Two Misfires + a Hit...

"Money Movers"
Bruce Beresford’s razor sharp direction, along with some incredible fist-fights and startling violence, propel this 1978 armored car robbery-thriller ahead with maximum force. The fine, uncompromisingly gritty cast of Australian cops, white-collar brutes, and numerous crossover criminals in between make sure the story never lacks for personality. Ed Deveraux (the kindly ranger from TV’s “Skippy the Bush Kangaroo”) and Terry Donovan are especially good as adversaries. Fantastic David Shire-like score and plenty of vivid Sydney and Adelaide locations only give the movie polish. Based on a true story, with the script written by Devon Minchin, an ex-securities bigshot. Last 15 minutes packs a wallop. Excellent action sequences.

"Harry and Walter Go to New York"
The movie that almost bankrupted Columbia Pictures--this despite an all-start cast and tremendous production design--ends up being a mostly laugh-less comedy where you spend more time comparing the sideburns of Elliot Gould, James Caan, Burt Young, and Michael Caine. Director Mark Rydell fumbles his comedy opportunities, and Gould and Caan, as bumbling vaudevillians turned bank-robbers, achieve zero chemistry. This a disappointment from Gould, until he is able to improvise some lunacy near the end. Too many scenes of the cast trapped in master shots, trying to be wacky and dynamic. You can almost hear the silence on-set. In the end, the movie was financed by a bunch of German dentists. Brion James makes a notable cameo.

"Skidoo"
Unspeakable disaster from director Otto Preminger tries to be a counter-culture comedy that appeals to both hippies and old people. Unfortunately, the final result couldn’t entertain a barnyard. The absurdity onscreen, particularly the film’s fixation on LSD, is outdone by obnoxiousness and some truly awful Harry Nilsson songs. Tons of cameos (Mickey Rooney, Cesar Romero, Groucho Marx) add up to nothing more than several embarrassing performances. The movie’s tone is crazy but exhausting, akin to listening to a rambling schizophrenic for 90 minutes. Star Jackie Gleason, I can only imagine upon seeing the final cut, mixed himself a stiff Jack Daniels in a pint glass and said, “What a *beep* piece of sh*t.” Even the movie’s fleeting nudity is absent of any inspiration. Hippie John Phillip Law has a funny line about the world “being a better place for butterflies and organic supermarkets.” The musical finale with Carol Channing, who sings the title song, is easily the most unbearable of cinematic indulgences.


"It looks like you could fit his future into about 6 different garbage bags." -"LHTH"