Reviews

An average TV drama about a family dealing with the "aftermath" (Terrible title BTW) of a robbery that leaves one member dead and the not at all well. Chamberlain does well in a mis-cast role, Terri Hames however does not. His post-robbery acting is a little too 'over', consisting mainly of shouting and intense staring. Script-wise, it's okay, nothing inspirational but nothing overly wishy-washy and the direction is, well, functional. What "Aftermath" is missing however, is a big moment, it just kinda drifts along until the end without really hitting any emotional notes. Otherwise, only watch it as a late night flick.

One of a few movies based on the infamous Leopold and Loeb case, Compulsion is notable for a couple of things. One, great performances from a young Dean Stockwell and Bradford Dillman and the other being Orson Welles getting top billing despite not appearing on screen till about 70 minutes in. Granted, Welles makes great use of his onscreen time, getting at least four great lines in, and oh yeah, a ten minute monologue. Bad points - the sometimes mind bendingly awful dialogue (When dealing with the younger characters) and an awful performance by Diane Varsi. Be sure to get out the version released with its original theatre trailer, it's got a pretty cool theme to it. Worth getting on video, spend no more than 3 dollars.

Okay, it's one of the oldest plot lines in the gangster film genre, but if done well, the "man infiltrates vicious gang and finds himself loyal to the friend who got him in.". The cast is good, William Peterson has the downtrodden man character down pat these days, Diane Lane is serviceable, but the real surprises come by the way of Micheal Wincott finally playing a sympathetic almost good-guy, and Eric Schaeffer for the first time in his life not being annoying on screen as the creepy hitman. Good dialogue, an abscence of bad acting, and dark look that hides its low budget origins. Definitely worth picking up from the video shop.