Gritty Realistic 70s Action/Dramas...

[Matt H.]

Thank you kindly. I've got Star Chamber and running Scared incoming.

I look forward to you bashing both of them in the coming weeks.

[Ian Jane]

Thanks found it, last time I looked it wasn't available!

It was OOP for a while, they reissued it.

[Dom D]

Definitely check out THE STAR CHAMBER (possibly his best), NARROW MARGIN and RUNNING SCARED. The latter is a nice companion piece to BUSTING, only a bit toned down for the '80s. It has a pretty clever twist around the 40 minute mark that transcends the buddy cop genre in a unique way. One flaw is probably the most fake-looking snow I can recall seeing in a film; it's like the filmmakers had never seen real snow before. It's a fun movie, though.

As far as the Van Damme films go, I was pleasantly surprised with ENEMIES CLOSER. It's much better than you'd think. Van Damme is the villain too. I've never really warmed up to TIMECOP, though it's decent. SUDDEN DEATH is fine, although it never takes off like it should.

Thank you kindly. I've got Star Chamber and running Scared incoming.

[Matt H.]

What else would you recommend from the filmography? Loved Capricorn 1 and Busting but the other films of his that I've seen left me cold. 2010, End Of Days, Outland. There seems to be at least a few Van Damme films. Did he elevate any of those?

Definitely check out THE STAR CHAMBER (possibly his best), NARROW MARGIN and RUNNING SCARED. The latter is a nice companion piece to BUSTING, only a bit toned down for the '80s. It has a pretty clever twist around the 40 minute mark that transcends the buddy cop genre in a unique way. One flaw is probably the most fake-looking snow I can recall seeing in a film; it's like the filmmakers had never seen real snow before. It's a fun movie, though.

As far as the Van Damme films go, I was pleasantly surprised with ENEMIES CLOSER. It's much better than you'd think. Van Damme is the villain too. I've never really warmed up to TIMECOP, though it's decent. SUDDEN DEATH is fine, although it never takes off like it should.

[Randy G]

It's on Kino Blu-ray. Well worth seeing. Also the second Peter Hyams film mentioned (after Dom's review of CAPRICORN ONE) in the past couple of days. This rules because I'm a huge fan of Hyams!

Thanks found it, last time I looked it wasn't available!

[Dom D]

Also the second Peter Hyams film mentioned (after Dom's review of CAPRICORN ONE) in the past couple of days. This rules because I'm a huge fan of Hyams!

What else would you recommend from the filmography? Loved Capricorn 1 and Busting but the other films of his that I've seen left me cold. 2010, End Of Days, Outland. There seems to be at least a few Van Damme films. Did he elevate any of those?

[Matt H.]

I've wanted to see Busting forever but have never found a way to view it. My torrenting days are behind me, I prefer a legit release if possible.

It's on Kino Blu-ray. Well worth seeing. Also the second Peter Hyams film mentioned (after Dom's review of CAPRICORN ONE) in the past couple of days. This rules because I'm a huge fan of Hyams!

[Randy G]

I've wanted to see Busting forever but have never found a way to view it. My torrenting days are behind me, I prefer a legit release if possible.

[Marshall Crist]

Busting is pretty great. I particularly love Gould in this. I appreciate that Antonio Fargas and Sid Haig are both in it--wish they'd had a scene together. Love the score. Off the top of my head it's basically a six-note riff, but they are are constantly shifting the tempo and orchestration to fit the setting. And that dude that plays the main villain always elevates what he's in. Blanking on his name, gonna look him up and come back and do a stealth edit so no one will ever know.

Allen Garfield. Yeah, that guy was great. R.I.P.
When I was a kid I was really frustrated for the vice cops in this, being thwarted and misassigned by their boss who is low-key in the bag for the monster (or at least his bosses seem to be). But as an adult I really react to the futility of their job from the standpoint that consensual crimes should be decriminalized and they should be out policing violent crimes or at least property crimes and not this nonsense.

[Dom D]

Just watched Busting! I should have watched Busting! earlier. Busting rules.

Busting looks like the connective tissue between Butch Cassidy and 48 Hours. It's better than either of those movies though- and I write that as William Goldman fanatic.

The way Hyams keeps the camera moving in this is something very special. To do those tracking shots in the action so expertly and before steadicam was fucking amazing. Plus the script is properly funny and Gould knows how to deliver a zinger.

Loved this film.

[Marshall Crist]

Agreed. The father of the bride is incredibly funny in that scene as well.

[Randy G]

The Wedding scene with Donald Sutherland is hilarious and a highpoint of the film I think.

[Marshall Crist]

I actually put off watching it for a few months, afraid that I wouldn't enjoy it. Glad to be wrong. Don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this.

[Randy G]

Yeah I love Little Murders, I have a paperback of the play it is based on.

[Marshall Crist]

Little Murders is another film I watched recently and really enjoyed. Very dark comedy with Elliot Gould, and very prescient. Based on a play by Jules Feiffer. Maybe as biting as Carnal Knowledge, but more farcical.