20 Films For The Weekend (8/2/25)

Posted on August 2, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Here’s twenty films for this weekend! It’s the start of a new month and that means there’s some new movies to chose from on your favorite streaming services.

10 New(-ish) Arrivals

Let’s start with a few Scorsese films.

Over the course of his long career, Martin Scorsese has only received one Oscar for Best Director and that was for directing The Departed (2006). The Departed is also the only Scorsese film to win an Oscar for Best Picture. For the longest time, I was kind of annoyed by that fact because Scorsese has definitely made better films than The Departed. That said, The Departed has grown on me with subsequent viewings and I now appreciate it a lot more than I did originally. Jack Nicholson’s performance — his final performance that can really be called great — is a devilish delight. Matt Damon is wonderfully amoral. Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance seemed shrill the first time I watched the film but I’ve come to better appreciate it as a portrait of growing instability and paranoia. Mark Wahlberg brings some subtle humor to his profane cop. Even Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin are better than usual! The Departed is now on Netflix.

Raging Bull (1980) tells the story of boxer Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro), a brute of a man who is only capable of communicating through his fists. Raging Bull is not one of my favorite Scorsese films, just because LaMotta himself is such an abusive jerk that I find it hard to really care about him, regardless of how good of a performance Robert De Niro gives in the role. To me, the film is far more interesting when it concentrates on Cathy Moriarty as LaMotta’s abused wife and Joe Pesci as LaMotta’s brother. That said, the film’s black-and-white cinematography is gorgeous, the fight scenes are brutal, and the final scenes of LaMotta as an overweight night club comic have a certain karmic justice to them. It’s a testament to Scorsese’s talent that he can make even a film about someone like Jake LaMotta compelling. Raging Bull is on Prime.

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) is one of my favorite Scorsese films. It’s a long and chaotic film but it totally draws you into its world and it features not only Leonardo DiCaprio’s best performance but also excellent work from Margot Robbie, Kyle Chandler, Matthew McConaughey, and Jonah Hill. I know that some critics have complained that the film doesn’t explicitly tell the viewer what to think of DiCaprio’s Jordan Belfort but I think they miss the point. Scorsese trusts the viewer to be able to come to their own conclusions about Jordan Belfort. If Belfort’s lifestyle wasn’t fun, he wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble to preserve it. As well, Belfort may be a crook but he’s absolutely right when he calls out Kyle Chandler’s SEC agent for just being a frustrated broker. The Wolf of Wall Street is now on Tubi.

Last week was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s birthday. Conan The Barbarian (1982) features a perfectly-cast Schwarzenegger as Robert E. Howard’s famous barbarian. John Milius was the perfect director to bring this character and his world to life and, even if you’re not a fan of Arnie’s, it’s hard to resist a film that features James Earl Jones as the leader of a snake cult. Conan is now on Prime.

Conan the Destroyer (1984) is a sequel that was not directed by John Milius. Instead, it was directed by Richard Fleischer, who is almost Milius’s exact opposite when it comes to filmmaking. Milius had a vision. Fleischer directs like a man on a deadline. Whereas the first Conan was a grim and serious barbarian epic, Conan the Destroyer features Conan punching a camel and getting spun around in a circle by a lizard monster. That said, Conan the Destroyer is campy but enjoyably silly. It’s best to think of it is a stand-alone film and not a continuation of Milius’s epic. Conan The Destroyer is on Prime.

With all of the back-to-school sales starting, this might be a good time to revisit Shermer, Ohio. The directorial debut of John Hughes, Sixteen Candles (1984) is a film that, today, tends to be dismissed as being problematic. In many ways, it definitely is but you know what? I can forgive the film its less-than-tasteful moments because Sixteen Candles captures something that feels very real. I defy anyone to watch this film and not relate to Samantha Becker (Molly Ringwald). If your heart doesn’t melt a little when Jake Ryan says he’s looking for true love, you don’t have a heart. Sixteen Candles is definitely a product of its time. Today, parents have a thousand apps available to them to make sure they never forget a birthday. That said, the film still captures the timeless feeling of being young, annoyed, and in love. Sixteen Candles is on Prime.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982) is one of the greatest high school films ever made, one that may be dated but which still captures the universal experiences of being young and confused with an empathy and an honesty that few films have ever been able to match. It’s a comedy but it’s also a drama, much like high school itself. Jennifer Jason Leigh gives one of her best performances. Judge Reinhold’s life goes downhill. Sean Penn is so hilarious that it’s odd to consider how serious almost all of later work would be. Forest Whitaker, Nicolas Cage and Eric Stoltz make their film debuts. Robert Romanus’s Mike Damone is the wannabe bad boy who, had I been in highs school in 1982, I probably would have crushed on to my eternal regret. How could you abandon Stacy like that, Damone!? Fast Times At Ridgemont High is on Netflix.

From director Catherine Hardwicke, Thirteen (2003) is a harrowing coming of age story, one that I always kind of cringe at while watching just because of how much I relate to it. I was a handful when I was thirteen. Every time I watch this movie, I wish my mom was still here so I could apologize to her. That said, Thirteen is a good film that features excellent performances from Evan Rachel Wood and Holly Hunter. Thirteen is on Netflix.

I’ve always wanted to like Clueless (1995) more than I actually do but it’s still a likable and influential high school film. (When I first saw it, I assumed that, when I started high school, it would be just like the one in Clueless. Was I ever depressed to discover that my family didn’t live in Beverly Hills!) Director Amy Heckerling brings the same empathy to her characters that she previously brought to Fast Times At Ridgemont High. Seen today, Alicia Silverstone’s tendency to oversell every moment gets on my nerves but the performances of Paul Rudd and Brittany Murphy hold up well. Young Lisa has a massive crush on Breckin Meyer. Stop laughing. Clueless is on Netflix.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999) is the perfect high school romance. Heath Ledger singing in the stands, Julia Stiles reciting her poem, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Larisa Oleynik having their own little love story, this is a film that makes me smile and cry every time I watch it. This is an adaptation of Shakespeare that’s worthy of the association. It’s now on Hulu.

10 Odds and Ends

Today is Dinosaur Day. While some people might observe this day by rewatching one of the Jurassic Park films, I’m going to recommend a charmingly low-budget film called Planet of Dinosaurs (1977). In the far future, a group of human crash land on a planet that has a lot in common with Earth. They soon find themselves being preyed upon by dinosaurs! The stop-motion dinosaurs are really charming in their own way. This silly but enjoyable film can be viewed on Tubi.

Yesterday was Spider-Man Day. In the late 70s, there was a Spider-Man television series, starring Nicholas Hammond as the man who could climb any wall. This led to three Spider-Man made-for-television movies, Spider-Man (1977), Spider-Man Strikes Back (1978), and Spider-Man: The Dragon’s Challenge (1981). The movies are a bit uneven but I like Nicholas Hammond’s performance as Spider-Man and the first film featured an enjoyably villainous turn from character actor Thayer David. These three movies are very much a product of their time and it’s interesting to compare them to what’s coming out of Disney and Marvel today. Spider-Man, Spider-Man Strikes Back, and Spider-Man: The Dragon’s Challenge can all be viewed on YouTube.

Robert Altman’s Fool For Love (1985) is an adaptation of a Sam Shepard play, one that stars Shepard himself. Kim Basinger, Randy Quaid, and Harry Dean Stanton also appear in this southwestern love story. The film can’t quite escape its theatrical origins but Shepard, Quaid, and Stanton all give excellent performances. (Basinger is good but doesn’t quite have as much romantic chemistry with Shepard as one would hope.) This film was a part of Cannon’s ultimately unsuccessful effort to escape its reputation for producing violent schlock. Personally, I like it. Shepard was both a great writer and a great actor and this film proves it. It can be viewed on Tubi.

The Cutting Edge (1992) is a personal favorite of mine. A hockey player learns how to become an Olympic figure skater. An Olympic figure skater learns how to loosen up and enjoy life. Moira Kelly and D.B. Sweeney are so adorable together that you can’t help but smile when Kelly realizes that she’d rather be with Sweeney than with her boyfriend, Stuffy Q. McBorington. Not many films make me cheer but this one does. Go for the gold, USA! The Cutting Edge is on Tubi.

Bring It On (2000) is another favorite of mine and my sister’s. Erin was a cheerleader at our high school. I was asked but I turned down the opportunity because I was trying to do the whole emo thing. It’s probably for the best. Erin was the greatest cheerleader ever but I’m a natural-born klutz. As for the film, it’s great. Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, and Gabrielle Union all bring a lot unexpected depth to their roles. Spirit fingers! Bring It On is on Tubi.

Over the Edge (1979) is a far darker portrait of being a teenager. In a desolate Colorado “planned’ community, a group of directionless teens finally rebel while their parents are all at a meeting about what to do about their children. Young Matt Dillon is incredibly charismatic as a doomed teen. Harry Northup plays Doberman, the cop of everyone’s nightmares. The climax is violent, disturbing, and — considering how terrible the grown-ups are in this movie — totally understandable. This a powerful and ultimately sad movie. Oh, Child, things are going to get easier…. Over the Edge is on Tubi.

Lovers of conspiracy theories should be happy to know that Peter Hyams’s deliriously paranoid and enjoyably absurd Capricorn One (1977) is on Tubi! Hal Holbrook fakes a mission to Mars. Astronauts James Brolin, Sam Waterston, and OJ Simpson are considered to be expendable. OJ eats a snake! Elliott Gould investigates the case! Karen Black and Telly Savalas have bizarre cameos. Peter Hyams is a filmmaker who deserves more attention than he gets. This film is a hundred times more effective than it has any right to be and it’s on Tubi.

Finally, Gotti (2018) has a terrible reputation but I find it oddly compelling. Whether it was the director’s intention or not, the film does force us to consider how someone like John Gotti could go from being a brutal gangster to becoming an almost beloved cultural institution. (Remember Growing Up Gotti?) So, sure …. I’ll defend Gotti. It’s less a film about John Gotti and more a film about those of us watching and our fascination with gangsters. It’s most intriguing moments may be accidental but so be it. The fact that John Travolta’s Gotti gets visibly older through the film while his son always remains in his mid-20s is your first clue not to take the film literally. Gotti can be viewed on Tubi.

Click here to check out last week’s movies!

10 Movies For The Week (7/20/25)

Posted on July 20, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Here Comes Shark Week

This upcoming week is Shark Week. At the risk of making the most obvious recommendation ever, Jaws (1975) is currently on Netflix. I doubt that I need to sell anyone on the film. Jaws is one of those films that everyone accepts is a classic. I’ll just say that every time that I watch Jaws, I’m surprised at how well it has held up over the years. I watched it a few weeks ago while flying to Hawaii and, even when viewed in less than ideal conditions, it still held my attention and made me jump a little. To be honest, I sometimes miss the Spielberg who directed Jaws. It’s such a fun and scary movie, all the more so because it was made by a director who clearly lived for film. Jaws is currently streaming on Netflix.

Jaws 2 (1978) does not get the same respect as the first Jaws, nor does it deserve it. That said, I can’t help but kind of like Jaws 2. If the first Jaws has a timeless quality to it, Jaws 2 is proudly a product of the 1970s. Jaws 2 has some pacing issues but it also features Roy Scheider going totally crazy at the end of the film. After giving a fairly subdued performance in the first Jaws, Scheider went all out for Jaws 2. Just listen to him yell at that shark! Jaws 2 is also on Netflix.

Jaws 3 (1983) is a bit of a guilty pleasure, largely because it was originally filmed in 3-D and the special effects are charmingly bad. Roy Scheider does not return for this one but Dennis Quaid shows up as Chief Brody’s son. This film was shot at SeaWorld Orlando but the main message seems to be, “Stay away from Seaworld!” For the record, I relate to Lea Thompson’s character. It can be viewed on Netflix!

The makers of Jaws: The Revenge (1987) decided to see what would happen if they made a Jaws film that centered on the least interesting character from the first film. With Chief Brody having died of a heart attack and one of her sons having been eaten by a shark, Mrs. Brody heads down to the Caribbean and is apparently followed by a shark. Its dumb but Michael Caine is charming and I’m a completist at heart. If you’re going to watch one this week, you might as well watch all four! Jaws: The Revenge is on Netflix.

Great White (1981) is an Italian film that was also released under the title The Last Shark. Directed by Enzo G. Castelleri, Great White was so similar to Jaws that Universal actually sued the filmmakers in an attempt to keep the film from being released in the States. To me, that’s always seemed like an overreaction. There were hundreds of Jaws rip-offs released after 1975. Great White is actually a pretty entertaining film. James Franciscus and Vic Morrow team up to take on a giant shark. The shark eats a helicopter. This film can currently be viewed on YouTube.

In Praise of Joseph Sargent

Jaws: The Revenge was directed by Joseph Sargent. Sargent would have been a hundred years old on July 22nd. Sargent was a classic, no-nonsense director who could handle many different genres. Here’s a few Sargent films that are not Jaws: The Revenge.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) is probably Sargent’s best film. Four criminals hijack a subway train. The police spend their time negotiating, arguing, and searching. It’s certainly my favorite example of the “New Yorkers Will be Rude To Anyone” genre. Featuring great performances from Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Jerry Stiller, and Martin Balsam, this is one of the great New York heist films. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Maybe I’ll Come Home In The Spring (1972) is a personal favorite of mine, a made-for-television film featuring a young Sally Field as a hippie who returns home and David Carradine as her controlling boyfriend. This is a lowkey but effective look at life in the suburbs and it features an excellent performance from Sally Field. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Tribes (1970) features Jan-Michael Vincent as a peace-loving hippie who is drafted and Darren McGavin as the drill sergeant who tries to turn him into a soldier. Jan-Michael Vincent is absolutely gorgeous in this film. It can be viewed on YouTube.

Odds and Ends

Paul Verhoeven celebrated a birthday a few days ago. The original (and still the best) Robocop (1987) is available on Tubi. Much like Jaws, it’s a film that has stood the test of time and survived countless imitations.

Finally, with the sequel due to be released on the 25th, this week is a great time to amuse yourself with the original Happy Gilmore (1996)! I love this film and I make no apologies for it. Bob Barker beating up Adam Sandler? Seriously, how can you not love this film? Personally, I’ve always felt bad for Shooter McGavin. Making him hit that ball off of Richard Kiel’s foot? Totally unfair! Happy Gilmore is streaming on Netflix.

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10 Movies For The Week (7/12/25)

Posted on July 12, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Who doesn’t love Tom Hanks?

Tom Hanks celebrated his birthday this week. Here’s a few of his films that you can find online.

Directed by Clint Eastwood, Sully (2016) features Tom Hanks in the role airline pilot Chesley Sullenberger. The film not only recreates Sullenberger’s famous landing in the Hudson but also the subsequent attempts by the government to scapegoat Sully for the incident. This film features one of Hanks’s best performances, bringing humanity to a man who, on cultural level, was viewed as being almost a mythological hero. Hanks is likable and, this being an Eastwood film, the government is portrayed as being both corrupt and incompetent. What’s not to like? Sully is on HBOMAX.

When it comes to Tom Hanks, it’s hard to pick his best performance. I would probably go with Captain Phillips (2013), featuring Hanks as the captain of a boat that is taken prisoner by modern-day pirates. Like Sully, this film is based on a true story and, as he did in Sully, Hanks brings to life a character based on a real-life person. The final scene is devastating and features some of the best acting that I’ve ever seen from anyone. Somehow, Hanks was not nominated for Best Actor for his performance here. Captain Phillips can be viewed on Netflix.

Punchline (1988) is a bit of an oddity. Sally Field is miscast as a housewife trying to make it as a stand-up. That said, Tom Hanks gives a strong and dramatic performance as a self-centered and self-destructive comic. Punchline can be viewed on Tubi.

It’s Summer!

It’s summer! I just got back from my vacation. (I took it a month early because I needed to be back here to start my summer job of covering Big Brother for the Big Brother Blog.) If you can’t get to the beach this summer, you can at least watch both Beach Party (1963) and Bikni Beach (1964) on Tubi and discover how people used to celebrate the summer months. Yes, both of these films are undeniably dated and a bit corny but who cares? Sometimes, it’s fun to watch something from a more innocent era. Beach Party and Bikini Beach are both on Tubi.

If you want a slightly racier beach party, The Beach Girls (1982) is a Crown International production that features all of the nudity (male and female), raunchy humor, and drug jokes that you could hope for. That said, it also features a very likable and energetic cast. It can be viewed over at the Internet Archive.

If you’re looking for a slightly more sinister vacation, Last Summer (1969) features Richard Thomas, Bruce Davison, and Barbara Hershey as three rich kids and Catherine Burns as the insecure girl who tries to hang out with them. Hershey and Burns both give outstanding performances and the end result is a creepy and disturbing coming-of-age story. It can be viewed at the Internet Archive.

Odds and Ends

Enter The Ninja (1981) features my man, the one and only Franco Nero, as a ninja! This is a film that represents everything that made Cannon great. Plus, how can you resist Franco, literally winking at the camera? Enter The Ninja is on Prime.

Skatetown USA (1979) is the greatest film that “ever rolled!” Okay, maybe not the greatest but can you resist Patrick Swayze cracking a whip while rolling around on roller skates? Skatetown USA can be viewed at the Internet Archive.

Finally, if you want to see just how strange fame can be, check out Ringmaster (1998), a film that “celebrates” Jerry Springer. (Jerry appears as a version of himself.) Bizarrely enough, this film does feature two truly good performances, from Jaime Pressly and Molly Hagan as a trailer park mother and daughter who appears on Jerry’s show. Ringmaster is on Prime.

Click here for last week’s recommendations!

10 Films For The Week (7/6/25)

Posted on July 6, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

America, Hell Yeah!

As I always do, I celebrated Independence Day by watching one of the greatest films ever made, the original Red Dawn (1984). The communists land in America and try to take over and, sadly, they succeed to a large extent. However, a group of high school students led by Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen refuse to go down without a fight. Say it with me, “Wolverines!” This film really doesn’t get the respect that it deserves. Not only is it well-acted but, despite it’s reputation, it doesn’t glamorize war. Most of the Wolverines do not survive. C. Thomas Howell, the most committed of the Wolverines, loses a bit of his soul and goes from being a fresh-faced high school student to someone who can execute a former friend without a moment’s hesitation. While evil Russian William Smith plots to destroy the rebels, Ron O’Neal comes to respect their dedication. Still, in the end, the best thing about this film is that it’s shamelessly patriotic and unapologetically anti-communist. “Avenge me!” Harry Dean Stanton yells and you better do it. The film can be found on Max.

Warren Oates, Hell Yeah!

Yesterday was the birthday of the great character actor Warren Oates. Brad reviewed two of his films and Jeff shared a scene from Strips. I would like to recommend the enigmatic 1966 western The Shooting (1966). Deliberately paced and philosophically-minded, this film features Oates in a leading role. Millie Perkins and Jack Nicholson (who wrote the screenplay) make for a wonderfully menacing duo of villains. The Shooting can be found on Tubi.

Sylvester Stallone, Hell Yeah!

Today is Sylvester Stallone’s birthday. As far as I’m concerned, Stallone’s best performance was in First Blood (1982). The sequels, which were a bit more simplistic and jingoistic than the first film, have tended to overshadow just how good Stallone was as a troubled veteran who just wanted to get a cup of coffee and who found himself being thrown in jail for refusing to “go across the border.” Of course, it’s not just Stallone who is great in First Blood. Brian Dennehy and Richard Crenna were, arguably, never better than when they played Sheriff Teasle and Col. Troutman. First Blood was one of the first films to really be sympathetic to the plight of the Vietnam veteran. Rambo may snap and destroy an entire town but, after what he’s put through, you won’t blame him. First Blood is on Tubi!

Of course, if you really want a fun and wonderfully absurd Stallone film, check out the arm wrestling epic, Over The Top (1987). Stallone is Hawk, a truck driver who makes his living as an arm wrestler. Robert Loggia tries to Stallone’s son away so Stallone has to prove himself to be the world’s greatest arm wrestler. I distrust anyone who doesn’t love Over The Top. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Tom Cruise, Hell Yeah!

If you’re still in the mood to celebrate Tom Cruise’s birthday, Losin’ It (1982) features Cruise as a teenager in the 60s who goes down to Mexico with his friends so that he can …. well, lose it. While the comedy is often predictable, Losin’ It is still an amiable enough film and Cruise gives a likable performance and his character has a really sweet romance with Shelley Long. The great John Stockwell is also in the film. Director Curtis Hanson went on to do L.A. Confidental. Losin’ It is on Tubi!

It’s become fashionable to criticize Risky Business (1983), released a year after Losin’ It, for being a materialistic film but …. eh, screw that. Between the soundtrack, the surreal direction, Guido the Killer Pimp, and Tom Cruise bringing out the sunglasses at night, Risky Business is one of the best films of the 80s and it can be viewed on AMC+’s Prime Channel.

In Cocktail (1988), Tom Cruise is the last barman poet! A guilty pleasure for sure but a pleasure, nonetheless. Cocktail can be viewed on AMC+.

The Running Man, Hell Yeah!

There’s a remake of The Running Man coming out this year. I’ll live it to you to decide whether or not that’s a necessary thing. I will say that the original Running Man (1987) holds up very well, as both an action film and a media satire. You can smell the cigarettes and gin whenever Richard Dawson is on screen. The Running Man can be viewed on Tubi.

Beach Fun, Hell Yeah!

Saturday was National Bikini Day. If you missed your chance to celebrate, you can make up for it be watching Malibu High (1979), a film from the legendary production company, Crown International. It’s all fun and games the beach until a young woman is dumped by her boyfriend and decides to become a professional assassin. Malibu High can be viewed on Tubi.

The End of the World, Hell Yeah!

If you’re in the mood for some end of the world action, the low-budget, independently made A Thief In The Night (1972) is currently on Tubi, along with its sequels, A Distant Thunder, Image of the Beast, and The Prodigal Planet. A Thief In The Night is not necessarily a great film but it does have a few moments of dream-like intensity. And it’s short! It can be viewed on Tubi.

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10 Films For The Weekend (6/28/25)

Posted on June 28, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

This is the last weekend of my vacation! I’ll be back on Monday. Here are a few film recommendations, inspired by both my vacation and the upcoming patriotic holiday!

Keeping The World Safe

Whenever anyone asks me what the best film ever made about Hawaii is (and it happens all the time, let me tell ya), I always reply with From Here To Eternity. Then I smile and say, “Or maybe it’s Hard Ticket To Hawaii!” Directed by Andy Sidaris, Hard Ticket to Hawaii (1987) has it all. A mutant snake, a sex doll-carrying assassin on a skateboard, a killer frisbee, the Molokai cops, a single-engine airplane, and Ridge from the Bold and the Beautiful! This is the film that taught me that the proper way to reply to a guy saying, “Nice ass!” was to smile and say, “You too, Pilgrim.” Hard Ticket To Hawaii is one of the most deliriously strange and entertaining films ever made and you can view it on Tubi!

After viewing Hard Ticket to Hawaii, be sure to check out Andy Sidaris’s other great film, Guns (1990). Guns not only features a tropical paradise but it also stars Erik Estrada, giving a totally over-the-top performance as the villain. Guns can be viewed on Tubi.

As a resident of Dallas, I will always have a soft place in my heart for Sidaris’s Day of The Warrior (1996), in which it is established that the world’s most evil secret organization is headquartered on top floor of the Bank America Plaza and that the evil mastermind lives in “North Dallas.” You probably have to be from Dallas to get the joke but it’s a good one. Day of the Warrior can be viewed on Tubi.

Finally, The Dallas Connection (1994) was directed by Andy’s son, Christian Drew Sidaris. I have to recommend this one because it not only takes place in Dallas but it’s actually named after the city as well! Filmed on location, this film features plenty of action and exploding toy boat. The Dallas Connection can be viewed on Tubi.

If you want your action stars to have a bit more of a social consciousness, Born Losers (1967) features Billy Jack (Tom Laughlin) in his first film appearance. In three subsequent films, Billy Jack would go on to fight for pacifism and Native American rights and would eventually becomes a U.S. Senator but, in this film, he just kills a bunch of bikers who have been harassing tourists in California. Born Losers can be viewed on Tubi.

God Bless America

Next Friday will be the Fourth of July. USA! USA! USA!

Invasion USA (1952) takes a look at what happens when a bunch of people take America for granted. Fortunately, Dan O’Herlihy is on hand to hypnotize everyone and force them to experience what life would be like if the communists took over America. Thank you, mysterious hypnotist! This film can be viewed on Tubi.

Years later, those commies were still trying to invade and divide America. Fortunately, Chuck Norris was available to stop them. Invasion U.S.A. (1985) features one of Richard Lynch’s greatest performances and it can be viewed on Tubi.

I Was A Communist For The FBI (1958) claims to tell the true story of a man who spent years working undercover as a communist. His family rejected him. His neighbors scorned him. This film is a real time capsule of the time it was made. That said, it’s portrayal of communists as being a bunch of upper class bigots who manipulate a working class that they have no interest in being a part of still feels relevant today. I Was A Communist For The FBI can be viewed on YouTube.

Odds and Ends

Cold In July (2014) is one of the best neo-noirs of the best ten years and it features an excellent performance from Don Johnson, whose weathered toughness gives him a gravitas that he was occasionally lacking in his younger years. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Finally, Jeff and I watched Smokey and the Bandit (1977) earlier this week. It’s one of Jeff’s favorites and, whenever I watch it, I’m always surprised to re-discover how much I enjoy it myself. Fast cars, a truck that looked a lot like the one my Dad used to drive, Southern scenery, and a theme song that gets stuck in your head, what’s not to like? I related to Sally Field’s confusion as to why anyone would want to eat at a “choke-n-puke.” It’s available on Netflix!

(Check out last weekend here!)

10 Films For The Weekend (6/20/25)

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Hail To The King, Baby

This Sunday is Bruce Campbell’s birthday. Our own Case Writes will be reviewing Bruce’s two autobiographies on that day. Here’s a few films you can watch while celebrating.

Sadly, the first three Evil Dead films are not streaming anywhere for free this weekend. However, Bubba Ho-Tep (2002), which features Bruce as a nursing home resident who may or may not actually be Elvis Presley, is available on Tubi. This is definitely Bruce’s best non-Ash performance and there’s actually something very touching about the idea of an elderly and forgotten Elvis teaming up with John F. Kennedy (Ossie Davis) to battle an ancient mummy. There’s a lot of humor to be found in this film but there’s also a definite strain of melancholy and Bruce gives a truly moving performance as someone who you’ll want to believe in. The film is on Tubi.

Maniac Cop (1988) is nowhere near as good as the Evil Dead films or Bubba Ho-Tep but it does give audiences a chance to see Bruce giving a relatively “serious” performance as a policeman who is accused of a murder that was actually committed by a hulking zombie cop. Not only does this film feature Bruce Campbell but it’s also got Tom Atkins, William Smith, Richard Roundtree, and Robert Z’Dar. If nothing else, this film is a tribute to exploitation canniness. Director William Lustig and screenwriter Larry Cohen understood that the idea of dangerous cop would remain compelling one long after the film’s initial release and, as such, Maniac Cop retains a definite cult appeal. The film is on Tubi.

Sadly, Bruce Campbell is killed off rather early in Maniac Cop 2 (1990). That’s a shame because the second film is a lot better than the first one. Robert Davi plays the detective who won’t be pushed around while Robert Z’Dar takes the maniac cop’s search for revenge to a whole other level. Leo Rossi is memorably unhinged. Personally, I would have liked to have seen Bruce try to take a chainsaw to the Maniac Cop but it was not be. Maniac Cop 2 can be viewed on Tubi.

Finally, The Woods (2006) is a sadly underrated horror film, one the features Bruce in a supporting role as a loving dad. Agnes Bruckner give a wonderful performance in the lead role, investigating her mysterious school and taking way too much abuse just because she has red hair. Hey, I’ve been there! I’m just happy that “fire crotch” didn’t catch on the way that “Gingers have no soul” did. (Seriously, the redheads have no soul thing was funny when South Park did it but everyone else needs to shut up about it.) The Woods is an atmospheric horror film from Lucky McKee and one that I would recommend even if it wasn’t Bruce Campbell’s birthday. View it on Tubi.

Pleasures, Guilty And Otherwise

Seriously, if I had to suggest one non-Bruce Campbell movie to you for this weekend, it would be my favorite Lifetime film, True Confessions of a Go-Go Girl (2008). Chelsea Hobbs plays a recent college graduate who realizes that she can either waste more of her life in law school or she can just make a bunch of money by being a …. GO-GO GIRL! The use of the anachronistic term “go-go girl” really does get to the charm of this movie, which manages to be both enjoyably trashy and quaintly old-fashioned at the same time. Hobbs discovers that she loves to dance and that men love to watch her dance. Her wimpy boyfriend freaks out when Hobbs goes from being a meek “good” girl to an aggressive temptress. The film is at its best when its embracing the decadence and the melodrama. On stage, Hobbs is empowered and I was all about that. Of course, Hobbs has to using hard drugs and learn a lesson because that’s the way these films go. Still, this one is a lot of fun and it features Corbin Bernsen doing his somewhat sleazy father figure thing. Find this film on Prime.

The Perfect Teacher (2010) is also available on Prime and you need to watch it because it features my favorite line of all time. “I can be your dream …. or I can be your NIGHTMARE!” This is another perfect Lifetime film and it can be viewed here!

The Wrong Cheerleader (2019) is one of the best of Lifetime’s wonderfully over-the-top “Wrong” film, featuring Degrassi’s Cristine Prosperi and, of course, Vivica A. Fox. “Looks like he messed with the wrong cheerleader.” Hell yeah! It’s on YouTube. (I have a feeling that if I ever hire someone incompetent, Vivica A. Fox will show up at my door and say, “Girl, looks like you hired the wrong landscaping crew.”)

The Babysitter’s Seduction (1996) was not originally made for Lifetime but it definitely found a home there. Keri Russell is the innocent babysitter. Stephen Collins is the handsome but sleazy guy who seduces her and then tries to frame her for killing his wife. This film’s twists was probably more effective back when Stephen Collins was still best-known as Rev. Camden as opposed to being known for …. other things. But it’s still a top-notch example of embracing the melodrama. It can be viewed on Tubi.

From the best Lifetime films, let’s now consider the best SyFy films. Jersey Shore Shark Attack (2010) not only features Tony Sirico, Paul Sorvino, and Jack Scalia but it also features characters with names like Nooki, TC, and Paulie Balzac dealing with killer sharks in New Jersey. Joey Fatone appears as himself and is promptly eaten. Of the many shark films to have been produced by the Asylum, this is definitely one of the best. It’s on Tubi!

Directed by actor Bruce Davison, Bigfoot (2012) not only features the title character but it also includes Danny Bonaduce, Barry Williams, and Sherilyn Fenn amongst the cast. Alice Cooper plays himself and meets a less-than-heroic end. This Asylum film is a true classic. It’s on Tubi!

(Click here for last week’s recommendations.)

10 Films For The Weekend (6/13/25)

Posted on June 13, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Here are just a few recommendations from a girl who is currently packing for her vacation!

Happy Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th kind of snuck up on me this year, which is a shame because this is the only Friday the 13th that we’re going to get in 2025. I have a feeling that I’m not alone in being taken by surprise, though. Usually the streaming services make a bigger deal about Friday the 13th. This year, only Pluto TV has the complete series available to stream.

That said, you can watch the first Friday the 13th (1980) on Tubi. Though the films were never critical favorites and I doubt they’ll ever have a Halloween-style resurgence (and really, that’s the way I like it because the last thing that horror fans need or deserve is for David Gordon Green to screw up Jason like he did Michael), the first Friday the 13th is still entertaining to watch. It’s interesting to see how much the first few films drew from the Italian giallo movies. The first Friday the 13th is even a whodunit, featuring a killer wearing gloves! It also features a young Kevin Bacon in a speedo so what’s your excuse for not watching? Personally, I always relate to Marcie in this film. I imagine I’d share the same fate if I ever found myself working at a summer camp, wandering around in my underwear and saying, “C’mon, guys….” until someone got annoyed and hit me with an axe. You can watch the film on Tubi.

Friday the 13th: Part 2 (1981) is actually a really good horror movie, featuring interesting victims and, for the first time, Jason Voorhees as the killer. Jason dresses like a hillbilly in this one. Amy Steel is a badass heroine. Russell Todd’s an incredibly handsome man. The film itself actually has some wonderfully creepy shots, from the POV tracking shot that creeps up on Lauren-Marie Taylor to the shadowy shot of the cars driving into town. It can be viewed on Pluto.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) was quite obviously not the final chapter but it was, in my opinion, the best of the films. Everyone remembers this one for Corey Feldman as Tommy Jarvis and Crispin Glover as one of the victims but really, the entire cast does a great job of bringing their characters to life and actually making them interesting for once. My heart always breaks a little for Peter Barton and Barbara Howard. They were such a cute couple. It can be viewed on Pluto.

Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1987) is hardly the best of the Friday films but I have to admit that I’ve always kind of liked it. Not only does it feature the first appearance of Zombie Jason but it also features enough strange plot twists to keep things watchable. The recently passed Lar Park Lincoln plays Tina, the girl with psychic powers and she gives a far better performance than the material probably deserved. Terry Kiser plays “Bad News” Crews. It can be viewed on Pluto.

Mario Bava’s Bay of Blood (1971) is a classic giallo and it features a rare (and successful) stab at social satire on the part of Mario Bava. It’s also interesting to see the scenes that were lifted, almost shot-for-short, for Friday the 13th Part 2. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Happy Father’s Day

This s going to be a bittersweet Father’s Day for me and my sisters. Our Dad passed away last August. Indeed, one of the reasons why I’m going on vacation next week is so I can get away from the sad memories for a bit. If I had to think of any film that captured my Dad’s independent spirit, I’d probably go with Convoy (1978). When I was growing up, my Dad sometimes worked as an independent trucker. He liked this movie and he liked Rubber Duck and you know what? Rubber Duck would have liked him as well. Convy was notorious for the cost overruns and the amount of drugs done on set but I’ll tell you right now — if you don’t cheer when Kris Kristofferson, Burt Young, and other truckers defy the law, you have no heart. Convoy can be viewed on Tubi.

My Dad was also a Godzilla fan, which is one reason why I’m a Godzilla fan! I can still remember being little and watching Godzilla films with him. They used to air every Saturday afternoon. One of our favorites was Godzilla vs Megalon (1973), in which Godzilla teams up with the giant robot, Jet Jaguar. I know that Godzilla purists tend to be dismissive of this film but I don’t care. I loved it! It can be viewed on Max.

I guess it says something about my job here that I can get sentimental about a violent and bloody film like 10 to Midnight (1983) but I have to admit that I’m always touched by the father-daughter relationship of Leo (Charles Bronson) and Laurie Kessler (Lisa Eilbacher). It reminds me a lot of my relationship with my Dad. Of course, those of you just looking for a good Cannon-era Bronson flick won’t be disappointed either. Gene Davis turns Warren Stacy into a truly loathsome villain and Bronson’s final line is a classic. Plus, this film has got Andrew Stevens in the role of the liberal rookie detective who no one can believe is a cop. The film can be viewed on Tubi.

Happy Odds and Ends

If you want to watch a Bava film that’s a little less gory than Bay of Blood, Planet of the Vampires (1965) is an atmospheric delight. Just as Bay of Blood inspired Friday the 13th, Planet of the Vampires inspired Alien. Keep an eye out for Ivan Rassimov, who had the best head of hair in Italian horror. The film is on Pluto.

Jim Belushi celebrated a birthday this week and you can celebrate as well by watching one of my favorite guilty pleasures, The Principal (1987). This film is heartfelt, violent, occasionally funny, thoroughly ludicrous, and actually kind of touching in its determination to actually say something. Jim Belushi vs Michael Wright is one of the ages. Lou Gossett, Jr. appears to be amused by the whole thing. “He’s the Principal, man!” The film is on Tubi.

Have a great week!

(Check out last week’s films here!)

4 Films For The Weekend (6/6/25)

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

On Sunday, the Tonys will be handed out on and, if you want to watch the ceremony, it’ll be televised on CBS. However, if you’d just rather watch some movies about backstage life, I’ve got a few suggestions.

The Broadway Melody (1929) is a historically important film, in that it was the first sound film and the first musical to win the Oscar for Best Picture. The story is nothing special. Two sisters (Anita Page and Bessie Love) attempt to make the transition for Vaudeville to Broadway. One sister becomes a success and almost loses herself in the process. The other sister remains determined to become a star. Watching the film today, it’s obvious that the cast and the crew were still figuring out how to work with sound. That said, it’s a historical oddity and an interesting look at the film industry making the transition into the sound era. If you’re into that sort of thing — and I certainly am! — the film is now available on Tubi.

Far more entertaining is the same year’s Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929). Produced by MGM, Hollywood Revue features all of the MGM featured players showing off what they could do. It’s a plotless parade of variety acts, hosted by the suave Conrad Nagel and featuring everyone from Joan Crawford to Marion Davies to Buster Keaton, Laurel & Hardy, Lionel Barrymore, John Gilbert, and Jack Benny! The goal here was to not only show off MGM’s roster of stars but also to show audiences that MGM knew how make sound pictures. It’s actually a really fun little movie. The cast appears to be having fun and there’s something really enjoyable about seeing so many talented people all in one movie. It also features a song called Singin’ In The Rain. The film can be viewed on YouTube.

Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz (1979) is a masterpiece, following choreographer Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider) as he directs both a film and a musical at the same time while popping pills, having heart attacks, and flirting with the Angel of Death (Jessica Lange). The scene where Gideon watches as his daughter and his girlfriend perform a dance routine that they’ve prepared for him is one of the most heartfelt moments that I’ve ever seen in a movie. The film’s surreal ending manages to be satirical, heart-breaking, oddly funny, and sad. Fosse based Gideon on himself and sadly, they both shared the same fate. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Finally, Michele Soavi’s Stage Fright (1987) is one of the best horror films to ever be set in a theater. Have you ever wondered why the victims in slasher films don’t just leave the house or the theater? Have you ever said, “Don’t split up, you idiots!” Well, in this one, everyone sticks together and everyone tries to leave and it doesn’t do a bit of good. (Unfortunately, their director has a cocaine problem.) This film has an absolutely brilliant opening sequence. I always laugh when the Marilyn Monroe look-alike starts playing the saxophone. The much-missed Giovanni Lombardo Radice has a small role. Director Soavi appears as a cop who asks, “Do you think I look like James Dean?” The film is on Tubi.

(Check out last week’s Weekend Films here!)

10 Films For The Weekend (5/30/25)

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Here are ten films that I recommend checking out this weekend. These films are all streaming so, if you’re stuck inside due to weather or crippling depression, give them a shot!

In Honor of Clint Eastwood

Saturday will be Clint Eastwood’s 95th birthday. Clint’s career has stretched from the 50s t0 the present day. (Though some thought he might retire after 2024’s Juror #2, Eastwood is reportedly working on a new film.) We’ll be posting a lot of Eastwood reviews tomorrow but I want to take the time right now to mention three of his films that will be streaming this weekend.

First off, 2024’s legal thriller, Juror #2 (which I consider to be the best film of 2024), is still streaming on Max. Featuring excellent performances from Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette, Juror #2 is an entertaining courtroom thriller that, in its efficient and non-flashy way, shows that Eastwood is still one of the best directors work.

Clint Eastwood was 88 years old when he gave one of his best performances in 2018’s The Mule. The Mule tells the true story of a 90 year-old widower who found a second job smuggling drugs across the country for a Mexican cartel. Eastwood gives a likable performance as someone who is definitely not an action hero but who gets a second lease on life by working with some very dangerous people. This film is tense, poignant, and surprisingly funny at time. It’s on Netflix.

Also on Netflix is 2014’s American Sniper, a film that Eastwood directed. Bradley Cooper gives a strong performance as Chris Kyle and Eastwood direction will leave you breathless. This film was controversial when it was released. It had only been two years since Eastwood gave his speech at the Republican Convention and, amongst the online crowd, there was still a lot of anger at him. (Considering that the online critics often presented themselves as being film experts, it was surprising how many of them apparently did not know that Eastwood was, at the time, a lifelong Republican. Apparently, he’s currently registered as a Libertarian.) Personally, I don’t find American Sniper to be a political film. Eastwood’s made a lot of films about war and he’s never been one to glorify it. Instead, as with many of Eastwood’s films, it’s a character study of man who has to learn how to live with his actions.

Here’s Some More Action

If you’re in the mood for some non-Eastwood action, here’s some suggestions.

Rolling Thunder (1978), starring William Devane and Tommy Lee Jones, is both a revenge film and a look at the struggle of two men returning to a country that they no longer recognize. Devane and Jones’s characters have recently returned from a Vietnamese POW camp. When Devane’s wife and son are killed by bandits and Devane’s hand is lost in a garbage disposal, he and Jones join forces to “clean them up.” This film is a favorite of Quentin Tarantino’s and I personally consider it to be one of the best Texas-set films ever made. Devane has never been better and Jones deserved an Oscar for his performance as the emotionally shattered and withdrawn vet who comes to life when it time to “kill a bunch of people.” Rolling Thunder is currently on Tubi.

Jeff says that The Delta Force (1986) is the greatest film of all time. And while I personally don’t think that’s possible as long as Money Plane exists, I will say that there is something very emotionally satisfying about watching Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin take out a bunch of terrorists. I dare you not to shed a tear when George Kennedy’s priest walks to the front of the plane and declares that if the terrorists are taking the Jewish passengers hostage, they’ll have to take him as well because “I’m Jewish.” The Delta Force can be found on Tubi and Prime.

Finally, I don’t think Brad would forgive me if I left out Charles Bronson. Breakheart Pass (1975) is an interesting and unfairly overlooked Bronson western, one that mixes a genuine murder mystery with all the action that one could hope for. Playing a 19th century detective on a train, Bronson more than holds his own against an impressive array character actors, including Charles Durning and Ben Johnson. It can currently be viewed on Tubi and Prime.

Odds and Ends

I read a story this week that France is planning on banning outdoor smoking. Seriously, what is happening to that country? How did they go from being the country of sexy ennui to the country that bans smoking? It’s a shame. If you want to remember France the way it was and the way it should still be, check out Jean-Luc Godard’s classic Breathless (1960), a film that still packs quite a stylistic punch. Jean-Luc Belmondo is the ultimate existential outlaw. Jean Seberg is the perfect femme fatale beatnik. The ending remains haunting and unforgettable. Belmondo would never let anyone tell him whether or not he could smoke. The film is currently streaming on Max.

Uh-oh! This weekend might be your last chance to see my favorite film of 2020, Money Plane, on Tubi! (It’s currently listed in the dreaded “Leaving Soon” category.) Ignore what the critics not named Lisa might tell you. Money Plane is an absolute blast. If for no other reason, see it for Kelsey Grammer’s wonderfully unhinged performance as the Rumble. For now, Money Plane is on Tubi and Prime.

Also listed as “Leaving Soon,” is Dario Argento’s classic directorial debut, Bird With The Crystal Plumage (1970). One of the best giallo films ever, Argento’s thriller continues to be a twisted delight, featuring excellent performance from Tony Mustante and Suzy Kendall and one death scene that literally makes me put my hands over my eyes every time I watch the movie. This is one of the great shockers. For now, it can be found on Tubi and Prime.

Finally, The Last Movie Star (2017) is a flawed film but it features a wonderful, late career performance from Burt Reynolds. The Last Movie Star pays tribute to both Reynolds as an actor and a cinematic icon. It can be found on Tubi.

Check out last week’s suggestions here!

10 Films For The Weekend (5/23/25 Edition)

Posted on May 23, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Here are ten films that I recommend checking out this weekend. These films are all streaming so, if you’re stuck inside due to weather or crippling depression, give them a shot!

In Memory of My Dad

This Memorial Day is going to be a difficult one for me because it’s also going to be the one-year anniversary of the car accident that eventually led to my Dad passing away last year. These first two films, I’m recommending in his memory. One of them was a favorite of movie of his. The other movie is one that makes me think about him and my mom whenever I watch it.

First off, National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978) was one of my Dad’s favorite movies. He saw it in theaters when it was first released and, whenever he would come across the film on television, he would get the biggest smile on his face. I love this film, too. I reviewed it a few years ago but, for here, I’ll just say that this film works as both the quintessential college comedy and also as a surprisingly touching portrait of friendship. As Dean Wormer, John Vernon set the standard for heartless authority figures for years to come. Tim Matheson, Peter Riegert, Tom Hulce, Stephen Furst, Kevin Bacon, Karen Allen, Bruce McGill, James Daughton, Mark McGill, BELUSHI! For the record, my favorite member of Delta House was always Hoover. Animal House is currently on Prime.

Secondly, I have to mention Dazed and Confused (1993). Richard Linklater’s portrait of life in 1970s Texas has long been a favorite of mine. There’s a lot of reasons, from the clever dialogue to the genuinely funny moments to the performances of the truly amazing cast. Matthew McConaughey may have been the one to become a star but the film is full of great performances, from everyone from Jason London to Parker Posey to Wiley Wiggins and Michelle Burke to Cole Hauser and Ben Affleck to Adam Goldberg and Anthony Rapp to Nicky Katt …. well, you get the idea. Linklater has sometimes said that he regrets that the film didn’t have more “serious” moments but I think he’s being a bit too hard on himself and the film. There’s a definite sense of melancholy to Dazed and Confused. These characters have no idea what’s waiting for them in the future. This film always makes me think of my Mom and Dad because it’s about their generation. (My Dad once told me that the film was very accurate.) Whenever I watch this film, I’m reminded that everyone was young once and, eventually, everyone gets older. Dazed and Confused is on Prime.

For Memorial Day

Memorial Day is an often misunderstood holiday. It was first celebrated after the Civil War and it’s meant to be a time to honor those who sacrificed their lives defending the United States. It’s mean to be a time of sober reflection but that’s not currently our nation’s strong suit.

I’m not a huge fan of war films but I do like Battleground (1949), a simple but moving portrait of a platoon of soldiers fighting during the Battle of the Bulge. Battleground, made when World War II was a very fresh memory, is a touching and realistic portrait of combat, one that focuses on the humanity of the soldiers involved. No one is presented as being superhuman or as an indestructible action hero. Instead, they’re vulnerable, frequently frightened, and often frustrated. At the same time, they’re also putting their life at risk for their country and battling one of the greatest evils that the world has ever known. Battleground is a tribute to American soldiers and those who sacrificed their lives to battle the Nazis. Amongst the ensemble cast, young Ricardo Montalban stands out as a tragic soldier. For now, Battleground can be viewed on YouTube.

The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946) won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1946 and, while I would have given the Oscar to It’s A Wonderful Life, The Best Years Of Our Lives remains a powerful portrait of returning veterans and their struggle to adjust to life during peacetime. Fredric March, Dana Andrews, and Harold Russell return from combat and find themselves surrounded by friends and family who have no way of understanding what they experienced while serving their country. Wonderfully directed by William Wyler and featuring a brilliant cast, The Best Years Of Our Lives is a moving film, one that reminds us that the scars of war don’t disappear once the shooting stops. The film is streaming on Pluto and Peacock.

For All You Car Fans

The Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for this Sunday. Personally, I like cars and I like the people who aren’t afraid to drive fast.

Fast Company (1979) is one of the many 70s films to be made about racing. It’s certainly not the first to feature William Smith as a driver who loves speed and taking risks. What sets Fast Company apart is that it was directed by David Cronenberg. It’s a film that Cronenberg did for the money and it was also the first time that he worked with two important future collaborators, actor Nicholas Campbell and cinematographer Mark Irwin. Even though there’s not much of Cronenberg’s signature stye here, he does show himself to be an adroit genre director. The cars are fast, the races are well-shot, and John Saxon shows up as the villain. Fast Company is on Tubi.

Used Cars (1980), an early film from Robert Zemeckis and screenwriter Bob Gale (who celebrates a birthday tomorrow), is one of my favorite films, a hilarious and shameless comedy that features Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, and Gerrit Graham at their absolute best. Russell, at a time when he was still struggling to establish himself as something more than a Disney star, gives a wonderful and charismatic performance as a used car salesman with political ambitions. This film is worth seeing for his suit alone! Jack Warden plays twin brothers, one good and one bad. Never look away when Gerrit Graham is in a scene because, even when he’s in the background, he can make you laugh. This ends with one of the greatest chase scenes ever directed. Used Cars is on Tubi and you definitely need to watch it if you haven’t already.

Odds and Ends

Of all the films that I’ve ever seen at SXSW, Shock of the Future (2019) remains my favorite. Starring Alma Jodorowsky as a musician living in 70s Paris, Shock of the Future pays tribute to the female pioneers of electronic music. Needless to say the soundtrack is wonderful but, beyond that, Shock of the Future is a film that captures the joy that comes from creativity and artistic expression. It’s a film that will leave you wanting to create something wonderful. Shock of the Future is on Tubi.

Terminal Bliss (1992) is a portrait of teenagers with too much money, too many drugs, and not much of a conscience. It’s a film that wears its influences on its sleeve but, at the same time, director Jordan Alan (who was 19 at the time) does a good job of capturing the ennui and detachment that dominates his character’s lives. This is a flawed film but worth seeing for Luke Perry’s performance as a young sociopath. After years of only being available in a French-language dub, the English-version of Terminal Bliss is currently on YouTube.

Ruggero Deodato’s Raiders of Atlantis (1983) may not be as well-known as Deodato’s Cannibal Holocaust or The House on the Edge of the Park but it’s still an entertainingly weird mix of Atlantis, Miami Vice, Mad Max, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. The Atlanteans return to land of the living and, for some reason, they’re riding motorcycles and dressing like wannabe punk rockers. It makes no sense but Deodato keeps the action moving and the cast is a who’s who of Italian exploitation, featuring Christopher Connelly, Tony King, Ivan Rassimov, Bruce Baron, and George Hilton! The soundtrack is wonderfully over-the-top. It can be found on Tubi!

Godzilla vs Destoroyah (1995) is one of the best Godzilla films and, unfortunately, it’s one that often seems to get overlooked. Godzilla is at his most fearsome and destructive and Destoroyah is a more than worthy opponent. The members of the Godzilla Task Force all get to wear cute uniforms. Godzilla vs Destoroyah is available on Tubi.

Have a wonderful weekend!