A masterfully crafted story with a peek into the lives of a number of different characters whose lives are all related in one way or another. Robert Altman directs this with a style all his own that has been proven repeatedly in such films as "The Player" and "Ready To Wear". It amazes me how well written the story is as I genuinely cared about the characters and was drawn right into their little stories for the three hour running time. Great performances abound with standouts being Tim Robbins as an overstressed cop, Lyle Lovett as a psychotic baker, Robert Downey Jr. as a wild and crazy make-up artist, Jennifer Jason Leigh as a phone sex housewife, and Tom Waits as an alcoholic limo driver. Other actors and actresses include Julianne Moore, Madeline Stowe, Fred Ward, Huey Lewis, Chris Penn, and many more. I don't want to blather on about the story because there are so many facets to it. Just take my word for it and kick back one night with some popcorn and your favorite movie buddies and fall in love with this movie.
This "giallo" (mystery/thriller) is one of Dario Argento's earlier works. Argento went on to make such classics as "Suspiria", "Terror At The Opera", and "The Stendhal Syndrome". Although many of his later works are deemed "horror" by many fans, they are really murder mysteries with more violence and style than the typical person's episode of "Murder, She Wrote". "Cat" stars Karl Malden ("The Streets Of San Francisco") as a blind man who becomes involved in a murder investigation with a local reporter played by James Franciscus ("Beneath The Planet Of The Apes"). The story really keeps you guessing until the very end with a number of murders thrown in to eliminate suspects. Even though this was one of his first films, it is clear that Argento was developing the style that is evident to all of his fans. Man, this guy knows how to use the camera, lights, and movement.
I guess this is when director Ruggero Deodato began to get away from the brutality he had built a reputation on. He had previously directed a trio of films entitled "Cannibal Holocaust", "Jungle Holocaust", and "House On The Edge Of The Park". All three of these films contained scenes of violence and degradation that could make even the most hardened horror fan feel a little squeamish and dirty. "Body Count", however, doesn't have any of the power that these films had over the viewer. The basic story is, unfortunately, that of a thousand other horror movies: teens go to deserted campground and get murdered when they get naked. It played like a cross between "Friday The 13th" and "Scalps". Something about it held my interest though as I did watch the whole thing and was never too bored to merit the pressing of the fast forward button on my remote. The movie stars David Hess ("Last House On The Left") and Bruce Penhall. I just want to say something about Mr. Penhall in that why does this guy have to ride a motorbike in every role he is in. I believe he was a champion bike rider at some point but in every role he plays from "CHiPs" to various Andy Sidaris babe and bullet pictures, this guy is riding a damn dirt bike. I know I am being catty, deal with it. Oh yeah, the music was by Claudio Simonetti from Goblin.
Wow, what ever happened to Lee Majors? Aside from a "Six Million Dollar Man" bionic reunion TV movie every couple of years, you never hear from this former star of the seventies and eighties. Majors was also in the series "The Fall Guy" and this little lost classic. "The Last Chase" is similar to "Fahrenheit 451" with cars and gasoline replacing books. Majors plays a former race car driver who is tired of being oppressed so he secretly builds a car and heads for California. He is joined by Chris Makepeace who I think was going to be a teen heart throb but it never quite happened. Burgess Meredith (The Penguin on "Batman") is a pilot who is hired to track the car and make sure it doesn't reach it's destination. This is a great rainy Sunday afternoon flick to watch with your dad.
Oh, Joe D'Amato. One of the smut kings of Italy directed this film about a cannibal monster on an island. Of course, a group of teenagers show up and get eaten. Cannibals, zombies, and psycho killers must have some sort of God that always delivers idiot teenagers whenever they run out of food. Seriously, this is actually a good movie (for D'Amato) and is not like the usual filth he delivers. There is no sex in this movie and even the violence is not quite up to typical D'Amato standards (aside from the monster ripping a fetus out of a woman's womb and then proceeding to eat it). If you haven't seen a lot of Italian splatter flicks, you will probably enjoy this one. If you have seen a lot, you may be a little bored as it has the same feel and basic plot skeleton as all of the Lucio Fulci classics. Starring Tisa Farrow (Mia's sister) who was also in Fulci's "Zombie".
This late sixties biker film stars Michael Greene as Mother. Mother has just come out of jail and is looking for revenge against a rival biker gang. He enlists the help of his gang, "The Angels", and they drive to the desert to exact their revenge. Along the way, Mother becomes more and more obsessed with getting even and the gang begins to get angry as the relationship between the gang and it's leader disintegrates. I enjoyed this movie but it was a mediocre effort for the time. The first biker movie I saw was Al Adamson's "Satan's Sadists" and it is difficult for others to compare. Not bad if you are bored one day and are looking for a way to kill some time. With Penelope Spheeris in a small role.
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