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Reviews
Cheyenne: Big Ghost Basin (1957)
Too silly to bear
CONTAINS SPOILERS! Although the plot manages to bring in rustlers, Indians, a would be vigilante out to get his brother's killer, a potential love triangle, a paleontologist, and a big game hunter, all of their problems are solved off screen. The real show down is between our hero, Cheyenne Bodie, and a mysterious killer monster. For most of the show we get hints that the killer monster is an elephant: the paleontologist finds mammoth bones, the game hunter lends Bodie his elephant gun, victims are crushed to death, the creature leaves clawless footprints that are unfamiliar to Bodie. The creature's glowing eyes are represented by a pair of electric lights about four feet apart. One can hardly be blamed for thinking that the mystery of Ghost Basin was none other than The Monster from the episode of Wanted: Dead or Alive, practicing for his future role. But no, the true monster is actually Smokey the Bear. Not CB radio slang for a state trooper, but the beloved bruin that puts out campfires before they can become forest fires. Perhaps the producers were frustrated with PSAs that take precious commercial time.
Dick Tracy (1990)
Good art direction can't save a dire screenplay and terrible performances by the leads.
When the color palette receives the most praise, it's a pretty sure bet that the script and performances stink. That's certainly the case here. Warren Beatty and Al Pacino are awful, the former aimlessly underplaying and the latter shamelessly overacting, as seems to be usual for each. It is painful to watch two actors who began their respective careers with so much promise become incapable of delivering actual characterizations instead of self indulgent, mannered displays of ego. The supporting performances are okay, but are buried under a ton of make-up and a bloated screenplay. I would rather watch Jell- o if color passes for entertainment.