Animal House

a.k.a. National Lampoon’s Animal House
Dir: John Landis, 1978 (8.1*)

This film had its moments, but was really pretty inconsistent overall. Noted for John Belushi’s extravagence ("food fight!") as Bluto, but the story really centers on freshman pledges Tom Hulce ("Pinto", which, in the screenplay, came b/c he had a speckled 'willie'!) and roomie Ken Dorfman (Stephen Furst) joining Belushi’s low-rent fraternity of animals (run by Tim Matheson), who are in so much trouble that Dean Wormer says of them "they’re on double-secret probation", and about to be booted from campus if there are any more infractions found, ie, underaged drinking or girls sleeping over. Look for Donald Sutherland as a professor who has an eye for Peter Riegert’s girlfriend Karen Allen, and a rival right-wing military fraternity specializing in sado-masochistic fun and games, as in spanking pledges, who respond with "please sir, can I have another?"
Quote: Can we dance with yo dates?

Read more...

Heaven Can Wait

Warren Beatty, 1978 (8.8*)
A remake of the 40’s classic, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Warren Beatty stars as a football player (instead of the original boxer), Joe, struck by a car while riding his bike, and an impatient angel played by Buck Henry, who co-authored the screenplay, grabs his soul before he’s really dead. This naturally creates havoc in heaven, especially from head angel James Mason, kind of a death accountant, who is royally ticked.

Joe’s allowed to come back but in another body, unfortunately the one he eventually ends up with is a wealthy capitalist, married to Dyan Cannon, who's trying to murder him with accomplice Charles Grodin, hilarious as usual, as the millionaire's personal secretary and his wife's lover. Of course he survives, then meets Julie Christie, who is attacking his company for it's 'profits at all human cost' mentality. Jack Warner gives his best performance as Beatty’s coach. Very well written, totally enjoyable, they pulled it off: a classic remake of a classic!

Quote: You ought to be canonized! (Charles Grodin to Dyan Cannon)
Quote2: If he weren't about to be murdered, he would need years of psychotherapy. (Grodin)

Read more...

The Deer Hunter

Dir: Michael Cimino, 1978 (9.0*)

Best Picture (AA, GG)

Story of small steel-town buddies (Robert De Niro, John Savage, Oscar winner Christopher Walken) from the rust belt who enlist for the Vietnam War and find their own private hells as a result. The brutal war sections deal with a ruthless game of Russian roulette played by the Viet Cong with their American prisoners, which has lasting consequences on the group. Mixed with much footage of pre- and post-war hometown life, this received worthy praise (and some criticism for patriotism) for accurately depicting the shattering effect war can have not only on the soldiers but their families as well. Oscar nominee Meryl Streep was only in the film to be with John Cazale while he was terminally ill with brain cancer; this was his last film. Cimino's classic, and an Oscar for directing, he was never to have made another good picture. 5 Oscars

Read more...