THE ESCAPE ARTIST (1982)

Directed By: Caleb Deschanel

Written By: Melissa Mathison and Stephen Zito

Based on the novel by: David Wagoner

Cinematography: Stephen H. Burum

Editor: Arthur Schmidt 

Cast: Griffen O’Neal, Raul Julia, Desi Arnez, Joan Hackett, Jackie Coogan, Hal Williams, M. Emmett Walsh, Harry Anderson, Elizabeth Daily, Teri

Garr

The young and self-confident Danny bluffs at the local police-station that he will escape out of prison within one hour. What follows is a flashback about his childhood with his uncle and aunt, which are ‘vaudeville’-artists themselves. We also follow the problems of Danny with the corrupt son of the mayor.

There’s a film I knew about thanks to all the video guides which I wish they still had just to get recommendations from as now with message boards and social media and feels like always getting recommendations of the same films that are more modern. He’s older films are hard to find.

This film is disappointing for what could’ve been rather than what it was. As watching it, Juan was hoping that it would get better as it went along. It never quite does.

As it feels too playful with nothing really going on and it feels too slow for kids and too silly for adults.

The film plays like an early Amblin movie and adventurous film with a kid as the star who goes on a journey or adventure. We see it more from their point of view and the Child characters can actually be in True Danger only hear there’s not much fantasy happening, and Amblin films are usually made more for a preteen audience. It does make one long for when they made these types of movies for an audience looks like took more seriously.

This film unfortunately has no feeling of fun things play, but they also just seen that happen with little to no fan fare. Though it is very detailed.

Maybe because it was made under AMERICAN ZOETROPE studios, where the films made, and that matured there were more willing to be experimental

Griffin O’Neal who plays lead, never makes an impact as he Has no charisma in the role and he never seems quite lively or fun. Which makes it easier for him to blend in as a supporting characters are more lively and interesting.

So it seems like maybe concessions were made off of his name and his famous father and sister.

The film keeps in innocence about it as it never goes over the line nor does it ever dirty. It’s south, or the audience with anything exploitive, or too risqué.

This was The last film of Desi Arnaz Sr. one wonders why he even took a role in this as the role he has is Pedro but it’s not that show stopping and there’s not Too much to it.

Raul Julia in his role seems a little too often wacky almost like a cartoon character for how moody he can be one minute and silly the next.

Well, it has a sense of wonder what film quite often is dull. It should be better considering the talent behind it.

It does Seem like a film, where seeing it on the big screen would maybe increase the audience enjoyment. No, the script still would need to be stronger and a bit busier.

Which would give the audience a reason to not only watch the care.

This is one of the few films that was directed by legendary cinematographer, Caleb Deschanel. 

One rarely says this, but this feels like a film that should be remade only with more fun lore and adventure.

Grade: C

CANNERY ROW (1982)

Written & Directed By: David S. Ward
Based on the novels “Cannery Row” and “Sweet Thursday” By: John Steinbeck
Cinematography: Sven Nykvist
Editor: David Bretherton 

Cast: Nick Nolte, Debra Winger, M. Emmet Walsh, Audra Lindley, Frank McRae, James Keane, Kathleen Doyle, Art LaFleur, John Huston 

A depressed section of Monterey, California, known as Cannery Row from its string of now-empty canning plants is the backdrop for an offbeat romantic comedy about a pair of mismatched lovers. Doc is a lonely marine biologist (and former baseball star) who supplies specimens for science labs and classrooms. Suzy is a scrappy drifter who can’t even succeed as a prostitute because of her abrasive manner. When the two get together, it’s fireworks, though not the romantic kind. Not to worry, everything is in the hands of Cannery Row’s resident guardian angels, Mack and the boys, a band of drunken derelicts whose hearts are in the right place, even though their brains are not.


The film is atmospheric and feels enriched in culture but like John Steinbeck’s writing, it is based. It feels dull yet full of depth. It is a particular slice of life. 

The film has certain scenes that are full of charm and feel inventive. As well as a romance that feels like it takes place in real-time.

The character feels full and lived in and not necessarily caricatures. Where you could actually set stories around them individually. Which the film tries to do by giving them each time to shine. 

Debra winger comes off as charming. Especially as we learn more about her as the film goes along.

The film offers itself up more as a slice of life that feels like not too much happens. Thought the film will have A scene that will wake you up and then go back to being mundane. As the film in exchange for feeling lived in, never decides what or where it wants to go or to be.

Frank McRae plays another stereotypical mentally simple role but is meant to be more the lovable giant. This might be one of the first times he played the type. Before moving on to angry police captains in other films. 

The film feels like POPEYE the movie spin-off with a whole new set of characters but leftover similar sets.

As the film feels episodic. The film feels like a set of short stories coming Together to tie together the ensemble and focus on friendships and relationships.

Each character is lived in and feels like they have more to offer. As the film has scenes of absolute slapstick ingenuity and a hard-won romance.

One can see why the film might not have been a success, but also easily can be seen as a product of a bygone era. Even as the time period shows this more as a character-heavy periodic, episodic, and ensemble finding the story, character and themes 

This film works like that invention from the beginning of PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE. Where we see the invention and its mechanics, the nuts and bolts of it all, and are amazed at its assembly d how it works as it seems to put in a lot of synchronization for it all to work at certain intervals. 

Even entertaining to watch themselves until finally at the end. All of that for something so simple. Where the mechanics are more interesting or captivating than the act. A lot of work for something basic, that is how this film feels. 

GRADE: C+