Michael-J.-Fox Movie Reviews

Let me preface this by saying that I am not particularly a sci-fi person, definitely not a horror person, and actually not even a t.v. person. When The X-Files debuted in '93, the one-hour drama virtually didn't exist, and anything like the mini-movies we have come to expect from any series today was unheard of. Consequently, I had turned my t.v. off two years prior, and resorted to simply renting movies. So when my space-age friend first lent me this video, I didn't suspect it was my kind of fuss. Incidentally, the pilot is one of the creepier episodes they've made, because it uses actual cases to build its plot about horrific alien abductions; I'm not impressed by fear factor alone, and I figured at first that this was the main gig of the show. The pilot-budget, eighties-grade special effects, definitely cheesy to my all-film diet, helped me to write the thing off. But my literary mind couldn't miss the snappy intelligence in the dialogue and a suave mystique in the plot, which even then outdid a lot of big budget films. And the dynamic between the leads, even then, my having no familiarity with the actors, was intruiging enough to stay with me. For years after that, whenever some strand of pop culture would bring The X-Files to mind, I would wonder what had become of them. Finally, just as the series was ending, I ended up catching a midnight rerun while flipping channels at a hotel. It was a classy, brilliant season five self-parody episode that worked the Mulder-Scully dynamic and their respective positions on paranormal matters for all they were worth. I could no longer ignore that they were worth a lot.

In retrospect, the seeds are all planted here for the many ways that The X-Files proved to bust conventions. Not least among them is the male/female relationship, which Carter first reversed, revolutionizing female roles in particular, and then restrained, backing up the sexual tension of a great fifties romance. But I have also acquired great respect for the genre-bending concept of the show: to pose an age-old paranormal problem like ghosts, ufos, genetic engineering, suburban ledgends, etc, put it into a dramatic narrative, and investigate it with an updated, clever scientific perspective. Branching off from The Twilight Zone and film noir, Carter has brought folklore and fairy tales into the twenty-first century. The best episodes are often scary, but in a conceptual, tense way rather than a shock-therapy freak-out way--as are the Grimms, for that matter. And because the show has its finger in so many different pies, claiming allegiance to no single camp, it seems to carry inherent ironies. It is fantastic, but also grounded; dark, but also a hero myth; complicated, but also dualistic; serious, but always up for a self-parody; a buddy set-up that is always verging on and never promising more. The heroes are uncannily intelligent, and become more experienced and suave as the years go on, and yet they have a fundamental innocence about them, epspecially in the beginning. The whole show, like the issues it investigates, is mutable, shifty, so that you can't quite pin it down; at the same time, it manages to deliver a good, classic detective-story romp.

These first two episodes, like the first season in general, are pretty much essential to understanding the sprawling vision of the show, but they need to be appreciated in historical context. The standards of visual excellence that t.v. adheres to now were implanted here on about one tenth of the budget t.v. is typically alloted today. Some of the ways that mood and certain plot points are pressed might give these episodes a vaguely vintage flavor. Nevertheless, they are the precedent not only for the slicker later seasons but for the whole entourage of ufo and government conspiracy movies that Hollywood took up in the later half of the decade. Carter was the first to bring the American collective unconscious into popular culture. It always takes a beat for such a thing to be recognized as one's own. Distance makes it stand out now, especially since this sort of thing would not be possible in today's social-political climate. It is a remnant of the 90's.

Check out the pilot that started it all. Jerry Hardin, as the enigmatic "Deep Throat" is so good that one can believe that he was involved in a little thing called "Watergate."

An "X-Files" fan can relish in the look of a much younger, and slightly pudgier Anderson, while Duchovny's infancy as an actor is intriguing alone. Just to see how he "grew" as a performer is a revelation.

The pilot episode of the X Files and the second episode DEEP THROAT are the reasons why the first season of the show was the best. A true aura of mystery surrounded the episodes, nor would all the parts to the puzzle be filled in at the end and the foreshadowing was very high.

In PILOT, FBI instructer Dr. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) is brought to her superiors with a new assignment. She is to be the partner of loose cannon agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) a brilliant agent whose theroies on the paranormal and mythology in his cases have alienated him from his fellow investagaters. It is Scully's job to find validity and scientific proof to Mulder's claims of alien involvment in his cases.

Their first adventure takes them to Oregon where strange occurances are affecting the young members of a small town. The towns people know what is going on, and don't want it spreading around or being discovered.

A good start for the show, characters are being introduced and we see development too. Most importantly we learn why Mulder is determined to find what is "out there" which will become a staple of plots in many episodes. Not to mention a particular scene where we see how much trust Mulder and Scully can show for each other.

DEEP THROAT is even better. Mulder is warned by a mysterious old man not to pursue interest in a case involving an Airforce base in Idaho where it's members are being affected by something strange. Despite this warning, Mulder and Scully go anyway to investigate the matter and end up in a desperate fight for the truth and probably their life.

This tape is great for the person who wants to get into the show. Because there is no better place to start then the begining, especially with this particular show and this particular season of episodes.

1985: The days when Back to the Future and Breakfast Club were hitting the big time, When Katrina and the Waves hit it big with 'Walking on Sunshine and David Lee Roth left Van Halen for a solo career, this was also when those Toyota 4x4's were hitting the big time.
Anyways, this movie is about Scott Howard, your basic average high school teen. Anyways, Scott also plays basketball on the basketball team, but the team isn't doing very well, well things are about to change when Scott turns into a werewolf, since I'm not going to tell you more about this movie because I don't want to give out the information right away and if you're in the mood for a classic 80's teen flick, I would recommend Teen Wolf and the movie is clean compared to those other teen flicks.
Plus the music on this movie is a big plus, I just wish that they would have the soundtrack to this movie, anybody know where I can find it?

Scott Howard is going through some changes in life. Changes that will affect his standing in school, on the basketball court and in love. Scott has just found out he's a werewolf. As he is more popular and accepted as the wolf, its hard for Scott to give it up, there by pushing away his friends that he already has.

Released in the period when Michael J Fox was incredibly popular, with his Back To The Future releases, sees him in another hard to forget role of his career. As the story was made in the mid-80's, the storyline is quite simple and very cliché and probably wouldn't stand out as a good movie compared to releases of today. Although it is a fantastic movie based purely on nostalgic value and would be great for teens and adults alike who have yet to see it. Recommended viewing.

16 year old Scott Calvin is not a happy teen he doesn't love his school or his job. So he thinks nothing else could happen well it turns out something did Scott one day noticed that his hands were hairy and than at the liquor store his eyes turned glowing red. Soon at the party it worsens while making out Scott is badly shaken when he and his girlfriend Boof come out he notices that with his nails he ripped half of her shirt off. Scott rushed home than notices with fangs, crazy hairy hair, and ears of an elf that he is a teen wolf! Scott at school tries too fight his sweating and his signs of turning into the horrid creature that looks like a beast. Scott one day realize's even with a great of problem comes the greaetst of things he soon becomes the star of the basketball team and the werewolf curse is broken! The cast is perfect espicellay Michael J.Fox who once again delivers his magic in his 80 films . So this one heck of a movie so I attend one day too see all copies gone and sold!

Jimmy Stewart stars as James McNeal, a Chicago newspaper reporter assigned to investigate the Prohibition-era murder of a policeman.
Two men - Frank Wiecek and Tomick Zaleska - were tried for the murder and sentenced to prison terms of 99 years. Wiecek's mother, a Chicago scrubwoman, has raised five thousand dollars in the hope of reopening the murder investigation. She tells McNeal, "my boy is innocent."
McNeal, though skeptical at first, digs into the facts. The film dramatically depicts his dealings with the courts, the police, and the Illinois Parole Board. Director Henry Hathaway used real Chicago locales to give this film its black and white grittiness.
Stewart gives a fine performance, helped by an able cast and an interesting story. Fine film, worth seeing.

Call Northside 777 takes us to Chicago during the early 1930's Prohibition era. The narration throughout the film, especially at the beginning, gives the viewer a vivid feel for the setting of the film.
The murder of a city police officer sends Frank Wiecek (Richard Conte) and an accomplice to a 99-year prison sentence. More than a decade later, Chicago Times editor Brian Kelly (Lee J. Cobb) notices a classified ad in his paper, offering a $5000 reward for information about the "real" killer(s) of the police officer. Assigned to investigate is reporter P.J. McNeal (James Stewart.)
As the film progresses, McNeal's initial sure feelings about Wiecek's guilt become blurred. The headstrong McNeal seemingly does more work on the case in a week than the corrupt police department, seeking a quick conviction and closure of the case, ever did in 1932.
McNeal responds to the ad, placed by Wiecek's mother, Tillie Wiecek, who works as a floor scrubber at Chicago's Wrigley Building. Ms. Wiecek emphatically pleads her son's innocence. A still unconvinced McNeal warns her about scam artists who may try to fraudulently obtain the reward money.
The film heats up as McNeal becomes engrossed in the case. A series of newspaper articles about Wiecek's proclaimed innocence lights up the switchboard at the paper, in support of McNeal's work. Given the positive response, Editor Kelly orders McNeal to stick with it.
A key point in the story is McNeal's legwork in locating witness and store owner Wanda Skutnik, whose testimony helped to send Wiecek up the river.
This film introduces a couple of new technologies of the time. Polygraph inventor Leonarde Keeler appears as himself, his only appearance in a feature film, to interrogate Wiecek and interpret the polygraph readings and Wiecek's truthfulness. Late in the film, a primitive fax machine is used to transmit a photograph to Wiecek's parole hearing.
Overall, this is a well-acted and produced film. The range of experience of the actors differs widely, but they all work well together. Even screen rookie Keeler, the polygraph inventor, is superb in his brief role.
The only plot hole is the motive behind the officer's murder at the start of the film. Skutnik sees the two masked gunmen enter the store while the officer is seated nearby, out of sight of the gunmen, yet says nothing to alert the officer and possibly thwart the robbery/murder.
Wiecek's fate? Watch the film. You won't be disappointed!

Call Northside 777 is an under-appreciated Jimmy Stewart movie. It casts Stewart as an investigative reporter who tenaciously investigates an old murder for which an innocent man has been imprisoned. The script is very good and so is the supporting cast, including Lee J. Cobb as the newspaper editor who starts Stewart on the case. If you like Jimmy Stewart, or even if you just like good movies, see Call Northside 777. It is an excellent example of the Golden Age of movies when there were so many good movies made that some very good ones -- like this one -- unfortunately, have been somewhat overlooked.

I purchased this for my uncle to show at the VA Hospital. Alot of the veterans had not seen "Folks". THEY LOVED IT!

In a sometimes all too serious world it was refreshing to see a movie that pokes fun at our everyday family problems ....made me feel less alone with family problems... hilarious movie... highly recommended! And thank god for happy endings! I laughed from begining to end...

Totaly enjoyable, very funny. Tom Selleck is very good in this movie.

I first saw this movie with my mother when it was released theatrically. Because I was just 13 years old, some of the subject matter sailed right over my head, but I was still entranced by the film and cheered Erica on to find her own happy ending.

I have seen the film many times since, and it has become one of my all time favorite movies. Jill Clayburgh shines as Erica and brings such a believability to this role. You are right there with Erica as she revels in her comfortable Upper East Side life, as she walks around in a fog when her husband leaves, as she takes those tentative first steps into the world of dating, as she finds love once again, and ultimately, as she emerges as a woman who discovers who she is and is determined to face life and love on HER terms.

I think this is Paul Mazursky's best work. He was not afraid to explore his feminine side and write this film from a woman's point of view. Many of the themes brought up in the film, such as loss, self-esteem, and independence still ring true today and I am hard pressed to name a recent film that explores this territory as well.

On a purely aesthetic level, I would kill to have Erica's apartment. A spacious, tastefully decorated hi-rise apartment with stunning views of Manhattan...I would be in heaven. The movie gets a star alone for that location.

What I like about this film is that it leads the viewer through the heart-wrench and painful gutted sense of a woman who discovers her husband has been unfaithful, and then who goes through the slow process of making a life without him. You actually go through those feelings with the wife. One criticism is that it's a little bit hard to believe Jill Clayburgh, who's otherwise so sharp, could have put her WHOLE life into her dopey husband, since she appears college-educated and has worked part-time even through her marriage. Michael Murphy always plays kind of super-achiever but wishy-washy characters, and typically a woman he'd be involved with would have her own life anyway.

This is one of the best films I have ever seen. It is well-written, superbly acted, introspective, accurate.

When will this be on DVD!!!???

I remember seeing this in the theater when i was 8 years old and it is one of the few movies I constantly remember and want to see over and over. The bike shots are great and the vehicals are sweet looking. The acting is a bit off but it has a charm that a lot of those old 80's movies had and more. I have this movie on tape and plan to keep it in good condition to let my kids see what their old man thought was neat back when he was there age.

When I first saw this film, I believe it was about 1986 or '87, and I was quite young at the time (ala 5). I remember enjoying it quite a bit back then, and throughout my years I always remembered this little cool film called Megaforce.

Finally, through the advent of digital cable, I saw this film on one of a hundred movie stations available to me, about a month ago. I quickly grabbed a tape to record it, and since recording it, have watched about a hundred times. While indeed quite campy, corny, and the effects are appalling (but not like a ton of effects were really working well back then anyways), it was just as cool as I remember it. Ridiculous technology, cheesy lines, and some bad acting here and there, make it for movie that you know not many people have seen, and thus makes it emulatable. It also stars Persis Khambatta (her only other role that I've ever seen her in besides my personal favorite film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture), Henry Silva (the ultra-cool Kain from Buck Rogers), and Edward Mulhare (one of the greatest actors in history, particularly for Knight Rider and the fantastic Knight Rider 2000, and he is sorely missed).

Though some may hurl at this true action-comedy that is funny because it doesn't really do it well, the movie elite will recognize it as a gem out of 1983, and probably the second most quotable film to date (the first being Demolition Man).

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go put on a blue silk bandana.

Being a huge fan of MST 3000, I found this movie a delight. All of the below crticisms are true, and in fact the film is much, much worse than any of the previous reviewers have described. The climactic battle scene in the desert is totally incoherent, little more than disorganized shots of tanks spinning around and motorcycles spewing colored smoke. But the awful (and I mean AWFUL) special effects, showing Barry Bostwick flying in the air on his motorcycle with his blow-dried 80's hair and psychotic smile - I was on the floor rolling around laughing! This one will have you laughing for years! (Don't forget to note the 80's Survivor-style theme song at the end). Enjoy!

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!

Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett were fantasatic together as brother and sister in a struggling band called the Bar Busters.

I recommend this movie for anyone who is into rock and roll....and also who likes drama films. i thought the songs in the movie were excellent and they also have the movie soundtrack for it, which im going to buy. One more reason why I love this movie is because its taken place in the 80's. The 80's rule !!!!!!!

This is one of my favorite movies. I like Joan Jett's music, but also think the plot revolving around the brother & sister relationship is a good one. I would recommend this movie to people who like rock n' roll and dramas that aren't too sappy. Would LOVE to see this re-released on DVD!

I have seen this movie; and have been trying to buy it for a few years. This movie should be re-released; I come from a very large family; and I can name at least 30 from my family that would love to own a copy of this!

Suppose it's easy to pick apart any movie, but if the story
remains in your mind after the next day, what does it matter?
Sure, Auggie Rose must'a set Fox back in sales, they aren't
giving it any play. Goldblum and Heche!? Together!?
And...a Darren Aronofsky film it isn't.

So what? It's well written, nicely filmed and decently acted.

Matthew Tabak wrote and directed this little verite piece,
and the players have worked magic with their cameos, to the
point where it just feels comfortable to watch, like wearing
an old plaid shirt and a pair of levi's on a Friday night,
sitting on the couch with your favorite girl and a frostie.

Only hope Fox gives Tabak the chance to write/direct again.

I'm not surprised this was a made for cable movie now released on DVD and titled "Auggie Rose" (originally and more aptly) or "Above Suspicion" (more recently and less aptly). That is because the cable industry will frequently take a chance on a script with less than blockbuster appeal. This film is a case in point with Jeff Goldblum given a chance to develop his acting chops by playing insurance executive John Nolan, who becomes more and more obssesed with the life of the late Auggie Rose. Rose died as a result of a deli-liquor hold up when Nolan was in the store. Nolan feels guilty about Rose's death because he had made Rose replace a bottle, which startled the robber into shooting. However, guilt quickly turns into something more as Nolan starts taking over Rose's life, including meeting the woman Rose corresponded with but never met. Nolan becomes Rose when he meets her. Probably we could have used more motivation for the Nolan character's extraordinary choices throughout the film but Goldblum makes it work, that this guy wants out of his present life. Heche is very good as the girlfriend. Goldblum and Heche are quite equal in their roles, both showing a great deal of acting talent and character development. Some harder edges and clearer motivation in the script would have pushed it up to a 5 star movie. As it is, it is a strong 4 star movie.

I think it's one of the most original films I have seen in a long time.

Suppose it's easy to pick apart any movie, but if the story
remains in your mind after the next day, what does it matter?
Sure, Auggie Rose must'a set Fox back in sales, they aren't
giving it any play. Goldblum and Heche!? Together!?
And...a Darren Aronofsky film it isn't.

So what? It's well written, nicely filmed and decently acted.

Matthew Tabak wrote and directed this little verite piece,
and the players have worked magic with their cameos, to the
point where it just feels comfortable to watch, like wearing
an old plaid shirt and a pair of levi's on a Friday night,
sitting on the couch with your favorite girl and a frostie.

Only hope Fox gives Tabak the chance to write/direct again.

I'm not surprised this was a made for cable movie now released on DVD and titled "Auggie Rose" (originally and more aptly) or "Above Suspicion" (more recently and less aptly). That is because the cable industry will frequently take a chance on a script with less than blockbuster appeal. This film is a case in point with Jeff Goldblum given a chance to develop his acting chops by playing insurance executive John Nolan, who becomes more and more obssesed with the life of the late Auggie Rose. Rose died as a result of a deli-liquor hold up when Nolan was in the store. Nolan feels guilty about Rose's death because he had made Rose replace a bottle, which startled the robber into shooting. However, guilt quickly turns into something more as Nolan starts taking over Rose's life, including meeting the woman Rose corresponded with but never met. Nolan becomes Rose when he meets her. Probably we could have used more motivation for the Nolan character's extraordinary choices throughout the film but Goldblum makes it work, that this guy wants out of his present life. Heche is very good as the girlfriend. Goldblum and Heche are quite equal in their roles, both showing a great deal of acting talent and character development. Some harder edges and clearer motivation in the script would have pushed it up to a 5 star movie. As it is, it is a strong 4 star movie.

I think it's one of the most original films I have seen in a long time.