Showing posts with label Tim Curry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tim Curry. Show all posts

Saturday, 6 October 2018

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

I don't know exactly how I discovered The Rocky Horror Picture Show as cult movies weren't something I'd watch. I just know that, when I first watched it, many years ago (I believe I still was in my teens), I was not ready for it but I loved it nevertheless. Since I'm doing this Horror October thing, I figured it was time to rewatch it. 

The film follows Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon), a newly engaged couple whose car broke down in the middle of nowhere during a rainstorm, and, while seeking a telephone, stumbled upon the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a transvestite from transsexual Transylvania. From then on, a series of weird and bizarre things begins to happen.

The plot is wacky, silly and makes absolutely no sense, but it still has to offer more than most movies nowadays as it is one of the most interesting and original plot you'll ever see, and you'll be drawn so much into it that you won't even care about all the nonsense going on.

The characters are just as weird and absurd as the plot, if not even more. But they also are funny and lovely; you won't judge any of them, no matter how insane or wrong are the things they do, but, on the contrary, you will feel sympathy for each one of them.

Dr. Frank-N-Furter is arguably the most intriguing and insane of the bunch. He is an evil person but you won't be mad at him for his awful actions, you'll feel sorry for him as he is just a lonely, unhappy person/alien seeking love and approval. Tim Curry's performance is nothing short of spectacular. He dominates the film every single time he's on the screen; he is funny, delivers his lines perfectly and his singing is amazing. But most of all, I don't know what it is, he is so sexy in drag, it's confusing (I'm a straight woman, fyi).

20the Century Fox
Although they are not as fabulous as the transvestite from transsexual Transylvania, the supporting characters too are delightful and the rest of the cast does a pretty good job. A young Susan Sarandon is an absolute treat --not only her performance as Janet is great, but her voice is so cute and Disney-like that makes the film even weirder. Barry Bostwick is just lovely as the nerdy Brad. Richard O'Brien --he wrote the stage show-- is terrific as Riff Raff, the handyman. Patricia Quinn and Little Nell too are mesmerizing in their roles of maid Magenta and groupie Columbia respectively.

As for the musical aspect, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is pretty much flawless. The songs not only are catchy and stuck with you long after you finished watching the movie, but they are an integral part of the film as they advance the plot. The musical numbers are inventive, energetic, entertaining and a lot of fun.

And let's not forget about the costumes, makeup and set. They are strange and quirky, they are colourful and transmit happiness. They are hypnotic.

Monday, 18 June 2018

Charlie's Angels (2000)

I never watched the popular TV series and if it wasn't for Sam Rockwell, I would have never watched Charlie's Angels either. I don't know what it is, but there's something about it that seems to be screaming, shitty movie alert. Well, my gut was right. This is a shitty movie.

After stopping a man from blowing up an aeroplane, Natalie (Cameron Diaz), Dylan (Drew Barrymore) and Alex (Lucy Liu), also known as Charlie's Angels --Charlie is a mysterious dude we, the Angels and the audience, are not allowed to see-- are hired by programmer Eric Knox (Sam Rockwell) to retrieve his voice-recognition software that has been stolen. The suspicion falls on Roger Corwin (Tim Curry), Knox's rival. 

That's the storyline. The development is a whole different thing. Actually, there's no development, and the film drags on for way too long with so many subplots it's hard to keep count. It seems like the filmmakers were trying to make the film more complex, but they only made it more laughable. There are some twists but they are predictable *SPOILER*I saw the one about Rockwell coming as soon as he showed up at the beginning of the film*SPOILER* and so many plotholes you need to shut your brain and keep logic away if you don't want to get frustrated. Because of that, the plot is not engaging nor interesting. 

The awful characters and the equally awful performances sure don't help. If you are a woman, like me, who is interested in seeing strong female characters and girl power, like me, then stay the hell away from Charlie's Angels. The Angels are one-dimensional and quite offensive, to be honest. They are supposed to be female James Bond but they are more like Bond girls trying to fight crime. Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu can't act. Period. Drew Barrymore is usually a better actress but the poor script doesn't allow her to do much. She is still able though to be funny and kind of sexy at the same time.

Columbia Pictures

The supporting characters are just as bad. The good guys deserve a special mention for being as interesting as watching paint dry. There's even a ridiculous and quite frankly embarrassing performance from Bill Murray. The bad guys, that's a different story. And the actors playing them deserve full credits. Both Sam Rockwell and Tim Curry give pretty awesome performances. They are not phenomenal but they easily steal the show. 

Next up is the action, just as terrible as everything else. The action sequences are cheesy and beyond laughable. How do they even dare to call this action? 

If you want to see Cameron Diaz's ass though and Lucy Liu acting like a dominatrix, Charlie's Angels is perfect for you.