Silly Thinking
*with Jim Farris*
2012246 Curiosities served
Classic Rerun, Jim's Movie Log
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PREMIERE WEEK here at "S.T." continues with a brand new Friday feature:
"Jim's Movie Log" brought to you by Food Lion Dr. Perky. For that thirst that just won't go away. Have you been rated?
And now Jim Farris!
Thank you, Jim. Welcome to my movie log. This exciting new feature is a record of the movies I go see and what I think. My love of movies goes back a long long way and I enjoy going to small independent theatres as opposed to the large ugly chain store type multiplexes.
Thus often the movies I go to have ended (or are near the end of) their theatrical runs. I will try to put the entire moviegoing experience into context so you not only get a review of the film but a feel for the time and place and mood of the "event" as well.
January 10th.
"Runaway Jury"
We were beginning to thaw from a big ice storm that had kept me in the house for a solid week.
It was Saturday and I had to get out of the house. The destination was not as important as going somewhere and doing something.
So a friend of mine and I decided to go to dinner and a movie. The only movie that fit our timetable was "Runaway Jury" at a local movie theatre and pub nearby. We had dinner at a small hole in the wall diner and after trudging threw the slush and ice and arrived at the Laurelhurst Theatre.
This movie house was a top neighborhood theatre in the fifties and sixties and when I lived a few blocks away in the 90's it had been carved up into a four-screen grind house. It was sticky and cheap and ran double features for 99 cents.
Now it's an art-revival-second run catch all theatre where for $3.00 dollars you can see a wide range of films staggered through the late afternoon and evening. It's a brewpub as well so every other row of seats has been replaced with tall stand up tables and pizza and beer are served with other inexpensive snacks. They cleaned the place up and put in better sound and seats. It's a great venue for movie watching.
"Runaway Jury" showed in one of the two smaller theatres that were built into the lobby.
The main theatre was cut in half. The tiny cinema holds about 150 people and serves as an intimate screening room. They never show commercials (thank God) and after a few brief trailers the 20th Century Fox fanfare began and we were plunged into the world of courtrooms and lawyers down in Louisiana.
It's the best darn "Matlock" episode I ever did see. Dawgies! Dustin Hoffman was swell as Matlock and Gene Hackman played the evil jury consultant from New York (so you know you hate him right away!) John Cusack is the star of the movie as a jurist with a dark secret. Rarely have I seen so many predictable unpredictable turns of events. You know that Cusack is a good guy and Hoffman is a saint; and you know they will prevail you just don't quite know how.
Fox spent money here and every part is filled with a familiar face including Bruce ("Willard") Davidson and Henry ("High Chapparal") Darrow in supporting roles.
It's good. Just good. Nobody is doing memorable work but they are working. Director Gary Fleder keeps the plot moving just barely enough but it plods along in most spots. There is one scene between Hoffman and Hackman that just cooks, and you see what might have been if the movie would have crackled instead of thumped most of the way.
But it filled the bill nicely and relieved that cabin fever that only an ice storm can produce.
\
Thanks, Jim. Sounds like you had fun. We'll look forward to more to come on future Friday's.
Hey Silly Thinkers be sure to join us this weekend for the first annual "Silly Awards" LIVE on Sunday (tape delayed in the western and central time zones.) All you favorite's from "S. T." will be there and we'll have some great surprises as well.
That's this Sunday! Be here tomorrow when we'll have an exclusive preview of the big Sunday extravaganza with Scott Baio. That's tomorrow on "Silly Thinking".
Thanks for joining us and from all of us at "Silly Thinking" this is Jim Farris saying:
"Jim Farris Presents Silly Thinking with Douglas Lain"... IT REALLY IS ALL HERE!
"Jim's Movie Log" was brought to you by Food Lion Dr. Perky for that thirst that just won't go away. Have you been rated?
Good night!
"Jim's Movie Log" brought to you by Food Lion Dr. Perky. For that thirst that just won't go away. Have you been rated?
And now Jim Farris!
Thank you, Jim. Welcome to my movie log. This exciting new feature is a record of the movies I go see and what I think. My love of movies goes back a long long way and I enjoy going to small independent theatres as opposed to the large ugly chain store type multiplexes.
Thus often the movies I go to have ended (or are near the end of) their theatrical runs. I will try to put the entire moviegoing experience into context so you not only get a review of the film but a feel for the time and place and mood of the "event" as well.
January 10th.
"Runaway Jury"
We were beginning to thaw from a big ice storm that had kept me in the house for a solid week.
It was Saturday and I had to get out of the house. The destination was not as important as going somewhere and doing something.
So a friend of mine and I decided to go to dinner and a movie. The only movie that fit our timetable was "Runaway Jury" at a local movie theatre and pub nearby. We had dinner at a small hole in the wall diner and after trudging threw the slush and ice and arrived at the Laurelhurst Theatre.
This movie house was a top neighborhood theatre in the fifties and sixties and when I lived a few blocks away in the 90's it had been carved up into a four-screen grind house. It was sticky and cheap and ran double features for 99 cents.
Now it's an art-revival-second run catch all theatre where for $3.00 dollars you can see a wide range of films staggered through the late afternoon and evening. It's a brewpub as well so every other row of seats has been replaced with tall stand up tables and pizza and beer are served with other inexpensive snacks. They cleaned the place up and put in better sound and seats. It's a great venue for movie watching.
"Runaway Jury" showed in one of the two smaller theatres that were built into the lobby.
The main theatre was cut in half. The tiny cinema holds about 150 people and serves as an intimate screening room. They never show commercials (thank God) and after a few brief trailers the 20th Century Fox fanfare began and we were plunged into the world of courtrooms and lawyers down in Louisiana.
It's the best darn "Matlock" episode I ever did see. Dawgies! Dustin Hoffman was swell as Matlock and Gene Hackman played the evil jury consultant from New York (so you know you hate him right away!) John Cusack is the star of the movie as a jurist with a dark secret. Rarely have I seen so many predictable unpredictable turns of events. You know that Cusack is a good guy and Hoffman is a saint; and you know they will prevail you just don't quite know how.
Fox spent money here and every part is filled with a familiar face including Bruce ("Willard") Davidson and Henry ("High Chapparal") Darrow in supporting roles.
It's good. Just good. Nobody is doing memorable work but they are working. Director Gary Fleder keeps the plot moving just barely enough but it plods along in most spots. There is one scene between Hoffman and Hackman that just cooks, and you see what might have been if the movie would have crackled instead of thumped most of the way.
But it filled the bill nicely and relieved that cabin fever that only an ice storm can produce.
\
Thanks, Jim. Sounds like you had fun. We'll look forward to more to come on future Friday's.
Hey Silly Thinkers be sure to join us this weekend for the first annual "Silly Awards" LIVE on Sunday (tape delayed in the western and central time zones.) All you favorite's from "S. T." will be there and we'll have some great surprises as well.
That's this Sunday! Be here tomorrow when we'll have an exclusive preview of the big Sunday extravaganza with Scott Baio. That's tomorrow on "Silly Thinking".
Thanks for joining us and from all of us at "Silly Thinking" this is Jim Farris saying:
"Jim Farris Presents Silly Thinking with Douglas Lain"... IT REALLY IS ALL HERE!
"Jim's Movie Log" was brought to you by Food Lion Dr. Perky for that thirst that just won't go away. Have you been rated?
Good night!
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