Used Cars

 

This film is a cousin of Smokey and the Bandit. The last years of the Carter administration's national  malaise projected onto screens. Indeed the Peanut Farmer actually has a cameo, there is a national briefing from the WhiteHouse- Kurt Russell being dismissed by the waiter and  there is a fight between the lead-Russo and an eaterie waiter. As Russo ( Kurt Russel ) is trying to distract and dispatch his love interest. He also knows his pals are going to intercept the presidental address and instead turn it into a national advertisement

Unlike in the UK, trading standards was a force to be feared

2400 dollars was the price for a used car- somewhere in the South West

``We run a straight lot, how do you think we feel being associated with the President of the United States''

Local TV was very blue collar. Everyone smokes, a plot point reolves about an advert being redubbed. 

As I said this is a cousin of Smokey. This stars one of my favorite actors- Kurt Russell- This has a specific time and place, the Carter Years. They are even drinking Cours- The lead is a sweet talking arsehole

The Democrats still have a party machine and you can buy into it. 60000

There is a lot of fisticuffs in this film. 

The Judge is Grandpa from the Munsters, who I know learn let Charlie Manson babysit

I liked this when I saw it in high school, I still  do

Spy Hard

 

Oh this must have been great fun. Nielsen, Matlock- Andy Williams and Barry Bostwick

Barry is doing his Boston accent

I like the disarmed joke

B.A is flying a helicopter...That is a nice reference

There are nods to Bond. The titles are a homage to Bond. Oh and weird Al, sings them in person.

We have a Miss Chevious ala Ms Money Penny. Nielsen throws his hat against the door, ala Connery. We even see Nielsen smoke a cigar. People still ask a light. 

There is a lot if 90s riffs, True Lies, the horse chase in the hotel lobby. In the Line of Fire, If she turns arround, and Sister Act. 

Nicolette Sheriden is delightful

Talladega Nights

 

I have seen bits and pieces of this before. 

I still have the ambition to visit a NASCAR race. I remembered that watching this, I would not mind going to Chilli's either

This is very Bush era film. There is a long joke about the correct way, to say grace. We are below the Mason Dixon line here. Firmly planted in a Red state 

I liked how swiftly the story was established. We have a few minutes to establish the characters past and we put on foot down

Hey is that Richard from Ally McBeal

The villian is French, played by Sasha Baron Cohen. He is sponsored by Perrier, and drinks coffee during a race. He is flamboyantly gay- married to a lion tamer- Siegfried and Roy

I enjoyed 

Amy Adams looks radiant

Gary Cole, is great as the absent father. I wonder if this would have been if the film had been about him

I note that watching the same channel in the middle of the night is a bit more difficult now 

I liked the cocaine, cheerios set piece

My daughter, a horsed

 

Party Party ( 1983)

 

So this  film was a distant memory from the 1990s. You would see Party Party! advertised in the back, of Loaded magazine, along with Quadrophenia or Adventures of a Taxi Driver

My opinion of Party Party  is it a fine piece of young fun, indeed the film comes across as rather innocent.

One of the characters is a church organist. There is talk of Youth clubs, Lemonade and Table Tennis. A flash motor could be bought for 250 pounds.  It seems to have been filmed in Harlesden, Wembley, maybe Kingsbury that part of old London Town. Areas which have gone through quite the demographic change. 

I did wonder if the police officers we see in this film are cadets. 

Oh, and I just realised I don't think there is any drug use. 

Some friends in the early 1980s hold a New Years Eve party.  Hearts are broken, kisses are stolen, cherries are lost, beers are drunk, scores settled. 

I did enjoy the 80s soundtrack

Some thoughts

Did Karl Howman ever look young. He seems to have been born in his late 20s

Daniel Peacock- plays the idiot a bit too much. I did wonder if this hurt his career, or he got typecast. Did he ever play it straight

Caroline Quentin proves my point, about her being the sexier one in Men Behaving Badly, she is a teenager full of the flush of hormones

We see a departed Old Friend in the Late Great Gary Olsen

Clive Mantle playing a villian, Nick Berry has a brief cameo and Perry

All early 80s life is here. Skinheads, Goths, and New Romantics

As I said a fine bit of fun. I am glad I saw it, a nice way to spend a friday night

QPR V Bristol City

 

Training Day

 

I should have watched this one, when it was released. As Training Day has been referenced and repeated sso many  times in media I think I lost something while I waited. One of the Mexican gang members, is that guy from The Closer, the corrupt detective is explored in the Shield. 

I think the script isn't great. It depends on honour amongst thieves, and a gang banger who is very concerned about his nieces's education. 

 Denzel elevates it, with a full throttle performace.

Oh and Denzel does gangster speak, he repeats everything. He constantly questions, and challenges- I find this tiring

I note that Denzel is reading a newspaper, this dates the film

Oh, Snoop Dog in a Wheel Chair,  John Spencer, and a Ford Ka, I note that the 1990s has not ended yet

Indeed Ethan Hawke

I thought the plot rather then the script, was weak. Surely it is easier just to kill the Newbie first

I am glad I crossed it off my script