Tubbs’s Film Reviews

241 Films have been rated or reviewed by Tubbs.

Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, A (1987): Great work by the makeup team again. A worthy sequel to the original.
Mothering Sunday (2021): The Wardrobe Department was not needed for every second scene.
United States of Tara (TV Series) (2009): The talented Toni is well supported by a dependable John Corbett.
JSA: Joint Security Area (2000): The screenplay is intelligent, anti–war, and has some nice satirical touches.; DVD $29.95
Redhead From Wyoming, The (1953): It wouldn't have been much without Maureen.
Huff (TV Series) (2004): The characters are pretty human which is a plus and the casting in particular of Azaria, Danner, and Platt is spot on.
Acquitted (TV Series) (Frikjent) (2015): Decent writing and landscapes.; DVD $29.95, $44.95
Antonia's Line (1996): The material is fresh and generally unpredictable.
Mad About You (TV Series) (1992): Saw the 4disc Collection Edition. Not really that funny except for the Mel Brook's episode but overall it doesn't insult your intelligence and Helen Hunt is always good value.
Slumber Party Massacre (1982): No surprises here. The cover tells it all. For its type however, it is as good as many others.
Mondovino (2004): A bit too long – I am sure it could have made its point in shorter time. It would have been more interesting when first released than twenty years further on. Worth a watch though.
Iceman Cometh, The (Time Warriors) (1989): A very good mix of comedy and action based on an entertaining plot idea.
Novocaine (2001): The screenplay is uneven but the plot idea is not too bad. Helena Bonham Carter and Laura Dern take the limelight by some margin.
Down To Earth (1947): The screenplay is of minor interest but there is some real talent in the supporting cast for eg. the great Edward Everett Horton.
Short Circuit (1986): It has lasted 40 years and it should stay around quite a bit longer.
Doctor Zhivago (TV Series) (2003): Considering its length it doesn't drag to any great extent. The period setting is handled very well and there is good use of library film.
Nightmare On Elm Street, A (1984): Probably influential for other horror filmmakers.
Road To Bali (1952): Good clean fun.
Americans, The (TV Series) (2013): If the characters spent less time in the bedroom it might have been a couple of hours shorter but otherwise, it was well written. There is a good performance from Noah Emmerich.
Jericho (TV Series) (2006): S1: A good plot idea but by the time I got to the last episode I'd forgotten what it was.
Journey to the End of the Night (2006): The screenplay wasn't convincing. Fraser shows his limitations and is embarrassing but Glenn, as usual, is worth a watch.rn
Courier, The (Ironbark) (2020): Perhaps a not so well remembered espionage episode. Fine performances add to the interest.
Way We Were, The (1973): It would have been better if the screenplay had developed the political segments and had less romance.; Blu-Ray $19.95
Scanner Darkly, A (2006): Found it hard to tune in to the storytelling but I admired and enjoyed the style of the animation.
Barrio 13 (District B13) (2004): The stunt work was good but the never ending violence just became meaningless.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018): Probably not perfect but very entertaining. The recreation of Live Aid and the stand–ins for the band members were impressive.
Winter's Bone (2010): A very apt title and the performances are spot on. Like this review, there is no meat on the bone.
Counterpart (TV Series) (2017): A very well written screenplay and it is good to see quality casting from both sides of the Atlantic working together. Olivia Williams, Stephen Rea and, a double dose of J.K. Simmons stand out.
Red, White and Brass (2023): Hard to dislike.; DVD $29.95
Scrapper (2023): Not great but there is a freshness to the material and it doesn't get soppy.; DVD $29.95
Red House, The (1947): The screenplay builds slowly to a fine climax. Edward G is at the centre of things and his fine performance is aided by excellent use of light and shadow.
September (2007): It doesn't make too much of an impression.
Art of Love, The (2011): For its type it is good. The French can do romantic comedies in their sleep.
Angels in America (TV Mini Series) (2004): The male turmoil is injected with some creative visionary sequences and 3 very good female performances and is all the better for it.; DVD ~~$29.95~~ $22.45
Heroes (TV Series) (2006): S1: It is long. It becomes a series of party pieces after a while.
Holy Spider (2022): Made for the right reasons but there is little depth to the screenplay and it is a bit simplistic at times.; DVD $29.95
Mr. Turner (2014): Commendably it at times portrays Turner unflatteringly and typically the director's attention to detail is impressive. The cinematography at times is stunning.; DVD ~~$24.95~~ $18.70
Armstrong Lie, The (2013): Who needs fiction?
Man from Earth, The (2007): An interesting plot killed off by a lifeless lead which I guess is a bit ironic.
Zabriskie Point (1970): There is cult value in the screenplay but the main attraction is the desert location shooting plus an interesting soundtrack.
Man for All Seasons, A (1966): A superb cast and performances plus quality writing and production values make it a must see. The sparring between McKern and Scofield is worth it alone.
Prison Break - Season 1 (TV Series) (2005): The screenplay to its credit has more emphasis away from the aggro normally associated with prison dramas.
Suburban Mayhem (2006): Our young tearaway makes it watchable.
Party, The (2017): An excellent mix of European and American performers do justice to a tight and biting script.; DVD $29.95
Puppy (2005): Not great or very original but it does get better in the second half.
Oppenheimer (2023): It was hard to maintain interest throughout but although not essential viewing it did have some good segments which may encourage further reading. The production values were good although the soundtrack did interfer.
Safety of Objects, The (2001): The screenplay has the odd interesting segment but it doesn't achieve too much overall.
Million Dollar Arm (2014): Based on a true story it has an interesting plot but the better bits in the screenplay become fewer as the drama progresses. Great music by A.R. Rahman.
No Hard Feelings (2023): The light material was juvenile at times. Jennifer deserves much better.
Passengers of the Night, The (Les passagers de la nuit) (2021): The first half and a bit was good with Charlotte being Charlotte but thereafter the screenplay became more cloying.; DVD $29.95
Plenty (1985): An uneven screenplay and an out of place Meryl Streep but there are some good segments and a very good British supporting cast.
Commander in Chief (TV Series) (2005): Once the freshness of the main idea wears off it becomes repetitive as each crisis needs to be faced. It was no different to watching the news. Unfortunately, Geena had a family which meant writing in unnecessary characters but she & Sutherland were good.
Asteroid City (2023): Whilst the screenplay is hard work the artwork and set designs are very commendable.
Diary of Anne Frank, The (1959): Considering location wise it is very limited it does well to generate some interest & even a little suspense but it does die at times particularly when the young couple are on screen plus the story's outcome is well known.; DVD ~~$19.95~~ $14.95
Antoinette in the Cevennes (2020): The donkey segments and the locations were fine (as was the weather) but you can forget most of the rest.; DVD $29.95
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (Mission Impossible 7) (2023): It does resemble an 007 adventure. The main ingredients are the same but I would give Mission Impossible the nod on the theme tune.
Murphy Brown (TV Series) (1988-1998): S1: Although the laughter track works overtime the screenplay is not all that funny but the characters are likeable and it avoids soppiness.
It Should Happen to You (1954): The material is very light but Judy makes it watchable plus there is some 50s New York location shooting to add interest.; DVD ~~$19.95~~ $14.95
DL Chronicles, The (TV Series) (2005): The flow of the screenplay is disrupted every few minutes because of the character's need to touch lips but the series could have some cult value.
Last Action Hero (1993): It entertainingly breaks the action movie mould but beware of the kid's voice.
3:10 to Yuma (1957): With a low body count, not your traditional Western. Well written and performed. The stress on the local townsfolk when confronted by the bad guys was very convincing.
Take Me Out To The Ball Game (Everybody's Cheering) (1949): Musically not very strong but there is Kelly's dancing to admire. The screenplay is padding.
Strait-Jacket (1964): The screenplay had a sharp edge.
T2 Trainspotting (2017): An uneven screenplay but Ewen Bremner's feel for comedy makes it worthwhile as does the soundtrack.
Happy Valley (TV Series) (2014-2023): S1: The characters are believable and there is no room for flower pots. Sarah Lancashire is impressive.; DVD ~~$29.95~~ $22.45
Frankie (TV Series) (2013): It is as good as a lot of other similar TV series. There is the odd comedic moment which helps.
Invisible Woman, The (2013): The screenplay wasn't particularly interesting but it was well produced.
Death Defying Acts (2007): It might be a romance but the screenplay would have been better without it. Saoirse Ronan is very good as are the period details.
Gold (The Great Gold Conspiracy) (1974): Not memorable but a watchable screenplay with an interesting cast.
Halt and Catch Fire (TV Series) (2014-2017): S1:It did not catch fire for me but it could find an audience.
Bringing Out the Dead (1999): It is well written with some good off beat humour. The shooting locations are well chosen and add to the darkness.
Million Pound Note, The (1953): Excellent satirical writing. A good supporting cast with the wonderful Joyce Grenfell stealing her scenes.
A Star Is Born (1976): It didn't matter to Barbara that another version of the story was unnecessary. She did everything with gusto and she is the main reason for the film's raison d'être.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023): The animation of the city particularly the streets was excellent.
Magnificent Ambersons, The (1942): It never betters the opening scenes but the writing is pretty good throughout and the camera work is always interesting.
How About You? (2008): A smashing female cast plus Joss.
Perfumes (2019): Lightly entertaining, without being silly, and undemanding.; DVD $29.95
Masculin Feminin (1966): It has some good segments and some great 60s location shooting but the main male character just doesn't seem to do anything with his life and is mainly a waste of space.
Once Upon a Scoundrel (1973): It has a decent comedy plot and a comedic actor to pull it off.
Jack and the Beanstalk (2010): It starts fine with the talents of Christopher Lloyd and Wallace Shawn but then this duck comes along with the grating voice.
Le Weekend (2013): Not a particularly interesting screenplay but the two classy leads make it worth a try.
Big Night (1996): Still watchable. mainly thanks to the casting, but not dating too well.
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949): The screenplay holds no surprises but the location shooting is terrific.
Roof, The (Tetto, Il) (1956): Solid working class drama with a big heart.
Heavens Above (1963): A well written screenplay is well serviced by an excellent Peter Sellers and some of the cream of Britain's comedic actors.
HR Pufnstuf (TV Series) (1969): Has cult value and should still attract a family audience.
Monsieur Lazhar (2011): Solidly written with the melodrama kept to a minimum.
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The (2009): It runs out of steam eventually and is too long but the two leads anchor things pretty well overall.
Drumline (2002): The choreography was fine and made it worthwhile.
Paris, 13th District (Les Olympiades, Paris 13e) (2021): Uninteresting characters that have nothing useful to do.; DVD $29.95
Peterloo (2018): From kitchen sink to historical dramas the Director has great attention to detail.
Road Trip (2000): It has the odd bits of genuine humour but it is down the backroads for the most part.
Just My Luck (2006): The two leads are harmless as is the material.
In the Name of the Father (1993): The screenplay admiringly does not get bogged down which is some achievement considering the legal system is heavily involved. A smashing cast and soundtrack.
Cat and the Canary, The (1939): Not a strong comedy nor a strong horror but a decent mix of both.
Under the Volcano (1984): One terrific performance.
Scum (1980): The screenplay has one or two points to make, which it does well, thanks in no small way to no nonsense writing and performances.
Surfwise (2007): Family reminiscences some of which are interesting.
Quiet, The (2005): It could have been so much better with a scriptwriter.
Laverne & Shirley (TV Series) (1976): S1: the comedy is not great but the pair work well together and the settings are working class.; DVD $24.95, $24.95, $24.95, $24.95
From Beyond (1986): Great work by the special effects/makeup people. Enjoyable.
Striking Distance (1993): The river locations provide some relief from the routine and the casting of Dennis Farina helps.
Bells of St. Mary's (1944): These bells still ring loud for some but they have only a little a peal for others.
Nine Days (2020): Not everything was fathomable on a first viewing but the material was fresh and therefore commendable.
Toni Erdmann (2016): If there was ever a screenplay crying out for a shorter running time this was it. A good plot idea but one that lost freshness and its effectiveness the longer it went on.
Whale, The (2022): There is little movement as the whale is beached.
Sweetie (1989): For the most part Quirky.
In Darkness (2011): It is okay, but without wanting to be disrespectful to those involved in the real events, it has been a busy film genre over the years.
Super Mario Bros. Movie, The (2023): The characters are interesting and have been animated very well.
Mad Max III - Beyond Thunderdome (Mad Max 3) (1985): The "crowd" scenes were well done as were the set designs and props.
Thirteen Ghosts (2001): There was a lot of yelling between the characters so at least the screenplay made an impression on somebody.
Ride Clear of Diablo (1954): Dan Duryea adds much needed character to the proceedings.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966): It plays like a play, it is heavy on dialogue and is quite long so it needs a bit of patience.
Delicious (2021): You can understand why those in wigs were guillotined. Good production values.
100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, The (Hundred Year Old Man, the) (2013): Well produced and entertaining but it got repetitive through being too long.
Sherpa (2015): Talk about having a camera in the right place at the right time.
Why Don't You Play in Hell? (Jigoku de naze warui) (2013): Relax, lay back, and let the blood flow over you.
On the Town (1949): The dance troupe includes two of the best in Kelly and Miller and there is good comedic support from Betty Garrett et.al. The location shooting is the icing on the cake.
Wild One, The (1954): Brando is more of a flower pot than a wild one but there is some interest in Lee Marvin still learning the ropes. The highlight is the beautiful black and white.
Twisted Nerve (1968): The screenplay was never more than steadily paced but it does drag unnecessarily in the second half at times. Hywel Bennett is very good and there is an excellent supporting cast in Billie Whitelaw, Barry Foster, and Timothy West.
Martyrs (2008): I fail to see the artistic merit in portraying the beating and torturing of a woman by a man.
Naked City, The (1948): A decent policier with a memorable opening sequence. I never tire of looking at New York street scenes – the older the better.
Barbary Coast (1935): It is at its best when Edward G, who is a bit too strong for this lot, is strutting his stuff.
Cinema Paradiso (1990): The second half loses much of the energy and charm of the first but overall it is well worth a watch.
Tais Toi! (Ruby and Quentin) (2003): The first hour is particularly strong before the screenplay weakens. Depardieu shows a flair for comedy but the casting department does a fine job all around.
City of God (Cidade de Deus) (2002): A very good first half raced along but then it ran out of ideas and it repeated itself.; DVD ~~$20~~ $15
Two or Three Things I Know About Her (1965): Different but not memorable.
Taxi Driver (1976): Some great 70s street scenes particularly the early one showing the rubbish and the seedy building interiors were well selected. The stickup scene was handled refreshingly differently to the norm.
Ludwig (1972): This synopsis of an interesting character could well encourage further reading. Excellent production values.
Bellissima (1951): For much of the screenplay, it is full on and you need to take respite in the odd quiet moment.
My Old School (2022): The screenplay was only mildly interesting but the animation helped.
Duke, The (2020): A great story but you still needed to get the casting right.
Decision To Leave (2022): Okay overall but it really slows done when the romance develops and even gets totally bogged down at times. Disappointing after a good start.; DVD $29.95 | Blu-Ray $34.95
I am a Camera (1955): The screenplay is not particularly interesting. The casting of Harvey doesn't help.
Highway to Heaven (TV Series) (1984): S1 Moralistic.; DVD ~~$59.95~~ $30, $49.95, $59.95, $59.95
It's a Wonderful Afterlife (2010): Very likeable characters and screenplay supplemented by a very good soundtrack.; DVD $14.95
Way of Life, A (2004): It handles the racism issue very effectively. All the characters and performances are believable.
Wah Do Dem (What They Do) (2009): We didn't need the lead character. Without him, we could have got to the Congos quicker.
Seven Men From Now (1956): A memorable opening scene followed by a solid screenplay. It has one of the better western directors/ leading men teaming up again, plus a very respected writer. Lee Marvin also gives a helping hand.
Operation Mincemeat (2021): A strong story – I remember watching and being impressed by it from the version screened in "The Man Who Never Was" (1956).
4.3.2.1 (2010): A great title but there is no lift off.
Official Competition (Competencia Oficial) (2021): There were some worthwhile segments, with Banderas best of the trio, but overall a reduction in running time would have helped.
Creation (2009): Whilst it may not satisfy all those seeking a science v religion punchup there is a better than average cast and good production values.
Our Man in Havana (1960): Gives the spy people a well–deserved poke in the eye with Alec Guinness carrying the sharp stick. There is a terrific cast to abet him and the location shooting is impressive.
Nightmare Alley (1947): An interesting but not always convincing screenplay and one that would have benefitted from being tighter.
Legend of 1900, The (1998): Although the screenplay doesn't run smoothly at times, maybe because it is shorter than the original version, it is nevertheless an interesting story performed by an interesting cast.
Ambulance (2022): Characters shouting into each other's faces – I know how they feel after watching this.
Vai (2019): Producing this compilation of stories would have been a challenge. Beautiful viewing.
Babadook, The (2014): The Babadook was okay it was the hyperactive kid that I had trouble with.
Where Is Anne Frank? (2022): An interesting screenplay and although the narrative may have lost a little in its translation, I really enjoyed the animation.; DVD $29.95
Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012): Although some segments worked okay overall the material was not that strong. Some interesting support casting helped though.; DVD $29.95
An Idiot Abroad (TV Series) (2010): It is well written and not sure how much ad–libbing Pilkington does but at the end of the day it doesn't really matter as it works. Pilkington is excellent.
Love Witch, The (2016): An interesting try but it just gets bogged down after a while – maybe the re–enactments, which were okay in themselves, affected the flow. A good soundtrack and work by the makeup department helped.
Dead Snow (Død Snø) (2009): Plenty of blood and black currant jam.; DVD $29.95
Hellzapoppin' (1941): The screenplay is loosely structured and contains comedy and musical numbers of uneven quality but the whole is worth a look.
My Family (TV Series) (2000-2006): The good standard of the script is consistent across all 8 episodes.
Coming Home in the Dark (2021): Not too bad for its type, has some decent suspense at times, and could be worth a try.
Goal! (2005): For the most part, it is good – the re–enactments are well handled and there is an interesting support cast – but the melodrama takes over. A more condensed screenplay would have left less room for the fairy stuff.
Secret, The (Si j'étais toi) (2007): It does try to be a little different, but at the end of the day, not a great screenplay.
Julia (1977): A well produced screenplay that goes up a notch when the vivacious Vanessa is on camera.
Sami Blood (2016): Whilst the screenplay wasn't always that convincing its political message was loud and clear. A good performance from the young lead and the shooting locations helped.; DVD $29.95
Silent Partner, The (1978): It is a pretty good story and the casting of Plummer, Gould, and York is hard to ignore.
Butterflies Are Free (1972): The screenplay maintains its stage origins and is heavy on dialogue in a limited space.
Made In Romania (2010): The casting was an interesting mix and helped to bolster interest in the uneven screenplay.
21 Hours at Munich (1976): A reasonable re–enactment with Holden and Nero included no doubt to add lustre to the proceedings.
Oliver Twist (1948): Robert Newton and Alec Guinness head an excellent cast of supporting performers. The set designs are superb.
Sex Traffic (Mini-Series) (2004): The screenplay does a commendable job of portraying a part of the sex trade in a no frills manner. It was too long however as it got its strong message across very ably at what would have been the normal feature length.
Blood and Sand (1941): I always cheer for the bull.
All the King's Men (1949): A bullying performance from Crawford is the centre piece of this well written screenplay but Mercedes McCambridge's performance is just as worthy.
Hideous Kinky (1999): The screenplay is loosely structured but this is not a problem thanks to the central performer, the locations, and the terrific smorgasbord soundtrack.
Yentl (1983): A never ending screenplay with modest musical interruptions.
Friday (1995): All the cast were good and the characters were generally well written and interesting.
Snake Pit, The (1948): A bit dated but certainly still watchable thanks to the lead performance.
Meet John Doe (1941): The screenplay contains one or two political messages and although it gets a bit too melodramatic toward the end it is helped along by very good casting in all the leading roles.
Blues Brothers 2000 (1998): The screenplay is okay but it did need the musical segments and in particular the harmonica blues.
Fabelmans, The (2022): Most scenes had someone or something yelling or screaming.
Fatal Instinct (1993): Not an easy form of comedy but this one works very well.
Charro (1969): I looked up the meaning of Charro (without the !). I now know more than I did before thanks to watching this.
Rio Lobo (1970): An okay screenplay but it has been done before. Jack Elam provides the most interest.
Dead Like Me: Life After Death (2009): Hadn't seen or even heard of the series so I came into this feature presentation cold. After viewing it my temperature hadn't changed much.
Robin-B-Hood (Bo bui gai wak) (2006): Although the stunt and action scenes are of the expected Jackie standard the screenplay is far too long for the material.
Shadows in the Sun (The Shadow Dancer) (2005): More of a hangover than a shadow.
Devil's Playground, The (1976): The wonderful title sums up the screenplay perfectly.
God Bless America (2011): For the most part, it was well written but it eventually backed itself into a corner and finished weakly.
Pin Up Girl (1944): Musically modest but there are two good dance numbers from the Condos Brothers.
Nope (2022): Visually interesting and visually impressive.
Talk of the Town, The (1942): The comedy only flares now and again but Jean Arthur at least tries hard to keep the flame alive in this not too convincing screenplay.
Greta (According to Greta) (2009): Ellen Burstyn is clearly the best thing in this and makes it worth a try.
Fifty Shades Freed (2017): We are finally freed.
Kiss Me Kate (1953): The dance numbers throughout are excellent and not just by the quality operators Ann Miller and Tommy Rall. The Cole Porter songs are the icing on the Kate.
Comfort of Strangers, The (1991): More dialogue than action but it is Pinter's. Walken's smile can be chilling.
Spread (2009): I think it might have been made during one of the writer's strikes.
Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris (2022): Well made and works thanks to Lesley Manville. The great Isabelle Huppert is wasted.
Speedway Junky (1999): An uneven screenplay but it does have some good segments even if they are not particularly original. It climaxes but then drags out for another few scenes which doesn't help. The performances are okay but some of the strutting young males are annoying.
Cocaine Bear (2023): Although the screenplay weakens a little, overall it is a comedy horror that works. The bear activity is cleverly done.
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody) (2022): It follows formula for this kind of thing.
Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The (1948): Nothing spectacular but a very solid screenplay, performances, and believable characters.
Real Women Have Curves (2003): Some good social commentary interspersed with daughter vs. mum (Lupe Ontiveros is terrific) all done for the most part without bitterness.
Captain, The (Der Hauptmann) (2017): Fiction or non–fiction, it is a very good piece of satirical writing.
Faintheart (2008): Interesting characters and ones that have been correctly cast. Nothing wrong with the screenplay and script either. And it is British.
Babylon (2022): Although it is too long its production values and a driving soundtrack help to maintain some interest. Some excellent ensemble dance numbers are the highlight. Margot Robbie tries really hard and cannot be faulted for lack of effort.
Play Misty for Me (1971): Although the screenplay runs out of steam, for the most part, the plot idea is believable and there are some very good 70s scenes.; DVD ~~$20~~ $15
Yves Saint Laurent (2014): The production was well mounted as were most of the characters.
High Society (1956): Not a great screenplay and the musical side would have been better if they had have left the singing to Bing.; DVD ~~$19.95~~ $14.95
Muru (2022): It was okay as an actioner, well photographed, and it had a pretty good soundtrack.
Somewhere (2010): The boredom aspect, particularly pre–Ellie, was handled very well. I also got the impression that the Director/Writer was making a comment on how we pamper film stars. even scruffy ones.
Masked and Anonymous (2003): A bit of an odd screenplay in between the musical segments supported by a number of cameos some longer than others.
Age of Innocence, The (1993): Excellent cast and settings but the characters are a waste of space in not doing anything useful with their lives.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022): It includes some attractive design and artwork and the dramatisation is interesting enough to encourage further research.
Go! (Go Karts) (2020): A screenplay that has been doing the rounds for a while but there is some attraction in the casting of Frances O’Connor.
Man Called Otto, A (2022): A popular offering.
My Salinger Year (2021): Margaret Qualley was okay but it is Sigourney who lifts a light screenplay up a notch or two.; DVD $29.95
Rams (2020): This is a reminder of how much we miss John Clarke.
Life with Father (1947): Its play origins are very apparent but the quality of the dialogue comes through aided by two lead performances who work well off each other.
Navigator, The (A Medieval Odyssey) (1988): An uneven screenplay but it does include some great scenes and overall the material is fresh.
Delinquents, The (1957): It is worth a try – take a look back at a time capsule.
Dirty Carnival, A (Biyeolhan geori) (2006): More of the same but worthy of a watch if you don't mind more of the same.
Dark Waters (2019): It was okay but why not leave it to the documentary maker(?)
Man Who Sued God, The (2001): A good and fresh plot idea played out by as expected a terrific Judy Davis and a couldn't be boring Billy Connolly.
Levelling, The (2016): Ellie Kendrick and her Dad (David Troughton) are excellent and what is more, believable. A screenplay with a no frills political message.
Western Union (1941): It has a good plot, casting, and director but it doesn't really amount to much.; DVD $29.95
Warm Springs (2005): It is not a warm and fuzzy drama about FDR – he couldn't have been easy to live with – and it is all the better for it. The production values are first class and the casting of leads and supports are well done and interesting.
Teknolust (2002): It contains more than one good performance from Tilda with Karen Black the icing on the cake. The screenplay is intelligent and refreshingly different. The wardrobe/hair and the design people deserve special mention as well.
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (TV Series) (2011): The screenplay is divided into 6 interchangeable episodes.
Maps to the Stars (2014): Mia more than holds her own against in form Julianne and Olivia – the three of them are excellent. An interesting screenplay that doesn't follow the norm.
New Jack City (1991): It opens with a great aerial shot of the city but it is downhill after that. Neither the characters nor the screenplay offer enough originality to maintain one's interest.
Paranormal Activity 2 (2010): More of the same.
Love Me Tonight (1932): It opens with a great aerial shot over the chimney pots. Jeanette MacDonald's lovely voice carries the musical side and certainly does justice to some memorable numbers. A good supporting cast helps with the padding in between.
Sing 2 (2020): Animation is able to create at will such a wide variety of creatures.
Guncrazy (1992): Not the first time this plot idea has been used but the young veteran Barrymore creates some interest.
Jackass Number Two (2006): More of the same as is the rating.
Taste of Cherry, A (1997): An intelligent rather than an entertaining screenplay. Not the Director's best but worth a look.
Rosemary's Baby (1968): The location shots during the opening credits are memorable & are backed up later by some excellent street scenes. The camera work & the set designs set a suitable mood for the screenplay with an ensemble of veteran character actors the icing on the cake.
Emily (2022): Solid and competent.; DVD $29.95
Reprise (2006): The screenplay was fragmented when it switched the focus to one of the fringe characters who were then returned to the shadows. However, for the most part, proceedings were shared by 3 good performers – with the first half being stronger than the second.
Buchanan Rides Alone (1958): Another solid western from the pairing of Boetticher and Scott.
Ticket To Paradise (2022): Not only Roberts and Clooney but Clooney and Roberts do these things in their sleep.
Return From Witch Mountain (1978): A decent enough for all ages screenplay with the added attraction of the established talents of Davis and Lee.
For Your Consideration (2006): Like black comedy, spoofs could be very easy to stuff up – this one works quite well, however.
Motel Hell (1980): A black comedy that works – maybe because no one seems to be taking things too seriously. Check in and enjoy it.
One More Night (The Lather Effect) (2006): One good thing about not being able to remember the 80s is characters like these.

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Tubbs’s Film Reviews