Reviews

I would be lying if I said that Wimps was the best film directed by Chuck Vincent, but it is still a beautifully executed love story/comedy focusing on the development of a relationship between two complex characters. Vincent's world resembles a timeless fantasy college realm, that makes for a grand, lush production, that feels very much of the moment. Wimps, like Deranged (1987), begins with Francis' (Louie Bonanno) unforgettable graphic initiation into the fraternity Bi Beta Kappa involving spaghetti and a body harness that symbolically marks his decent into a society filled with vengeful slum-lords, political extremists, and Roxanne (Deborah Blaisdell) the luscious librarian of his dreams. At first I was disgusted with Wimps excessive nudity and dark hopeless scenery, but after reading an interview with Vincent in the New Yorker, I understand what Wimps is trying to communicate, hopelessness=freedom. Viewers are warned that if you don't like David Lynch or Alejandro Jodorowsky then leave Wimps on the shelf, perhaps you would rather watch something like Failure to Launch instead.

Director Richard Gabai proves the life isn't just about getting laid its about getting deep too in this beautifully written, expertly acted comedy that best represents the excitement and offbeat beliefs of real-life underdog fraternities inspired by Revenge of the Nerds. This isn't the standard plot driven narrative expected from director/screen writer Richard Gabai, instead it is fearlessly piloted by Sid Witherspoon, the leader of an unpopular fraternity. Troy Donahue's impressive flawless performance creates a likable but emotionally reserved Witherspoon, expanding the character's complexity further than the rare novel published exclusively in France by Gabai. Saddly I wasn't distracted enough from the engaging and hilarious dialog to notice and appreciate the detailed scenery and beautiful colour until the fourth time I watched it. Weather a die hard fan of frat-comedy or post-Shakespearian playwright enthusiast this is the movie....no! Film for you.

Appearing at the height of the director's popularity, thanks to the inescapable, if short-lived, "surrealist action" phenomenon, Project: Shadowcaster (also know as Shadowcaster) is also the most stereotypically Eyres-ish of John Eyres's films, filled with state of the art special effects, surreal environments, complex characters, and oblique commentary on American life (we wouldn't expect any less!). As such, it will leave some viewers raving, others scratching their noodle in frustration. Staring the Martin Kove as Desilva a thawed out football player in an Orwellian American future should be enough to buy ten copies of this rare piece of art history. If Kove and Eyres isn't enough, keep in mind that Kove experimented with sensory deprivation meditations and self-controlled brainwashing techniques pioneered by the church of Scientology in addition to spending weeks along side Dan Marino to prepare for the role of Desilva. Shadowcaster takes "surreal action" to the next level and redefines the word "touchdown!"

Stuart Margolin makes his most breathtaking, undisciplined work in his unfortunately overlooked farcical chronicle of American paramedic life in South Central during the decadent and confusing mid-1980's. Margolin innovative use of experimental lighting techniques and lenses developed by NASA to translate Los Angeles'city scape will leave you rocked with emotion and begging for more. Christopher McDonald is in top form delivering a seamless portrayal of Mad Mike: a jaded but dedicated paramedic struggling to maintain a grasp on his fleeting morals in face of the demands in a decaying and stubbornly self-destructive society. Along with a powerhouse performance by George Newbern as Uptown, Mad Mike's partner returning to his once prosperous neighborhood to clean up dead children laid to waste by gang warfare. If you like this film as much as I do, do yourself a favor and get a copy of Margolin's next film 1990's B.L. Stryker: Plates starring Alfie Wise, Ossie Davis and Burt Reynolds, another unrecognized experimental classic.