Four Quickies

LOST IN LA MANCHA-2003-This is a documentary about Terry Gilliam's aborted attempt to film his version of Cervantes' "Don Quixote" called "Who Killed Don Quixote".

Apparently Terry never heard of Orson Welles and his attempts to film the same subject matter!

Gilliam comes off as a naive but determined happy idiot. Had he pulled it all off and made this film (whether it was a box office success or not) he may have been hailed as a maverick genius, on par with some one like Kubrick (as the spin doctoring narration by Jeff Bridges, who starred in Gilliam's THE FISHER KING, attempts to do) but more often than not he seems to be overwelmed by the unfortunate circumstances; i.e. : Quixote portrayer Jean Rochfort's prostate problems, heavy rains wiping out a set, etc.)

A must see documentary if there ever was one!!

THE STRAIGHT STORY-1999-This is David Lynch's greatest film!

A beautifully made heart felt story (based on a true character) with Richard Farnsworth (in his last role; he died in 2000) as Alvin Straight, a crippled almost blind WW2 veteran who decides to visit his estranged brother (Harry Dean Stanton) in Wisconsin, travelling by lawnmower!

The direction and photography are excellent as is the acting, especially from Farnsworth and Sissy Spacek as his daughter.

PUBLIC ENEMIES-1996-Glossy,un-real adaptation of the real life 1930's gangster Ma Barker (Teresa Russell) who heads a gang consisting of her 4 sons and Alvin Karpis (Frank Stallone). They rob banks and kill anyone in their path. Eric Roberts shows up in the middle of the story as a cop who becomes Ma's lover.

I've seen pictures of the real Barker. Not a pretty sight I assure you. Also with Richard Eden, Alyssa Milano and Dan Cortese as Melvin Purvis.

Director Mark L. Lester once made movies like CLASS OF 1984, FIRESTARTER and COMMANDO (with future governor Swartzenegger) but in recent years his output has been mainly direct to video.

BOYS OF THE CITY-1940-The East Side Kids (lead by Leo Grocey & Bobby Jordan) go to the country to stay out of trouble and run into gangsters, a haunted house and murder. Their "adult" guardian is named Knuckles (played by Dave O'Brien from "Pete Smith Shorts" and REEFER MADNESS). Minerva Urecal is the creepy housekeeper. Black East Side member Sunshine Sammy Morrison is on hand to look scared and make watermelon jokes. Director Joseph H. Lewis directed other "Eastside Comedies", Lugosi in THE INVISIBLE GHOST and the very cool film noir THE BIG COMBO before going into TV.

Thanks for reading!