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AbeFroman

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Posts posted by AbeFroman

  2. Posted

    Gets in for its influence alone. Would we have Michael Mann's career without this film? I was taken aback by how much of Thief and Heat's DNA come from this film.

     

    I'm a massive Walter Hill fan. He may be America cinema's most underrated auteur, even more so than John Carpenter, who has been canonized in recent years.

     

    Is it Hill's best film? No, I think The Warriors is more Canon worthy. I also enjoy Southern Comfort and Extreme Prejudice more, but The Driver's influence is undeniable.

    • Like 1

  3. Posted

    American Ninja 2 is the best in the series. Surprisingly funny with decent action scenes. Dudikoff is a legitimate block of wood but the actor who played his sidekick, Steve James, should have had a much bigger career (unfortunately he passed away in 1993).

    • Like 1

  7. Posted

    There are indeed some gems with post fame, latter day Van Damme. Replicant is indeed goofy fun, but In Hell, another Ringo Lam film, is brutal and Van Damme does real acting.

     

    The last two Universal Soldier are legitimately awesome and Enemies Closer is as good as some of his theatrical films.

    • Like 1

  8. Posted

    Could not have said it better. Seagal's peak films have not aged gracefully, save for Under Siege.

     

    JCVD's films are all ridiculous but incredibly entertaining. He really did have an incredible run from 1988-1996.

     

    Its hard to find a better action film run than Blooodsport, Kickboxer, Lionheart, Double Impact, Universal Soldier, Hard Target, Timecop, Sudden Death and Maximum Risk.

    • Like 1

  9. Posted

    I was hoping this got the nod before Timecop. One of the best Die Hard rip offs. Written as a parody of action films a la Naked Gun but filmed as a straight thriller.

     

    So much to discuss: Van Damme in net, mascot fight, death by chicken bone, flammable water pistols, helicopter crashes and insanely annoying child actors.

  10. Posted

    An understated masterpiece with incredible performances from Fiennes, Tuturro and the legendary Paul Scofield. Solid supporting work from Hank Azaria, David Payne and Scorcese himself!

     

    It seems to have gotten lost in the epic year for cinema that was 1994.

     

    Despite receiving Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor (Scofield), Quiz Show deserves more recognition. And it is currently on Netflix.

     

    It's only flaw is Rob Morrow's horrific Boston accent.

    • Like 1

  11. Posted

    Handsomely made 80s cheesecake from Adrien Lynne. All over Starz and Encore lately.

     

    By no means a classic but had a big cultural moment in the late 80s.

     

    Glen Close brings humanity to a role that would be one dimensional in the hands of anyone else.

  12. Posted

    Wesley Morris - Pulitzer Prize winner, Boston Globe, Grantland

     

    Steven Hyden - Former AV Club and Grantland, hosts Celebration Rock podcast

     

    Jason Mantzoukas - show could use a shot of energy and Zouks would be amazing

     

     

     

    • Like 6

  15. Posted

    Bumping this as TLADILA needs more recognition as one of the great thrillers of the 1980s. Along with Mann's Thief, it is an amazing crime film that deserves more widespread recognition.

     

    Would also love to hear Amy and guests discuss William Friedkin.

  16. Posted

    Would love to hear 48 Hours vs. Beverly Hills Cop or Trading Places vs. Coming to America.

     

    Both 48 Hrs and BHC are actually fairly light on comedy. They play out as straight action films with dashes of humor coutersy of one of the most charamastic actors of all time in his prime.

     

    The two Murphy/Landis films are near perfect comedies that touch on class as well as race.

     

    Either way, would love to hear an hour or so on classic Murphy.

    • Like 1

  18. Posted

    Wow. This the low point for both franchises. Was there even a cinematographer? The framing and lighting made everything incomprehensible. Not a single memorable character. An alien baby factory? A Predator/Alien hybrid? Zouks would lose his mind.

     

    This one does lean into its R rating. It also could not be more different from Prometheus. It's mind boggling that these films occupy the same cinematic universe.

  19. Posted

    Would love to hear this done as a live double feature with Raw Deal from 1986.

     

    Commando is the apotheosis of over the top 80s action cheese. I'm sure the writers from The Simpsons came up with McBain after watching this classic.

     

    Raw Deal on the other hand is notable for casting Arnold as a small town sherrif that goes undercover in the Chicago mafia. What?!! Even as a 9 year old, I knew his casting made no sense.

     

    It also features Arnold's most underrated one-liner: "You should not drink....and bake."

     

    Make it happen Paul. We all know that the action film live episodes are the best (Bloodsport, Face Off, Con Air, Cobra, etc).

  20. Posted

    Bumping this as I just rewatched the Cannon doc, Electric Boogaloo. There is a segment on DW3 that never ceases to amaze me. Blake Harris could probably write a book let alone an article based on what is alluded to in the documentary. Did someone say Oral History of Death Wish 3?

     

    I know some people complained about the run of Cannon films last year. But HDTGM would be failing in their mission if this masterpiece is not covered. It's the original Crank, only everything is unintentional.

     

    Make it a live double feature with Chuck Norris's Invasion USA and you have two legendary podcasts waiting to happen.

  22. Posted

    Worth it just to hear the behind the scenes stories that Blake Harris could dig up.

     

    Peter Hyams is a great old school filmmaker (2010, Running Scared, Outland, Van Damme's best films) and it would be awesome to hear him unload on the production troubles.

     

    He was featured prominently in the incredible OJ doc, Made in America, and you can tell he wouldn't hold back.

  23. Posted

    Fuck this movie. Avoid at all costs.

     

    Just a dreadful, boring mess. With Ford and 1997 peak Brad Pitt, you would have expected a dynamic thriller instead of this turd.

     

    This film convinced me that Pakula was a hack and that All The President's Men was a fluke.

     

    Also part of a series of flops that almost permanently derailed Pitt's career (the underwhelming Sleepers, the awful Seven Years in Tibet and the shit fest that is Meet Joe Black).

  24. Posted

    One more comment on Escape From LA itself:

     

    Carpenter's output in the 90s (except for Invisible Man) suffered from really crappy cinematography. All of his films looked insanely cheap, whereas in the 70s and 80s, the films looked like 10 times their actual cost.

     

    Without his go-to DP from the 80s (Dean Cundey), Carpenter's films look cheap and flat, especially LA.

     

    Again, this is a master filmmaker whose earlier films actually pushed visual effects forward (The Thing, Starman). I think many of his missteps in the 90s were beyond his control.

     

     

    • Like 2

  25. Posted

    Bumping this again as it was brought up during the Escape From LA podcast.

     

    Far and away a low point for the mighty Carpenter, but also a very fun watch. Henstridge? Grier? Statham? Music by Anthrax? Overweight Ice Cube? What's not to love?

     

    And it's not as depressing to watch as Village of the Damned, which is Carpenter's true nadir.

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