MIDDLE-AGED MATINEE! #36 - 'Heat' (1995)

5/5 Stars

In the 1990s, both Al Pacino and Robert De Niro were at the top of their game. They were bonafide movie stars and big box office draws. That’s why it was a surprise that they had never gotten to share the screen together.

Sure, they both appeared in “The Godfather Part II”, but De Niro was playing a younger version of Don Vito Corleone and so it was impossible for him to share any screen time with Pacino. Enter director Michael Mann with a script he had been working on for over 15 years.

The idea for “Heat” came to Mann in 1979 but he didn’t want to compromise his script that was considered too lengthy at the time. So, Mann moved on to other projects such as the stellar crime drama “Thief” and the cult favorite, “Manhunter”. He also went on to be the show runner for a little series in the ‘80s called “Miami Vice”.

Vincent and his team survey a crime scene in 'Heat'!

The only time Mann did break down and use his major script for something else was for “L.A. Takedown”, a made-for-TV movie that was also considered a potential backdoor pilot for a new TV show. The movie is definitely a watered down version of the movie we would eventually get and, thankfully, it did not lead to a TV show.

Mann finally got to bring his script, and two big screen titans, to the big screen in 1995. The movie primarily follows a cop and the chief thief that he is trying to chase down. The cop is Lieutenant Vincent Hanna (Pacino), a major homicide detective that leads a team that is tasked with bringing down the worst of the worst.

His target is Neil McCauley (De Niro) and his crew of thieves and murderers. This includes his right hand man Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) and Michael Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) and they are currently trying to plan a major bank robbery.

Robert De Niro plays thief Neil McCauley in 'Heat'!

This cat-and-mouse game runs for almost three hours, but the surprising thing is that you never feel the time going by. You are enthralled by the performances of the two main leads and their stories. McCauley actually wants to leave the life of a criminal behind. He has a rule that you never get involved with anything or anyone that you can’t walk away from if you feel the heat around the corner.

However, he can’t help but fall in love with a woman, Eady (Amy Brenneman), and he genuinely wants to escape with her after this last job. His team is also engaging, particularly Kilmer as Chris, a gambling addict who has a troubled marriage to his wife, Charlene (Ashley Judd), and a calm demeanor that hides a criminal that isn’t afraid to throw down if the situation arises.

Pacino’s Vincent is also a troubled character. His job has caused him to be estranged from his own wife, Justine (Dian Venora), and his step daughter Lauren (Natalie Portman). He’s also a character that could have been a villain if he had not become a cop instead and that’s why he’s so good at his job.

The movie’s drama is also heightened by tense and sometimes action packed scenes. The scene that sets everything in motion is a thrilling robbery of an armored car that leads to murder due to a temporary team member's own sadistic personality. Then there is another scene where McCauley and his team are about to rob a place, but McCauley catches wind that Vincent and his team are onto him and you wonder if he’ll bail on the job or go through with it and the tension is undeniable.

Pacino and De Niro face one another in the famous diner scene from 'Heat'!

Then, there is the famous bank robbery scene. It is one of the most explosive action sequences ever created and Mann makes you feel every shot fired as guns go off in every direction. I remember when I first watched this sequence with my dad, we rewound the tape and watched it again because we loved it so much.

Now, the movie was advertised as the first movie where Pacino and De Niro would truly share the screen together. Truth be told, due to the nature of the story, they have to stay apart for the most part. However, at one point in the movie when both men know that they are after each other, Vincent stops Neil and invites him out for a cup of coffee.

The diner scene is a tour de force of acting between two of the best to ever be in the acting game. You can feel that these two people have a respect for each other. Even so, you also feel the tension when both of them tell each other what they are willing to do should they have to throw down.

Michael Mann has directed several great films from “Thief” to “The Last of the Mohicans” to “Collateral”. He is a master of his craft and the crime thriller to be more specific. For me, “Heat” will always be his masterpiece as well as one of my favorite films featuring two of my favorite actors.

In short, “Heat” is one of the best films ever made.

MIDDLE-AGED MATINEE! #35 - 'The NeverEnding Story' (1984)

4/5 Stars

In 1984, director Wolfgang Peterson co-wrote (along with Herman Weigel) a screenplay based on a German book by author Michael Ende. That book was “The NeverEnding Story” and the movie has gone on to become a classic of 1980s fantasy films. It is also the film that scarred an entire generation of kids due to THAT scene. If you know, you know.

The movie follows Bastian Balthazar Bux (Barret Oliver), an avid book reader and dreamer whose father and everyone else around him wants to become more grounded in reality. One day, while trying to outrun some bullies, Bastian ends up in an old book store where he meets the cantankerous bookkeeper, Carl Coreander (Thomas Hill).

Carl shows Bastian a copy of the current book he’s reading, “The NeverEnding Story”, only Carl tells Bastian that the book is special as you may find yourself literally becoming a part of the story. Bastian ends up swiping the book and ends up in his school’s attic where he gets lost in the world of Fantasia.

Bastian finds himself getting literally involved with the story in 'The NeverEnding Story'.

Things are not going so well in Fantasia, though, as a great “Nothing” is sweeping across the entire land, wiping out everything in its path. The Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach) is ill and has sent forth a message to the greatest warrior in the land requesting his presence.

That warrior is Atreyu (Noah Hathaway), a young boy who is also accompanied by his faithful steed, Artax. Atreyu agrees to set out in order to not only find a cure for the Childlike Empress but also to try and find a way to defeat the Nothing.

First off, this movie is filled with boundless imagination as we meet a wide range of colorful characters. This includes a giant rock creature aptly named Rockbiter, Teeny Weeny (Deep Roy), the goblin Night Hop (Tilo Pruckner) and his hang-glider bat, and Falkor, a faithful Luck Dragon that helps Atreyu on part of his journey.

Atreyu and Artax navigate the Swamps of Sadness in 'The NeverEnding Story'.

The movie, for a kid’s film, is admittedly dark. I previously mentioned a scene that scarred my generation for life. Of course, the scene that I’m talking about is when Atreyu and Artax are traveling through the perilous Swamps of Sadness and Artax is taken by the swamps. I remember seeing this as a kid and being shocked beyond belief.

The rest of the movie is almost just as dark as Atreyu must also face off against other dangerous characters and foes. This includes the wolf-like creature known as Gmork, the Ancient One known as Morla, and the gates leading to the Southern Oracle.

That is one thing that I would warn parents about. There is stuff in this movie that could genuinely scare kids as the story doesn’t always hold their hands like other family-friendly fare would do these days.

Now, admittedly, the effects in the movie are dated and very noticeable. However, what I found as I rewatched the movie is that the dated effects didn’t take me out of the movie as much as I thought they might. I was sucked into this magical fantasy all over again and enjoyed the ride.

Atreyu encounters Falkor the Luck Dragon in 'The NeverEnding Story'.

I will say that one thing I noticed this time was the pacing of the movie. It does move at a breakneck speed, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I did find myself wishing during this viewing that they had taken a little more time to spend with these characters.

It almost felt like there were some missing scenes that maybe would have fleshed things out more overall. Maybe they didn’t get to them due to budgetary and special-effects constraints, but it did make me wonder if more footage existed out there.

Despite the length of the movie, though, this classic fantasy film is still a triumph. It shows the power one can have should they have a healthy imagination and a way to look at the world outside of conventional thinking. Bastian’s father wants him to get his head out of the clouds, but Bastian’s imagination is what may be the cure for a dying fantasy world where humankind’s dwindling dreams and imagination have led to disastrous results.

Even 40 years later, I can still recommend this movie for anyone who enjoys a good fantasy film, especially the dark fantasies that we were provided with throughout the 1980s.

MIDDLE-AGED MATINEE! #34 - 'Dazed and Confused' (1993)

4/5 Stars

In 1990, writer and director Richard Linklater released “Slacker”, a film about a wide range of people with no clear plot but rather a series of small stories and monologues. The movie went on to become a critical success and it is one of the biggest films that helped pave the way for the independent film movement of the 1990s.

Afterwards, Linklater wanted to direct a teen comedy and producer Jim Jacks secured $6 million for Linklater’s next project titled “Dazed and Confused”. The movie was praised by critics at the time, but audiences initially failed to show up at the box office. On home video, however, the movie went on to become a cult classic and it is another example of the powerful storymaking that indie directors of the ‘90s provided for audiences.

If George Lucas gave us a nostalgic yet honest look at the 1950s with his semi-autobiographical film “American Graffiti”, then Linklater gave us his own nostalgic yet honest look at the ‘70s with his own semi-autobiographical tale. I don’t know how much of an inspiration Lucas’ film had on Linklater, but the two films definitely share the same DNA.

'Dazed and Confused' follows a day in the life of a group of students.

In “Dazed”, the film follows a group of different high school or soon-to-be high school kids on the last day of school before their Summer vacations begin. There is Mitch Kramer (Wiley Wiggins), the incoming freshman who is trying to avoid getting hazed by the outgoing high school seniors, especially the abnormally sadistic Fred O’Bannon, played by Ben Affleck in an early role for the actor.

Then there is Randall “Pink” Floyd (Jason London), a high school football star who faces having to sign a “clean living pledge” for his coach or risk being cut from the team. We also meet a wide range of colorful characters including stoners Kevin Pickford (Shawn Andrews) and Michelle Burroughs (Milla Jovovich) and Adam Goldberg and Anthony Rapp as nerds Mike Newhouse and Anthony “Tony” Olson.

Of course, the breakout star of the movie ended up being a young and upcoming actor named Matthew McConaughey as David Wooderson. He’s a young man who has already graduated from high school but still hangs out with the younger high school students and his signature catchphrase, “Alright, alright, alright,” has gone down in popular culture as one of the biggest movie quotes of all time.

'Dazed and Confused' was a breakout movie for Matthew McConaughey.

A lot like “American Graffiti” before it, “Dazed and Confused” may be set during a certain time and have a unique setting and style, but it talks about universal themes young people go through. The freshmen are genuinely concerned about what will happen when they transition to high school while the seniors are facing their fears of having to enter the real world. It’s a movie that focuses on one generation but speaks to all generations.

Thankfully, the movie is also genuinely funny as we follow these kids through their night out on the town. It’s funny watching Mitch as he tries to escape Fred and his friends but it’s also great when he’s invited to hang out with other seniors and he gets a small sign of what his life may be like once he gets to high school.

The movie is also different from other high school films that have a lot of drama built into them such as a boy trying to get a girl but he has to face the big, bad bully. In the case of this movie, the characters are more concerned with the mundane things that real high school students would be concerned with such as scoring concert tickets or figuring out where the next party is being held.

At the end of the day, Linklater wanted to make a teen comedy that followed a group of different high school students through a day in their lives. He not only succeeded at accomplishing this goal, he ended up creating a film that speaks not just to one but all generations of high school students.

MIDDLE-AGED MATINEE! #33 - 'GoldenEye' (1995)

5/5 Stars

One day at the video store, my Dad wanted to rent a movie that I had never even heard of before. More importantly, I didn’t even know that it was part of a long-running film franchise known the world over. The movie was “GoldenEye” and it served as my introduction into the world of Bond… James Bond.

In the movie, Pierce Brosnan debuted as Bond and he must uncover the terrorist group behind the hijacking of an experimental helicopter. He must also discover their intentions after they steal the key to a satellite known as GoldenEye.

If used, the satellite sends out an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that can wipe out all of the electronic equipment anywhere it targets. In addition to all of that, Bond must also come face-to-face with a former friend turned enemy and deal with a villain that knows all of his own moves and what motivates Bond in the first place.

Pierce Brosnan made his debut as Bond in 1995's 'GoldenEye'!

After I watched the movie, I told my dad how much I loved it and that was when he revealed to me the history of the franchise. We went out later and found the other Bond films here and there and I became a massive Bond fan. So, for me, this movie holds a special place in my heart even if it isn’t my favorite film now as it rests comfortably in third place behind 2006’s “Casino Royale” and 1964’s “Goldfinger”.

One thing I enjoy about this movie is Brosnan as James Bond. For me, he brought back a balance to the role not seen since Sean Connery. While I would eventually enjoy both Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton, they were admittedly too humorous or too serious, respectfully.

Brosnan could expertly handle the film’s extensive action sequences but he could also deliver a humorous one-liner flawlessly. I’ve seen a lot of backlash within the fandom about Brosnan’s time in the role, but I find those criticisms to be unfounded and really enjoy Brosnan’s Bond even to this day.

Sean Bean plays the main Bond villain Alec Trevelyan in 'GoldenEye'!

The villain of the movie is Sean Bean as former Agent 006, Alec Trevelyan. He is probably one of the best villains Bond has ever had. Part of this is because Bond actually has a personal connection to the character and that makes Alec more of a threat and gives their conflict an emotional center. Another reason Alec works is due to the fact that Bean is always a dependable villain when you need him to be.

The one thing that I will admit is a little weird is the industrial score from Eric Serra. It does feel out of place as a Bond score. I’ll admit that my nostalgia for the score allows me to enjoy it, but it is objectively one of the stranger Bond scores.

Finally, there is the action in the movie and this one is phenomenal when it comes to that department. Whether it is the thrilling bungee jump off the dam at the beginning of the movie or a chase through St. Petersburg in a tank, the action sequences are some of the best ever featured in the Bond series.

At the end of the day, this was a thrilling debut for Brosnan’s Bond era. He would go on to make three more films and while I hated his last one, “Die Another Day”, I loved both “Tomorrow Never Dies” and “The World Is Not Enough”. Yet, despite my love for those movies, they never quite reached the heights of Brosnan’s debut Bond movie.

MIDDLE-AGED MATINEE! #32 - 'Goodfellas' (1990)

5/5 Stars

Director Martin Scorsese is on my personal Mount Rushmore of film directors. He’s made so many good films including “Mean Streets”, “Raging Bull”, “Taxi Driver”, etc. For me, the film that I feel is his masterpiece is still the movie that got me into Scorsese films in the first place: “Goodfellas”.

In the 1970s, director Francis Ford Coppola gave us two of the greatest gangster films of all time with “The Godfather” and “The Godfather Part II”. However, it can’t be denied that the life of organized crime is glorified to a certain extent in those movies. You surprisingly find yourself rooting for Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone as he attempts to take out his enemies and secure his family’s future.

In 1990, Scorsese hit us over the head with a hell of a gangster film that does the reverse. The movie is based on a true story and follows the life of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta). As a young teenager, he loves the gangster lifestyle as he becomes involved in petty crimes on behalf of crime boss Paulie Cicero (Paul Sorvino) along with Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) and Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro).

Henry takes down scores with Tommy and Jimmy in 'Goodfellas'!

Over the years, he becomes an accomplished gangster and seems to be living the American Dream with his eventual wife, Karen Hill (Lorraine Bracco). However, as time goes on and the bodies start to pile up, Henry develops a nasty cocaine habit and learns that he may be the next victim of organized crime if he doesn’t watch his back.

Henry Hill’s descent throughout the movie shows audiences that the “glamorous” life of a gangster is a fleeting one. It often ends with the person in question becoming a witness of the state or the person being put into a body bag… or ice truck… or a vacant field in the middle of nowhere.

The direction from Scorsese is flawless. Whether it’s the hard hitting violence that can sometimes come out of nowhere or a grand one-take shot that follows Henry and Karen to the back of a club in order to be ushered straight to the front table, Scorsese has never been better as a director than he was with this movie.

He successfully combines brilliant cinematography (courtesy of cinematographer Michael Ballhaus) with excellent songs from the times to help sell the story as well. You don’t just feel like you’re witnessing the world of organized crime, you feel like you’re living in it with the characters.

Joe Pesci is the true scene stealer as Tommy in 'Goodfellas'!

As usual, Scorsese surrounds himself with fantastic actors. De Niro, the filmmaker’s frequent collaborator, is in top form with this movie. Jimmy can be charming on one hand before completely flipping out if he sees something that he doesn’t approve of such as someone spending too much money after pulling off a successful score.

Pesci is the absolute scene stealer as Tommy DeVito. The character is a man who knows that he will be made one day within the family, so he tends to act erratically and with a certain sense of entitlement as a result. This is the movie that earned Pesci the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and it is easy to see why when he begins to successfully chew the scenery.

Someone who I don’t think gets enough praise for this movie, though, is Liotta as Henry. As the de facto main character, Liotta has to not only narrate the movie but also hold the film on his shoulders and he does this flawlessly. Thanks to Liotta’s performance, you somehow both sympathize and despise Henry at various points and it is a crying shame that Liotta wasn’t even nominated for an Academy Award.

At the end of the day, it will be debated which of Scorsese’s films is truly the best. To be honest, most will probably be in agreement that a movie such as “Raging Bull” or “Taxi Driver” will take that title. For me, though, I’ll always consider “Goodfellas” to be his biggest accomplishment.

MIDDLE-AGED MATINEE! #31 - 'Speed' (1994)

5/5 Stars

In 1994, my Uncle James recommended a movie for me and my Dad to rent. He mentioned that it was an action film that was crammed with action from beginning to end. The movie was “Speed” and he was not wrong.

When people ask me what my favorite action movie is, I often tell them that it is “Speed”. The reason for this is simple. It is a pure bang-for-your-buck action extravaganza with a simple premise that supports the action within.

This was one of those movies where after Dad and I watched it, I rewound the tape and watched it again. Every time I’ve watched it since, I’m amazed at how it pulls me in and doesn’t let go until the last thrilling minute.

Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock star in 'Speed'!

The movie follows Officer Jack Traven, played by Keanu Reeves. Jack and his partner Harry Temple (Jeff Daniels) help a group of hostages in an elevator that is rigged with explosives. They then proceed to stop the culprit Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) who seemingly kills himself.

One morning while getting coffee, Jack witnesses a bus explode and he gets a call at the payphone. Howard faked his death and still wants the money he thinks he’s owed. He explains to Jack that there is another bus with a bomb on it and that if it reaches 60 m.p.h., the bomb is armed and if it falls below 60, the bus will then explode.

Jack races to the bus and manages to get on it and this is where he meets Sandra Bullock’s Annie Porter. She is a rider on the bus who ends up having to take over driving duties when there is an unexpected incident with the bus driver. Now, while Annie is trying to keep the bus above the appropriate limit, Jack must figure out how to disarm the bomb and save everyone onboard.

Dennis Hopper plays the villainous Howard Payne in 'Speed'!

When my uncle told us all those years ago that the movie was packed from beginning to end with action, he wasn’t kidding. The movie starts with Jack and Harry’s daring rescue of the hostages in an elevator at the beginning of the movie and the film wastes no time getting Jack into his latest predicament on the bus.

That’s all to say that the movie has no fat on its story. It’s straight and to the point.

The movie is directed by Jan de Bont in his feature directorial debut. Before this movie, de Bont was known mostly as a director of photography on films such as “Die Hard”, “Lethal Weapon 3”, and “The Hunt for Red October”. Here, he brings the lessons he learned on those films and generates some of the best action sequences ever caught on camera.

The movie ranges from Jack having to deal with unruly bus passengers who are simply scared to Annie having to navigate the bus through treacherous turns and around civilians. No matter the situation, though, everything is executed flawlessly.

Things get pretty hairy in the classic action film, 'Speed'!

For a lot of people, “Point Break” is the first real action film that people saw Reeves in, but for me it was this movie that solidified his action star status. This was a role made for Reeves and it is no wonder that it has gone down as one of his signature roles in the 30 years since its release.

This is also the first movie where most people caught on to Sandra Bullock and she was propelled into leading lady status with this movie. For me, I had remembered her from “Demolition Man” which had come out the year prior, so it was good to see that she was getting her leading star chance with this movie.

Not only are Reeves and Bullock good on their own, their chemistry onscreen is undeniable. Apparently, it was revealed later on that the two stars had a crush on each other, but they both kept their feelings to themselves in order to remain professional on set. Well, those feelings may have helped the aforementioned chemistry because the electricity between the two of them was most definitely there.

I’ve said this before about action films and I’ll say it again, you can’t have a great protagonist without an equally great antagonist. Who better to be your villain than the madcap actor that was Dennis Hopper. Here, the actor understands the assignment fully and Howard Payne is a truly sinister yet darkly fun villain who successfully chews the scenery when he’s onscreen and interacting with Jack.

This is one of those movies where everything came together. The performances are great, the story is simple and to the point, the run time is not too long for the premise, and the action is absolutely on point. So, when people ask me what my favorite action film is, I’m still going to give the same answer: “Speed.”

MIDDLE-AGED MATINEE! #30 - 'Candyman' (1992)

5/5 Stars

Since the writing of this review, it saddens me to report on the passing of star Tony Todd on November 8, 2024. He was 69-years-old and may he rest in peace. Not only was Todd a true icon of the horror genre, he was also just a damn fine actor.

I’ve often mentioned how the horror movie genre was dead at the box office for the first half of the 1990s. Inevitably, some jackass will shout, “No, it wasn’t! There were still plenty of good horror films that came out at that time!” They tend to ignore that I said that the genre WAS DEAD AT THE FUCKING BOX OFFICE!

Yes, there were great horror films in the first half of the ‘90s, but they didn’t get noticed during their releases and found new life on home video, sometimes years after their initial box office release. One of the more high profile horror films of the day was 1992’s “Candyman”, a movie that was a success only because it made $25 million against an $8 million budget.

“Candyman”, like so many other horror films of its time, found an even bigger audience on home video and while it did spawn one theatrical sequel, 1995’s “Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh”, that sequel failed to light up the box office. Therefore, the third movie, “Candyman 3: Day of the Dead” was a direct-to-video disaster.

Virginia Madsen stars as Helen Lyle in 'Candyman'!

I say that to say the following: I really wish “Candyman” had been a bigger hit in ‘92. If this movie had been released at the height of the horror film craze in the ‘80s, we’d be talking about a massive horror film franchise right now. It would have been the true starring vehicle for its bonafide star, Tony Todd.

But I digress, I am here to talk about the classic ‘92 horror film! For those who have not seen the movie or need a reminder, it follows Virginia Madsen as Helen Lyle, a grad student who is doing a thesis paper surrounding urban legends. She soon learns of Candyman, a spirit who appears if you say his name five times in front of a mirror.

Candyman, played to perfection by Todd, has a hook in the bloody stump where his hand used to be and he uses it to kill you after you invoke his name. In Helen’s case, though, Candyman treats her differently. He seems infatuated with her and instead of killing her, he targets those that she loves instead and makes it seem like Helen was responsible.

The movie is expertly directed by Bernard Rose who uses the modern Chicago setting to give us a classically gothic storyline. Helen is our damsel in distress while the monster closes in on her for reasons we don’t quite know why at first.

Tony Todd plays the iconic titular character in 'Candyman'!

One of the elements that helps the movie is the haunting score from Philip Glass. The score helps deliver the gothic feeling of the movie as well in spite of the story’s more modern setting.

The performances are top notch all around. Madsen is great as Helen and as the movie’s final girl. She has brains and confidence in spite of some naivete about her surroundings.

The movie, of course, is nothing without its true star. Todd as the Candyman has gone down as one of cinema’s most iconic horror villains. He stands tall with the likes of Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Michael Myers.

While Todd is perfect in the role, it is also important to note that the movie doesn’t overuse him. Until about halfway through the movie, he is seen in the shadows and that makes him even more creepy. It’s similar to how Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger were used sparingly in their original films and the power of suggestion helps more than actually seeing them and the terrible things they end up doing.

That said, the movie does get quite violent at times. There are moments where Rose doesn’t mind showing the blood and if you get squeamish easily, then you may want to watch out for a few memorable moments.

At the end of the day, “Candyman” proves to still be a stellar horror classic. It finally got a suitable sequel of the same name in 2021, a movie that acts as a direct sequel to the original (ignoring the terrible sequels) and it also adds to the mythos set up in this movie.

Even if you don’t catch any of the sequels, you’ll definitely want to check out “Candyman” if you haven’t or you’ll at least want to revisit it if you haven’t seen it in awhile.

MIDDLE-AGED MATINEE! #29 - 'Tombstone' (1993)

4 1/2 Stars

When I was younger, I had one blind spot on my radar that was undeniable: the Western. My dad either didn’t watch too many Westerns or he may have thought I wouldn’t have been interested, I’m not sure which reason would be why he didn’t ever care to show me any of them.

Thanks to a friend of mine, Jared Shipp, I would cover that blind spot after high school with greats such as “The Dollars Trilogy”, “Once Upon a Time in the West”, “Pale Rider”, “Unforgiven”, “3:10 to Yuma”, etc. However, there was one Western that my dad and I watched together when I was a kid. That movie was 1993’s “Tombstone”.

The movie, for those who may not have seen it yet, follows Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell), a former Marshal who has retired to “Tombstone” to start more lucrative businesses with his brothers, Virgil (Sam Elliott) and Morgan (Bill Paxton). Wyatt’s old friend Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) has also moved out west to Tombstone, hoping the dry air will help him with his tuberculosis.

The Earps and Doc Holliday get ready for war in 'Tombstone'!

Things are going well at first, but soon the town is besieged by the Cowboys, an organized criminal organization identified by their red sashes. They are led primarily by “Curly Bill” Brocius (Powers Boothe) and his second-in-command, the absolutely sinister Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn). Soon, the Earps and the Cowboys come to blows and Wyatt must once again pick up his gun and fight.

The story is your standard Western fare with outlaws riding into town and a few noble lawmen stepping up to take them on. Now, for historical sake, this movie is highly inaccurate.

The movie turns Wyatt into more of a “legendary” figure than a realistic one. However, I just file this movie as a fictional Western that is loosely based on real events. They try to strive to accurately recreate certain events while playing it loose with others so it doesn’t really bother me that it isn’t completely accurate.

Michael Biehn plays the sadistic Johnny Ringo in 'Tombstone'!

Besides, I didn’t come to the movie with historical accuracy in mind. I came for a rollicking Western adventure and the movie delivers on that note extremely well. Whether it’s the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral or Wyatt’s mission to take down the Cowboys, I’m always entertained from start to finish throughout the movie.

The performances are also fantastic. Russell is great in almost every movie he’s in even if the movie itself doesn’t live up to expectations. Wyatt is written as a legendary lawman with almost superhuman strength and Russell understands the assignment. Other players such as Elliott and Paxton as Wyatt’s brothers are strong as well in their archetypal roles.

As usual, every good protagonist needs a good antagonist and the Cowboys definitely deliver. In particular, Boothe is great as the villainous Curly Bill as he kills you with a smile and a bullet. Of course, the real villain here is Johnny Ringo, a truly sadistic baddie that hates anything and everyone, even himself. Biehn, like the other actors, knew the role he was playing and rose to the occasion as well.

The true standout of the movie is Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday.

Finally, the man of the hour. The character that steals the whole damn show. Of course, I’m talking about Kilmer as the famous gunslinger Doc Holliday. This is the antihero of the picture who only picks up a gun because his friend Wyatt needs him. He’s a lovable scoundrel and this may very well be my favorite performance from Kilmer, a highly versatile actor that can make you laugh, until he decides to stick a knife or a gun in your face.

The film was a financial and critical success at the time of its release even if it didn’t blow the roof off the box office. Yet, it did find its audience on home video and is a beloved film amongst fans of Westerns with particular praise for Kilmer, a role that many people say should have been nominated for an Academy Award.

All that aside, I just think that it is a fantastic Western adventure and a good start for anyone who may be getting into the Western genre for the first time.

MIDDLE-AGED MATINEE! #28 - 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' (1992)

4/5 Stars

In 1991, Winona Ryder presented the script for “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” to director Francis Ford Coppola as a peace offering. Ryder had left the production of “The Godfather Part III” close to when they were supposed to start shooting and Ryder thought that the director didn’t like her. When Coppola saw that it was “Dracula” he would be making, he jumped at the opportunity.

The movie was written by James V. Hart and it added more romantic elements to Stoker’s timeless classic. In the movie, Dracula was a valiant soldier fighting a war for God. When the enemy sends false news to his loved one, Elisabeta (Winona Ryder), she commits suicide.

After condemning God for allowing his beloved to die, he swears off religion and promises to live even beyond death. This is when he is truly cursed to an eternal where he has to live off the blood of others, becoming the famous vampire we all know.

Gary Oldman is the title character in 'Bram Stoker's Dracula'!

Over 400 years later, in 1897, Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves) arrives in Transylvania to handle Dracula’s new real estate deals in London. While there, Dracula notices a picture of Jonathan’s fiance, Mina (also Ryder), and notes her resemblance to his lost Elisabeta.

Dracula then plots to head to London in order to seduce Mina and he will kill anyone who gets in his way.

In the build up to this movie’s release, some insiders in Hollywood had gotten to see the movie. They thought that it was too violent and weird for audiences to accept it and they even dubbed it “Bonfire of the Vampires” after the notorious movie “The Bonfire of the Vanities”, a film that is considered one of the worst box office bombs ever made.

Winona Ryder is Mina in 'Bram Stoker's Dracula'!

To be fair to those insiders, the movie is quite weird and violent at times. Coppola also chose to use, almost exclusively, old school filmmaking techniques such as compositing and rear projection methods. This was to give the movie the feel of the times the story is set in and it evokes a time when film was just emerging. There is even a scene where Dracula takes Mina to a small cinema.

However, these old school effects help the movie stand out in a time when more modern filmmaking techniques such as CGI were beginning to take hold. I appreciate the dedication to old school effects over modern ones and, for the most part, they look pretty damn good and, in a way, help make the movie timeless.

The movie is supported by a strong cast, but lets go ahead and talk about the elephant in the room. Much has been said about Keanu Reeves’ performance as Jonathan Harkness. All I’ll say is that this is definitely one of his weaker performances and that accent… just awful.

Anthony Hopkins plays Van Helsing in 'Bram Stoker's Dracula'!

Winona Ryder and Gary Oldman, who reportedly did not get along at the time, have a surprisingly good amount of chemistry. Ryder plays Mina as the sexually repressed fiance of Jonathan who is intrigued by the more open Dracula who doesn’t seem to want her to hold back due to “polite society” at the time.

What can I say about Oldman? This guy can act in his sleep and Dracula is another great performance for his belt. His accent honors those that have come before, especially Bella Lugosi, but he makes the role all his own in this movie. Lugosi may be the person I think of first when thinking about Dracula, but Oldman is a close second with his sinister yet more romantic performance.

One final performance to note is that of Anthony Hopkins as Professor Abraham Van Helsing, the famed archenemy of Dracula. Hopkins, like Oldman, understands the assignment and plays Van Helsing as a matter-of-fact figure. When someone questions his seemingly crazy theories about Dracula, he simply brushes them off and carries on. This can also lead to a few needed humorous moments in a movie that is mostly serious.

Finally, there is praise for composer Wojciech Kilar who gives us a haunting gothic score that kind of sticks with you after the film and any time you think about the movie afterwards. It definitely helps sell the themes of the story and the tone of the entire movie.

Thankfully, those few Hollywood insiders who thought the film would fail would be proven wrong. “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” came out to a tremendous box office as it would make over $215 million on a $40 million budget. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including a nomination for Best Art Direction and winning for Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, and Best Sound Editing.

Ultimately, though, it gave audiences a great modern retelling of the classic Bram Stoker story. For me, it is second only to the 1931 Lugosi classic. If you’re looking for a great Dracula adaptation, then look no further.