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Odds Against Tomorrow, a review by Antares

Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) 75/100 - After finishing the film and submitting my rating on Criticker, I noticed that I've seen a lot of films by Robert Wise. He made films in almost every genre and was pretty successful in most of them. This is another finely crafted drama that looks and sounds great, but, at times, it seems as if there's just a tad too much on the plate. You've got the post-war angst alongside racial tension, with a huge helping of noir as the main course. But for a 96 minute film, it kind of dragged at times, and had a character whom I could not understand why she was there, Gloria Grahame. She sleepwalks though her short role and it appeared to me, was there just to pad out the film length. Robert Ryan, as always, is great and I was very impressed with Harry Belafonte's performance, who could have rivaled Sidney Poitier, if he did choose to do so. In essence, this film should have worked for me, but it only held me for brief moments, then it would just meander along. I doubt I'd re-visit it in the future.

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is


(From Antares' Short Summations on July 28th, 2020)

She Hate Me, a review by Rich

She Hate Me



When biotech exec Jack (Anthony Mackie, 8 Mile) blows the whistle on his greedy drug-conglomerate bosses (Woody Harrelson, Natural Born Killers and Ellen Barkin, Sea of Love) over an insider-trading scandal, he gets more than he bargained for. Once this playa is played, he finds himself hitting rock bottom when an old flame, Fatina (Kerry Washington, Save the Last Dance) blows back into his life with the ultimate job offer: father her child, no strings attached. Teaming up to turn the tables on corporate culture, he sets up shop as a stud-for-hire at 10 G's a pop for a bevy of wealthy lesbians. When Jack delivers the goods, even his ex's glamazon gal pals can't resist his considerable...charms. Torn between love and money, Jack chases his American Dream all the way to the bank. But things heat up when Jack impregnates the Mafia daughter (Monica Bellucci, The Matrix Reloaded) of a notorious boss (John Turturro, Secret Window), triggering the FBI to expose Jack's cash-cow scheme.

A Spike Lee film again about minorities (lesbians), but ended up more like a male fantasy!
It is a bizarre mix of sexual politics and big business, and at times you have to wonder whether a message is trying to come through the film in subliminal form. After half an hour or so, as the lead finds a new occupation in life having sex with beautiful lesbians to impregnate them (at times quite graphic) for $10k a time, it feels a bit pervy. Throw in cartoon sperm (not literally), an artsy feel at times, and certainly a few erotic scenes. Then near the end it all gets a bit strange and emotional as he is involved in a menage-a-trois with the main lesbian couple, and Dad to the 2 kids they have had from his seed.
It must be humiliating for a real lesbian if they saw this film, as it basically says that a handsome man with big 'equipment' would immediately make them go like a train and realise what they are missing! And the ending scenes are truly cringe-worthy.
Saying all of the above, it was still watchable in an odd way, and I especially recommend this to Tom for his lesbian marathon.
 

**Monica Bellucci mini-marathon



(From Riches Random Reviews on August 24th, 2009)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

FlashForward: The Complete Series (2009/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Buena Vista Home Entertainment (United Kingdom) Length: 946 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

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Plot:
Hold onto your seat as you experience a show like no other. "The ride you are about to take will be worth every minute," raves NewsdayFlashForward fan!

FlashForward
1.01 No More Good Days
Writer: David S. Goyer (Created By), Brannon Braga (Created By), David S. Goyer (Screenwriter), Brannon Braga (Screenwriter), David S. Goyer (Story By), Brannon Braga (Story By), Robert J. Sawyer (Original Material By)
Director: David S. Goyer
Cast

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on June 14th, 2011)