Stephen-Tobolowsky Movie Reviews

Tuesday, August 20, 2002
11:52 HRS.

SUBJECT: Review of "Prime Gig" Independent Pictures 2001.
Directed by: Greg Mosher
Written by: William Wheeler

Overview: Rent, no purchase.

I recently rented the video "Prime Gig". I rented the video because the trailer for the video looked intriguing; fair enough that is the purpose of the trailer. The basic plot of the movie is man vs. environment. The plot follows a telemarketer by the name of Pendleton "PENNY" Wise (Vince Vaughn). The movie opens with main character working in a Telemarketing firm selling "Vacation deals" on phone list. This telemarketing firm goes out of business. Broke and out of work/unemployed. Penny is making contact with two "headhunters" in bar. The headhunter give him a lead for Kelly Grant ( Ed Harris, Apollo 13,Truman Show, The Right Stuff) Kelly plays a call center manager, for a mining company that needs working capital to extract gold from an open pit mine in Arizona. The subplot of this movie is a love interest between the main character Penny and Caitlin (Julia Ormand, Sabrina), Caitlin plays a floor supervisor, and she admits she is an illegal alien from England. She manipulates Penny into marrying her to avoid being deported; she subsequently raids Penny's bank account and cleans him out.

The problem I have with this plot is that there are highly reputable business's that use telemarketing as a tool to make contact with the public. Another flaw in the plot was, I saw no indication that the main character gave access or converted his savings account into joint status. Why didn't Penny diversify out of savings into other financial services like bonds, Mutual Funds. Penny was losing purchasing power on his money. Also, Penny's bank is now liable for the unauthorized withdraw. The deposits are protected under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, there is $100,000.00 cap. It was documented that his balance was $78,000.00, game over file a claim against the FDIC. Rest of world, this movie is worth renting, but do not buy.

The opinions expressed in this review are that of Big AL, and not necessarily those of anywhere this is posted or its sponsors. Thank god for the 1st Amendment of United States Constitution.

An average movie about a small-time high-talent phone con man who gets a break and chance at the 'big time' in his professions. No more squeezing out twenty-five and fifty dollar orders after he joins on as a salesman at new firm hocking the next big investment deal to widows, retirees, and anyone with enough in the bank.

Filled with quirky characters and stereotypes the office is the battlefield where only the best can hack it.

A few rolls in the hay with the boss's chick and a couple of sales later the end comes crashing down.

Nice idea, kind of cute, would not rent it again though.

This movie gets the whole Telephone selling "business" right; including the sleezeballs that seem to thrive doing it and doing it again. So the script is pretty good.

The acting is good; but in the case of Ed Harris too tame. Those guys in life are much more Comically Hollywood. Not enough Jackass showing in what he did (they don't have to be that smooth to suck in workers or "investors") Vinc V. stole the show.

This movie should be rented or viewed with Boiler Room.

Tuesday, August 20, 2002
11:52 HRS.

SUBJECT: Review of "Prime Gig" Independent Pictures 2001.
Directed by: Greg Mosher
Written by: William Wheeler

Overview: Rent, no purchase.

I recently rented the video "Prime Gig". I rented the video because the trailer for the video looked intriguing; fair enough that is the purpose of the trailer. The basic plot of the movie is man vs. environment. The plot follows a telemarketer by the name of Pendleton "PENNY" Wise (Vince Vaughn). The movie opens with main character working in a Telemarketing firm selling "Vacation deals" on phone list. This telemarketing firm goes out of business. Broke and out of work/unemployed. Penny is making contact with two "headhunters" in bar. The headhunter give him a lead for Kelly Grant ( Ed Harris, Apollo 13,Truman Show, The Right Stuff) Kelly plays a call center manager, for a mining company that needs working capital to extract gold from an open pit mine in Arizona. The subplot of this movie is a love interest between the main character Penny and Caitlin (Julia Ormand, Sabrina), Caitlin plays a floor supervisor, and she admits she is an illegal alien from England. She manipulates Penny into marrying her to avoid being deported; she subsequently raids Penny's bank account and cleans him out.

The problem I have with this plot is that there are highly reputable business's that use telemarketing as a tool to make contact with the public. Another flaw in the plot was, I saw no indication that the main character gave access or converted his savings account into joint status. Why didn't Penny diversify out of savings into other financial services like bonds, Mutual Funds. Penny was losing purchasing power on his money. Also, Penny's bank is now liable for the unauthorized withdraw. The deposits are protected under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, there is $100,000.00 cap. It was documented that his balance was $78,000.00, game over file a claim against the FDIC. Rest of world, this movie is worth renting, but do not buy.

The opinions expressed in this review are that of Big AL, and not necessarily those of anywhere this is posted or its sponsors. Thank god for the 1st Amendment of United States Constitution.

An average movie about a small-time high-talent phone con man who gets a break and chance at the 'big time' in his professions. No more squeezing out twenty-five and fifty dollar orders after he joins on as a salesman at new firm hocking the next big investment deal to widows, retirees, and anyone with enough in the bank.

Filled with quirky characters and stereotypes the office is the battlefield where only the best can hack it.

A few rolls in the hay with the boss's chick and a couple of sales later the end comes crashing down.

Nice idea, kind of cute, would not rent it again though.

This movie gets the whole Telephone selling "business" right; including the sleezeballs that seem to thrive doing it and doing it again. So the script is pretty good.

The acting is good; but in the case of Ed Harris too tame. Those guys in life are much more Comically Hollywood. Not enough Jackass showing in what he did (they don't have to be that smooth to suck in workers or "investors") Vinc V. stole the show.

This movie should be rented or viewed with Boiler Room.

When I found out there was going to be a film based on the now defunct Disney attraction I was looking forward to it. After reading media reviews, however, I was certain this movie was going to be a certifiable dud. Which only proves you should never listen to the media critics.

The movie is about a young bear whose favourite band (something like a cross between the Allman Brothers and the Grateful Dead, but all bears)has been disbanded for 10 years, and their iconic hall (something like the grand ole opry) is going to be destroyed by an unscrupulous landlord. The movie doesn't have the typical non-stop slapstick comedy kids films seem to think are necessary (although the carwash scene definitely made me laugh). Most of the fun parts revolve around the cameos by Brian Setzer, Queen Latifah, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, etc and if you're a fan of country-rock and blues, you should like the film. The appeal should be there if you feel nostalgic about the old Disney country bear hall too. While young children might find the film slow, older kids and adults who recognize the value of getting back something lost and a good music soundtrack should appreciate the movie.

I watched this movie with my 4 year old granddaughter who
absolutely loved it. Beary, a little bear cub has been raised in a human household with a human brother who seems to be anything but loving towards Beary. The Country Bears are Beary's
idols and after feeling that he was not a part of his 'human' family he sets off to find his destiny and through his faith in them the Country Bears, who had dismantled as a group, are brought back together.
This was a really cute movie, had some great music and dancing in it and was very upbeat. Also had a splash of humor, nice touch! Great for the family to enjoy together!

My 2 1/2 year old daughter loves this video. It gets played several times a week.

"Power 98" is a so-called thriller that is painfully generic. Eric Roberts plays a shock jock in LA who has his own successful talk radio show. He ups the ante by starting a program where callers call in to tell listeners about crimes they have committed. A caller claims to have committed a murder. Did he really? Who is he? Does anybody really care??? Jason Gedrick gives such an awful performance as Roberts' sidekick that you'll spend most of the movie wishing he would be killed. One last thing...Jennie Garth is all but ignored in this film. Her scenes are few and far between. Am I the only one who thinks she is a talented actress and should be given a real shot in the movies? Just wondering. Anyway, stay away from this drivel at all cost.

I enjoyed this movie.If u are an eric roberts or jennie garth fan so will you

I love this movie. I would really like to have it on DVD. What seems to be the reason for the delay on pressing this to disc?

The movie is a take-off on the legendary "Rosie the Riveter". It begins with the annoucement on the radio of the attack on Pearl Harbor.An ordinary working Joe is seen returning home from work to his loving wife(Goldie Hawn),somewhere in Southern California.He tells his spouse that it was his duty to join-up to fight the Japanese.She swears eternal devotion and faithfulness until his return.After all young men have left to join the fight, the Aircraft plant of the town needs riveters and pleads for women to come to work.Goldie Hawn and and it seems all women apply.Soon Goldie Hawn is romantically persued by a young supervisor at the factory,resists on moral grounds but out of loneliness and boredoom changes her mind and falls in love with him.Predictably there are recriminations and accusations between the lovers the morning after.Subsequently the husband comes home on leave,finds out,is crushed and leaves.The lover has then an affair with Hawn's best friend and now it is her turn to fall to pieces.Eventually the war is finished,the husband returns,the wife confesses her shame and begs to be forgiven.The husband relents,forgives,the wife forgives her best friend,the lover goes away to New York and everything is hanky-dory. The screenplay is a heep of stale devices and familiar scene constructions.Sentimental:Multiple farewell scenes;the notification of the death of her Marine husband to a fellow riveter wife.Bravura:Narrow escape and the saving of life by Goldie Hawn of her best friend.Technical:Outdrawn instruction sessions about riveting.Endless fly-overs by aircraft, produced by the factory.Dancing and music of the forties for period flavor. The plot is faithful to the working-class identity of that time. The characters and the story do not hide it.This is probably intended and makes the movie realistic but ultimately banal. The film may be interesting to people who have not lived in that span of time or to those who have for nostalgic reason.

The movie is a take-off on the WWII legendary "Rosie the Riveter".It begins with the broadcast of the attack on Pearl Harbor.An ordinary working Joe returns to his home somewhere in Southern California to his loving wife(Goldie Hawn).He then tells his tearful spouse that it was his duty to fight the Japanese. She swears eternal devotion and faithfulness until his return. After all young men have gone to join the fight an aircraft plant needs riveters and pleads for women to come to work.Goldie Hawn and it seems all women go to work at the plant. Hawn is is then romantically persued by a young supervisor,resists on moral grounds but eventually out of bordoom and loneliness falls in love with him.Predictably there are recriminations and accusations the morning after.Subsequently the husband comes home on leave,finds out,is crushed and goes back to fight the war. The lover has then an affair with Goldie Hawn's best friend and it is now her turn to fall to pieces.Eventually the war is over, the husband returns,the wife confesses her shame and begs to be forgiven.He relents and forgives,the wife forgives her best friend,the lover goes away to New York and everything is hanky- dory. The screeplay is a heap of stale devices and familiar screen constructions.Sentimental:The farewell scene of husband and wife and the notification of the death of a Marine husband to a fellow riveter.Bravura:Narrow escape and the saving of life of her best friend by Goldie Hawn.Technical:Boring instruction on riveting,endles fly- overs of planes,real or made to look real excerpts of newsreels. The plot is faithful to the working-class identity of the forties and the characters and the story do not hide it.This maybe inten- ded and makes the movie appear to be realistic but ultimately boring. The film may be interesting to people who have not lived in that span of time or to those who have for nostalgic reasons.

I love this movie. If you like movies set in wwII you will love this. It gives the point of view from a woman(Goldie Hawn) what it's like when her husband goes off to war. She gets a job building airplanes and makes some new friends while her husbands away at war. I hope I helped.

The movie is a take-off on the legendary "Rosie the Riveter". It begins with the annoucement on the radio of the attack on Pearl Harbor.An ordinary working Joe is seen returning home from work to his loving wife(Goldie Hawn),somewhere in Southern California.He tells his spouse that it was his duty to join-up to fight the Japanese.She swears eternal devotion and faithfulness until his return.After all young men have left to join the fight, the Aircraft plant of the town needs riveters and pleads for women to come to work.Goldie Hawn and and it seems all women apply.Soon Goldie Hawn is romantically persued by a young supervisor at the factory,resists on moral grounds but out of loneliness and boredoom changes her mind and falls in love with him.Predictably there are recriminations and accusations between the lovers the morning after.Subsequently the husband comes home on leave,finds out,is crushed and leaves.The lover has then an affair with Hawn's best friend and now it is her turn to fall to pieces.Eventually the war is finished,the husband returns,the wife confesses her shame and begs to be forgiven.The husband relents,forgives,the wife forgives her best friend,the lover goes away to New York and everything is hanky-dory. The screenplay is a heep of stale devices and familiar scene constructions.Sentimental:Multiple farewell scenes;the notification of the death of her Marine husband to a fellow riveter wife.Bravura:Narrow escape and the saving of life by Goldie Hawn of her best friend.Technical:Outdrawn instruction sessions about riveting.Endless fly-overs by aircraft, produced by the factory.Dancing and music of the forties for period flavor. The plot is faithful to the working-class identity of that time. The characters and the story do not hide it.This is probably intended and makes the movie realistic but ultimately banal. The film may be interesting to people who have not lived in that span of time or to those who have for nostalgic reason.

The movie is a take-off on the WWII legendary "Rosie the Riveter".It begins with the broadcast of the attack on Pearl Harbor.An ordinary working Joe returns to his home somewhere in Southern California to his loving wife(Goldie Hawn).He then tells his tearful spouse that it was his duty to fight the Japanese. She swears eternal devotion and faithfulness until his return. After all young men have gone to join the fight an aircraft plant needs riveters and pleads for women to come to work.Goldie Hawn and it seems all women go to work at the plant. Hawn is is then romantically persued by a young supervisor,resists on moral grounds but eventually out of bordoom and loneliness falls in love with him.Predictably there are recriminations and accusations the morning after.Subsequently the husband comes home on leave,finds out,is crushed and goes back to fight the war. The lover has then an affair with Goldie Hawn's best friend and it is now her turn to fall to pieces.Eventually the war is over, the husband returns,the wife confesses her shame and begs to be forgiven.He relents and forgives,the wife forgives her best friend,the lover goes away to New York and everything is hanky- dory. The screeplay is a heap of stale devices and familiar screen constructions.Sentimental:The farewell scene of husband and wife and the notification of the death of a Marine husband to a fellow riveter.Bravura:Narrow escape and the saving of life of her best friend by Goldie Hawn.Technical:Boring instruction on riveting,endles fly- overs of planes,real or made to look real excerpts of newsreels. The plot is faithful to the working-class identity of the forties and the characters and the story do not hide it.This maybe inten- ded and makes the movie appear to be realistic but ultimately boring. The film may be interesting to people who have not lived in that span of time or to those who have for nostalgic reasons.

I love this movie. If you like movies set in wwII you will love this. It gives the point of view from a woman(Goldie Hawn) what it's like when her husband goes off to war. She gets a job building airplanes and makes some new friends while her husbands away at war. I hope I helped.

The Operator is a decent B-movie quality film. The film walks the tightrope between erotic thriller, and comedy, never quite coming together or deciding which way it may go. The Operator played by Jacqueline Kim, is little more than a mysterious voice spouting fake Asian philosophy who tortues the leading man, always just out of his reach. Michael Laurence turns in a lack lustor performance as the philandering, gambling lawyer who lands himself into a peck of trouble. Decent film to rent if you are bored on Friday and Saturday night and want something or someone to laugh at. Don't waste your money, rent it instead.

A very smart film. Great writing. I totally disagree with another customer/reviewer who said that the operator in the movie spouted fake zen philosophy. The writing was in total respect of eastern philosophy and it was crucial to the telling of the story. I was constantly surprised and delighted by the twists and turns in this movie. I also thought that Michael Lawrence in the lead role was fantastic. What a tour de force. There aren't many male actors working today who could have done a better job and so I'm surprised that I haven't seen Lawrence in any other films. It was great to see a few veteran film actors on the screen. The casting was nothing short of perfect. Brion James was a total creep and Stephen Tobolowski was a hoot as the bookie. Christa Miller from The Drew Carrey Show was perfect as the wife. I've never seen her act like this on the sitcom. I hope she does more meaty roles like this more often. I highly recommend this film to anybody who loves movies and wants to be entertained. It's a creepy thriller with lots of humor that's smart not stupid.

The Operator is a decent B-movie quality film. The film walks the tightrope between erotic thriller, and comedy, never quite coming together or deciding which way it may go. The Operator played by Jacqueline Kim, is little more than a mysterious voice spouting fake Asian philosophy who tortues the leading man, always just out of his reach. Michael Laurence turns in a lack lustor performance as the philandering, gambling lawyer who lands himself into a peck of trouble. Decent film to rent if you are bored on Friday and Saturday night and want something or someone to laugh at. Don't waste your money, rent it instead.

A very smart film. Great writing. I totally disagree with another customer/reviewer who said that the operator in the movie spouted fake zen philosophy. The writing was in total respect of eastern philosophy and it was crucial to the telling of the story. I was constantly surprised and delighted by the twists and turns in this movie. I also thought that Michael Lawrence in the lead role was fantastic. What a tour de force. There aren't many male actors working today who could have done a better job and so I'm surprised that I haven't seen Lawrence in any other films. It was great to see a few veteran film actors on the screen. The casting was nothing short of perfect. Brion James was a total creep and Stephen Tobolowski was a hoot as the bookie. Christa Miller from The Drew Carrey Show was perfect as the wife. I've never seen her act like this on the sitcom. I hope she does more meaty roles like this more often. I highly recommend this film to anybody who loves movies and wants to be entertained. It's a creepy thriller with lots of humor that's smart not stupid.

It's always good to watch performers like Danny Aiello, Shelley Winters, and Dyan Cannon in an imaginative enterprise...like this movie was supposed to be. Maybe "The Pickle" was to be Paul Mazursky's "Stardust Memories" [Woody Allen's highly personal and decidedly off-beat effort]. All three try to wring life out of an unfocused, one-note script, leaving the viewer with the uncomfortable feeling that the performances are merely drammatic exercises in an acting class.
The premise is interesting: Aiello, the serious director of "art" films can no longer make a buck doing 'em, so he is convinced that in order to keep the home fires burning he must...stretch a bit. Like make a all-out crowd-pleaser with all the trendy, commercial stuff you can think of, with a totally spaced out science fiction backdrop. So the burned out Director reaches into his own psyche for whatever feels right, whatever works. When he was a child he was rewarded with a nice juicy pickle. So a pickle takes on guargantuan proportions and seemingly human intelligence.
One depressing and pointless scene blends into the next.
While the premiere of the film takes place its' embarrassed Director attempts to take his life in a hotel room and Aiello's acting is strong, but again pretentiousness reduces the impact. Little Richard fans note that the Architect makes a second Mazursky appearance - the first being the '86 "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" with a production number of the 1956 recording of "Good Golly, Miss Molly".

Danny ("The Professional," "Jacob's Ladder") Aiello plays a once-respected director who whores himself out to do a big budget sci-fi action flick, hysterically rolling-out his anxieties, fears, and mid-life neuroses on the eve of the film's premiere. Shelly ("The Poseidon Adventure") Winters is Aiello's tough, no-nonsense mum, and the movie-in-a-movie is actually pretty cool, featuring Ally Sheedy, Griffin Dunne, and Little Richard as the president of an alien world, whose inhabitants eat only beef. "More pickle juice!"

funny as hell all the way through, though is lags in some of the action parts and Eric Roberts seems like a dumb blonde with his blonde hair. my favortie part is when Zahn and Lawrence meet and then that damn bumblebee comes along and it looks like on a camera that Zahn is beating Lawrence up and he goes to jail. Zahn and Lawrence both have great one liners

favorite line
Martin Lawrence- Ma'am, you can repracure your vehicle(then it blows up and he turns to her and says) what the problem is?

National Security is the perfect movie to see this year. I saw it the day it came out and I want to see it again. It stars one of the best comedians today (Martin Lawrence) and another funny misfit (Steve Zahn from SAVING SILVERMAN). The movie is funny yet has good action. Here is the plot.
Steve Zhan plays Hank. An LA policeman who is bent on revenge to finding the guy who killed his partner in gun battle. Lawrence is Earl. A guy who just got kicked out of the force after turning a practice session into a disaster. Plus Earl always thinks that people have a problem with him because he is black- not because of his attitude. One day while Earl is trying to have a regular day, he realizes he left his keys in his car and tried to stick his hand in and get it. Hank catches him and interrogates what is going on. While that is happening, a bee comes by and Earl is allergic to bees and so Hank tries to get the bee away but the way they were positioned, it looked like Hank was beating on Earl and a guy who near by got the whole thing on camera. Because of that, a huge commotion started thru out the state about a white cop beating a black civilian. Hank is fired from the police and sent to jail for 6 months and Earl just kicks back and lets the whole thing happen even though he knows it was a bee.
Hank serves his six months and after getting out he tries to do something similar toward police work- a job as a security guard. While on the job, Hanks gets called about a robbery and goes to check it out. It seems that the robbers were the guys he had an encounter with in the past and one of the guys was his partner's murderer. Hank goes into action right away and a fellow security guard who worked in the building comes to back up Hank and that person just happens to be Earl!! The two would've had a long argument but realized it wasn't the time and chased the bad guys but they were stopped by the police. Police that Hank kidnapped Earl for revenge but Earl decided not to have anything bad happen to Hank this time although it would have felt real good. Hank goes on to try find these guys who did the robbery because its personal and Earl thinks it is personal too because one them called him a monkey- and he thinks he was called that because he is black. Both Hank and Earl go on the case even though they are not policemen and along the way they go through many arguments that sometimes lead toward zany consequences like fighting over which to go on the street- right or left and they end up jumping the highway into a pile of portable toilets. Hank and Earl must try to put the past aside so they can help each other to try and find these bad guys.
National Security loaded with intense action, thrilling chase scenes, gun battles, fist fights, and many parts that will make you laugh hard. It's definitely as good as blue Steak and you should see it while it is still in theaters.

I thought that this was great. I didn't think it was rasist at all (I'm not black, but srtongly apposed to rasicm.). I thought that it was very funny. I saw alot of reveiws saying that it was stero tyipcal, but of whites too so everyone was stero typed. It was a great film and it had some great action scenes although over all it was a comedy.