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Reviews
Class Action (1991)
One of the most realistic film portrayals of corporations & their attorneys...
You won't see a better film depiction of greedy corporations that value profits more than people. It is also an honest representation of soulless corporate defense attorneys who prostitute themselves for their corporate client. They will do anything it takes, legal or illegal, in order to win the case and keep their client happy as well as keep their millions in yearly legal fees rolling in.
Of course, it is a dramatic movie, not a documentary, and not everything is realistic. It is difficult to believe that a small boutique law firm such as Gene Hackman's has the resources to quixotically battle the defense firm representing the defendant auto manufacturer. Also, Hackman being opposed by his daughter strains credulity. It may have worked in a comedy when Tracy & Hepburn were husband and wife on opposing sides (Adam's Rib) but here it is a bit of a distraction. But it may have been necessary to humanize the film rather than only focus on the banality of evil of large corporations.
The Naked Prey (1965)
The premise of this movie was hilariously parodied in "Where's Poppa? (1970)
In "Where's Poppa?", Ron Liebman's character is constantly mugged by the same gang of black men in Central Park. To make it interesting, one time they said: "We gonna play "The Naked Prey -- and you gonna be Cornel Wilde!"
Although side-splittingly funny at the time, today "Where's Poppa?" could be perceived as more of a racist movie than "The Naked Prey."
Casablanca (1942)
One scene always bring tears to my eyes.
It never fails, and I've seen the movie 20 times; when Paul Henreid leads the singing of the French national anthem (Le Marseillaise), I always start to weep. One reason the scene is so powerful is that many of the actors in "Casablanca" were themselves refugees and they were not merely acting when singing the song -- it was quite emotional for them as well.
The Wonderful World of Disney: The Facts of Life Reunion (2001)
Natalie juggling two hunky boyfriends strains credulity.
It was good to see the cast of Facts of Life together again after so many years. They all looked terrific and the movie was enjoyable with the exception of the plotline involving two studs fighting over Natalie. Being that it was a Disney production, the "Natalie plotline" was right out of Fantasyland.
Hellfire (1949)
Gunfighter turns Holy Joe
This is one of the best "B" westerns ever made. It stars the queen of the "B"s herself -- Marie Windsor, along with those two other great "B" stars, "Wild Bill" Elliott and Forrest Tucker.
It has an unusual twist which sets it apart from other westerns; Bill Elliot plays a card sharp and all-around bad dude whose life is saved by a preacher who takes a bullet meant for Wild Bill (all this takes place in the first five minutes of the movie so the plot is not ruined for you).
Bill promises the dying preacher that he will complete the preacher's mission and collect the money needed to build a church. He also promised to "follow the rules" i.e., raise the money without resorting to crime.
Bill Elliott's efforts to change his ways and avoid temptation make for a great movie.