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JakeStevens Blog

  • Overindulging Stallone's Ego

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    The Specialist  (1994)

    My suspension of disbelief was held firmly in place while watching this completely-over-the-top action/thriller. The good: James Woods. When he's confronted by an over zealous cop, he gives him a lesson in explosives etiquette, and what a fine lesson it is; he's a man possessed. Rod Stiger. I didn't even realize it was Rod Stiger. I wanted to slap him because his character was so annoying, sure, but he slipped into the role so much that I didn't even realize it was him. Kudos to both actors for floating above the rest of this film. The mediocre: Sharon Stone at least looks fantastic, given that she doesn't have a whole lot of scenery to chew. Eric Roberts proves once again why he is so good at playing such bad guys; he's a real dick, and I almost wish his death would've been played out with a bit more fanfare. The bad: Everything else. The plot sucks, Stallone is on autopilot, the explosions look like you're on the backlot of Universal Studios' tram ride, and mostly, the love scene SUCKS. Stallone is preening and posing like a thoroughbred, and I heard the only reason he did this film was to have a love scene with Sharon Stone after seeing her in Basic Instinct and wanting the same steamy results. Sadly, they fall far from the mark.


  • Seriously?

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    I don't even know where to begin...well, I guess I'll start with the good. The scenes between the cops had some genuinely funny moments, almost like a low-budget Lethal Weapon. Both Eric Roberts and John Rhys-Davies attempt to get some laughs out of the script, and mostly succeed. And that's it - there's the only good thing about this film. Everything else SUCKS. The cinematography is horrendous, the supporting cast is an absolute joke, the plot line is terrible, the "special" effects could have been done by ME in about two hours (I'm not joking here, they're bad), there's a single scene with a foam rubber dinosaur (yes, a foam rubber dinosaur) that is COMPLETELY pointless...I could keep going on, but why waste anymore time on this stinker. Never, ever see this film.


  • Good Film, Terrible Transfer

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    Star 80  (1983)

    It's a shame that the wonderful director Bob Fosse's final film has been released on DVD with such utter disregard to the actual film itself. Full frame (ripped right off from a sub-par Laserdisc release, I hear), absolutely no special features or subtitle options, and the transfer and sound are both atrocious, especially since Fosse had such an eye for detail. It's a grim tale, and hardly a likeable character in it, particularly Eric Roberts, whose performance is of note because he is so unlikeable. Rarely do you see an actor so fully give himself to such a pathetic character and make you feel sympathy for a cold-blooded killer with serious issues. I can't recall another film I've seen with Mariel Hemingway in it, but she seems to hold her own as the somewhat-vapid victim, and the cinematography...so much to be said for it. Again, a shame I can't see it in all of its vivid colors and flashy, gaudy late-70's, early 80's glory. The "Playboy" photos of Dorothy Stratten are spot-on, and even the supporting roles are well handled. Definitely worth a watch, particularly to see Eric Roberts in his hey-day, whose role is reminiscent of Robert De Niro's Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver. But don't watch it with the kids - there's a lot of nudity (which is fine by me).


  • All About Acting

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    I've got to admit...Eric Roberts' performance in this film is so reminiscent of one of my uncles that I could not help but feel instantly endeared to him and filled with a certain pity for his hapless nature. There are definitely moments of suspense (the "elevator" scene and the last five minutes in particular), and other times, the movie tends to drag a little. I've never seen "Mean Streets" (yeah, yeah, I know, I know) but with the many comparisons this film draws to that one, I think it's time to finally break down and rent it. Especially if it's a better film than this one, which, in my opinion, is definitely worth a watch for all of the fantastic acting (allbeit a tad over the top, but not unbelievable) contained within. And I'm talking even the supporting cast (Burt Young, M. Emmet Walsh, Kenneth McMillan, and most of all, Geraldine Page's Oscar-nominated supporting turn) shine in this film. A confirmed cult classic of the 80's riffing in the style of the 70's, check this one out if you're into any of the actors/actresses involved.


 

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