Night Crossing (1982)

 

Two men plan to escape from communist East Germany in a hot air balloon, but only if they can take their families with them.

From memory: Despite a good cast, this run-of-the-mill adventure film annoys as a typical Cold War propaganda piece full of cliches about the then communist East Germany.

Halliwell (no star): "Well-meaning melodrama which sadly lacks plot development and suspense, anns is also rather miserable to look at."

Maltin**1/2: "Unexceptional though well-cast and not unexciting tale..." 

 

The Four Feathers (1978)

 

When British Lieutenant Faversham resigns his commission rather than fight in the 1882 Sudan war, his army pals present him with the four white feathers of cowardice. 

Superior TV production of the popular novel is well-made with an appropriately selected cast, but is a bit lacking in the drama department.

Halliwell: "An effective TV movie..."

 

Two-Minute Warning (1976)

A psychotic sniper plans a massive killing spree in a Los Angeles football stadium during a major championship game.

Average thriller with a list of stars in small parts. Takes quite a time to get going, but is occasionally effective.

The Mountain Between Us (2017)

Stranded after a tragic plane crash, two strangers must forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow-covered mountain. When they realize help is not coming, they embark on a perilous journey across the wilderness.

Formulaic and predictable survival tale including a likewise corny romance has mainly some good beautiful landscape photography to go for it; no challenge for the two stars either. 

Norma Rae (1979)

A young single mother and textile worker agrees to help unionize her mill despite the problems and dangers involved.

From memory: Good political drama is more well-intentioned than effective, but is well staged and Sally Field is excellent in the title role.

Halliwell*: "Well-intentioned and well-acted pamphlet of political enlightenment with an inevitably ambivalent attitude."

Maltin***: "Field is excellent in Oscar-winning performance...Entertaining, though entirely believable..."

Columbus Circle (2012)

An heiress who's been shut inside her apartment building for nearly two decades is forced to confront her fears after one of her neighbors is killed and a detective arrives to begin the investigation.

OK thriller is a Hitchcock wannabe creates some suspense, but the convoluted plot with all its twists is quite predictable.

The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

The lives of two struggling musicians, who happen to be brothers, inevitably change when they team up with a beautiful, up-and-coming singer.

Not particularly original and a bit slovenly paced, this movie comes alive by its star cast - Michelle Pfeiffer is especially convincing - and sure-handed direction.

Halliwell*: "Enjoyable excursion into the lower depths of show business."

Maltin**1/2: "Writer Kloves' directing debut is stylish and self-assured, but it skimps on story - and never really fleshes out Jeff Bridges' sullen character. The real-life Bridges brothers are perfectly cast, Pfeiffer is ideal. Her steamy rendition of "Makin' Whoopee" atop piano considered a minor classic."

Spinning Into Butter (2007)

A hate crime on the campus of a New England college puts the school's dean in a position where she has to examine her own feelings about race and prejudice, while maintaining her administration's politically correct policies.

Well-intended drama dealing with racism is nicely made with a good cast, but has no bite to it and fails to stir a reaction.

Maltin**: "Well-intentioned film means to examine race relations, politics, and bureaucracy within the walls of academia, but the result is flat and deeply flawed."