David-Keith Movie Reviews

This is a Merchant/Ivory film before they became masters of their craft, nonetheless this is a worthwhile film for those interested in the secret society of Kali worshipping assassins known as Thugs(pronounced Tugs), a society which some historians believe began as a pagan cult in ancient times. What makes the Thugs so dangerous is that they are consummate actors and so able to pass themselves off as respectable citizens and thus befriend their victims. Furthermore the cult is impenetrable to the British who seek to flush them out because even those non-thug Indians who know of the thugs existence either fear reporting them or tolerate them because they serve a goddess.
Captain Savage is a soldier who at the beginning of the film finds himself attracted to an Indian woman about to commit sati. In an attempt to save her he 'goes native'. This Indian woman has captured his desire more than his new wife. As we get to know him we can see he is particularly vulnerable to the mysterious allures of the land he is in. In the Indian disguise which he takes great pleasure in wearing he begins to uncover the secrets of the Kali sect but as he uncovers the secrets of their strangely sensual form of murder he also becomes attracted to it for the pleasure of serving Kali it is said elicits the greatest bliss.
In a moment of deep delirium Captain Savage now in deep cover and a member of the sect he is investigating goes over to the other side....or does he?
The film leaves no doubt just which side Captain Savage comes out on but I won't spoil it for you. The film is admittedly as gaudy as the subject matter, nowhere near the majesty of later Merchant/Ivory productions, but it is a fascinating study of the strangely malleable nature of colonial identity.
The best acting here is done by the Indian actors, the English parts are all played by mere mediocrities. Brosnan plays the lead and, well, he does an adequate job. An actor with a believably dark side would have been better suited to take this perilous journey.

This is an interesting exploration of the Thuggee cult of India, as it existed in the mid nineteenth century. Members of this cult worshipped the goddess, Kali, and were called "Thugs". Known to each other through secret phrases and rituals, the Thugs, who were an organized group of professional robbers, had a most interesting modus operandi. They would kill innocent travelers by garroting them with a weighted scarf, relieve them of their worldly goods, and then bury them so that they would seem to have vanished off the face of the earth. During their existence, members of the Thuggee cult were estimated to have killed over two million people, before being wiped out by the British, with the cooperation of the existing Indian government of that time.

This film, based upon a book of the same name by John Masters, explores this ancient, secret society. It features Pierce Brosnan as a British officer, William Savage, who comes upon this cult in action. He further investigates, but his efforts prove futile, until he manages to infiltrate this cult, disguised as a native of India. He does this with the aid of a Thug, who believes that the goddess Kali has turned her back on him.

As the film progresses, Gophal, as William Savage now calls himself, becomes enmeshed in the activities of the cult. So great is his involvement, that he is in danger of losing himself to its tenets. It is as if he were undergoing a personal psychosis. It is not until his Thug informant realizes what is happening to him and tries to assist him, resulting in British troops coming to the rescue, that Gophal/William snaps out of his role playing. It is William's infiltration of the Thuggee cult, however, that is the catalyst for subsequent action taken to wipe out this evil and murderous society.

This film, shot entirely in India, is well acted, for the most part. The only problem is Pierce Brosnan, who, in the lead role, is decidedly miscast, though he does a more than passable Indian accent. He is simply not a good fit for the role. Nonetheless, this is still an intriguing film that deals with a little known, though fascinating, segment of Indian history and worth watching.

THE DECEIVERS is a surpisingly captivating film, seducing us as well as the main character -- before any of us know it, we're all caught up in the Thuggee world. The movie wisely underplays its hand, eschewing narration and letting us follow Captain Savage's descent into near-madness. The movie also deserves plaudits for not giving us a cut-and-dried "happy ending," making the film far more haunting than if the filmmakers had left things neat and tidy.

Pierce Brosnan turns in a sterling performance as Captain Savage, capturing every nuance of his situation. Some reviewers have singled out Brosnan's performance for faint praise or outright disdain, but I can only figure that they're reacting to the "Bond" image rather than actually viewing Brosnan's performance (or bothering to truly evaluate and understand his career, which is punctuated with many challenging roles and first-rate performances, from a bit part in THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY to THE FOURTH PROTOCOL to THE TAILOR OF PANAMA). Make no mistake, Brosnan's is a great performance, and THE DECEIVERS may be my favorite of his films.

This is a damn good movie. The story's awesome and Rourke's character is a badass. It drags in some spots, but overall this is probably the coolest western since TOMBSTONE. The stylized direction by Geoff Murphy(YOUNG GUNS 2) is real effective. Check this one out.

Mickey Rourke is the best I've ever seen him in this film. He is cruel and ruthless to the core. He makes Clint Eastwoods noname caracter seem rather friendly. If you are a fan of violent westerns with a heartless main character this is the one for you.

This is the best damn western ever! I swear the plot is one that will keep you guessing and intrigue you. The outline:
A band of bank robbers pull off a heist not exactly as planned. The outlaws quickly blame their leader and shoot him believing this to be his demise. Yet he awakes in the hands of the very posse hunting him down and strikes a deal with them, help hunt his former gang down.
Slowly he picks off the members one by one until what used to be a "lieutenant" kills him with a very good cliche. Over all I give this all 5 stars, it deserves it!

This is a damn good movie. The story's awesome and Rourke's character is a badass. It drags in some spots, but overall this is probably the coolest western since TOMBSTONE. The stylized direction by Geoff Murphy(YOUNG GUNS 2) is real effective. Check this one out.

Mickey Rourke is the best I've ever seen him in this film. He is cruel and ruthless to the core. He makes Clint Eastwoods noname caracter seem rather friendly. If you are a fan of violent westerns with a heartless main character this is the one for you.

This is the best damn western ever! I swear the plot is one that will keep you guessing and intrigue you. The outline:
A band of bank robbers pull off a heist not exactly as planned. The outlaws quickly blame their leader and shoot him believing this to be his demise. Yet he awakes in the hands of the very posse hunting him down and strikes a deal with them, help hunt his former gang down.
Slowly he picks off the members one by one until what used to be a "lieutenant" kills him with a very good cliche. Over all I give this all 5 stars, it deserves it!

Nice little diversion with Cusack playing a prep-school fish out of Carribean paradise water. When problems at school delay him from joining his girlfriend and her folks on their vacation getaway, he's determined to find any way to catch up with them, even take up with a questionable post-modern pirate of a ship's captain played by Loggia (who delivers the classic line that headlines this review). The movie attempts to be all it can be, with subplots involving a family of crooks, a kidnapping, and a search for paternal acceptance, but it's mostly held afloat by Cusack and Loggia's repartee. This is one of Cusack's last pure-breed 80's comedys before he broke out into his dramedy films of the 90's, and his loud "I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING TO ME!" schtick wears a little thin by the conclusion, but all parties involved were smart enough to keep the film short, so it's not painfully obvious. An absolute must for all Cusack fans, and decent fun for everyone else.

If you're a big fan of the "cheesy" 80's flicks.. pick this one up. It's really very funny! Pair it with a big pitcher of margaritas and you've got the recipe for a night of laughs.

John Cusack's early movie and it is a good one. The director Steven Lisberger also directed Tron in 82. The performace is fine and the movie is quite funny every step of the way. Robert Loggia Co-stars.

The DVD is quite good. The picture is sharp and exotic locations are presented beautifully in this DVD. Too bad Paramount did not remastered the sound in 5.1 but the sound quality is adequate. Recommended.

This performance has gathered a great deal of critical praise, but it didn't work for me. Part of the problem is that it is essentially a taped stage production. Not that this is always a failing, but in this case it seemed to make Shakespeare's most driven play far too static. Also, there was too much "acting" going on. Especially from Olivier -- he was so busy trying to be "black" with the eye rolling, exaggerated vocalisms and gestures that I couldn't believe a word he said. His Othello is a caricature. This production has far fewer cuts than the more recent one with Fishburne, if that is a concern. What I would like to see would be the taped stage production with Willard White and Ian McKlellan set in the mid-19th century.

olivier is simply amazing in the role of othello. i don't think anyone else - not derek jacobi, ian mckelen, not even kenneth branaugh - could have transformed themselves into such a convincing black man. i think olivier's othello is one of the great performances in all of film. my only gripe with this version is that i felt olivier overplayed the part at times. i know that othello is a passionate man caught up in an emotional whirlwind, but the histrionics were a bit much. otherwise, an excellent adaptation of shakespeare's play.

At first you are impressed at the list of actors that appear (Maggie Smith, Derek Jacobi, and others). Then you are impressed with Olivier (makeup and acting style). Later you notice the great camera work that gives you the feel of the play and focuses in just the right place and time. The set gives us the feel we are watching the play (not some epic movie).
After the initial thrill you are so mesmerized by the play that all you see is the characters and the story augmented with Shakespeare's wit.

Othello and Desdemona are the perfect husband and wife. They love and trust each other implicitly. It seems that many other people especially men love Desdemona also. However, his most trusted and "honest" friend decides to act on this by treachery and deceit to convince Othello of Desdemona's alleged unfaithfulness. "The best laid plans..."

Even if you have and like other versions this is a must see and have.

Oh my God!!! Do not waste your time watching this awful movie with which has an even more awful cast...I think that one star is really pushing it as the film was so bad that I switched it off less than half way through. I am a great boxing fan and would normally love to watch any movie, BUT, I draw the line when the movie is so bad that you actually wish that you hadn't wasted your time watching it and would rather go to the denstist and have all your teeth removed with the use of acid (and that is without painkillers)... An awful movie that is not even worth a star - I just wish that it could be given a minus number it is honestly that bad!!!

it's been a long time, since i've bothered to write a review, seems these days, movies are all so, normal, nothing unique about them, it's sad really, this film, is unique, I relate this film to scarface, as well as blowing me away, ving rhames, makes you believe he is the great don himself, he took on the mob, and he lived, and he killed a man, and beat it, then he killed another, and he got misdeamanor, the man is a icon, one of the greatest showboats, to have ever lived, he's also very intelligent, and it's true, he shouldn't have got such a bad rep, but baby, that sells, violence, sex, crime, it all sells,the media, you know, this film is a 100 stars, if you don't see this, then I pity you, if you say this movie is ..., like reviewer number one, then your an ..., this film is brilliant, a masterpiece, this film is also almost out of print, obviously, like divinci, a true artist, isn't respected till he is gone, wan't a real world example? look at tupac shakur, when don is gone, no one will ever be like him again, so relish, his kinglyness, and buy this video, before it is, to late.

I have never seen a movie where the main character was portrayed with this kind of realism. I thought it actually WAS Don King the first time I saw this movie. Ving Rhames should have won Oscars, Emmys, and every kind of conceivable award for his portrayal of Don King. I mean he even has the voice inflections and mannerisms of Don King down to such a science it is unreal. I have never seen an actor portray anyone that well. I wish I could give this movie 10 stars. Ving Rhames IS Don King, from beginning to end. The man should have won an Oscar and an Emmy. I can't emphasize ENOUGH how well Ving Rhames plays Don King. I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this movie.

What a waste. It's terribly filmed and aimless. It also suffers from shoddy editing. Harvey Keitel is great, I don't think I've ever seen him in a bad film. But many charachters, such as the one played by Michael J. Fox, are only seen for a few brief minutes. There is no narrative, this movie is shameful compared to it's predecessor. I understand the directors wanted too do an ode to Brooklyn, but why, oh why, did they have to do it around a sequel to smoke?

All events go on in one of the most famous districts of New York- Brooklyn.
Ozzy's shop with tobacco is the centre of the action. People come there not only to buy cigarettes but also to talk, to meet some friends. A lot of funny, absurd situations take place in Ozzy's shop. We can see some famous faces such as Jim Jarmush who is giving up smoking, Harvey Keitel (Ozzy), Madonna and her provocative dance...
"Brooklyn Boogie" is also a specific description of american city, inhabitants and their attitude towards living there. Lou Reed talks about New York, why he still lives there despite all that danger he meets everywhere.
It's really interesting film. It has nice, relaxing atmosphere, good for sad winter evenings.

I had no idea who this guy was...but his bit on Nazis and movies and cigarettes has caused me to recommend this movie to friends. I saw Smoke first and enjoyed it, but Blue in the Face will leave you rolling on the floor laughing..promise!

My 8 months old loves the Teletubbies! We got her the Baby Einstein collection but she wasn't interested. She is a very active baby. She wants you to play with her all day long. My house has been a mess for many monthes. My husband has been living on chesse and ice cream and has to look for clothes for work from the clean clothes pile on the floor which is right next to the dirty pile. Ever since we got this video, I can leave her in her play pan and just let the tape roll! My little angel never gets tired of it. I play it for her twice a day and she still claps and laughs with the characters. We even have a Laa-Laa doll that we use to lull her to crawl from one side of the room to another. My house is now clean for my little crawler and my husband's cholestrol level is lower!

I admit...I was skeptical to allow my daughter access to TV 'too soon', but one morning on PBS, she became enchanted by the Teletubbies, and it's been bliss ever since. We have quite a few Baby Einstein tapes and DVDs in our repertoire, but Teletubbies brought a new and different vantage point to my 11 & 1/2 month old's 'TV time'. The characters are colorful and silly (our favorite segment - adults and baby alike - is 'Secret Dance'...very amusing!) and I liked the fact that there is a segment from the creators of the Teletubbies geared toward curious parents (like me) who want to know more about what their kids are learning by watching. And there are bonus segments galore, which makes this a bargain in my eyes.

We have since purchased some other Teletubbies DVDs ('Baby Animals' and 'Look!') and are equally pleased. It's nice to feel confident in adding this programming into our video library. Enjoy!

Ok, ok, I admit it...I was skeptical at first of exposing my daughter to the Teletubbies. I wasn't too keen on TV too soon, but one morning, when she was about 10 months old, she responded so well to the Teletubbies on PBS, I knew that I needed to rethink my strategy a little. That being said, this particular DVD has become a household favorite. My husband and I (and now some of our friends and family) have been delighted by the segment entitled 'Secret Dance' (if it's on, we might as well find our own enjoyment where we can :) ), and our daughter (now 11 months old) really enjoys all the music and antics of the Tubbies. There are also bonus segments on the DVD, including a 30 minute bonus video called 'Go', so it's like several videos in one...terrific!

I'm really pleased we found this for our daughter to enjoy, and I'm sure we'll have it memorized before too long! :)

Sorry, this film is best left forgotten. Cornball to the extreme, but without the irony. Ray Liotta and Kathy Baker as romantic interests. It's enough to make you puke in your popcorn. One of the truly worst movie-going experiences of my life. Avoid!

Article 99 (Howard Deutch, 1991)

Here's an interesting concept. Take a director whose career is rapidly fading, give him a star whose career is rapidly fading, and stock his film with rising stars. Think you can come up with a saleable product?

You can if you're Howard Deutch (Pretty in Pink) and Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys). Article 99 was the last good film Sutherland made before the dry spell that ended with Dark City; Deutch is still looking for a comeback film. Sutherland is surrounded by then-rising stars who have since become household names, including Ray Liotta (fresh off the success of Goodfellas), Kathy Baker (a year before Picket Fences), Keith David (still best known for playing Childs in Carpenter's 1982 remake of The Thing), and Lynne Thigpen (who, come to think of it, still hasn't gotten the recognition she deserves). Put the lot of them in a VA hospital, as (all except David, who plays a sociopathic-but-likable Vietnam vet) they try to cut through all the red tape and just do their jobs, while the hospital's administrator (John Mahoney, now known as Frasier's dad) tries to hamstring them at every turn. It doesn't sound like a recipe for the kind of comedy Deutch is used to directing, but somehow it all works, with the doctors and the administration battling it out until things go just one step too far, as they usually do in movies. And it still could have fallen flat on its face if not for the very last scene, as the end credits begin rolling. It's a feel-good movie that doesn't allow you to feel good. Now THAT'S an accomplishment. *** 1/2

For those who have had close experience with VA Hospitals, this is more nearly a true story than most would imagine. Not every VA hospital is the same, some worse, some better but this movie was brought to my attention by a VA Physician who recommended that everyone see it (and believe it). Discussion with Service Officers across the country bear out the conditions as do reviews by various TV reporters. The movie is compelling with enough comedy to give a little relief and is well worth owning. We wore out our first copy loaning it out.