Addams Family Values

Addams Family Values (1993)

Starring Angelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Christopher Hart's Hand, Carel Struycken, Jimmy Workman, Carol Kane, Joan Cusack, Dana Ivey, David Krumholtz, Peter McNicol and Christine Baranski

Directed by Barry Sonnefeld

Written by Paul Rudnick

Click here for my Letterboxd review

The RyMickey Rating: B

The Addams Family

 The Addams Family (1991)

Starring Angelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Elizabeth Wilson, Christine Ricci, Judith Malina, Dan Hedaya, Carel Struycken, Paul Benedict, Christopher Hart's hand, Dana Ivey, and Jimmy Workman

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld

Written by Caroline Thompson and Larry Wilson

Click here for my Letterboxd review

The RyMickey Rating: B-

Movie Review - Presumed Innocent

Presumed Innocent (1990)

Starring Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Raul Julia, Bonnie Bedelia, and Greta Scacchi

Directed by Alan J. Pakula

***This film is currently streaming on Netflix***

I remember watching Presumed Innocent when I was fourteen or fifteen on VHS and being really impressed.  Courtroom settings have always been favorites of mine (loved The Practice and Murder One on television when I was growing up) and this drama starring Harrison Ford as a high-ranking prosecutor accused of murder didn't disappoint upon a second viewing.  In fact, if anything, I actually like it and appreciate it more for its ability to keep things both tense and smart.

When Rusty Sabich's (Harrison Ford) colleague in the district attorney's office turns up dead after a brutal rape and murder, Sabich's boss Raymond Horgan (Brian Dennehy) asks him to take on the case.  Horgan is up for re-election in a mere ten days and wants Sabich to have the killer in custody before then.  Horgan is unaware that several months prior Rusty had a lengthy torrid affair with the victim, Carolyn Polhemus (Greta Scacchi), and that Rusty may be hesitant to reveal all of his findings about the crime.  However, it's soon discovered that it appears that Rusty was at Carolyn's house on the night of the murder and Rusty is shortly thereafter accused of the crime.

This is an incredibly solid thriller that works on all levels.  Screenwriter Frank Pierson and writer-director Alan J. Pakula slowly reveal layers of the crime, pulling out surprises that are never too absurd to believe, but are always made known at just the right time to keep the audience on their toes.  Acting across the board is great with Harrison Ford in one of his best roles as a man who can't quite get over his infatuation with his ex-lover, but regrets the damage the affair did to his relationship with his wife who stuck with him even after his illicit liaison.  Brian Dennehy as the hard-nosed D.A., Raul Julia has Rusty's defense attorney, and Bonnie Bedelia as Rusty's wife all give great performances as well.

Couple all that with a classic ending and Presumed Innocent is a flick that should certainly be placed on everyone's Netflix Instant Queue.

The RyMickey Rating:  A-

Movie Review - The Morning After

The Morning After (1986)

Starring Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges, and Raul Julia

Directed by Sidney Lumet

***This film is currently streaming on Netflix***

There's something about the 1980s.  Seeing as how the decade brought us smooth jazz and an overabundance of pastels (both of which get prominent placement in this film), it's ten years that are probably best forgotten.  The Morning After reeks of the year it was made, but I'm willing to give it that fault.  Unfortunately, the flick about an out-of-work alcoholic actress (Jane Fonda) who wakes up in a drunken haze next to the body of a murdered man just doesn't cut it in terms of a thriller.  From the outset, it's fairly obvious who the killer actually is and who the screenplay is simply setting up as the red herring.  Add to that one of the silliest "reveals" in film history and you've got a disappointment.

It also doesn't help that Jane Fonda (in an Oscar-nominated role no less) seems to be overacting to the hilt.  She brings nothing new to the role of "drunk" and instead utilizes all the stereotypical characteristics.  Granted, I wasn't bored when Fonda was onscreen, but, in actuality, despite the film's flaws, I actually wasn't bored by any of it.  Which places me in an odd conundrum.  I can't say that The Morning After should be watched, but I also can't say it was all that bad despite the fact that it doesn't have much going for it.

Of course, it doesn't really matter because the likelihood of anyone reading this actually watching this is slim to zippo.

The RyMickey Rating:  C-