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Eyes of Laura Mars (1978) Directed by Irvin Kershner

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 12:39 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 15 March 2009)

Well, to be honest this movie was a bit of a disappointment. I'm in to the genre and always enjoy a '70's movie and the movie had an impressive cast as well but the overall movie is just not that interesting to watch. It's a bit of a waste of such a fine main concept.

Yes, this really could had been one fine supernatural thriller with lots of suspense and mystery. Instead the movie now is one filled with missed opportunities and wasted potential. Blame the script for that (written by none other than John Carpenter) that just doesn't provide the movie with much interesting or much tension. I mean you basically know from the beginning on that the movie is going to have a twist at the ending, so when it comes it's hardly a surprise or a shock anymore. Besides it's rather weak and thin, as is the entire movie its story basically.

The movie could had also really used a bit more '70's style. Guess Irvin Kershner is a bit of a too old fashioned director to include some experimental '70's oddities, though it could had really uplifted the movie with that particular style.

When you look at the cast list you will be rather impressed. However most of the actors (Tommy Lee Jones, Brad Dourif, Rene Auberjonois, Raul Julia) weren't any big stars yet at the time of this movie and most of them still stood at the beginning of their career. Now days the cast list looks far more impressing than it did back in 1978. Faye Dunaway is the star of the movie and she shines as the female lead.

As far as the genre- and '70's movies in general are concerned, this movie isn't among the best. It's still a perfectly watchable movie but not halve as good or interesting as it concept could had allowed it to become.

6/10

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Columbo: It's All in the Game (1993) Directed by Vincent McEveety

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 3:00 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , ,

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(Review originally written at 10 October 2008)

This has got to be one of the best written Columbo episodes. Not that it's more clever than others (but it's not stupid either) but it's just more layered. Because of this, this Columbo movie entry can also be seen as one that doesn't stick necessarily purely just to the usual formula.
It's a surprising thing that this episode was written by Peter Falk himself. Amazing since he had never written a screenplay in his life before (at least not one that got turned into a movie) and it as of yet is also the last and only one he ever penned down. I guess starring in so many Columbo movies makes you an expert on police thrillers and Peter Falk one day decided to write down some of his own ideas. The result is a more personal Columbo movie, in which we get to see a more personal side (do we?) of the Lieutenant when he apparently falls for the charms of a young(er) beautiful woman, who however also happens to be the suspect in a murder case.
It's perhaps also a movie that moves along a bit slower than the usual Columbo movie entry. This is because the movie also focuses more on its characters, instead of just purely its murder plot. Still the movie itself also features some nice twists and other clever detective movie aspects. The lover of this genre will surely enjoy this movie even if that person isn't familiar with 'Columbo'.
Another nice thing about this movie is that is stars Faye Dunaway, who of course is a big star, especially back in those days. She plays a good role. We as the viewers knows what she is doing and that she is manipulating but yet we still care for- and appreciate the character, which is really thanks to Dunaway's performance. It's great to see her in the sequences together with Peter Falk. There was some good movie chemistry there.
A better- and slightly different than usual Columbo movie.
8/10


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Three Days of the Condor (1975) Directed by Sydney Pollack

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 5:03 AM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 27 September 2007)

This movie is another fine example of typical '70's movie making. The movie is however far from a '70's classic. The story is too poor for that and the movie overall lacks some action.

It's not that the pace of the movie is kept low. The movie is fast enough and its well directed and constructed. It however is a rare '70's lack-lusting genre movie, in which you're just waiting for a chase of gunfight to happen, that just never comes. It's of course not that I feel that every single movie needs to have some action in it but some action wouldn't had been out of place in this one. It's fitting and sort of needed for a typical '70's genre thriller movie such as this one.

The story is actually a pretty odd one once you really start thinking about it. It's rather simplistic, which also makes it far from credible and perhaps even makes it a bit laughable.

Yet the movie is perfectly watchable. Everything about it is very professional and its a well crafted movie. It isn't Sydney Pollack's best work but he knows how to deal with the genre. The movie has a perfect sense of realism, despite its weaker unbelievable story. Also nothing wrong with the cinematography from '70's big-man Owen Roizman. Also refreshing to see a '70's genre movie for a chance that isn't stuck in one place or city.

Robert Redford plays the main role of the movie well and he truly carries the movie. Also Max von Sydow plays a good and interesting role.

Really no must-see but it's a well made movie that's worth seeing.

7/10

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