Ferris-26 Reviews

That Thing You Do! (1996)

60`s nostalgia at its best

[23 October 1999]

One of the hardest things for writer/director Hanks whilst making this movie, must have been creating a nostalgic, brilliant, original song to base around the movie. He did just that. The title song could easily have fitted in place in the 60`s charts. Featuring a starring cast of relative unknowns, it charts the rise and fall of "one hit wonder" pop band, "The Wonders", on their quest for global domination in 1964. The bands music takes a new direction when drummer Guy (Tom Everett Scott) joins the band, to fill in for the previous "guy" who managed to break his arm. Guy`s upbeat attitude provides the spark they need, giving them a #7 hit single, television and radio recognition, adoring girls, and a trustworthy manager in the form of Tom Hanks. Relationships in the a band deteriorate, and so the story goes.

Backed up by some great music, and featuring all those 60`s cliches, its a sensitive and enjoyable look at life through the eyes of an up and coming pop band in the 60`s.

Fargo (1996)

My favourite movie of the 90`s

[23 October 1999]

Winner of 2 Oscars (best original sceenplay, best actress for Frances McDormand), this has to be cult film makers, The Coen Brothers (Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, Miller`s Crossing, The Big Lebowski), best film to date.

Set in a snowy Fargo, North Dakota, and based on a true story which happened in 1987, its the tale of a kidnapping plot, that doesn`t go exactly to plan. Jerry Lundegaard (the brilliant William H. Macy) is losing money fast as a car salesman, his wannabe quick cash schemes catch up on him, forcing him to hire two criminals, Carl and Gaear (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife, allowing him to collect the ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. The bumbling pair are forced to kill a road cop and two civillians along the way (one of those those civvies is actually that artist formerly known as Prince, check the end credits for the "symbol"), provoking a murder enquiry by Marge Gunderson, a dizzy but law abiding cop-ette (McDormand). The plot thickens, twists and turns, in the Coen`s inimitable way.

My favourite film of the 90`s so far, Fargo is a black comedy "stroke" thriller, which is hard to dismiss. Its true to life story, beautiful photography (thanks to Roger Deakins), wonderful characters, melancholy music, vivid script, and the way it captures the Minnesota way of life, is pure brilliance. A complete story, a complete movie, which never needs a sequel. The language has to be noted, as its one of the key points that binds the movie perfectly, and eases the thriller instinct. "Oh you betcha!"

Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

My favourite of the trilogy

[23 October 1999]

Easily the best of the Trilogy, this latest addition sees New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis), once again finding himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, being singled out by the mysterious mad bomber Simon (Jeremy Irons), in revenge for the death of his brother Hans (Alan Rickman) from the first the movie. Along the way, he picks up Zeus (Samuel L. Jackson), a racist shop owner from the Bronx, in a game of cat and mouse through the streets of New York. Its the excellent Jackson`s foul mouthed character which makes this film so easy to watch, and contributed so much to its success. I don`t know how many times i`ve seen this movie, but never too many. In a way, its reminiscent of the way the characters in a movie like Jaws, catch your attention, and stick in your memory, wanting to see them again and again. A welcome return to form for director John McTiernan who made the first installment, and let Renny Harlin have a stab at #2.

A cool script, perfectly made for Jackson`s turn of phrase, a tie-in story, and the ever bankable Bruce Willis, ensured this movie had "big hit" stamped all over it.

Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)

Finland`s answer to Spinal Tap!

[23 October 1999]

This is the funniest rock `n roll polka road movie ever made! Although based around an actual band of Finnish descent (who still get airplay on MTV Europe), it sees our heroes come from the Tundra Wasteland to America, seeking fame and fortune. Not having much luck in their homeland with their unique style of folk pop, the band are advised to conquer the US ("go to America" says the guy, "they buy any old s**t there"), being exploited constantly by their greedy manager Vladimir. They "learn" rock `n roll, drink beer, go to jail, beg on the streets and play seedy pubs. Not exactly the American dream. And the most eyecatching piece, has to be those massive quiffs and even bigger winklepicker shoes!

The dialogue is funny, but its not this that makes you laugh. Just one look at the band will have you rolling. And if you can`t speak Finnish, don`t worry. The director cleverly overcomes this, by getting the band to learn English on the plane to America! And if you`re not tapping along to their rendition of "Born To Be Wild" at the end of the movie, you`ll be humming that "polka" music for a long time to come.

Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

This John Carpenter movie has it all!

[23 October 1999]

If you`ve ever heard of the director John Carpenter, you`ll be familiar with his works (of art), like Hallowe`en, Escape From New York, Assault On Precient 13, The Thing, They Live, and this movie, a mid 80`s classic starring none other than Carpenter`s favourite front man, Kurt Russell. Set in Chinatown, Los Angeles, its a modern day fable of good versus evil, Chinese black magic, the hero storms the castle type affair. Russell plays Jack Burton, a wise cracking long distance truck triver and all American hero, passing through Chinatown on some business. After a card game with old friend Wang Chi (Dennis Dun), Wang (now penniless thanks to Burton`s good fortune) pursuades Jack to drive him to the airport, to pick up his childhood sweetheart, a girl Wang has not seen since they were children. Its here the story begins, as Mao Yin, Wang`s girlfriend, is captured by a mysterious gang. The two form a pact to rescue the girl from the clutches of the evil Lo Pan, former crimelord of Chinatown, a myth who has apparently lived to the age of almost 200, with a little help from some black magic.

Thats it, I`m saying no more, cos I don`t want to spoil it. You`ve probably seen the movie anyway.

Its hard to pick a favourite John Carpenter film, very hard, but this one has it all. Its a great action movie, a great comedy, an original story, great lines, and even a love story, a perfect blend of what big screen entertainment should be. Its strange though, that the ending was left so open, begging for a sequel that was never made.

Local Hero (1983)

A touching wee movie, heartwarming, and the best depiction of everyday Scottish life ever captured on cellular.

[23 October 1999]

Written and directed by the multi talented Mr Forsyth, this is a modern day fairytale, of riches beyond belief, being brought to a small fictional Scottish town called Furness. The Texan Knox oil and gas company decide that they need a new site for a new refinery, and the small town of Furness is just perfect. So they use `middle man`, McIntyre (Peter Riegert) to fly to bonnie Scotland and try to convince the natives that they should sell out for a worthy fee. They all gladly oblige, except one, old Ben, a recluse who lives on the local beach. He won`t sell for anything, so Knox boss, Happer (Burt Lancaster) flies over and decides to try his hand with .negotiations...........

This is a wonderful story, set in the beautiful backdrops of the eastern scottish coast. One of those `feel good` movies we all love. Very witty at times, this is a light hearted look at the diverse lifestyles of the American and Scottish people. And Peter Reigert (Animal House) plays the `fish out of water` type character so well! Music is by the one and only `Mr Dire Straits`, Mark Knopfler, his original haunting highland melodies sound almost traditional, and fit in just perfect. And what can i say about Mr Bill Forsyth, except that he is one of the true great British directors. With such classics as Gregory`s Girl (and his "2 upcoming girls"), Comfort And Joy, and That Sinking Feeling, he put himself firmly on the directorial map. A touching wee movie, heartwarming, and the best depiction of everyday Scottish life ever captured on cellular. If you ever decide to visit the actual town where this movie was made, look for a little village called `Pennan` on your map..Its right above Aberdeen, and quite near Peterhead.

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)

Jeff Bridge`s magnum opus..

[23 October 1999]

If i had to pick the best straightforward road movie of all time, this would be it. I`m not Clint Eastwood`s biggest fan, but he has made some great movies, and is the perfect living legend. Always cool, calm, and collected, as he is in this early 70`s film, co-starring an up and coming Jeff Bridges. Eastwood (Thunderbolt) plays a bankrobber who has stashed the loot, hiding in the guise of a preacher, trying to evade his accomplices. By blind luck, he meets up with Lightfoot (Bridges), a drifter with illusions of grandure. They decide to plan Thunderbolt`s final heist, with the aid of Goody (Geoffrey Lewis, father of actress Juliette), and Red (George Kennedy). Theres no honour amongst thieves, as greed comes into play, and things take a sour turn towards the end. Written and directed by Michael Cimino, who won an Oscar for best picture with "The Deer Hunter", this is a very likeable movie, hidden away from todays blockbusters and epics. It features my favorite perfomance by one of my favourite actors, Jeff Bridges, as the cocky, but likeable Lightfoot.

Whistle Down the Wind (1961)

one of the greatest British black and white movies ever made?

[23 October 1999]

Produced by Sir Richard Attenborough (Jurassic Park), and written by Lady Mills (wife of Sir John, a veteran British actor), this is a charming look at childhood, through the eyes of three children, in the early 60`s. An injured, escaped murderer seeks refuge in their barn (Alan Bates), the kids find him, and believe hes Jesus...(when they ask who he is, he mutters `Jesus Christ!`). The script is so innocent, we were these children not so long ago, theres a little of them in all of us.. Hayley Mills (daughter of Sir John Mills, and the star of many Disney movies), stars as Cathy, the eldest of the kids, barely in her teens. Bernard Lee (`M` in countless James Bond movies), plays the father of the family... What makes it so good, is the way the kids converse with each other, their innocence of thinking that a holy figure has come to live in their barn, of all places!! It doesn`t mean to be funny, but it is. Its all too light hearted to be anything else..Just a wonderful, very little known movie.