Movie Stakeout Reviews 01/08/20-07/08/20
All the latest Movieland investigations from detectives Dick Japowski and Joey Arizona.
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Inception (2010)
Dream logic, mind twistery, heist magic from Christopher Nolan. I hadn't rewatched this since the cinema and had my mind blown learning it is now 10 years old. Time is funny like that and is what also makes this film so great. The cleverness of dream logic and layers on layers mean you are rewarded for paying attention. A great cast, score and set pieces make this a blockbuster they just don't make or release this year!
Rewatch: 4.5 Doughnuts
Japowski Jr: 3.5 Doughnuts
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Stan and Ollie (2018)
The story of Laurel & Hardy after their success in the movies, touring small theatres up and down the UK.
An interesting period to drop into a biopic of one of the original double acts, and it's definitely a melancholy one. John C Reilly and Steve Coogan do a good job as the leads and the movie does well in building the underlying tension in a fractured relationship. Kicking myself for not seeing the twist of Hardy opening a chain of carpet shops either!
First watch: 3.5 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case
The Wishmaster (1997)
A young woman accidentally awakens a djinn, who starts granting peoples wishes in the most horrific ways and stealing their souls. Once he has enough souls to power the gem which imprisoned him, it is left to his rescuer to make three wishes and he shall be free.
Some brilliantly grotesque practical effects, and one very laughable CGI one which I swear seemed better back in the day.
Rewatch: 3 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files: Unseen August
Animal House (1978)
The worst fraternity on campus does it's best to uphold it's reputation.
This month we're looking at classics we've never seen, and where better to start than the quintessential college movie? I happened to pick this up 50p brand new in a charity shop, back when the world was a save place that made sense, and I picked it up for the reason it was an unseen classic. Serendipity I tell ya.
I wasn't holding out hope on this one, having seen other 'classics' of this comedy subgenre, like Porkies and Bachelor Party, and not thinking much of them. Animal House on the other hand made me chuckle a few times, had a couple of great characters, and a bonkers finalé.
First watch: 3.5 Doughnuts
Dick Japowski's Unseen August
Vertigo (1958)
This month we cover the films that as film fans we really should have seen!
Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo was one we were going to do on our podcast back in the day, so held off watching. That episode didn't happen so ten years later here we are!
James Stewart plays detective Scottie who suffers with a crippling fear of heights who gets embroiled and tangled up in the affairs of a mysterious dame..
Hot take. This is very good! The mystery hooks you and the style and charm up on the screen will make you regret watching so many bad movies. Shame on me!
First watch: 4.5 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)
Man with dog meets women with dog, both couples fall in love. The dogs have some puppies, and women's acquaintance wants to buy them...so she can make dalmatian coats. When the couple refuse to sell the puppies are stolen, and it turns out she's also bought ever dalmatian she can lay her hands on.
A great Disney movie but not one that will keep the interest of a four year old...not even for a second.
Rewatch: 4 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Dick Tracy meets Gruesome (1947)
Boris Karloff, who gets top billing here, plays a recently paroled crook who appears to come back from the dead.
This had me from the beginning, there's a brilliant swerve in the first scene, and there are a few more as the film progresses. There're a couple of cool characters, and several name based gags that made me chuckle, like the brains of the evil enterprise being called L.E. Thal, or a taxidermist called Y. Stuffem. But Tracy is probably the let down here, a generic forties leading man rather than a cop who's seen it all. Even his sidekick seems more worldly than the supposed lead.
First watch: 3 Doughnuts
Have you witnessed any of the movies we've investigated? What's the verdict? Let us know in the comments below.