fear. In a lot of ways, this movie is everything The Prince of
Tides was not, and unless you're looking for Cujo Rides Again, you're sure to
ceremoniously pin your ticket stub to your bedroom bulletin board after the show.
Amazing Movie Chain: Kathy Bates--Shadows and Fog--Woody Allen--Hannah and
Her Sisters--Carrie Fisher--STAR WARS--Obi Wan Kenobi
October
Linda Fiorentino plays Bridget, a coveted black widow of a woman, who teases her
mate into seduction and annihilates his life in the process. Her cocky husband
orchestrates a drug deal that will make the two financially secure for life, but then
makes the big mistake of slapping her at one point for being such an unmitigated
bitch. Bridget takes revenge by grabbing the money, and her husband reacts by
wanting to kill her in the most sadistic way possible. Along the way, she entices a
young, indescribably naive moron to do her and do her husband in. Packed to the
hilt with old-fashioned matrimonial bitterness and caustic black humor, The Last
Seduction will leave filmgoers sore for days, but in a good way.
Amazing Movie Chain: Linda Fiorentino--AFTER HOURS--Cheech Marin--UP IN SMOKE--Tom Skerrit--ALIEN--Sigourney Weaver--HANOVER STREET--Harrison Ford--STAR WARS--Obi Wan Kenobi
Through its quirky trailers, this Austrailian "feel good" flick billed itself as off-beat
enough to entice legions across this sweet land of liberty to shell out seven clams to
revel in its fun. Apparently, though, the Austrailian definition of "off-beat comedy"
includes suicide, adultery, self-loathing, and a healthy dose of cancer. Whew! That
sure is wacky! This movie, which maps out Muriel's (Toni Collette) struggles to
come of age, teeters on the border between ridiculously humorous and just plain
ridiculous. What more can you expect from a bunch of criminals than fat chicks in
spandex and more ABBA than a roller-skating party?
Amazing Movie Chain: Some chick who looked exactly like Juliette Lewis--WHAT"S EATING GILBERT GRAPE--Johnny Depp--DON JUAN DEMARCO--Marlon Brando--APOCALYPSE NOW--Harrison Ford--STAR WARS--Obi Wan Kenobi
Tank Girl is a flaccid attempt to make a cult movie. Evidently, its producers had too short notice to come up with the creative direction of the film, so they leaned on "freaky" animation sequences and the type of silly costume design that would have resulted had The Road Warrior been produced by MTV. Pathetic dialogue, limp villians, and a plotline as believable as a pregnant nun all make this one a money-waster.
Amazing Movie Chain: Malcom McDowell--BLUE THUNDER--Roy Scheider--THE FRENCH CONNECTION--Gene Hackman--THE CONVERSATION--Harrison Ford--STAR WARS--Obi Wan Kenobi
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