The session: "A tribute to Mr. Big: Bert I. Gordon Month"
This month we pay tribute to director Bert I. Gordon, who passed away this past March at age 100
As always, there may be spoilers here. And the trailer may be NSFW and/or NSFL.
Week 2: The Mad Bomber (1972)
Directed by Bert I. Gordon
My Impressions Going In:
I knew nothing
Los Angeles is beset by two criminals: A serial rapist and a serial bomber. The cops want both, but one may hold the key to the other.
Reaction and Other Folderol:
There's no denying that this a fun movie (assuming you're in to the gritty 1970's action movies with plenty of nudity and violence). And the three stars are great. Chuck Connors, playing against type, captures the right combination of menace and sympathy. Vince Edwards seems to be channeling Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry. And Neville Brand's gravelly average Joe (with a not-so-average life) is perfect for his role.
The film has two of the best bomb detonations I've ever seen in a movie -- one of which moved Keith to express admiration and the wish that he had come up with it. I also loved the irony in Connors' character -- rudely admonishing people about courtesy while carrying out his bombings. His portrayal of unhinged is note perfect. The characters are also very well developed, given the nature of the movie.
But there are a lot of ways that the plot is implausible, and in many ways this plays like a TV movie (except, of course, that it would never get past the censors). All in all it's a fun watch, but not in any way a masterpiece.
Ratings
Me: 7.5
Bob-O: 8.8
Christina: 9.4
Dave: 9.3
Ethan: 8.5
Joe: 10
No comments:
Post a Comment