Random Film of the Week: The War Wagon

Posted on May 8, 2014 by geelw

From the moment Dimitri Tiomkin’s bouncy western theme music kicks things off and “The Ballad of The War Wagon” plays out with its bouncier western lyrics (sing along, now!), you just KNOW you’re in for a good time. Directed by Burt Kennedy (Return of the Seven, Support Your Local Sheriff), this 1967 western paired John Wayne and Kirk Douglas as a pair of adversaries who team up to take down the titular gold-loaded, four-wheeled, well-armored horse-drawn vehicle (say that five times fast!) with the help of some friends is light and airy fun for an afternoon that’s worth a watch even if you don’t like westerns at all.

If your eyebrow is arching up a bit, fear not pardner! Just think of this gem as a variation on The Adventures of Robin Hood or a more modern heist flick with some of your favorite stars and that’s all you need to know to know you’ll come away from this one grinning. In fact, this is one of those films that works brilliantly because it’s supposed to be funny while also delivering plenty of action and dramatic moments to please genre fans… Continue reading →

Random Film of the Week: Detour

Posted on March 24, 2014 by geelw

(thanks, TheVideoCellar!)

“Whichever way you turn, fate sticks out a foot to trip you.”

I’ve seen Detour so many times since I first discovered it back in 1992 that I sometimes have dreams about it that stick to the plot but play from different viewpoints. If you thank that’s loopy, guess what? I’ve actually dreamed numerous times about writing a review of this and posting it here to the point that I even wrote a post last year saying I thought I did. Yeah, I got it bad for this one. Sure, it’s got its technical issues and every print I’ve seen from film to tape to DVD over about thirty years looks as if it’s been dragged under a bus going cross country on four flat tires. But the combined efforts of writer/screenwriter Martin Goldsmith, director Edgar G. Ulmer, actors Tom Neal, (the aptly named) Ann Savage, Edmund MacDonald, Claudia Drake along with composer Leo Erdody, editor George McGuire and cinematographer Ben Kline all add up to what I think is one of the greatest American film noir movies ever made (warts and all).

Granted, if you’re picky or looking for perfection and haven’t see this before, as an exercise in Moviemaking 101 this may not wow you much thanks to its numerous technical flaws and what could be called a one-note performance by the lead actor. On the other hand, the film’s simple story and how it’s told hits that sweet spot in the brain as it delivers its karmic blows to its principals and leaves the residue of cheap diner food, cheaper booze, cigarettes and bile swirling around in your skull. “Poverty Row” budget and short shooting schedule aside, the film’s impact is immediate and lasting thanks to the short run time and every shot meaning something (yes, even the bad ones). I bet you’ll get it bad when you see this for the first time, too… Continue reading →

Sleuthathon, Anyone? Get A Clue This March…

Posted on February 1, 2014 by geelw

Ah, the joys of the blogathon! Like-minded fast to slow typists of assorted interests and skill sets, some of the more precisely well worded and edited post, some of the punchy, short perfect post and me with my fishing around for words and hoping they all fit together once I drop my five-cent bowl of alphabet soup on the carpet before I can even open my packet of crackers, *sob!*

Anyway, Fritzi over at Movies, Silently is at it again, hosting not just a blogathon, but a Sleuthathon featuring films up to 1965 about assorted gumshoes, nosy folks who find themselves detecting danger and other flicks and TV shows.

If YOU have a favorite film detective who fits the bill and can string together a few sentences better than I can, feel free to check out the link for submission guidelines and perhaps contribute one of your favorite films, group of related films or shows. The more, the merrier!

The Chaney Blogathon Day Four: The finale!

Posted on November 18, 2013 by geelw

Oops! I’ve been SO busy that I forgot to plug my own work elsewhere. Well, it’s HERE you’ll bounce back to when you click my reviews of Indestructible Man and The Defiant Ones, but you beans and banes can do with some other reading on the two Chaneys and their fine bodies of work, I say. Enjoy!

The Last Drive In

Well, it’s the forth and final day of our celebration of the great CHANEYS! And it’s been quite a turn out.

I’ll be taking it from here as host but my brilliant & witty co-host will be lurking around helping to showcase all the fantastic contributions. We’re so pleased with how the event has gone and grateful to all of you who either contributed, helped tout or chimed in to show love to two memorable men and support us… unflinching Blogathon mistresses’ who pulled this all together!

I want to especially thank Fritzi of Movies Silently for quietly asking me months ago if I’d like to help co-host this event. I was flattered and honored and as excited as Quasimodo hanging from a gargoyle on the side of that Cathedral! Although my hump is much smaller.

So without any further asides from yours truly- Please stay seated as here’s the…

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Have Blogathon? Will Travel!

Posted on July 6, 2013 by geelw

OK, screw this damn hot as the sun under the sun weather. it is KILLING my productivity a bit too much. Well, I have a ton of notes for posts, but when I read them, my brain starts baking up like a Sunday ham (“Got any ham? Ham, ham, ham…”). Anyway, I think it’s a case of familiarity breeding contempt here. Or in plainer English – I’m working so much on my own stuff that I think I need a little challenge. All this heat is making me nuts, but I think I can contribute something to another or three of those fancy movie “blog-a-thon” thingies I’ve been seeing pop up.

I submitted to one already (see, see!) and I think I’ll get a nice kick in the pants if something new tickles my Fancy (which is picky as hell, aren’t you, Fancy? Yes, you are! Yes you are!). So, that’s where you come in, fellow talented typists of pedigree. I’d cook up my own blogathon, but I’m already project heavy here. That said, I do have a bunch of already written Random film of the Week and Random Film of the Week(end) plus a few other reviews on the site that might do for a new airing out link elsewhere. I can also write up something custom for an event (no wedding speeches, birth or bris announcements – let’s keep things in the ballpark where I have a chance of hitting something).

Anyway, feel free to let me know if you know of or are in fact, hosting one of these shindigs and I’ll gladly contribute. I just signed up for one that happened to pop up on another (and much bigger deal than my) blog as I was writing out this post(you can join the fun there as well!), so that’s one down – more to go…