Marked for Death (1990, dir. Dwight H. Little)

Marked for Death (1990, dir. Dwight H. Little)

What Is It?: It is a wonderfully risible Steven Seagal actioner.

What About It?: Well, this is may not be fine film making, but it is terrifically enjoyable stuff. Why? Well, we could say that Steven Seagal is hilarious and he can sometimes surround himself with talent. Basil Wallace and Keith David do the best with a bad situation here. But, really, we're telling you that this movie is great because killer rastas are taking over the drug trade in northern Chicagoland. One supposes that there were enough African American or Hispanic gangs and that the writers needed an additional kick and Jamaicans more than adequately provided the exoticism for the white filmgoers of the fall of 1990.

Why Should I See It?: Because it's rivetingly, watchably bad. The aforementioned Wallace is terrific as over-the-top baddie Screwface (usually pronounced SKR-ee-uu-fay-ah-suh, awesomely enough) and the astoundingly convoluted screenplay should be taught in film schools around the land in how to pad a script for a bad star. And check how Seagal always runs like a girl and looks like he's going to poop whenever he's trying to look mad. Chock full of awesome.

What Else Is It Like?: New Jack City, Lethal Weapon 2, The Transporter.

When Is It Playing Until ON DEMAND?: 3/8/07

Watch It ON DEMAND On Comcast Cable.

-- ddt/pdx

What's New This Week (That's Worth Watching to One Degree or Another)?: The Best Years of Our Lives, Bullets Over Broadway, Colors, The French Connection, M.A.S.H., Midnight Cowboy, Spartacus, Tom Jones, You Can't Take It With You.

Tombstone (1993, dir. George P. Cosmatos)

Tombstone (1993, dir. George P. Cosmatos)

What Is It?: A straightforward retelling of the tale of the Earp brothers, starring a startlingly thin Kurt Russell as Wyatt.

What About It?: The reason for watching this sometimes fun, sometimes lugubrious actioner is Val Kilmer hamming it up as drunken TB sufferer Doc Holliday. Dennis Quaid was supposed to take home the gold for starving himself in the competing OK Corral film, Lawrence Kasdan's epic Wyatt Earp, but Kilmer pitched his performance perfectly for this pop flick - he got to be the likable inveterate gambler/drunk, the superhuman shot/draw and the perfectly loyal friend -- and stole Quaid's thunder entirely (though that was indeed an admirable take on the character). Kilmer's a curious case: he was on the rise for so long, it seemed like almost an afterthought that he hit the top -- and quickly slid from that place. Was it The Saint (an unbeliveably bad, but really interestingly so movie. Almost dadaist in its opacity)?

Why Should I See It?: For Val, really, though the movie is fun enough. And speaking of disappearing acts featured in this, whatever happened to Michael Biehn?

What Else Is It Like?: Hour of the Gun, Geronimo: An American Legend, My Darling Clementine.

When Is It Playing Until ON DEMAND?: 2/15/07

Watch It ON DEMAND On Comcast Cable.

-- ddt/pdx

Silverado (1985, dir. Lawrence Kasdan)

Silverado (1985, dir. Lawrence Kasdan)

What Is It?: Kasdan's attempt to revitalize the Super-Western in the wake of his ginormo success with The Big Chill.

What About It?: It's a too-big-for-its-britches rollicking fun 80's action film, typified by its overlong running time and its three subplots (and villains) too many. That said, Kasdan clearly wants you to have a good time, and it's hard to begrudge him that. And, it's easy to forget just how darned appealing Kevin Kline was in his prime. He had this impeccable easy charm that few have replicated since. Of course he's about as 19th century as a microwave, but who cares?

Why Should I See It?: If you want to rock out to some excellent gun battles, a pre-Lethal Weapon Danny Glover and a pre-everything Kevin Costner hamming it up as the wild youth, you're in luck. Easy to spend time with, even if it asks for a bit too many minutes.

What Else Is It Like?: Lonesome Dove, Open Range, The Magnificent Seven.

When Is It Playing Until ON DEMAND?: 2/14/07

Watch It ON DEMAND On Comcast Cable.

-- ddt/pdx

What's New This Week (That's Worth Watching to One Degree or Another)?: After Dark, My Sweet, In the Heat of the Night, Lilies of the Field, Love Object, The Bride, Mandela, Mississippi Burning, Random Hearts, Remains of the Day, Stargate, The Kiss, They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!.

3:10 to Yuma (1957, dir. Delmer Daves)

3:10 to Yuma (1957, dir. Delmer Daves)

What Is It?: A tight, chamber Western about a infamous outlaw (Glenn Ford) and the regular ol' family man (Van Heflin) who guards him until the train -- the 3:10 to Yuma, natch -- comes.

What About It?: A terrific, taut film notable for the fantastic camera work and the excellent interplay between Heflin and Ford. Ford, in particular, is great in a seething, charming sexual performance. Shot by the great Charles "Bud" Lawton Jr. -- he also lensed Lost Classic fave The Tall T in the same year -- the opening crane is stunning and the bar scene, where Ford and his gang celebrate and challenge the town, is taught in film classes the world over, surely.

Why Should I See It?: For lovers of all Westerns, in particular the lean psychological Westerns that the Lost Classic is partial to. Also for those who want to catch a semi-Lost Classic before it's remade with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale in the coming year.

What Else Is It Like?: High Noon, The Shooting, Ride Lonesome.

When Is It Playing Until ON DEMAND?: 2/2/07

Watch It ON DEMAND On Comcast Cable.

-- ddt/pdx

What's New This Week (That's Worth Watching to One Degree or Another)?: Class Action, Hard Bounty, Fiddler on the Roof, John & Yoko's Year of Peace, Men of War, Merry Andrew, Thelma & Louise, Wall Street, Wild Bill, Ali, Get on the Bus.

Night and the City (1992, dir. Irwin Winkler)

Night and the City (1992, dir. Irwin Winkler)

What Is It?: Robert De Nero plays Harry Fabian, an ambulence chasing lawyer-cum-boxing promoter in this remake of the Noir classic by Jules Dassin.

What About It?: Who knows what possessed veteran producer Winkler to try and update Dassin's work, but it's clear why De Nero was drawn to it. The sharply delineated character -- the update was scripted by the redoubtable Richard Price -- is a motormouthed loser -- think Rupert Pupkin without the psychosis. Bobby had lost a lot of weight for Cape Fear, and you can still see it in this film, in his gaunt face, looking the semi-charming nebbish of the part. Jack Warden plays an ex-boxer with such an alarming physicality that we nearly didn't recognize him. Really amazing.

Why Should I See It?: It's really only a must for De Nero fans, though the story pops along at a Noir-lite pace pleasantly enough. Winkler has no idea what he wants to do visually, which is unfortunate -- he finds some fine sets and he works with the actors really well -- the poster above is the most pitched thing about the flick and that's just too bad.

What Else Is It Like?: Kiss of Death, Romeo is Bleeding, The Good Thief.

When Is It Playing Until ON DEMAND?: 2/1/07

Watch It ON DEMAND On Comcast Cable.

-- ddt/pdx

What's New This Week (That's Worth Watching to One Degree or Another)?: The Birds, Blue Sky, Bright Future, Cabin in the Sky, Much Ado About Nothing, On the Beach, Only You, The Survivors.

All The Kings Men (1949, dir. Robert Rossen)

All The Kings Men (1949, dir. Robert Rossen)

What Is It?: The Oscar-winning adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, loosely based on the Louisiana demagogue Huey Long.

What About It?: Pales in comparison to the brilliant novel by Robert Penn Warren, this is still totally worth watching. The script and direction may be a little clunky, unfortunately treating Warren's work as though the words came from G-d Himself -- to an almost laughable degree. The story is still fascinating and, though the entire enterprise may be sanitzed for Hollywood, it still retains some of the original work's deliciously sharp edge. The performances by Broderick Crawford as Willie Stark (the Long stand-in) and Mercedes McCambridge as the dark queen who is the catalyst for Stark's meteoric rise are more than deserving of your time. Both won Academy Awards for their work here.

Why Should I See It?: Primarily for those two performances, really, but it is definitely worht it just for that. McCambridge's impatience and sexual hunger is stunningly palpable. And Crawford rips into this role as if his life depended on it. He truly gets the desperation and heart of Stark in a way that Sean Penn misses by a country mile in the 2006 adaptation.

What Else Is It Like?: A Face in the Crowd, A Lion is in the Streets, The Great McGinty.

When Is It Playing Until ON DEMAND?: 3/1/07

Watch It ON DEMAND On Comcast Cable.

-- ddt/pdx

What's New This Week (That's Worth Watching to One Degree or Another)?: Afterglow, Author! Author!, Like Water for Chocolate, Mothra, Shoes of a Fisherman, Two Rode Together, The Unholy, Something's Gotta Give.

Rob Roy (1995, dir. Michael Canton-Jones)

Rob Roy (1995, dir. Michael Canton-Jones)

What Is It?: A fine actioner about a Scottish clan leader trying to do his people right and the evil fops that try to do him in.

What About It?: Rob Roy had the misfortune to follow Braveheart in 1995's Scottish-freedom-fighter twin bill, and with Mel's opus taking the gold, Roy flopped and was sadly ignored. It was a shame, too, because of the two, Rob Roy was more narratively satisfying and far less pompous. Liam Neeson has yet another viral, likable turn as the titular hero, wronged by the landed elites from the dreaded England. Jessica Lange plays his headstrong wife and the two of them have real chemistry. Which makes sense, as they are, each of them, easily among the most sensual actors of their generation.

Why Should I See It?: That aside, the trio of baddies are the real reason to see this flick and are played with verve by John Hurt, Brian Cox and, in an Oscar-nominated role, Tim Roth. The roles are all written exceedingly well by TV veteran Alan Sharp, and the three chew up each role for all that they're worth. That the rest of the story is a treat of a throwback to adventure pics of yore is gravy. Big fun, this one is.

What Else Is It Like?: Ivanhoe, Gladiator, El Cid.

When Is It Playing Until ON DEMAND?: 2/28/07

Watch It ON DEMAND On Comcast Cable.

-- ddt/pdx

What's New This Week (That's Worth Watching to One Degree or Another)?: Breaking Dawn, Guns of Navarone, Heaven's Gate, Raging Bull, Tommy, 20 Million Miles to Earth.

Only Angels Have Wings (1939, dir. Howard Hawks)

Only Angels Have Wings (1939, dir. Howard Hawks)

What Is It?: An exotic action/drama, with Hawks in fine man's-man mode, featuring another excellent dramatic turn from Cary Grant.

What About It?: Set in the Peruvian jungle, at the base of the Andes, Grant runs a mail service airline delivering -- in a journey fraught with peril -- over the mountain range. To get over the jagged peaks, the airline's antiquated planes must fly through a notch in the range as their engines aren't strong enough to go over the top. The actors, however, have plenty enough power to play their parts to the hilt. Grant is an excellent, macho Hawks hero, Jean Arthur is sassy and appealing as always, and Rita Hayworth stops all looking their tracks in her A-list movie debut. Thomas Mitchell, a Lost Classic favorite, has a great turn in a year that was filled with great films for him: Stagecoach, Gone With the Wind and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Why Should I See It?: For a rip-roaring, old fashioned action adventure with snappy dialogue spoken by those who were born to banter (see above). To be sure there's some hokum in here, but it's really easy to overlook when you see all that you're getting for your time. Heartily recommended, this is yet another true Lost Classic.

What Else Is It Like?: Rio Bravo, Flight From Glory, Sorcerer.

When Is It Playing Until ON DEMAND?: 2/2/07

Watch It ON DEMAND On Comcast Cable.

-- ddt/pdx

What's New This Week (That's Worth Watching to One Degree or Another)?: A Few Dollars More, Bound for Glory, A Fistful of Dollars, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Hang 'Em High, Last Action Hero, Rob Roy, Run Lola Run, Yentl.