Narrow Margin is by no means a great film but it is an entertaining one. It’s a thriller in the Hitchcock mode with a solid cast and capable direction by Peter Hyams. What struck me as being interesting about it is that it would never be made today. Remember when there were more movies being made and they weren’t all designed as all-or-nothing propositions? When not everything was a 150 million dollar sci-fi or superhero flick? Don’t get me wrong; I dig sci-fi and superhero movies as much as the next guy but let’s face it: a steady diet of sugar will eventually rot your teeth (not to mention your brain). There’s been a lot of talk this year about how the box office is way down. It seems to me that the solution would be making more small movies that appeal to a more limited but no less dedicated segment of the market. If you’re continually placing all of your eggs in one basket you’re setting yourself up for failure. But, hey, I realize that argument makes far too much sense.
As always, Gene Hackman proves here that he couldn’t give a bad performance to save his life.
Narrow Margin
1990
Peter Hyams –Director
Earl Felton and Peter Hyams –Writers
*** (out of five)
This past week I bought Batman Begins, Batman and Batman Returns on DVD (and, yes, the two Joel Schumacher opuses were also available but my reasons for not picking them up should be obvious). Yesterday I watched Batman and Batman Begins back to back. It was pretty wild seeing two interpretations of the origin story one after the other. Just to ease your mounting suspense: “Begins” is definitely the better of the two. Batman I give plenty of props because it treats the material seriously, it employs “real” actors and its world is visually interesting. The movie’s shortcomings I think I have to blame on Tim Burton. Sometimes the actors look ill at ease and the story is often illogical. The speed with which Bruce Wayne and Vicki Vale fall in love is mind-blowing (especially given a lack of chemistry between the two leads). The fact that Alfred brings Vicki into the batcave is dumbfounding. Had I been ol’ Bruce I would have immediately begun looking for another man servant. And then there are small details like the fact that the Joker has several henchmen in place in what heretofore was a sealed cathedral is a bit of a head scratcher. And speaking of the Joker, I find Nicholson’s performance only intermittendly entertaining. There are several clearly improvised lines that actually make no sense. Don’t get me wrong, the problems don’t entirely undermine the movie. There is still plenty of entertainment to be had here.
Batman Begins, on the other hand. is a pretty solid piece of film-making. When I saw the movie in the theater I felt that there were pacing issues. Watching it at home though I didn’t really feel that at all. It’s a well-structured film with plenty of good dialogue. The cast here is actually even better than that of Batman –literally every part is cast with a name actor lending a bit of gravity to the proceedings. While Keaton, I felt, didn’t deserve all that panic that ensued after he was cast I do have to say that I’m more comfortable watching Christian Bale in the role. The part should be played by a young, handsome guy in good physical condition. Which is not to denigrate Bale’s acting chops. The guy’s a really terrific actor. He’s still given one of the best adolescent performances I’ve ever seen (Empire of the Sun).
So, for my money, “Begins” is the better of the two. We’ll see how Batman Returns holds up in the coming days.
Batman
1989
Tim Burton –Director
Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren –Writers
*** (out of five)
Batman Begins
2005
Christopher Nolan –Director
Christopher Nolan and David Goyer –Writers
**** (out of five)
Amidst all the distractions I’ve had lately (more health issues, more gadget purchases and a generalized laziness) I’ve seen two more films:
Wallace and Gromit in The Curse of the Were-rabbit
2005
Nick Park and Steve Box –Directors
Nick Park, Bob Baker, Steve Box and Mark Burton –Writers
**** (out of five)
Nick Park is a genius. If you like the shorts with Wallace and Gromit you’re going to like this movie because it’s simply more of the same only longer. The story is charming and the voice acting is impeccable. I’m looking forward to owning this one on DVD.
Tombstone
1993
George P. Cosmatos –Director
Kevin Jarre –Writer
*** 1/2 (out of five)
This movie works. Despite Kurt Russell’s occasionally over-the-top performance, this is a solid western. Val Kilmer is simply terrific as Doc Holiday, the sets and costumes are all authentic-looking and the story is engaging. Over the years it seems to me that the film has earned a fair amount of affection on home video. The affection is deserved. Apart from some more modern scenes of violence, Tombstone stands up against older western films well.
Okay, so there have been several things that have kept me from doing any sort of an update for a while. I had a tooth extracted suddenly last week and that was fairly unpleasant. Also, I got a DVD recorder/player and, like an idiot manchild with a shiny object, that has been holding my attention rather seriously. I never thought it would be so much fun converting all of my old VHSs to DVD but it is. I’m digging out old cartoons and moviemaking documentaries that I taped in the early 90s and saving them for posterity. I’m getting to revisit a show I haven’t seen in 10-15 years and also make it into a shiny new DVD. It’s bliss I tell you.
In the time since we last spoke, I picked up the 10th anniversary disc for Clerks. I’ve gotta say it, it holds up. The movie looks terrible, it sounds terrible and it’s badly acted but the power of Kevin Smith’s words sustains it. –I won’t say any more about it now for fear that people will think I have a sick Kevin Smith obsession (which I don’t).
CLERKS
1994
Kevin Smith –Writer/Director
***1/2 out of five.
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