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January 20, 2026, 12:08:55 AM  | The Burning Bed (1984/United States)
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Stars:
Farrah Fawcett as Francine Hughes
Paul Le Mat [Paul LeMat] as Mickey Hughes
Richard Masur as Aryon Greydanus
Grace Zabriskie as Flossie Hughes
Penelope Milford as Gaby
Plot:Extras:
- Scene Access
- Bonus Trailers
- Interviews
My Thoughts:
I kinda remember this from when it came out in the mid 80s but not sure I watched it back then... at least all the way through. A pretty decent true story film though I found it to be a little on the slow side. It is one I found at the library that I will probably eventually add to my own colection if I find at a decent price.
Rating:
(From The Burning Bed on July 23rd, 2023)
Member's Reviews
Eastern Promises, a review by Jon
Eastern Promises
3 out of 5
David Cronenberg used to be a bit too surreal for my tastes, but then he teamed up with Viggo Mortensen and adapted John Wagner's graphic novel, A History of Violence. It was quite brilliant. The story suited Cronenberg's regular plot themes of family, as well as his visceral style that make all his movies so memorable. The result was as sharp as it was grimy. And so I've been looking forward to Eastern Promises for a very long time. It's wrong to expect Another History of Violence, but still, this was a crashing disappointment.
The story concerns the Russian Mafia in London and their sex trafficking activities resulting in an raped girl dying as she gives birth. A nurse (Naomi Watts) wishing to protect this child, crosses paths with the imposing Russian gangsters and in particular, a driver (Mortensen).
It's a very noble story and a neglected element in movies (aside from Boris the Blade in Snatch!), but writer Steven Knight seems to treat it a little too noble and it comes off like a TV movie, or even a Newsnight investigation. There's plenty of intrigue, but it all comes to nothing. It's predictable and worst of all, there's no peril. Watts is great as the nurse, but there's little for her to do other than grimace bravely and I never felt like anything was going to happen to her. Going into it, I had the impression that Viggo may provide the threat, but sadly, he like everything else in the movie is full of hot air.
(click to show/hide)
Not to take anything away from him. He is incredible; a commanding presence covered in tattoos and attitude. I also can't blame Cronenberg, because he simply had nothing to work with, apart from one saving grace: a naked Mortensen in a viscous bloody sauna fight. It's a fantastic scene, bravely played by the actor and vintage Cronenberg. It's amongst the best scenes of the year and earned the film a whole extra star for my money. So sad most of the audience will be asleep by the time it comes around.
But for that scene, this movie belonged on TV. Sunday night, probably. Thinking about it, Kinight's previous film (Dirty Pretty Things) is very similar, but it at least had a sense of surrealism to lift it out of the doldrums.
Big missed opportunity. Cronenberg and those characters could have had something to match A History of Violence. Instead we got a Crimewatch reconstruction; very real, but in the movies, you need a bit of exaggeration to keep the attention.
The DVD is light on extras, but Viggo's interview is interesting as he talks about his intricate tattoos and the explicit meanings in the Russian crime world and prisons.
(From Eastern Promises on June 25th, 2008)
Member's TV Reviews
Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom
 | The Weird Al Show: The Complete Series (1997/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia
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Plot:
Ever since his 1983 self-titled breakthrough album, "Weird Al" Yankovic has been unsurpassed as a proven purveyor of parody and musical satire. His classic film, UHFTHE WEIRD AL SHOW, a cosmic inevitability.
Yankovic's signature warped comedy, original songs, TV and movie spoofs, offbeat animation and ability to attract a wonderful and motley collection of special surprise guests are what make the 13 episodes of this CBS Saturday morning show a treasure chest of all things Al.
As an inventor living in a secret subterranean workshop, Weird Al's world includes his pet (Harvey the Wonder Hamster), his superhero neighbor (The Hooded Avenger), the twisted animated "Adventures Of Fatman" and a roster of friends and guests, including: Drew Carey, Dick Clark, Dr. Demento, Stan Freberg, Teri Garr, Gilbert Gottfried, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Michael McKean, Bill Mumy, Patton Oswalt, Dick Van Patten, Emo Philips, Randy "Macho Man" Savage, Judy Tenuta, John Tesh, Fred Willard and Dweezil Zappa.
Plus live musical performances by Barenaked Ladies, Hanson and of course, Al himself make THE WEIRD AL SHOW a must-have, timeless delight for all his fans.
The Weird Al Show
Season 1.01 Bad Influence
Writer: Al Yankovic (Created By), Heidi Atherton (Writer), Mark O'Keefe (Writer), Ron Weiner (Writer), Al Yankovic (Writer)
Director: Peyton Reed
Cast: Al Yankovic (Al), Brian Haley (The Hooded Avenger), G. Le'Roi Gray (Bobby), Stan Freberg (Papa Boolie), Donavan Freberg (Baby Boolie), Beau Weaver ("Channel Hopping" Announcer), Billy West (Show Announcer), Kevin Weisman (Spike), Patton Oswalt (Seymour), Julie Brown (Herself), Barenaked Ladies (Themselves)
This series was a hard thing to do for Weird Al Yankovic. He wanted to do something for adult audiences, but had to do a show for kids. The result is an undercurrent of a constant parody of a kid show. If you look at this show like that, you has some fun moments.
Highlight of this first episode is the "Harvey the Wonder Hamster" song and the musical guests "Barenaked Ladies".
Rating:
(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on November 14th, 2012)