robram Blog

Under discussion:

Harold and Maude  (1971)

If the idea behind this movie was taken to studio execs now, it would almost inevitably get thrown out with a guffaw.

Picture the pitch:

"It's a comedy about a death-loving teen who falls in love with a 79-year-old eccentric woman who lives in a caravan"

So where's the commercial appeal in that? Fortunately, this movie was made in the heady days of indie cinema during the 70s, when the likes of Bogdanovich, Scorsese, Coppola, Friedkin and the like were just starting to flex their muscles.

That Ashby's name does not immediately not spring to mind when you think of this period is a travesty. 

It's the kind of movie you can imagine Alexander Payne, Paul Thomas Anderson or Richard Kelly making in the 21st century. 

This is a sweet, quirky, touching, and exceptionally dark film that deserves a wider audience. Sadly, TV schedulers rarely show films like this and the likes of Blockbuster don't have it on their shelves that often.

Here's hoping the likes of Netflix in the US and Lovefilm in the UK plug this gem.  

Under discussion:

Guest House Paradiso  (1999)

This is one of those films that you end up watching for no reason other than it's on - do yourself a favour and don't bother.

Some of you may have been exposed to the humour of Mayall and Edmondson before, via The Young Ones or Bottom, both of which were very funny.

For some reason they decided to put out this monstrosity - a cross between Fawlty Towers and Bottom and it's terrible. The humour is base, at best, the script is lame, the plot is negligible. All in all, it's a mess.

Somehow, they contrived to get Vincent Cassel and Simon Pegg (pre-Hot Fuzz and Shaun Of The Dead, I hasten to add) to star in this. You can bet your bottom dollar it's not on their CV very prominently. 

Do yourself a favour and avoid at all costs!