Marty Barone

The Gift, 2001. There is a masterpiece here. Hidden!! There is a great idea and story here. Not developed enough!! Raimi had a following after his brilliant film; A Simple Plan. He got to work with an all star cast, and worked again with Billy Bob Thornton; Not as an actor, but as a co-writer. Maybe another year developing.....? The country psychic helps solve the murder of the local socialite (hussy!) There’s many talented actors to pick from in this whodunnit.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, 1919. Every so often somebody tries to argue that horror films are not an art form. I of course, completely disagree! For over 100 years, directors with their cinematographers have filmed brilliant scary movies. This silent German film was one of the first visually stunning, yet disturbing masterpieces of the genre. An insane hypnotist uses a somnambulist to commit murders.

Drag Me To Hell, 2009. Sam Raimi, after working on the Spider-Man franchise returned to what I think he does best; the psychological, campy horror films, with over the top special effects like his Evil Dead trilogy. A hopeful banking officer denies an elderly woman’s request for a loan extension. The deformed, hideous hag then places a curse on the naive young, unsuspecting professional.

The Descendants, 2011, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2. I definitely liked it better the second time. This is Alexander Payne’s most serious and often depressing work. The darkness is natural here without the satire he has used in other films like Election, About Schmidt, and Nebraska. A father prepares for his comatose wife to be removed from life support. Simultaneously he is debating with extended family whether to sell a large parcel of Hawaiian land in a centuries old trust.

As Good As It Gets, 1997. James L. Brooks of the MTM shows, The Simpsons, and Terms of Endearment co-wrote and directed this very powerful and moving dramady. I had forgotten how phenomenal this film was!! Three oddballs are thrown together; A middle aged man with severe OCD, a waitress with a chronically disabled son, and a pretty boy gay artist who was robbed and lost everything.

Mission Impossible, 1996, ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2. De Palma works for the second time with writer David Koepp of Carlito’s Way. Every time I watch this fast paced, roller coaster of a movie, I’m not quite sure that I understood the plot. But was I supposed to? After all, it was a mission that was completely impossible! An IMF agent is framed for the murders of his colleagues. To clear himself he will need to break into the CIA headquarters.

Carlito’s Way, 1993. I was way over due in re-watching this De Palma organized crime masterpiece. Al Pacino and Sean Penn deliver some of their best performances. An effective thriller and love story with a phenomenal chase scene through the subways and Grand Central Station. Carlito is released from prison after five years on technicalities and tries to go straight. But his smarmy, coke head attorney and the current gangsters have some other ideas.

Chappaquiddick, 2017. Based on the events of 1969. Talk about straight, white male priviledge. Ted Kennedy drank too much, had a car accident, killed his late brothers secretary, disappeared for 9 hours, faked a concussion, got a slap on the wrist, and became the 4th longest serving senator in US history. He didn’t get to be president though! That privilege was reserved for the even more scandalous!

A Madea Homecoming, 2022. I’ve seen three Madea movies in my time. The formula has always been the same. A situation spins out of control with Tyler Perry’s character at the steering wheel. Only this time she is joined by Agnes Brown of Mrs. Brown’s Boys. Two families meet at Madea’s to celebrate their two boys graduating from college.

Evil Dead 2, 1987. After doing a comical who dunnit, then a comedic, horror movie, and then working with the very talented Cohen brothers to create a satirical, organized crime/love story. Sam Raimi shows even more maturity with his fourth film; a parody of his second film. Ash returns, taking a girl on a weekend getaway to the same cabin in MI. Creating probably one of the best satirical, raunchy, over the top, horror movies of the 80’s genre.