Reviews
Perfidia (2014)
What a silly piece of crap
I like watching movies in Spanish with English subtitles, as it makes me think I am learning Spanish. But this movie is the silliest horror movie I have ever watched. It has a lot of opera music playing in the background which just sounds pretentious. It makes (some) sense until about halfway in, when it just descends into the two leads running around the forest, and shots of trees and the ground. I should have been warned going in, hopefully this review will warn someone, I wish someone had warned me. Huge waste of time, I can't believe I watched this turd to the end.
Ironweed (1987)
Great Movie! Worth seeking out if you like Tom Waits
Another one of my all-time favorite films that hasn't been released on DVD. This is not your typical Hollywood movie- it's more literate and requires a bit of thought. It's not upbeat. However, it's one of Nicholson's greatest moments, much better than the schlock he's done lately. It takes place in Depression-era upstate New York, and is based on the great novel of the same name. Nicholson plays a down-and-out ex-baseball player who's haunted by the ghosts of men he's killed. Streep plays his alcoholic girlfriend, and Tom Waits (in a great role for him), plays a dying alcoholic. Did I say this movie was downbeat? It won't appeal to everyone, but if you have a brain and are interested in the Depression years you should see this movie. It's still relevant today. I wish great movies like this one would be released on DVD! It really doesn't have much of a regular plot, but is made of memorable vignettes. It amazes me that someone can write a bad review of this film, but I can see how an average viewer might not understand this movie or be put off by it. However, if you like "art-house" movies and/or are tired of movies with a lot of guns and car chases, give this one a try. I bet you won't be disappointed! This movie is about how life really is, not about how Hollywood pretends it is.
Neighbors (1981)
A Favorite
I read Belushi's Biography and was surprised to learn of "Neighbors", his last movie. I tracked it down just out of curiosity, as I'm also a Berger fan, and had read the novel that the movie is based on. I liked the novel, and wondered about the movie. Although the movie does depart from the novel, it's a great movie in its own right. It's not the sort of humor that everyone would enjoy, and it does poke fun at suburban America. In a lot of ways, I think this is an even better film than the celebrated "Blues Brothers"- but it's more subtle and less of a cartoon than that one. Belushi and Akroyd are great in this film, and it's very funny. I found myself laughing out loud. I wish someone would release it on DVD so more people would get the chance to watch it.