By Saul Bass - http://www.cinemasterpieces.com/92010/mcl51.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/inde...curid=25518696
The Man With the Golden Arm - (1955)
Frank Sinatra's Frankie Machine is called "the man with the golden arm" because of his poker dealing exploits, not because he shoots so much heroin into his arm people figure it's worth a fortune. That's one thing I learned from finally watching this. Cool music (daddy-o) and a pretty brave early effort about drug addiction. It's Frankie's friends and acquaintance's who continually drag him down into the dirt - no matter how hard he tries to get clean. Fine noirish drama - in the public domain, so you see it everywhere nowadays. Good performance from Sinatra. Opening credits tune was used for the end credits of
Lipstick on Your Collar.
6.5/10
By The poster art can or could be obtained from Warner Bros.., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4968431
The Color Purple - (1985)
This was kind of moving, and often brutal. These sagas that span many decades aren't usually my thing - but Whoopi Goldberg, who I haven't really liked in anything (okay - maybe
Ghost), is incomparably brilliant getting to play the wonderful character of Celie Johnson. This was nominated for 11 Oscars but won none (that must be some kind of record) - and that says as more about this film than I can. Good enough to nominate - no doubt - and good enough to watch - for sure - but just short of brilliance. Should have won the Oscar for make-up though - this is the best ageing of actors I've ever seen. It really looks like they go from teens/20s to 60s and 70s. I enjoyed it heaps, but I can't see myself going back to it again, despite it moving me. It didn't have any 'magic' in it except for Goldberg's performance. The way she's treated by her father and husband Albert (Danny Glover) is so cruel and sickening it defies comprehension.
7.5/10
By POV - Impawards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18685756
The Secret of My Success - (1987)
It doesn't get more 80's than this - a middling vehicle for Michael J. Fox where he does a 'Kramer' and just adopts a job, so to speak. He also adopts his bosses wife into bed, and adopts his bosses mistress in the same manner. The sort of comedy where there's a mistaken identity and plenty of hijinks involving people jumping into bed with the wrong person, liberal use of the saxophone in the score and Michael's squeaky-voiced comic pratfalls. If not for his charisma, this would be a '2'.
5/10
By 20th Century Fox - Movieposter, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7630142
Young Guns - (1988)
The Western wasn't quite back in vogue yet when this was made, but it's cast made it a success. I find the plot just jumps around a bit too much as this ensemble cast is involved in gun battle after gun battle. Not up to the standard of Westerns that came in the era before it, and not up to that of the era of Westerns that came after and including
Unforgiven. A lot of the time the characters seem just as confused as I was in what was going on and why - other than the fact that the reckless Billy the Kid keeps making matter worse for everyone by shooting first and never minding the complications. A lot of sly winks when he repeatedly crosses paths with Pat Garratt, who is played by John Wayne's son Patrick. A lot of quality in the form of Terence Stamp and Jack Palance is included to back up a bit of a swirling mess. Action-packed, but missing style and substance.
5/10