088 - Rockers

Synopsis: Rasta buys motor bike, has it stolen, gets it back.

Director: Theodoros Bafaloukos

Actors: Leroy Wallace, Richard Hall, Monica Craig, Gregory Isaacs

Date: 1979

How viewed: Lovefilm

Rating: 2/5

David Meyer says:
For such a live-action cartoon, Bafaloukos provides a mature level of social realism. 

I say:

This comes across more as a series of reggae music videos than a joined up film, and apparently, for those who know about these things, most of the top reggae artists at the time crop up somewhere along the way. Anyway, the flimsy storyline is that the top reggae drummer (Horsemouth) decides to go into record distribution, borrows money, buys a motor bike, the bike gets stolen, but through a girlfriend, finds out that the local gangster has it with tons of other stolen loot in his warehouse. There then follows a nice twist where Horsemouth and his mates rob the gangster's house and the warehouse and leave everything out in the streets for the locals to help themselves. That's about it - the guys all strut about (they have a strange way of walking), dress in their finery, smoke tons of dope, everyone knows everyone, and half the film seems to be taken up with meeting friends and slapping hands, and it's just all taken at such a slow pace (maybe that's simply how it is in Kingston Jamaica!!) What else? I usually watch most films with the subtitles turned on, but was a little concerned that that wasn't an option - but it's because the film already has subtitles - the patois is so strong it's impossible to the untrained ear to pick it up - but sometimes even the subtitles need interpretation!  

087 - At close range

Synopsis: Adolescent gets drawn into crime, and even the love of a good woman can't save him

Director: James Foley

Actors: Sean Penn, Christopher Walken, Mary Stuart Masterson

Date: 1985

How viewed: Lovefilm

Rating: 2/5

David Meyer says:
He [Foley] shows the frustrations such a modern pastoral life produces and the violence that can provide the only relief

I say:

Another true story, of a dysfunctional family in rural Pennsylvania. Brad Jr (Penn) is drifting through his adolescence when his father (Walken) turns up, and Brad Jr is seduced by his money and fast cars. He joins his father's tractor stealing (that's what you do in rural Pennsylvania!!) gang, but after a while it goes pear-shaped and a lot of people end up dead. It's pretty predictable stuff (though somewhat scary given that it actually happened), and it's difficult to have much sympathy with Penn (perhaps there's not enough back-story). Walken, as always, even at this stage of his career, is charmingly terrifying (even with bizarre hair and a moustache!), and the cast includes Tracey Walter (about as different from his character in Repo Man (one of my favourite films) as is possible), and Keifer Sutherland (who I hadn't noticed until the last couple of minutes) who, when you see him, makes you suddenly think 'blimey what's Jack Bauer doing there???'

086 - Tom Horn

Synopsis: Old West legendary cowboy's struggles with the emerging New West

Director: William Wiard 

Actors: Steve McQueen, Linda Evans, Richard Farnsworth, Slim Pickens

Date: 1980

How viewed: Lovefilm

Rating: 3/5

David Meyer says:

Tom Horn takes place during that narrow and neglected time-slice between the Old West and the new, where only the finest westerns dare tread.

  I say:

Tom Horn was a legendary tracker, marksman and gun-for-hire, and the film is based on his autobiography, written whilst awaiting execution for a murder he probably didn't commit. The story covers the last couple of years of his life (around 1901-3), when, after drifting into a small town, he is hired by the local Cattle Association members to put a stop to all the cattle rustling. He does this simply by shooting any rustlers. The Association realise this is bad publicity for them, and want out. Then a young kid is shot, and either Tom killed him, or he was set up - either way, he seems resigned that he will be hanged. I feel this could have a much better movie - McQueen seems somewhat distant (and his long hair looks strange), there's an annoying superfluous love interest, and some strange jump cuts in the film. On the positive side of course there's the wonderful Richard Farnsworth and Slim Pickens, and the depiction of the period (evolving from Old to New West) feel very authentic (for example, the Cattle Association eat lobster at their dinner).  There's one great quote (referring to Horn's lassoing skills): 'He sure don't rope like a Christian' - what??