Showing posts with label Hal Williams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hal Williams. Show all posts

Thursday, July 17, 2025

THE ESCAPE ARTIST (1982)

 


Directed By: Caleb Deschanel

Written By: Melissa Mathison and Stephen Zito

Based on the novel by: David Wagoner

Cinematography: Stephen H. Burum

Editor: Arthur Schmidt 


Cast: Griffen O’Neal, Raul Julia, Desi Arnez, Joan Hackett, Jackie Coogan, Hal Williams, M. Emmett Walsh, Harry Anderson, Elizabeth Daily, Teri

Garr


The young and self-confident Danny bluffs at the local police-station that he will escape out of prison within one hour. What follows is a flashback about his childhood with his uncle and aunt, which are 'vaudeville'-artists themselves. We also follow the problems of Danny with the corrupt son of the mayor.


There’s a film I knew about thanks to all the video guides which I wish they still had just to get recommendations from as now with message boards and social media and feels like always getting recommendations of the same films that are more modern. He’s older films are hard to find.


This film is disappointing for what could’ve been rather than what it was. As watching it, Juan was hoping that it would get better as it went along. It never quite does.


As it feels too playful with nothing really going on and it feels too slow for kids and too silly for adults.


The film plays like an early Amblin movie and adventurous film with a kid as the star who goes on a journey or adventure. We see it more from their point of view and the Child characters can actually be in True Danger only hear there’s not much fantasy happening, and Amblin films are usually made more for a preteen audience. It does make one long for when they made these types of movies for an audience looks like took more seriously.


This film unfortunately has no feeling of fun things play, but they also just seen that happen with little to no fan fare. Though it is very detailed.


Maybe because it was made under AMERICAN ZOETROPE studios, where the films made, and that matured there were more willing to be experimental


Griffin O’Neal who plays lead, never makes an impact as he Has no charisma in the role and he never seems quite lively or fun. Which makes it easier for him to blend in as a supporting characters are more lively and interesting.


So it seems like maybe concessions were made off of his name and his famous father and sister.


The film keeps in innocence about it as it never goes over the line nor does it ever dirty. It’s south, or the audience with anything exploitive, or too risqué.



This was The last film of Desi Arnaz Sr. one wonders why he even took a role in this as the role he has is Pedro but it’s not that show stopping and there’s not Too much to it.


Raul Julia in his role seems a little too often wacky almost like a cartoon character for how moody he can be one minute and silly the next.



Well, it has a sense of wonder what film quite often is dull. It should be better considering the talent behind it.


It does Seem like a film, where seeing it on the big screen would maybe increase the audience enjoyment. No, the script still would need to be stronger and a bit busier.


Which would give the audience a reason to not only watch the care.


This is one of the few films that was directed by legendary cinematographer, Caleb Deschanel. 


One rarely says this, but this feels like a film that should be remade only with more fun lore and adventure.


Grade: C

Friday, February 8, 2019

GUESS WHO (2005)



Directed By: Kevin Rodney Sullivan 
Written By: David Ronn, Jay Scherick & Peter Tolan 
Story By: David Ronn & Jay Scherick 
Based on The Original Screenplay “GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER” By: William Rose Cinematography By: Karl Walter Lindenlaub 
Editor: Paul Seydor 

Cast: Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Saldana, Judith Scott, Hal Williams, RonReaco Lee, Sherri Shepherd, Niecy Nash, Paula Newsome, Phil Reeves, Nicole Sullivan, Jessica Cauffiel, Kimberly Scott, Richard Lawson 

Percy and Marilyn are renewing their vows for their anniversary, and their daughter Theresa brings her boyfriend Simon for them to meet. Unbeknownst to her parents, the kids plan to announce their engagement during the weekend. The Jones family is Black; Theresa neglects to tell them Simon is White. Race complicates Percy's general mistrust of any boyfriend, so he instigates an investigation of Simon, discovering he's recently lost his job and hasn't told Theresa. Mistrust rears its ugly head, and in the process of Theresa and Simon's argument, Marilyn and Percy fall out. What can the men do to cross the divide between each other and between men and women? Will anyone be exchanging vows?

Sunday, June 22, 2014

THE ROOKIE (1990)



Directed By: Clint Eastwood 
Written By: Scott Spiegel & Boaz Yakin 
Cinematography By: Jack N. Green 
Editor: Joel Cox 

Cast: Clint Eastwood, Charlie Sheen, Raul Julia, Sonia Braga, Tom Skeritt, Lara Flynn Boyle, Tony Plana, Pepe Serna, Xander Berkeley, Hal Williams, Paul Ben-Victor