Martin-Landau Movie Reviews


The story of the Second Exodus after World War II
Great movie - but where are the subtitles?
What a great story...

space 1999 revisited
This moon will self-destruct in 5 secondsSeriously, this series (like all of Gerry Anderson's TV adventures) has achieved cult status and is well worth a look. The special effects are very much in the "2001" vein and the story lines are every bit as "out there" as anything you'll get on Star Trek or Babylon 5. Much more ambitious in scope than his previous live-action project, "UFO", I give only four stars because this has cult, rather than general appeal.
Metaphysical SF that stands test of time

SAVE YOURSELVES!
I want this on DVD
A Clever, Funny and Tender Story.

drew plays a very beleivable role, and ecellent movie

drew plays a very beleivable role, and ecellent movie

Terribly funny and uplifting when you are down in the dumps.
This Movie Is Pure Fun!
Fiiiinnne and yo' sefLots of fun, far from serious, light and entertaining. It was nice seeing Martin Landau in such a different role, too. I do think the intent of the movie was satirical and therefore meant to be enjoyed with all the sense of humor one could muster--(with that in mind)I laughed all the way through.


Terribly funny and uplifting when you are down in the dumps.
This Movie Is Pure Fun!
Fiiiinnne and yo' sefLots of fun, far from serious, light and entertaining. It was nice seeing Martin Landau in such a different role, too. I do think the intent of the movie was satirical and therefore meant to be enjoyed with all the sense of humor one could muster--(with that in mind)I laughed all the way through.


Palance, Landau, and Pleasence Needed The Work!A loony doctor(Donald Pleasence) runs a mental institution. Three patients(Jack Palance, Martin Landau, Erland van Lidth) imagine that their psychiatrist(A pre-"A-Team" Dwight Schultz) is planning to kill them, so during a blackout, the insane trio escape to seek out and kill him.
Jack ("Shane," "Attack") Palance, Martin ("North By Northwest") Landau, and Donald ("The Great Escape") Pleasence had all seen better days. Landau gives a hammy performance that would make Rod Steiger blush. He can be seen laughing and screaming hysterically and bulging his eyes throughout a good part of the film. I find it hilarious that Landau once performed admirably with the magnificent Cary Grant in the four-star Alfred Hitchcock classic "North By Northwest" nearly a quarter-of-a-century earlier and was now starring in low-budget dreck like "Alone In The Dark." Of course, Landau would redeem himself fourteen years later by earning an Oscar for "Ed Wood." Likewise, Palance would later earn an Oscar for "City Slickers."
"Alone In The Dark" is good for a few big laughs but nothing else.
horror fan
Watchable Slasher Film.This Shocking Thriller is Written and Directed by Jack Sholder, From a Story by Sholder, Robert Shaye (The Film`s Producer) and Micheal Harrpster. Oscar-Winners:Jack Palance and Martin Laudau stars in this Well Made Horror-Thriller does have a Few Surprises but It`s falls Flat in the Last-Half Hour. The Plot is Good, should`ve been More Complex (Suffers from being Too-Simple Minded), the Movie is now Forgotten but Still enjoyable for Horror Fans. Donald Pleasence has a Supporting Role as a Odd Psychiatrist from the Film. This film is not for all tastes. Watch for Brent Jennings (Witness, The Serpent in the Rainbow) in a Small Role and Watch also for Lin Shaye (There`s Something about Mary) in a very Brief Scene.Grade:B+.


Entertaining but with political overtonesSynopsis:
Jim Carrey plays Peter Appleton, a Hollywood film writer who is accused of Communist affiliations. He knows the accusation is going to ruin his career as a writer. In coping with this realization he gets drunk, goes for a drive, gets in an accident, and hits his head. The knock to the head results in temporary amnesia. When he is found, he is taken to the town of Lawson, CA where it just so happens that the town has lost 50-60 young men in World War II and one of them, Luke Trimble, just happens to be a spitting image of Jim Carey's character. The father of Luke Trimble, Harry Trimble (played by Martin Landau), happens to see Peter (though Peter has forgotten his name and his past life) and believes that his son whose body was never found in the war has returned home.
Harry owns The Majestic, a now defunct movie theater that doubles as their home. Well, Luke's return to Lawson creates something of an uproar as all of his old friends and his old flame, Adelle, played by Laurie Holden, all renew their relationships with him. Luke helps get The Majestic running again only to have one of the movies that he wrote play in the theater. When it does, his memory finally comes back.
What I haven't mentioned is the counter-plot that is running throughout the whole movie. The Communist Activities Committee (that isn't the actual name, I forget it now) is trying to find Peter Appleton for being a Communist sympathizer. Well, it just so happens that Harry dies the night that Luke/Peter realizes who he is. The day they bury Harry is the day Peter reveals himself to Adelle and the Communist Activities Committee finally finds him. When they find him it is a big social event and the entire town of Lawson is disillusioned by it.
Peter has to testify before the committee. Adelle tries to convince him to deny the charges but when they separate Peter seems to be willing to read a statement saying he has severed his ties with the communists and then rat out several other Hollywood figures. Well, Adelle gives him a gift as he leaves, a copy of the U.S. Constitution and a letter from Luke. This affects Peter and he ends up denying the charges and facing down the committee. When he faces down the committee he is raised back up to a hero in the eyes of Lawson and Adelle. He ends up returning to Lawson, running The Majestic, and marrying Adelle.
My Comments:
I liked the film because it had some memorable characters and made normal people the focus of the film rather than larger than life individuals. The Usher for the Majestic, Emmitt Smith played by Gerry Black was one such character. He was simple yet profound. I like characters like that. Also, Harry Trimble, played by Martin Landau, was also a simple and profound character.
When the focus of the movie was on Lawson and the feelings of a town that has suffered so much, the movie made a great statement on the consequences of war and the importance of relationships in our lives.
When the movie switched back to the obvious political statement of Jim Carey's character before the investigating committee, the movie lost some of its glow. Movies that have to tell you what they are trying to say often miss the point.
Overall, the movie was fun to watch. The tension that floated in the background from the individuals looking for Peter Appleton kept the movie moving even though it wasn't integrated as much as it could have been.
Great Film.See it.
Wonderful and touchingJim Carrey takes a serious turn in The Majestic. An accident leaves Pete, a Hollywood screenwriter (who is also on the verge of being blacklisted as a Communist), with amnesia and he is welcomed by a small town whose residents believe he is one of their sons come back from the war, Luke. He and his father reopen the town's movie theater, which is a metaphor for bringing the entire town back to life. After months in the town, his own B-movie playing in the theater jogs his memory and forces him to admit to the town that he is not who they think, the same day his beloved father is buried. Pete returns to Hollywood to face the Communist accusations and stands up to the committee in a way Luke would have. The ending brought tears to my eyes and I immediately wanted to watch this movie again. It is a really sweet film and a welcome change.


Great Film.See it.
Wonderful and touchingJim Carrey takes a serious turn in The Majestic. An accident leaves Pete, a Hollywood screenwriter (who is also on the verge of being blacklisted as a Communist), with amnesia and he is welcomed by a small town whose residents believe he is one of their sons come back from the war, Luke. He and his father reopen the town's movie theater, which is a metaphor for bringing the entire town back to life. After months in the town, his own B-movie playing in the theater jogs his memory and forces him to admit to the town that he is not who they think, the same day his beloved father is buried. Pete returns to Hollywood to face the Communist accusations and stands up to the committee in a way Luke would have. The ending brought tears to my eyes and I immediately wanted to watch this movie again. It is a really sweet film and a welcome change.
Absolute Magic!