a |
"Undercurrent", from Johnny
Web
This movie is a very
good effort for a b movie. You won't find any
great originality here, but the setting (mostly
Old San Juan) is gorgeous, the Latin score is
coolly appropriate, the acting is competent, the
photography is clear and focused, the lighting is
good, and the plot offers some minimal challenge.
Don't get me wrong. This isn't Body Heat, so
don't go out and buy a copy. But it's a decent
grade-b variation on the Body Heat theme, and you
may want to rent it some day, because it's worth
a watch when there's nothing else to do. Five
different women get topless or better.
Brenda Strong (1,
2,
3,
4,
5)
Christianne Gout (1,
2,
3)
Lorissa McComas (1,
2,
3)
Nichole Italiano (I think Frodo pointed out that
Miss Italiano, aka J. Nichole Italiano-Zaza, is
most commonly known as Nikki Nova.) unknown to me. Does anyone recognize this
woman?
"The
Night Porter", from Tuna
I've discussed this film
before. Arty psychological study of a former
concentration camp victim who spots one of her
former captors working in a menial job in Vienna.
Instead of turning him in, she resumes her former
submissive sexual relationship with him, until
the relationship destroys them both, for various
reasons. The ethereal and oddly sexy performance
from the skeletal but beautiful Charlotte
Rampling sealed her status as an international
film presence. Tuna's thumbnails for this movie Charlotte Rampling (1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9,
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
"Dead
Calm", from Tuna
I've also discussed this
one before. This is the first of the "Billy
Zane on a sinking ship" trilogy (Cleopatra
and Titanic, if you're wondering). Three people
alone on the ocean. Sam Neill and Nicole Kidman
are a couple mourning the recent loss of their
baby. Billy Zane is ... well, he's Billy Zane -
some kind of over-the-top psychopath who crosses
their path after he slaughters every last living
person on another ship. A movie with a few decent
moments of suspense, partially scuttled by some
absolutely impossible plot twists. I don't mind
at all when the plot fools me. In fact, I prefer
it. But not when they have to either defy logic
or bring in random unexplained events to create
the surprising plot twists. As I recall, Zane
goes from mere psychopath to immortal being, like
that hockey mask dude in those Friday the 13th
movies. Oh, well. Main points of interest are
that (1) Kidman removes her clothing, and (2)
clothed or naked, the Kidman of a decade ago
almost seems like a completely different person.
Her body is much harder and thinner now, but even
her face looks different. Tuna's thumbnails for this movie Kidman (1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8)
|
a |