FilmFanatic.org

Synopsis:
A WWI veteran (Timothy Bottoms) without limbs, face, or ears finds renewed hope when a kind nurse (Diane Varsi) attempts to communicate with him.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Donald Sutherland Films
• Flashback Films
• Jason Robards Films
• Living Nightmare
• Veterans
• World War One

Response to Peary’s Review:
In his review of Dalton Trumbo’s adaptation of his own 1939 novel, Peary provides some interesting historical context, noting that while the “film won several awards at Cannes,” it “died at the box office in the U.S.”, given that “those viewers who found it as devastating as the novel and became emotionally attached to it were far outnumbered by those who found it morbid and pretentious” (c.f. New York Times reviewer Roger Greenspun’s opinion that it’s “a mess of cliched, imprecise sentimentalizing and fantasizing … [and] a stultifyingly bad movie.”) Peary goes on to conjecture that perhaps audiences in 1971 weren’t interested in anti-war films that didn’t deal specifically with Vietnam, and notes that “today, when so many films glorify war, Trumbo’s pacificism can better be appreciated”.

Indeed, as a fan of the novel, I believe Trumbo does a remarkably effective job translating his seemingly unfilmable first-person narrative into a frightening cautionary tale. By interspersing color flashbacks and fantasy sequences into his real-time b&w horror story of doughboy Joe Bonham — who became a “basket case… as the result of an explosion” on the final day of WWI, but retains full consciousness — Trumbo avoids miring the film in relentless gloom. Particularly intriguing are those fantasy sequences in which Bonham chats with an “ineffectual” Jesus Christ (Donald Sutherland), who agrees that his case is pretty hopeless. (Apparently these scenes were inspired by Luis Bunuel, Trumbo’s first choice to direct the film.) The movie’s final moments are truly chilling — be forewarned.

Note: This would make a compelling double bill (for viewers up to the emotional challenge) with Julian Schnabel’s similarly themed The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007).

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Memorable imagery
  
• Donald Sutherland as Jesus
  
• An undeniably bleak and powerful narrative
  

Must See?
Yes, as a powerful anti-war film.

Categories

• Good Show

Links:

• IMDb entry
• TCM Article
• Roger Ebert’s Review
• NY Times Original Review
• DVD Savant Review

Synopsis:
An FBI agent (William Smith) enlists the help of a beautiful scientist (Victoria Vetri) while investigating a rash of mysterious deaths in a small California town.

Genres:

• Femmes Fatales
• Horror
• Insects
• Scientists

Response to Peary’s Review:
This B-level serio-comic horror flick about a government agent (William Smith) sent to investigate “the deaths of several male scientists at [a] California institute conducting radiation experimentation” — all of whom “die from coronaries while having sexual intercourse” — is, as Peary notes, not quite as campy or “as much fun as its reputation would have you believe”. Nicholas Meyer’s script — while meant to be “tongue in cheek” — is taken far too seriously, instead merely providing a platform for exploiting female nudity (including a disturbingly gratuitous near-rape scene), and tapping into men’s fears about the destructive powers of sex. However, the film is somewhat redeemed by its utterly ludicrous premise, its eerie low-budget “special effects” (dark contacts transform the Bee Girls’ eyes into freaky black pits), a catchy score by Charles Bernstein, and “a memorably bizarre sequence in which thousands of bees encase a nude woman in a cocoon” as she transforms into a Bee Girl. Ew!

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Campy but effective low-budget visuals
  
  
• The trippy “transformation” scene
  
• Charles Bernstein’s score

Must See?
No, but you may be curious to check it out.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• Roger Ebert’s Review
• Eye for Film Review
• Spinning Image Review
• SF, Fantasy, and Horror Review

Synopsis:
During the Depression, a motherless teen (Meredith Salenger) embarks on a journey to find her father (Ray Wise), who has gone to Seattle for a logging job.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Coming-of-Age
• Depression Era
• Pets
• Road Trip
• Search
• Verna Bloom Films

Response to Peary’s Review:
The opening line to Peary’s review of this live-action Disney feature is both intriguing and compelling: “Forget about art films for one night and gather the family for this enjoyable adventure movie”, he writes. Peary contends that while “nothing we see [in the film] is particularly surprising”, it’s nonetheless “well directed”, “intelligently scripted”, and “extremely well cast”, with Salenger’s “natural, very appealing delivery” making her plucky protagonist “easy to root for”. Peary’s assessment rings mostly true: despite being predictable and contrived at times — Natty’s relationship with a pet wolf, for instance, seems merely like an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of Never Cry Wolf (1983) — we quickly learn to care for Salenger’s Natty, and wish her luck as she struggles to reach her beloved dad (nicely played by Ray Wise).

In addition, older kids and teens will benefit from seeing a depiction of life during the Depression that accurately portrays the extreme hardships suffered by employees (the film is pro-union) and their families, who were very often torn apart as Natty and her father are. And, just as I was starting to wonder if Disney wasn’t perhaps sugar-coating the dangers of an attractive teen like Natty traveling on her own across the country, she’s propositioned by an unsavory middle-aged driver, and must flee for safety. Indeed, …Natty Gann really isn’t suitable for younger kids, so be forewarned.

Note: Those looking forward to seeing John Cusack in an early role (he plays Natty’s nominal love interest) should note that he’s not given much screen time; he shows up near the beginning, then disappears until the final half hour of the film.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Meredith Salenger as Natty
  
• Fine location cinematography
  
• An effective depiction of Depression-era economic hardships
  

Must See?
No, but it’s a worthy family film.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review
• Ultimate Disney Review
• Time Out Capsule Review