Category: 1980s

“Black Widow” (1987) starring Debra Winger & Theresa Russell

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She mates and she kills. No man can resist her. Only one woman can stop her. -Tagline

A tall/blonde/early 30s woman, Catharine Petersen (Theresa Russell), marries older (50-something) millionaires, waits until they’ve changed their wills (to leave all of their money to her), and murders them using clever methods. With each relationship, Catharine changes her appearance (hair/makeup/clothes) and personality to suit the man. Alexandra Barnes (Debra Winger) is a DOJ data analyst who finds links btwn several mysterious deaths. The more she learns of this woman, the more Alex becomes fascinated; she does field work on her own time (her co-workers and supervisor are V skeptical). Taking a wild chance, Alex flies to Hawaii to track the “black widow” (on her own)!

This (lesser known) neo noir was released about 6 mos. prior to the hit Fatal Attraction (1987). The director (Bob Rafelson) hadn’t worked on a movie since The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981); I’m NOT a fan of that remake (see the original B&W ver. instead). This movie could be a BIT shorter; there are also odd editing choices (some critics called it “choppy”). The dialogue is pretty good; the screenplay is by Ron Bass (Rain Man; My Best Friend’s Wedding). Winger (who had prior success w/ An Officer and a Gentleman and Terms of Endearment) was given the choice of the 2 co-leads; she chose Alex, b/c she didn’t understand why Catharine kills. One of the men in the poker game is David Mamet (in his 1st film); he’s best known as a director. Dennis Hopper has a small role (5 mins.) in the 1st act. We also see theater/movie veterans (Lois Smith and James Hong) in supporting roles.

Black Widow gives us a look into the (pre-internet) world of investigations; there was no facial recognition tech yet. Alex uses a slide projector to examine newspaper photos. Catharine borrows a VCR player (which is quite large) from the fancy Seattle hotel where she’s staying to watch a videotape. (I don’t think my family had a VCR then; we’d immigrated to the US in the Fall of 1986.) There is a LOT that is unsaid; there is “erotic tension” (as one astute reviewer said) btwn. the two women. Does Alex envy Catharine (who can get any man she wants)? Are the women attracted to each other? Early in the story, Alex shut down advances (gently) from her “right hand” (D.W. Moffett); there is also concern from her boss (Terry O’Quinn) who tells her (explicitly) to get a man. As Roger Ebert (who didn’t recommend it) said: “The acting is good. I expected more from this movie.” Gene Siskel liked it a LOT; he said: “Alex realized that Catharine could do something that she couldn’t- love!”

Re-Watch: “Jagged Edge” (1985) starring Jeff Bridges, Glenn Close, Peter Coyote, & Robert Loggia

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When a murder case is this shocking, which do you trust… your emotions or the evidence? -Tagline

Jack: You still think I’m guilty? How can you defend me if you think I’m guilty?

Teddy: It happens all the time. It’s the way our legal system works.

San Fran publishing heiress, Page Forrester, is brutally murdered in her luxurious beach house. Her husband, Jack (Jeff Bridges), seems devastated by the crime; he is soon accused of her murder. He hires Teddy Barnes (Glenn Close) to defend him, despite the fact she hasn’t handled a criminal defense case in several years. There’s chemistry between them; the lawyer soon finds herself falling hard for her client.

The movie is about layers and layers and layers of truth. It’s like peeling an onion down to the core. Here we have a very intelligent, very attractive, very warm, very modern mother/career woman who has made a definite commitment to a moral standard, and makes one more moral stand when she says that she will only defend the man who is accused of a terrible crime, if she is convinced of his innocence. The rollercoaster begins. Is he innocent? Is he guilty? Is he lying? Or is he not? It’s a classic high-tension psychological thriller. -Richard Marquand, director (when asked re: the movie during promo)

This movie is the 1st of screenwriter Joe Eszterhas’ San Fran thriller trilogy; the later films are Basic Instinct (1992) and Jade (1995). Eszterhas originally titled the screenplay Hearts of Fire. Columbia disliked the title and decided it had to be changed; they assigned a secretary to go through the script. She came upon “jagged edge” (in description of the murder weapon: “a knife with a jagged edge”). Kevin Costner turned down the role of Jack (thank goodness)! Jane Fonda was originally attached to play Teddy. When she demanded that changes be made to the script, the studio sided w/ Eszterhas and replaced her w/ Close. Fonda and Bridges co-starred in another thriller- The Morning After (1986)- directed by Sydney Lumet.

Who did it? Tom Krasny, the district attorney with political aspirations, is quick to make a case against Forrester. But there is reason to believe that Krasny is as eager to ride this case into a senate seat as he is to convict the right man. Teddy is sharp. She launches her own investigation with the help of a crusty gumshoe named Sam Ransom. She finds what she is looking for: the holes in Krasny’s case and the fact that Forrester is not the only suspect. But she also finds something she wasn’t looking for: emotional and romantic involvement with her client. -Martin Ransohoff, producer

Martin Ransohoff (who went on to produce the movie) took the story idea to Columbia president (Guy McElwaine) in 1983; McElwaine was interested in a courtroom piece (an intense story that’d raise some pressing Qs about the legal system). According to Eszterhas’ book Hollywood Animal, Ransohoff was against the casting of Glenn Close (saying she was “too ugly” for the part). Close heard about this; she said she didn’t want Ransohoff on set during her scenes. The director (Richard Marquand- best known for Star Wars: Episode VI – The Return of the Jedi) supported Close and sent Ransohoff away. The producer was so mad that he went to studio heads trying to get them both fired! The studio later denied this happened (of course). Teddy has 2 young kids (David and Jenny); in their bedroom is a poster of The Return of the Jedi.

This tension between Krasny and Forrester is intense. There is history between them. The courtroom begins to take on the feeling of the O.K. Corral. -Jeff Bridges, actor

This is one of the earliest movies of the erotic thriller genre (and it’s quite effective). Now, there are some problematic elements (esp. when viewed through modern eyes). The acting is quite strong; Robert Loggia received a Best Supporting Oscar nom! Loggia plays Sam Ransom (former investigator in the DA’s office/Teddy’s trusted friend) who curses, drinks (a LOT), and looks rumpled. Teddy and Sam still regret what occurred on one of their past cases. At first, you may wonder if the DA (Teddy’s former boss), Thomas Krasny (Peter Coyote), will be the lead; he’s the focus of the opening 10 mins. To lend to the authenticity, the exteriors of the courtroom were San Fran’s City Hall.

Teddy: Sam! He didn’t do it!

Sam: Yeah? Is that your head talking, or another part of your anatomy? [Teddy gives him a sour look]

Sam: Hey, ok, what the hell, f**k me! [runs for the door]

Today’s viewers may NOT 100% buy into Teddy getting into a relationship w/ Jack; this is crucial for the plot. Teddy is recently divorced; her (nice/bland) ex-hubby doesn’t get much screen time (though the kids want their parents together). She desperately wants to believe that this client is innocent, BUT there are doubts. Here we have the (common) trope of the professional woman who makes a mess of her personal life. She leads w/ her heart, NOT her head. It doesn’t seem like Jack would be ready for romance after the recent tragedy. Jack works his charm on Teddy (w/o her suspecting); he takes her horseback riding, they walk on the beach, and have wine w/ takeout. Jeans, cozy sweaters, business suits- y’all know Bridges looks FAB in all the outfits. Close and Bridges are V well-matched; they create good chemistry together. In the tense/revelatory courtroom scenes, they convey much w/o dialogue.

[1] Bridges and Close show why they’re among the greatest stars of their generation. I can pretty much guarantee that you won’t find this movie boring. 

[2] This courtroom thriller was one of the films that spawned a huge wave of copycats through the mid ’80’s and early ’90’s. […]

…the film works very well on a visceral level, providing twists and shocks along the way (including one startling break-in near the end which is jarring no matter how many times it is seen.) The film’s greatest strength is the acting, notably Close. […] She brings great conviction to her poorly conceived role. Bridges does well also as the perfectly moussed, tan dreamboat who might be a savage murderer. Loggia brings a welcome salty edge to the film with his foul-mouthed portrayal of Close’s investigator friend.

The discordant music by Barry is very unsettling and his use of low piano keys doubtlessly inspired Jerry Goldsmith for “Basic Instinct.” It’s the same type of sound. Folks expecting a watertight story will be disappointed. Those who just want to be entertained and spooked should love it.

[3] The ending was cause for much discussion back in the day, and viewing it now it still feels like a moment of cheek mixed in with some form of clarity, but rest assured it works well, as does, funnily enough, the whole film. No world beater here, but highly accomplished and worth the time of any thriller obsessed movie fan. 

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“The Fabulous Baker Boys” (1989) starring Jeff Bridges, Michelle Pfeiffer, & Beau Bridges

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For 31 years it’s been just the Fabulous Baker Boys… but times change. -Tagline for the movie

This movie (free on YT in HD quality) focuses on a Seattle piano lounge act performing jazz versions of famous pop songs. The older brother, Frank (Beau Bridges), is married w/ 2 kids and the business manager, front man, and programmer of the playlist. The younger brother, Jack (Jeff Bridges), is carefree w/o commitments; he has one-night stands (mainly w/ cocktail waitresses). Jack has an old black Lab dog (Eddie) and a pre-teen upstairs neighbor (Nina) who lives w/ her single mom (busy dating various men). The Baker Boys’ act is becoming stale; they’re losing the ability to hold onto what gigs they had. Dave Grusin recorded the songs for the soundtrack, BUT Beau and Jeff both learned to play all the songs. To make their playing look realistic, they watched videos of Grusin’s hands playing the music.

Frank comes up w/ the idea of hiring a female singer. After 37 bad auditions, they finally hire Susie Diamond (Michelle Pfeiffer- who sings all her songs); she is rough around the edges and a former escort. Despite Susie having no formal singing experience, she has good enough vocals and can sell a song. She turns off her tough girl attitude when performing; she becomes vulnerable. Soon, they begin getting better gigs and earning more money. Frank thinks the biggest threat is the sexual tension (real or imagined) btwn Jack and Susie. However, the main threat is how Susie is able to expose the (existing) rifts btwn the brothers; Frank’s goal is to provide for his family, while Jack wants to pursue his own musical dreams.

They just don’t make films like this anymore (for the big screen)! It’s a 3-person character drama, NOT unlike what you’d see onstage. The writer (also 1st time director), Steve Kloves, had shown the script to (IRL friend) Pfeiffer 3 yrs. before it was made. Kloves mainly worked as a screenwriter afterwards; he did a fine job here. The film was released in SEPT 1989 in only 800 theaters; it sold out in NYC, Chicago and LA (thanks to word of mouth). There was NOT much money spent by the studio (Fox) on advertising.

I love them- both the Bridges brothers! -Michelle Pfeiffer on Inside the Actors Studio

Some critics (of ALL genders) commented: “This is Jeff Bridges looking his hottest.” Most of the time, Jack (an anti-hero) is wearing a black tux open at the collar. Susie has a variety of dresses, ranging from trashy to elegant. They BOTH have great hair, too! The audience is anxious for them to get together, BUT they need time (as they are guarded emotionally). The Fabulous Baker Boys is a must-see film w/ intelligent dialogue, great acting, and sparkling chemistry. There is a sense of authenticity; the settings are NOT always glam and the characters are multi-layered.

Quick Reviews of the Indiana Jones Movies

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Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) starring Harrison Ford & Karen Allen

Indiana Jones – the new hero from the creators of JAWS and STAR WARS. -Tagline

In 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain its awesome powers. -Synopsis

This past month, I’ve been binge-listening to The Fordcast, a V fun/informative podcast re: career of actor Harrison Ford. I have been (re-watching) some of his (’80s & ’90s) movies. The 1st of the Indiana Jones movies is considered “one of the 1st Summer blockbusters” (after Jaws); it was directed by Steven Spielberg and story is credited to his friends/frequent collaborators (George Lucas- who created Indy, Lawrence Kasdan, and Phillip Kaufman). The music (which suits the action/adventure V well) was composed by John Williams. Long-time fans (according to what I’ve read online) consider it to be the best (or 2nd) best of the franchise. I saw this movie (on network TV) many yrs ago; I didn’t recall much about the plot. I re-watched it last month and had a LOT of fun! In the title role, Ford has a LOT more to do than in the (also iconic) Star Wars franchise. Indy’s (buttoned-up) professor is almost like a different man from his (risk-taking) adventurer; I was reminded of the Clark Kent/Superman dichotomy. Ford was NOT considered “conventionally handsome” (when he went to auditions early in his career). I’m guessing that he was the (rare) male actor who wasn’t vain.

Marion: You’re not the man I knew ten years ago.

Indy: It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage.

Indy’s line to Marion (smart, independent, and sassy) when they are on the ship (see above) was ad-libbed by Ford. Marion (Karen Allen) returns in a later film; she’s considered to be the “true love” of Indy’s life. In the opening of the story, we see a (young/slim) Alfred Molina. Indy’s Egyptian friend, Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), will be seen in later movies also; many know him from the LOTR trilogy. The posh/British dean at Indy’s college, Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott), will be recognizable to period drama fans; he appeared in A Room with a View (1985) and Maurice (1986). The famous scene in which Indy shoots the swordsman was NOT in the script. Ford was supposed to use his whip to get the sword out of his attacker’s hands, BUT the food poisoning he (and the rest of the crew) had gotten made him too sick to perform the stunt. After several tries, Ford suggested “shooting the sucker;” Spielberg liked the idea!

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) starring Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, & Ke Huy Quan

In 1935, Indiana Jones is tasked by Indian villagers with reclaiming a rock stolen from them by a secret cult beneath the catacombs of an ancient palace. -Synopsis

Indy: [groping desperately down Willie’s dress] Where’s the antidote?
Willie: Oh, listen, I just met you! Oh, I’m not that kind of girl…
Short Round: Hey, Dr. Jones, no time for love. We’ve got company.

A LOT of (younger) ppl are discussing this movie lately; Ke Huy Quan (Short Round), has received many awards for his role in Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022). His mom saw an ad in the newspaper looking for child actors; Quan (aged 12 in this movie) got an audition! The Chinese-American actor (who worked mostly as a stuntman) appeared in another famous movie- The Goonies (1985). Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw (Willie), met and fell in love during production. Quan does a good job w/ what he is given (though he never acted before); he later said “I was just a kid having fun.”

This is NOT a V effective film (aside from a few scenes of action and humor). The pacing is NOT good; it drags in many places. Worst of all, there are stereotypes and MANY problematic elements involving POC (most notable those playing Indians). I don’t know what the co-writers (William Huyck and Gloria Katz) or producers were thinking! Indie film fans may recognize Roshan Seth; he is a fine character actor known internationally. Amrish Puri shaved his head for the role of Mola Ram (the main baddie here); he kept that look and became one of India’s most popular film villains. Women/girls will NOT be amused; Willie (the singer) is characterized as a shallow, nearly helpless, and complaining re: everything; Capshaw later admitted that the role was “mostly screeching.” For the bug chamber scene, Capshaw was covered w/ over 2,000 insects; she took sedatives to get over her initial fear, and said “they definitely worked.” There is a shirtless scene in the cave; Ford (who is looking esp. fit) worked out using the Body by Jake program. Y’all remember all the exercise crazes we had in the ’80s!?

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) starring Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, & Alison Doody

Have the adventure of your life keeping up with the Joneses. -Tagline

In 1938, after his father goes missing while pursuing the Holy Grail, Indiana Jones finds himself up against the Nazis again to stop them from obtaining its powers. -Synopsis

I consider this to the best of the franchise; it was enjoyable from start to finish! The opening (flashback) is terrific; we see a teenaged Boy Scout, Indy (River Phoenix), facing off against some big/tough men attempting to steal artifacts in a cave. Phoenix (older brother to Joaquin who died in ’93) played Ford’s son in The Mosquito Coast (1986); the older actor recommended him for young Indy. Though they are NOT that far off in age, Ford and Connery make a great duo. If you weren’t impressed w/ Connery much before, check this movie out! Did anyone recall the 23 y.o. actress Alison Doody (Elsa)? She’s Irish, worked as a model in the ’80s, and went on to work as a painter. Doody recently had a baddie role in the Indian hit movie RRR (2022).

Prof. Henry Jones: [accidentally shoots their own plane with the machine gun]
Indy: Dad, are we hit?
Prof. Henry Jones: More or less. Son, I’m sorry. They got us.

Ford cut his chin in a car accident in SoCal when he was 20 y.o. This cut is explained by young Indy cutting his chin w/ a whip. As w/ the other movies in this franchise, Ford did many of his own stunts. According to his stunt double, Vic Armstrong, he had to pull Ford to one side and ask him to let him “do some work”- LOL! Armstrong commented: “If he wasn’t such a great actor, he would have made a really great stuntman.” Most of the uniforms worn by the Nazis in the Berlin book-burning scene are real WWII uniforms, not copies. I learned that 2,000 rats were bred for this production; this was necessary, as ordinary rats would have been riddled w/ disease- wow!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) starring Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, Ray Winstone, & Karen Allen

In 1957, Indiana Jones becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls. -Synopsis

Indy: What’s your mom’s name again?

Mutt: Mary. Mary Williams. You remember her?

Indy: There’ve been a lot of Marys, kid.

Mutt: [jolts up from chair] Shut up! That’s my mother you’re talking about! All right? That’s my mother.

Indy: You don’t have to get sore all the time just to prove how tough you are.

I heard that it was (mostly) bad- and yup- those critics/viewers were right! Here we see that even the FAB Cate Blanchett (who plays an Eastern European villain) didn’t “hit it out of the park” every time. Of course, some ppl will be avoiding this movie b/c of (the problematic IRL) LaBeouf. The CGI looks dated, too. Ford convinced David Koepp (co-writer) to incl. some jokes re: Indy’s age in the script, believing they’d help reduce the “American paranoia about aging.” He also refused to dye his hair for the role, arguing Indy’s appeal wasn’t in his youth, BUT in his imagination and resourcefulness. I had assumed (when I was younger) that The Last Crusade would be the final of this franchise.

Quick Reviews of Four Neo Noirs

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The Big Easy (1986) starring Dennis Quaid & Ellen Barkin

He’s got to hide the truth. She’ll stop at nothing to find out. But tonight, everything’s off the record.

-Taglines for the film

Lt. Remy McSwain (Quaid), a cop in Homicide, finds that he has 2 probs: 1) a brutal series of gang killings and 2) Ann Osborne (Barkin), an attorney from the D.A.’s police corruption task force. He begins a relationship w/ her as the killings continue, only to have charges filed against him for accepting bribes (after he stumbles into a sting operation). Meanwhile, the criminal leaders insist that none of their gangs are behind the killings. FYI: Jim Garrison (the judge in Remy’s bribery case) was a real lawyer and judge. He was, for a time, the DA of NOLA. A case he had while in that position was the subject of Oliver Stone’s JFK (1991); Garrison was played by Kevin Costner.

In the opening credits, we see over the bayous and countryside rushing by below (w/ the energetic zydeco music- played through the film). The filmmakers do a good job at bringing NOLA to life w/ its sights and sounds (incl. Creole dialects). Quaid (TOO pushy to get a date in the first 20 mins; this kind of behavior would NOT work today) plays a man who is energetic, obstinate, and self-assured. However, he gets to reveal another (emotional) side when the story asks for it. Quaid also sings a song! Barkin does an better job at selling the movie (as some critics noted); Anne is a woman who is strong, BUT also vulnerable (being unlucky w/ romance in the past). Barkin and Quaid (both 32 y.o.) have a chemistry that is playful and hot; they both said this was their fave movie! There is a (much discussed) love scene where they’re partly clothed, BUT he goes down on her (V rare to see onscreen at that time). A phone call interrupts them (of course), so they have to rush over to a crime scene. A bit later on, there is another (also good) love scene. The supporting characters (cops) incl. John Goodman, Lisa Jane Persky, and Ned Beatty. Unfortunately, the few Italian and Black characters aren’t shown in a nuanced manner.

Mortal Thoughts (1991) starring Demi Moore, Glenne Headly, & Bruce Willis

Something terrible happened that night. Something everyone wanted to talk about. Something no one was telling the truth about. -Taglines for the film

A young hairdresser/wife/mom, Cynthia Kellogg (Moore- w/ big/permed hair), is in a police station (in Bayonne, NJ) being interrogated by an experienced cop, Det. John Woods (Harvey Keitel), and his younger/female partner. Through flashbacks, Cynthia explains how her bestie/co-worker, Joyce (Glenne Headly), married her loud/macho/jobless hubby, James Urbaniak (Bruce Willis); how hard Joyce’s marriage was; and why Joyce ended up killing James (in self-defense). The cop (who is smarter than he acts) finds some contradictions in her statement and pushes Cynthia, trying to get her to disclose the whole truth.

The film’s title refers to Macbeth (Act I, Scene 5), in which Lady Macbeth says: “Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here / And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty…” Siskel and Ebert noted that they liked the movie, esp. the friend relationship btwn. Moore and Headley (who has appeared in theater and many indies). Willis plays a wholly unredeemable villain; he creates a cartoonish character (w/ a NOT so cute goatee). Moore and Willis were married at this time. I found the themes here compelling and it kept my interest; Moore does a good job here (as she is adept at projecting vulnerability). There is a twist in this movie, which makes sense, BUT I didn’t see coming!

Under Suspicion (1991) starring Liam Neeson, Laura San Giacomo, & Kenneth Cranham

How close can you get to a killer before you’re too close? -Tagline for the film

I learned about this movie (set in 1959 in the seaside town of Brighton, England) on the Fatal Attractions podcast. Disgraced cop turned PI, Tony Aaron (Neeson), falsifies adulteries for use as evidence in divorce cases. He involves his wife as the fictional co-respondent for painter Carlo Stasio, BUT both of them are shot dead in a hotel room. In charge of the case is Frank (Cranham), Tony’s former partner who still works on the police force. Frank’s most likely suspects are Angeline (San Giacomo), Stasio’s young/American mistress, who is set to inherit his house and paintings, and Tony himself, whose story doesn’t add up.

It’s NOT easy to get a movie made in the UK, so I think these filmmakers deserve respect for giving it a shot. It MAY be tough for some modern viewers to see Neeson in this (loser-type) role; also, there is no chemistry btwn him and San Giacomo. It looks like they don’t believe the words they’re are saying in the love scenes- a bad sign. The pacing is quite slow, BUT there is good dialogue and colorful supporting actors. There are lovely location shots and some cool-looking costumes (esp. hats and jackets). Cranham did a fine job as a weary/experienced detective. There is a twist ending which I did NOT see coming!

China Moon (1994) starring Ed Harris, Madeleine Stowe, Benicio Del Toro, & Charles Dance

He thought it was passion. It was deceit. He thought it was love. It was murder. -Taglines for the film

This movie was filmed in 1990-91, BUT was thrown into limbo when Orion filed for bankruptcy in late ’91. After a reorganization of the production company, the film finally had its release in 1994. This is a tightly edited (99 min.) simple story in the vein of Body Heat (1981), which is also set in a small Florida town. Det. Kyle Bodine (Harris) quickly falls for Rachel (Stowe) who is trapped in a violent marriage w/ a wealthy banker, Rupert Munro (Charles Dance- w/ blonde hair and a posh Southern accent). Many will know Dance from his (more recent) role of Tywin Lannister on GoT; as a younger actor, he played many baddies. After Rachel shoots her hubby during a domestic fight, Kyle (reluctantly) agrees to help her hide the body. Soon after, Kyle’s younger partner, Det. Lamar Dickey (Del Toro- just 24 w/ a baby face), starts showing initiative and finding clues. As one fan of this (lesser-known) noir wrote: “The main reason to check his out is a great performance from Ed Harris. The feeling of him being sucked into something is written all over his face, and the way he goes from cop in control of all the details into a hunted animal is really good. Stowe is also really good and the support cast also has quality…” Siskel and Ebert liked this movie also, incl. the chemistry btwn Harris and Stowe. There is a twist (which was a surprise), BUT makes sense!