The Sunchaser (1996)

 

A rich oncologist and a dying young criminal who kidnaps the doctor are going to a legendary Navajo healing place while a manhunt closes in. 

The plot is overladen and quite silly, but but Cimono gives it style and a heartfelt execution with good landscape photography and a believable performance by Harrelson. 

Halliwell (no star): "Heavily symbolic road movie, travelling through photogenic landscapes but imbued with a second-hand mysticism."

Maltin*1/2: "Misbegotten mess tries to touch all trendy bases, scrambling American Indian mysticism, "New Age" theories and buddy-movie cliches into the format of a road movie. Harrelson and Seda are good, Bancroft is wasted." 

The Naked Street (1955)

 

 

A mobster springs a condemned murderer because he got his sister pregnant. 

Standard crime melodrama is not too exciting, but is well-staged with a good cast. 

Halliwell (no star): "Semi-documentary expose melodrama about unpleasant people; reasonably proficient on its level."

Maltin**: "Good cast wasted in bland crime drama..." 

The Elephant Man (1980)

A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous facade, there is revealed a person of intelligence and sensitivity.

Extremely moving and tasteful rendition of a tragic story; masterfully created in all departments (performances, b/w cinematography, period detail) it exemplifies what commercial cinema is capable of, when it's made with an artistic vision.

Halliwell***: "A curious story which happens to be true; the film sets its scene superbly, has splendid performances and a fascinating make-up. Yet it fails to move quite as it should, perhaps because the central figure is treated as a horrific come-on, like the hunchback of Notre Dame."

Maltin***1/2: "Moving dramatization...Fine performances by all; rich Victorian atmosphere created by Lynch and veteran cameraman Freddie Francis - in beautiful black and white."

Anne Bancroft

7 Women (1966)

Seven dedicated missionary women in China circa 1935 trying to protect themselves from the advances of a Mongolian barbaric warlord and his cut-throat gang of warriors.