Quarantine movie reviews part 3

Dark Crimes (2018)

This is a dreadfully dull murder procedural. The only interesting thing about it is that it stars Jim Carrey as the detective. It's so effing bizarre that Carrey took this part, which is relentlessly grim and dark. I'll give him credit that he really commits to this thing, but I wish he had taken this chance on a better film. 

The Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson (2020)

Well, this is in poor taste. A sort of fan fiction version of the murders, theorizing that they were actually the work of a later arrested serial killer (played by a rough looking Nick Stahl). Mena Suvari plays Nicole and is fine. I just like seeing her in things. The dialogue is lame. Taryn Manning gives an embarrassing performance as Faye Resnick. This same director did a similarly reviled movie about Sharon Tate starring Hilary Duff, and I do remain kinda curious about that one. 

Fatal Attraction (1987)

Fatal Attraction was the first of the Michael Douglas "wronged by scary powerful women" trilogy, followed by Basic Instinct and Disclosure. And it's probably the best actual movie of the three. I was surprised to see that it not only was one of the top grossing movies of 1987, but also got some Oscar attention, because usually movies like this don't get that attention. The movie is very familiar to me because I've seen a lot of the ripoffs and some of the rip-offs I think are actually better films (Fear comes to mind). But this is a really solid example of this kind of film. Once you get past the absurd premise of Michael Douglas cheating on the gorgeous Anne Archer for the scary and frankly kind of ugly looking Glenn Close, this movie really works. Close is good in the role, but come on.

Killing Gunther (2017)

A mockumentary written and directed by Taran Killan, about a group of assassins (including Killan, Bobby Moynihan, Hannah Simone) teaming up to take down a legendary assassin (Arnold Schwarzenegger). It doesn't quite hold together all the way and gets repetitive, but it has some laughs. Arnold doesn't even show up until the last 20 minutes but it's worth the wait. He is very funny, a reminder that he used to be pretty good in comedies.

The Oath (2018)

This is basically like The Hunt, only done as a suburban comedy. Ike Barinholtz (who wrote and directed) and Tiffany Haddish are a married couple hosting Thanksgiving dinner with their politically diverse family and they clash. There's also this plot that involves everyone being asked to sign a loyalty oath to the president. The movie basically just devolves into one scene after another of characters yelling at each other. 

After Hours (1985)

One of Martin Scorsese's less iconic films. l really enjoyed it. It's one guy's bad luck misadventures through one night in New York. It's fun seeing Scorsese do something more comedic, but with all the same gritty atmosphere of a Taxi Driver. Interesting cast, with a gorgeous young Rosanna Arquette, both of the McAllister parents years before Home Alone, and even Cheech and Chong. 

Colors (1988)

Really rock solid cop drama set in LA. It has tropes that were well worn even then, with Robert Duvall as the veteran cop partnered with Sean Penn's young hotshot. It also has Don Cheadle in one of his first roles. I didn't mind the cliches cause it's really well acted (this might  be my favorite Duvall performance) and filmed. Last act wasn't quite up to the first 2. 

Saturday Night Fever (1977)

I liked this a lot too. The film that made John Travolta a star. Obviously the whole thing is dated as hell (it uses Disco Duck unironically) but it's a great film of its time. It was a lot darker in spots that I expected (Grease this ain't). 

No Way Out (1987)

Really good modern noir with naval commander Kevin Costner trying to race to keep from getting pinned for the murder of Sean Young, who is secretary of defense Gene Hackman's mistress. This one really turns the screws expertly. This is one of Costner's best movie star performances. 

Slap Shot (1977)

Cult classic about a minor league hockey team best known for their fighting. I was always curious how the hell Paul Newman wound up in a film like this, but it turns out this was apparently one of his favorite films he did. It's not one of the great sports movies, but it's solid. 

Midnight Run (1988)

In 1988 the idea of Robert Deniro in a comedy was novel. He's a bounty hunter transporting criminal Charles Grodin across country, with various feds and other crooks in chase. There are a lot of other mismatched buddy movies like this, but this is a solid version of one. Deniro is good. I've really never liked Grodin.

She's Having A Baby (1988)

The worst of the John Hughes directed films of the 80s for sure. This one just does not have likable characters. It's just a lot of yuppie whining mostly. And I'm not sure I've ever seen an on screen couple with worse chemistry than Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern. 

The Untouchables (1987)

Really liked this one. Just a big star big entertainment. Kevin Costner's Elliot Ness and Sean Connery's beat cop (plus a few others) team up to take down Al Capone (Robert Deniro in a full on scene chewer). Great script by David Mamet, excellent direction by Brian DePalma. And Connery is in peak form in the role that won him an Oscar. 

Just Before I Go (2015)

Seann William Scott plans to kill himself, but first he goes back to his home town to settle some old scores. Courtney Cox directed this and it's okay. Scott has proven to be a solid dramatic actor. The.always divine Olivia Thirlby shows up as the predictable love interest. 

White Orchid (2018)

Stayed on the Thirlby vibe with this one, where she helps the police investigate the murder of a mysterious woman. It's got some Hitchcock-ian style to it, but it's too dull to really engage. And it has one of those annoying "here, let me explain the entire plot to you" monologues at the end.