Oz the Great and Powerful

2013  PG  FANTASY  2h 10min

CAST— James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, Bill Cobbs, Joey King, Tony Cox

MUSIC— Danny Elfman  DIRECTOR— Sam Raimi

     More like Oz the Fair and Mild. James Franco stars as the man behind the curtain, carnival magician by trade, con man by nature. Using a hot air balloon to escape a beating from the carnival strongman Oz is caught up in a twister and whisked away to the land that bears his name. There he meets a young witch who claims that Oz is to fulfill a prophecy that will grant freedom to the people of Oz. To do so he must defeat this witch and her sister, all the while falling for another witch, Glinda the Good. With an assortment of oz-landish characters Oz and Glinda take the fight to the wicked witches, using all manner of deceit and trickery as a means of battle. Never becomes the tale of wonder and whimsy that one might be craving. The film feels disjointed and separated from the 1939 vision of the merry old land of Oz. Even so, the younger set may still be attracted.

OUR RATING— ** ½

     The Ox-Bow Incident

1943  NR  WESTERN  1h 15min

CAST— Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews, Mary Beth Hughes, Anthony Quinn, William Eythe, Henry (Harry) Morgan, Jane Darwell, Frank Conroy, Harry Davenport

MUSIC— Cyril J. Mockridge  DIRECTOR— William A. Wellman  BASED ON— The Ox-Bow Incident (novel), by Walter Van Tilburg Clark

     Henry Fonda and Harry Morgan play the quiet everymen in this thinking man’s Western. When cattlemen come in from the range their minds are on nothing more than an easy drink. But when they hear reports of a well respected rancher being murdered most men see red (the rest see a potentially exciting afternoon). Fonda and Morgan are caught in the whirlwind of men forming a posse, but they see the folly of rash action. So as not to seem suspicious they join the gang, though they make it clear that they’re firmly on the fence. A trio of mysterious strangers are soon found, with extremely overwhelming evidence stacked against them. Fonda and Morgan, along with a handful of others, take up for the strangers, making a stand against the majority of the posse. A battle of wills ensues and the viewer is asked to choose sides. A movie with a moral, one that may catch you off guard. Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.

OUR RATING— ***

     Out to Sea

1997  PG-13  COMEDY  1h 49min

CAST— Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Dyan Cannon, Brent Spiner, Gloria De Haven, Elaine Stritch, Hal Linden, Donald O’Connor, Edward Mulhare, Rue McClanahan, Alexandra Powers, Sean O’Brien, Estelle Harris

MUSIC— Michael Muhlfriedel, David Newman  DIRECTOR— Martha Coolidge

     Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau reunite for a fairly mirthless pleasure cruise. Matthau is in deep with the sharks. So he persuades brother-in-law Lemmon to take a vacation with him (said vacay an attempt to evade the bookies). Unbeknownst to Lemmon Matthau has signed them both up to be a cruise ship’s dance hosts, you know, the guys hired by the cruise line to entertain lonely singles and aging seniors. Under the rule of an egomaniacal entertainment director (Brent Spiner) the boys eventually break the rules by taking personal interest in two lovelies. Lemmon’s choice is a sweet widow with whom he shares commonalities; Matthau hits on a shapely oil heiress, a constant flirt. Will romance rear its ugly head for these two dancing dandies, or will circumstance dictate their course? What could have been a delightful throwback to earlier comedies featuring this funny duo is instead a film that barely treads water, pretty much a non event. Lacking in fun and laughs the film tries to stay afloat but those in the audience may end up bailing out.

OUR RATING— **

Trailer Unavailable

     The Outrage

1964  NR  WESTERN  1h 37min

CAST— Paul Newman, Edward G. Robinson, Claire Bloom, Laurence Harvey, William Shatner, Albert Salmi

MUSIC— Alex North  DIRECTOR— Martin Ritt

     The outrage, indeed. Was it an act of passion, murder or suicide? Paul Newman hams it up as a bandito who takes a passing woman by force… or did he? He then murders her husband in a duel… maybe. Marital beans are spilled… perhaps. A Western whodunit meant to be a thinker winds up a stinker.

OUR RATING— *

ORIGINAL— Rashomon (1950)

     The Out-of-Towners

1999  PG-13  COMEDY  1h 30min

CAST— Goldie Hawn, Steve Martin, Mark McKinney, John Cleese, Gregory Jbara, Ernie Sabella, Josh Mostel, Joe Grifasi, John Pizzarelli

MUSIC— Marc Shaiman  DIRECTOR— Sam Weisman

     Another film that should not have been. This remake casts away all of the comedy and charm of the 1970 original. When a couple from Ohio travel to NYC, en route to a job interview, things take unpredictable turns for the worst, leaving them in a state of destitution and desolation. Unlike the original, the comedic situations lack humor, and the story seems to hold no suspense. The dialogue, riddled with inane sexual humor, is the focal point of the comedy. The film barely keeps afloat by the performances of John Cleese and Steve Martin, but even his way over the top persona wears thin quickly. A time waster.

OUR RATING— * ½

ORIGINAL— The Out-of-Towners (1970)

     The Out-of-Towners

1970  G  COMEDY  1h 38min

CAST— Jack Lemmon, Sandy Dennis

MUSIC— Quincy Jones  DIRECTOR— Arthur Hiller

     A comedic gem from the get-go, this fast paced farce, written by Neil Simon, stars Jack Lemmon in one of his funniest roles. He plays a business executive from Ohio who, along with his long suffering wife Sandy Dennis, travels to NYC for a job interview. Their travels are not carefree, however; in less than twenty four hours they get stranded, mugged, kidnapped, chased, accused of being perverts and communists and all manner of fun. Don’t miss out on this hilarious travelogue through New York. Final note: a word to the curious: avoid the remake.

OUR RATING— *** ½

REMADE AS— The Out-of-Towners (1999)

     The Outlaw Josey Wales

1976  PG  WESTERN  2h 15min

CAST— Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Bill McKinney, John Vernon, Paula Trueman, Sam Bottoms, Richard Farnsworth

MUSIC— Jerry Fielding  DIRECTOR— Clint Eastwood  BASED ON— The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales, or Gone to Texas (novel), by Forrest Carter

     Clint Eastwood wears two hats for this gritty revenge saga, one for starring as the title antihero, the other for direction. Eastwood is on the trail of the Union soldiers who killed his family and left him for dead. He falls in with a band of vigilantes still fighting for the South despite Lee’s surrender. When they are all betrayed and shot by one of their own Eastwood chalks that up as more death to avenge. But he must regroup; taking an elderly Cherokee native and a young Navajo woman (not to mention a constantly spat upon dog) along for the ride he makes his way towards Mexico, picking up more pathetic life forms along the way. It all leads up to the final confrontation between Eastwood and the blue belly scum that started all of this in the first place. An intense shoot-‘em-up that tends to lose focus in its latter half but still a terrific entry in the Western genre. Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.

OUR RATING— ***

FOLLOWED BY— The Return of Josey Wales (1986)

Trailer Unavailable

     Our Relations

1936  NR  COMEDY  1h 13min

CAST— Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Alan Hale, Sidney Toler, Daphne Pollard, Betty Healy, James Finlayson, Arthur Housman, Iris Adrian, Lona Andre

MUSIC— LeRoy Shield  DIRECTOR— Harry Lachman  BASED ON— The Money Box (story), by W. W. Jacobs

     Laurel and Hardy and Laurel and Hardy star in this comedy classic that proves two’s company, four’s just nuts! Laurel and Hardy (team A) lead a contented life with their loving wives, while L&H (team B) serve on a ship with a crooked con artist who schemes them out of their earnings. The lives of the L&H teams entwine at a bistro; chaos soon ignites over two girls, the guys’ wives, $74.00, and a pearl ring. A fast paced and witty comedy suitable for the family. Not quite as tight as other L&H films, but still a reminder of the duo’s perfect sense of timing and precise comedic know-how.

OUR RATING— ***

Trailer Unavailable

     Our Hospitality

1921  NR  COMEDY  1h 14min

CAST— Buster Keaton, Natalie Talmadge, Joe Keaton, Joe Roberts

MUSIC— Silent  DIRECTORS— Buster Keaton, Jack Blystone

     Run fer the hills! They’s a-feudin’! The year was 1810. As the feud between the Canfields and the McCays comes to a boil there remains one descendant, a one-year-old boy named Willie McCay. His mother decides that he will not suffer the same abuse as his family. So she sends him to live in New York until her death twenty years later. Hearing the news of her death Willie travels south to claim the estate, wary of the feud. En route he begins to fall in love with a woman on the train, never suspecting that she’s the daughter of the house of Canfield. Upon arrival her family discovers who he is and begins a one-sided feud against him. When the girl invites him to supper, her father puts away his weapon, saying that their code forbids them to kill a rival neighbor when he’s a guest in their home. When Willie overhears this he decides to become a permanent guest. This send-up of the legendary Hatfield-McCoy feud of the late 1800s is entertaining throughout, blending comedy, action, and terrific stunt-work (all done by Keaton), making this a true classic of the era.

OUR RATING— ***

     The Other Guys

2010  PG-13  COMEDY  1h 47min

CAST— Will Farrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Ray Stevenson, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson

MUSIC— Jon Brion  DIRECTOR— Adam McKay

     Leaders, followers, and everyone else. The other guys. But you know those other guys do one heck of a job. Detectives Mark Wahlberg and Will Farrell are always in the shadows of NYC’s top cops, Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson… that is until Jackson and Johnson die in the line of duty. Now the city is dying for a hero. Time to step it up. Wahlberg is the gung ho cop ready to bend the law to enforce the law. Farrell is the desk jockey with zero street experience. What a perfect partnership. When they set out to apprehend a businessman for violating building codes they stumble onto a mammoth embezzling case that is a dream come true for paranoid Wahlberg, who sees conspiracies in drying paint. Farrell wants nothing more than to go home to his hot, browbeaten wife and try to forget his glory days as a raging pimp. Farrell is slightly subdued (repeat, slightly), Wahlberg is hilariously over the top, but another standout is the put upon police captain/Bed Bath & Beyond sales rep Michael Keaton. With one viewing even buddy-cop diehards may miss the impact but try it again and the funny may become even more apparent. Best line (spoken by Wahlberg in a fit of rage): “I’m a peacock! You gotta let me fly!” Unrated version also available.

OUR RATING— ***

     The Other

1972  PG  DRAMA  1h 48min

CAST— Uta Haggen, Diana Muldaur, Chris Udvarnoky, Martin Udvarnoky, Norma Connolly, Victor French, Portia Nelson, John Ritter

MUSIC— Jerry Goldsmith  DIRECTOR— Robert Mulligan  BASED ON— The Other (novel), by Tom Tryon

     Intriguing suspense tale in the vein of The Bad Seed (1956), offering more atmospheric drama as opposed to horrific chills. To make it short and sweet (lest the biggest shocker be revealed), Chris and Martin Udvarnoky play identical twins, both of whom love to play in the summer sun on their family’s sprawling farm. Twin #1 enjoys love and life; #2 is fond of tricks and murder. To tell more would be a disservice. Sort of takes a while to generate steam but once it does it’s full speed ahead.

OUR RATING— ** ½

Trailer Unavailable

     Orange County

2002  PG-13  COMEDY  1h 21min

CAST— Colin Hanks, Jack Black, Catherine O’Hara, Schuyler Fisk, John Lithgow, Lily Tomlin

MUSIC— Michael Andrews  DIRECTOR— Jake Kasdan

     Here we have a great example of what teenage comedy should be like: laugh-out-loud funny, but with warmth and heart thrown into the mix. Colin Hanks plays Shaun Brumder, a high school senior with aspirations of becoming a great writer. He feels that he can only do that by attending Stanford University and studying with his idol, author Martin Skinner. But first he has to escape Orange County, California. And that means escaping his family: divorced parents who love/hate one another; his mom’s newest husband Bob, a near comatose oldster in a wheelchair; and best of all, his perpetually stoned big brother Lance, played with manic energy by Jack Black. Classify this as a goofy teen/stoner/family/moral story comedy, and you’re on your way. Keep an eye out for an off-the-bed cartwheel by Black in his Fruit of the Looms. What a thrill.

OUR RATING— *** ½

     Open Season 2

2008  PG  ANIMATED  1h 16min

CAST— Joel McHale, Mike Epps, Jane Krakowski, Billy Connelly, Crispin Glover

MUSIC— Ramin Djawadi  DIRECTOR— Matthew O’Callaghan

     Boog and Elliot hit the road again in this kiddee film that frankly fails to impress. As Elliot and the one “deer” to his heart are to be married, their domesticated K-9 pal Mr. Weenie has been reclaimed by his owners. A rescue mission is soon underway; but they’d better hurry: A motley assortment of pets led by one toy poodle named Fifi have their collective mind set on re-domesticating Mr. Weenie, exorcising him of his “feral” ways, using everything from squeaky toys to shock collars. Can Boog and Elliot (plus other assorted game and wildlife) rescue the wiener dog before he becomes a mindless pooch once again? Besides the addition of Fifi (and one seriously creepy housecat), there’s nothing new here at all, nothing to recommend. Few laughs for adults; other than that, it’s all up to the kids.

OUR RATING— **

PRECEDED BY— Open Season (2006)

FOLLOWED BY— Open Season 3(2010), Open Season: Scared Silly (2015)

     Open Season

2006  PG  ANIMATED  1h 26min

CAST— Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Gary Sinise, Debra Messing, Billy Connelly, Jon Favreau, Georgia Engel, Jane Krakowski, Gordon Tootoosis, Patrick Warburton

MUSIC— Ramin Djawadi  DIRECTORS— Jill Culton, Roger Allers

     Wabbit season! Duck season! No, it's open season, and all wildlife is aquiver. With the exception of Boog the grizzly; he has it made. Being raised in comfortable captivity by a kind-hearted ranger he lives in the lap of luxury, never knowing the dangers of the outside world. That is until he meets up with a loony deer who lives life on the wild side. He and Boog land in water so hot that the only solution is to release them into the wild. What is Boog to do without the comforts of home? He begins the long journey back home despite having zero survival skills and being hindered by various local wildlife. But they’d better stay under cover; a maniacal hunter is bent on hunting a certain grizzly and his deer companion. More enjoyable for kids than for adults, mainly because we’ve pretty much seen this type of thing before.

OUR RATING— ** ½

FOLLOWED BY— Open Season 2 (2008), Open Season 3 (2010), Open Season: Scared Silly (2015)