From /tmp/sf.15692 Tue Mar 30 18:20:06 1993 Xref: lysator.liu.se rec.arts.movies.reviews:173 rec.arts.sf.reviews:34 Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies.reviews,rec.arts.sf.reviews Path: lysator.liu.se!isy!liuida!sunic!psinntp!psinntp!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ames!pacbell.com!att-out!cbnewsj!ecl From: leeper@mtgzy.att.com (Mark R. Leeper) Subject: REVIEW: MATINEE Reply-To: leeper@mtgzy.att.com Organization: AT&T, Middletown NJ Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1993 19:45:18 GMT Approved: ecl@cbnewsj.att.com Message-ID: <1993Feb1.194518.26146@cbnewsj.cb.att.com> Followup-To: rec.arts.movies Summary: r.a.m.r. #01731 Keywords: author=Leeper Sender: ecl@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (Evelyn C. Leeper) Lines: 77 [Followups directed to rec.arts.movies.] MATINEE A film review by Mark R. Leeper Copyright 1993 Mark R. Leeper Capsule review: Teenage love, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and a likable, stop-at-nothing film producer make for a film that is a lot of fun. It also has something to say about the nobility of the bad sci-fi films of the 1950s and 1960s. The writing flounders a bit in the second half but the memories are terrific. Rating: low +2 [-4 to +4]. This one is going to be hard for me to be objective about. I think Joe Dante may be a couple of years older than I, loved the same films I loved when I was growing up. He and I subscribed to the same monster magazines and probably had the same books in our libraries; we idolized the same filmmakers; we were both walking encyclopedias about the same films. Now he has reached into his past, grabbed it, and put it on film and at the same time he put a lot of my past forward too. It is October 1962 in Key West, Florida, and the second biggest thing happening in the world is the Cuban Missile Crisis. People are going crazy because they might die at any minute. But right now the big thing happening is that Lawrence Woolsey is coming to town. The great William-Castle-like filmmaker of lousy monster movies is coming to key West to test-market MANT!, the story of a man turning into a giant ant. Woolsey is a genius at promoting his films and uses every trick in the book and some never in any book to fill the seats with joy buzzers below and frightened kids above. MATINEE is a film with a terrific first half. This is a film that manages to tie together a teenage love story, a serious anti-war theme, a satire of science fiction films, and the comic story of Woolsey trying to have a successful sneak preview. John Goodman's Woolsey is extremely well- written, appearing at first to be a stop-at-nothing self-promoter and then proving to have the char, and natural showmanship of a Will Rogers. Cathy Moriarty plays Ruth Corday, a great foil for Woolsey. She stars in MANT! and then brazenly has to don a nurse's costume and play the ersatz "nurse in attendance" at the showing. All the time she is letting Woolsey know exactly how stupid the entire proceedings are. Moriarty is great, but the role feels as if it was written for Mary Woronov. Simon Fenton (of THE POWER OF ONE) plays Gene Loomis, starting in high school and dating for the first time. Currently he is coming home to a family terrified of the missile crisis and worried for the Navy father who is off enforcing the embargo of Cuba. It is a great start, but the screenplay by Charlie Haas falls apart in the second half. Much of the logic of the story breaks down with some of the plot not making sense at all. No film made in the 1950s ever combined so many gimmicks to bring in an audience. But that exaggeration is almost acceptable compared to the miles-over-the-top lampoon of the 1950s and 1960s films themselves. Any film with the budget MANT! required really would have been better crafted. The writing might have been dull, but it is unlikely to have been so melodramatic or vaudevillian. The distorted style of MANT! is inconsistent with the rest of the film. Part of the fun of MATINEE is picking out all the allusions to 1950s and 1960s films. Of course, there are the seat vibrators of THE TINGLER, the insurance policies of MACABRE, and the monster unveiling of THE FLY, but see if you can recognize the music borrowed from the 1950s Universal sci-fi films and even snatches of HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN. Even the "M" in the MANT! logo is borrowed from THE DEADLY MANTIS. And the film is peppered with actors from 1950s films. Not Kenneth Tobey for once--at least I did not notice him--but Robert Cornthwaite, Kevin McCarthy (who plays General Ankrum, a reference to Morris Ankrum who often played upper-rank military men), and William Schallert. Also present in nice ironic roles are Dick Miller and John Sayles. Sayles, of course, is rarely an actor but he got his start writing PIRANHA, ALLIGATOR, BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS, and THE HOWLING, the first and last directed by Dante. While I cannot recommend every minute of MATINEE there is enough pleasure here to make this one well worth seeing. My rating would be a low +2 on the -4 to +4 scale. Mark R. Leeper att!mtgzfs3!leeper leeper@mtgzfs3.att.com From /tmp/sf.15692 Tue Mar 30 18:20:10 1993 Xref: lysator.liu.se rec.arts.movies.reviews:181 rec.arts.sf.reviews:37 Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies.reviews,rec.arts.sf.reviews Path: lysator.liu.se!isy!liuida!sunic!mcsun!Germany.EU.net!news.netmbx.de!mailgzrz.TU-Berlin.DE!math.fu-berlin.de!ira.uka.de!yale.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnewsk!cbnewsj!ecl From: blake7@herahera.cc.bellcore.com (berardinelli,james) Subject: REVIEW: MATINEE Reply-To: blake7@herahera.cc.bellcore.com (berardinelli,james) Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1993 21:05:07 GMT Approved: ecl@cbnewsj.att.com Message-ID: <1993Feb4.210507.6285@cbnewsj.cb.att.com> Followup-To: rec.arts.movies Summary: r.a.m.r. #01740 Keywords: author=Berardinelli Sender: ecl@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (Evelyn C. Leeper) Lines: 93 [Followups directed to rec.arts.movies.] MATINEE A film review by James Berardinelli Copyright 1993 James Berardinelli Running Length: 1:38 Rated: PG (Mature themes) Starring: John Goodman, Kathy Moriarty, Simon Fenton, Kellie Martin, Omri Katz, Lisa Jakub Director: Joe Dante Producer: Michael Finnell Screenplay: Charlie Haas Music: Jerry Goldsmith Released by Universal Pictures Lawrence Woolsey (John Goodman) is an old-time showman trying to put the magic back into grade-B horror movies. His latest film, MANT!, made in "Rumble-Rama" will either make him or break him, but Woolsey won't let his precarious future ruin his enjoyment of the present. He's sure of himself and his audience. The premier of MANT! forms the backdrop for a number of smaller human dramas--such as first dates and first kisses--and one larger, more historical event. Joe Dante's latest film is one-third comedy, one-third nostalgia, and one-third sentiment. Set during the tense period of the Cuban Missile Crisis, MATINEE tells the story of a week in the lives of several teenagers and small-time horror film maker Lawrence Woolsey. For each of them, these tension-filled days mean something different. It's likely that those who have a conscious memory of October 1962 will appreciate MATINEE far more than those who don't. Although Dante's film does a good job of conveying the flavor of the time, actual memories add an irreplaceable enhancement. Remembering how you reacted to the Crisis will enable you to empathize that much more with the characters of this picture. Much of the nostalgia will be lost on the younger viewers. Only those who lived through those troubled days can fully appreciate some of what MATINEE is trying to do. Fortunately, the success and enjoyability of the film do not rest entirely in this arena. MATINEE also presents a witty spoof of the numerous low-budget monster movies that became a common staple for theaters during the fifties and sixties. As silly and campy as MANT looks, it bears a remarkable resemblance to many of the films that can now be seen at two o'clock in the morning on a local UHF channel. Aside from the portion of the story that involves Goodman, almost everything else centers around four teenagers, ably played by a quartet of actors. There's Gene (Simon Fenton), the "Navy brat" who moves from city to city without ever getting a chance to put down roots. Stan (Omri Katz), Gene's lone friend, is hopelessly smitten with Sherry (Kellie Martin), a girl who is interested in exploring her own sexuality. Finally, Lisa Jakub plays the uncertain daughter of a pair of free-thinking beatniks. MATINEE manages to blend its diverse elements together. Sometimes the seams aren't as transparent as they should be, but the movie still manages to be more agreeable than not. The humor is mostly low-key, and works as it's intended to. There are not many belly laughs to be had, but there are quite a few chuckles. Of undeniable importance is the rapport the audience develops with the characters. They may not be the most three-dimensional of screen personalities, but what we see of them seems real, despite the occasionally bizarre circumstances they find themselves in. This is, after all, a movie about movies, and Dante never ceases to remind us of this with an endless stream of in-jokes. John Goodman is tailor-made for his role. As uncomfortable as he seemed as THE BABE, he's right at home here, chewing on his part with as much gusto as he munches on his cigar. He's a pleasure to watch--the bigger-than-life showman who does what he does simply because he enjoys it. There's nothing deep or profound in MATINEE and its occasional comments about the evils of nuclear war fall a little flat in light of current events. It's not clear whether the movie is trying to make a point or simply emphasizing its historical context. Any message that MATINEE has doesn't come across clearly or with any force. This is an example of pure, unadulterated entertainment. The film is far from perfect, but most of the flaws are minor and will do little (if anything) to impede the enjoyment of the movie. Wit, satire, nostalgia, and a few likable characters form a solid mix. If there are a few moments when the movie loses its focus, well, as Lawrence Woolsey would put it, "That's show biz." Rating: 7.8 (B, **1/2) - James Berardinelli (blake7@cc.bellcore.com) From /tmp/sf.15692 Tue Mar 30 18:20:16 1993 Xref: lysator.liu.se rec.arts.movies.reviews:196 rec.arts.sf.reviews:40 Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies.reviews,rec.arts.sf.reviews Path: lysator.liu.se!isy!liuida!sunic!mcsun!Germany.EU.net!news.netmbx.de!mailgzrz.TU-Berlin.DE!math.fu-berlin.de!ira.uka.de!yale.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!gatech!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!agate!ames!pacbell.com!att-out!cbnewsj!ecl From: pimmel@eagles.cs.wisc.edu (David Pimmel) Subject: REVIEW: MATINEE Reply-To: pimmel@eagles.cs.wisc.edu (David Pimmel) Organization: University of Wisconsin, Madison -- Computer Sciences Dept. Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1993 15:42:19 GMT Approved: ecl@cbnewsj.att.com Message-ID: <1993Feb11.154219.24856@cbnewsj.cb.att.com> Followup-To: rec.arts.movies Summary: r.a.m.r. #01754 Keywords: author=Pimmel Sender: ecl@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (Evelyn C. Leeper) Lines: 80 [Followups directed to rec.arts.movies.] MATINEE A film review by David Pimmel Copyright 1993 David Pimmel -- comedy, rated PG, runs about 1:40 -- starring : John Goodman, Kathy Moriarty, and a bunch of teenagers -- directed by Joe Dante and written by Charles Hass -- **** out of ***** SUMMARY: Lawrence Woolsley (John Goodman) brings his new horror film MANT! to premiere in Key West during the height of the Cuban Missile crisis. He hopes to capitalize on the tense moment by providing an escape for the town. We see most of the events through the stories of four teenagers and how life affects them. QUICK AND EASY REVIEW: I really enjoyed MATINEE. The mixture of comedy and tension blended nicely. Unlike many comedies this film tries, and succeeds, in getting past the stage of doing anything for a laugh. The makers of the film also cared about telling an intelligent story. The performances of all the principals are right on the mark, particularly John Goodman as the schlock master. So I would definitely recommend this film to anyone looking for a light hearted, yet interesting way to spend a couple of hours. LONGER, MORE DETAILED REVIEW: [beware of spoilers] The primary reason I enjoyed this film was, that while being a comedy, the film also had an intelligent story to tell. Too many comedies today subscribe to the the notion that a comedy need only make you laugh. You watch the movie, laugh a lot, leave the theatre and take nothing with you. MATINEE is not like that. I left the picture thinking about what I would do faced with the Cuban Missile crisis. I found myself wondering what would happen to the characters of the film. But most importantly, I found myself caring about what would happen to the characters. The comedy of the film centers around Goodman, his character, and the film he brings to Key West. I believe that Goodman is one of the finest comedic actors in the business today. He is highly expressive both physically and vocally. I felt he at least deserved an Oscar nomination for his work in BARTON FINK. The other characters are often lost in a scene with him due to his commanding nature, however, while the star, Goodman is actually not at the center of the film. The movie is really the story of the four teenagers, discovering who they are and what they want, against a background where at any minute it could all end. I thought the kids reaction were highly realistic. They tried to block it out, they tried to escape from the concerns of their world. Unfortunately it kept creeping back in, particularly with the fear, and the chaos of the time. While the comedy centered on Goodman, and the drama on the teens, there was a great deal of overlap. Several aspects of the panic are shown in a humorous light. One example is a scene where people are fighting each other for the the last cans and boxes of food in a grocery store. If you think about it the threat of nuclear annihilation seems hardly to be the backdrop for a comedy, but it works here. Another reason I like this film is that I like B- science fiction movies. One of my favorite films to go watch is PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE. (Note I did not say it was one of my favorite movies, but one of my favorite to see.) While MANT! never got made, many films like it were, and MANT! serves mostly as Dante's homage to the B-films he loves. So again I would like to recommend MATINEE to anybody looking for a good, humorous story. This isn't a gag film like many other comedies but an intelligent, well-thought out, film about real people with real problems told in an often hilarious way. Enjoy! -- David Pimmel pimmel@cs.wisc.edu From /tmp/sf.15692 Tue Mar 30 18:20:19 1993 Xref: lysator.liu.se rec.arts.movies.reviews:193 rec.arts.sf.reviews:39 Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies.reviews,rec.arts.sf.reviews Path: lysator.liu.se!isy!liuida!sunic!mcsun!Germany.EU.net!ira.uka.de!scsing.switch.ch!univ-lyon1.fr!ghost.dsi.unimi.it!batcomputer!caen!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!ames!pacbell.com!att-out!cbnewsj!ecl From: blj@mithrandir.cs.unh.edu (Brian L. Johnson) Subject: REVIEW: MATINEE Reply-To: blj@mithrandir.cs.unh.edu (Brian L. Johnson) Organization: ? Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1993 15:44:09 GMT Approved: ecl@cbnewsj.att.com Message-ID: <1993Feb11.154409.24970@cbnewsj.cb.att.com> Followup-To: rec.arts.movies Summary: r.a.m.r. #01755 Keywords: author=K.Johnson Sender: ecl@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (Evelyn C. Leeper) Lines: 51 [Followups directed to rec.arts.movies.] MATINEE A film review by Ken Johnson Copyright 1993 Ken Johnson 1:43, PG, Comedy, 1993 Director: Joe Dante Cast: John Goodman, Cathy Moriarty, Simon Fenton, Omri Katz, Kellie Martin, Lisa Jakub, Dick Miller, David Clennon, Kevin McCarthy, John Sayles In a small Floridian town, the occupants are worried about being bombed by the Russians from Cuba. What better a time for Lawrence Woolsey, John Goodman, to open one of his new B horror films? Goodman, with Cathy Moriarty, one of his actresses, comes to the town to personally unveil his new "Rumble-vision." Simon Fenton is new to the town and likes Lisa Jakub. Omri Katz is in love with Kellie Martin, but her ex-con ex-boyfriend wants Katz to stay away from her. MATINEE is a love story, spoof of old horror films, and a comedy about people overreacting in a panic situation. People from around the time of the Cuban missile crisis (who like comedies) will most likely love this film. Also people who were born after that time, but have had exposure to old B horror movies, will probably also love this film (I did!). On a scale of zero to five, I give MATINEE a five. MATINEE is rated PG for explicit language and adult situations. The cast for this film I feel does an excellent job. Rising above the rest of this cast is John Goodman (ARACHNOPHOBIA, "Roseanne"). He gives his usual excellent performance. Cathy Moriarty (KINDERGARTEN COP, NEIGHBORS) does a great job with her role. The young cast Simon Fenton, Omri Katz, Kellie Martin ("Life Goes On"), and Lisa Jakub all give great performances. The two men against Woolsey's film, John Sayles and Dick Miller (FAR FROM HOME, AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON) I think, do a great job and are highlights in the film. Kevin McCarthy (THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS [1956 and 1978 versions]) is excellent as an actor in Lawrence Woolsey's film. The film shown in this film is great. It does a wonderful job of spoofing the horror films from the time (I have seen some from that time on the late, late, late, late night movies). The way this film within a film was done adds a lot to the finished product and especially the end. The film (both) are very well written and directed, by Joe Dante (GREMLINS, AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON). The film is photographed beautifully. -------- Ken Johnson blj@mithrandir.cs.unh.edu