Marlon Brando's light comic touch is gold

 THE FRESHMAN (1990)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

(Originally viewed in the summer of 1990)

"The Freshman" is a delicate souffle of a movie, a tasty treat and the sweetest kind of cinematic confection. It is a harmless comedy of manners and it utilizes our memories of "The Godfather" movies to its fullest extent while delivering a fresh, original comedy. It will warm your heart and make you laugh at the same time.

Matthew Broderick is Clark Kellogg, an ingenuous Vermont college freshman starting his new year at NYU. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong from the second he arrives via Amtrak at Grand Central Station. Kellogg's belongings are stolen by a shady Victor Ray (an energetically hilarious Bruno Kirby), who happens to be the nephew of a very shady importer of goods named Sabatini (Marlon Brando, who savors every Don Corleone-marble-sounding syllable). Sabatini's latest import is a Komodo Dragon, an endangered species that is going be served as a meal at some gourmet club for $350,000 a plate! Animal lovers, do not worry, this caper plot does not result in any animal cruelty.

"The Freshman" is truly a sleeper of another kind, written with wit and gobs of humanity by writer-director Andrew Bergman. Rounding out this rather eccentric, pleasing cast is Maximilian Schell as an unorthodox chef, Frank Whaley as Clark's roommate with a hairdo I do not recall anyone sporting in the late 1980's, and the great Paul Benedict as Fleeber, an NYU film professor who has "The Godfather Part II" memorized. Other than the titanic presence of Brando, the hustling bravado of Kirby and the wholesomeness of Broderick, there is the darling, angelic Penelope Ann Miller as Sabatini's only daughter, Tina, who assures Clark that the Mona Lisa in her house is the real article and that it was simply taken from the Louvre! So with the delicious chemistry between Miller and Broderick, Brando paying homage with respect to his most famous role (Corleone's name can't be uttered, a running gag), "The Freshman" unfolds like a precious restaurant meal that you can enjoy and have a few good laughs along the way during the evening. And Bert Parks appears in a mind-blowing cameo where he has the rare event of singing "Tequila" and Bob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm." Still, there is nothing like the sight of Marlon Brando showing a delicate comic touch and a twinkle in his eye. A marvelous movie.  

Chocolate cake and men never seemed more disgusting

 KEEPER (2025)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

Director Oz Perkins ("Longlegs") has described "Keeper" as a film about toxic masculinity and disgusting male behavior. There are sufficient shades of this subtext but it is more about a deeply unsettling and uncontrollable madness that may or may not be a paranoiac descent or something far more nightmarish. There is much to savor here in "Keeper" and it is Tatiana Maslany who makes the film swim to a foreseeable yet disturbing finish.

Maslany is Liz, a sweet and suspicious artist who has an uncertainty about seemingly everything. She is travelling with her boyfriend, Malcolm (Rossif Sutherland), a doctor, to a log cabin in the woods and you can tell she is expressing doubts through her mannerisms. Things go awry from the start, from a delicious looking chocolate cake wrapped inside an ugly looking box presumably left by some caretaker, to Malcolm himself who is unwilling to have sex with Liz, to strange, creaky sounds above the cabin both night and day, etc. What starts as some sort of haunted cabin story surrounded by haunted woods is actually about paranoia, or so it seems. When Malcolm chooses to see a comatose patient of his and leaves her alone, we wonder if he will return. There's also Malcolm's deplorable cousin living next door (Birkett Turton) who has a European girlfriend who can't speak a lick of English yet she knows how to say that the cake "tastes like shit." The question is what is happening to Liz? She has hallucinatory visions of creatures crawling up trees or of something ominous in the creek in the woods. The log cabin itself has open windows with no curtains and the bathroom door is the only door you can lock from the inside, or is it? Forget the "Evil Dead" cabin - it seems like a creepy cabin I would not want to live in or visit on weekends. Plus, she has nightmares of children with rifles and one pointed at her head. Has she been drugged or is she going crazy or is it something else? 

"Keeper" keeps you glued in and so does the enormously sympathetic performance by Tatiana Maslany (an actress I first discovered in "Ginger Snaps 2"). Maslany gives the movie a shot of pathos and pure insight into a woman who knows her relationship with her boyfriend may end up being short-termed. Rossif Sutherland appears from the start like a guy we are gravely suspicious about. We know he is a liar when he claims to love Liz or when he leaves for his outing to the city. This guy just seems like bad news from the start in a sneaky, standoffish kind of way (not to mention the somewhat misogynistic cousin). 

As for director Perkins, he's working with the adroit rhythms of screenwriter Nick Lepard who keeps the tension running in a leisurely enough manner. Perkins is up to the task and also composes many shots with cinematographer Jeremy Cox where something always obstructs or obscures the frame. You really feel a gnawing sense of claustrophobia and it pays off handsomely. "Keeper" amps up the tension only when needed and proves to be a menacing, first-rate log cabin film of the first order. It may not be the fever pitch with more grandiose themes of "The Shining" but it is close to the eerie vibes of "Rosemary Baby." I will say that I have no desire to eat chocolate cake again after seeing it. 

Could've been Spike Lee's Empire

 HIGHEST 2 LOWEST (2025)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

Watching "Highest 2 Lowest" can feel like unequal parts of vintage Spike Lee and a some semi-90's thriller vibe. I recently saw "High and Low" by Kurosawa, a pulse-pounding thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and also had strong character portrayals amidst its then groundbreaking forensic analysis. Spike Lee's lusciously filmed remake "Highest 2 Lowest" is not in the same vein and that is only because Lee has divided his movie into two halves and some of it is flawless and some of it feels off-centered and doesn't flow evenly. 

The movie begins with Denzel Washington as David King, a record label executive whose own music label is on the wane. The opening shots of the film show his penthouse overlooking New York City and you can already feel the wealth causing your eyes to bulge - you sense that this guy has let wealth get in the way of imagination (he also has a home in Sag Harbor). Ilfenesh Hadera as Pam King, David's tender wife, senses economic trouble with David who is making a risky move: he wishes to gain majority control of his music company before any rivals attempt to buy him out. As King is trying to make deals employing a vision of focusing on the music and less on the green, his son, Trey (Aubrey Joseph), is kidnapped. The vociferous kidnapper demands a ransom of $17.5 million in Swiss 1,000-franc notes or the son will not be returned. After acquiring the ransom funds (money King needs for his hopeful record deal), Trey returns yet it was actually his best friend, Kyle (Elijah Wright), who was kidnapped! The ransom still holds for the return of Kyle - Kyle is Paul Christopher's son. Paul (Jeffrey Wright) is King's driver and close friend who sees a situation spiraling out of control. The problem is that King is reluctant to pay the ransom because Kyle is not his son. If you have seen "High and Low," much of this plot will seem familiar (and it has been remade a few times since). It is no surprise that King relents and pays the ransom. 

Just when the action centers on the money bag being delivered between train stops to the anonymous caller, "Highest 2 Lowest" fails to maintain the same level of excitement it started with. The forensic and detective work is practically abandoned in this version and the class system is just casually dealt with. With a more attentive screenwriter, perhaps Lee himself, they could've taken this story and updated it to our modern-day class warfare. If you think about it, based on Spike Lee's past films dealing with the poor or working class, he would've had a field day with this material. Instead we are saddled with too much of the business practices of the music business and some of it is intriguing but it doesn't mesh with the thriller aspects. Either Lee should've made an amazing film about the cutthroat music business (something akin to TV's "Empire") and left the suspense plot out or made a full blown suspense film. 

"Highest 2 Lowest" is still curiously entertaining with charismatic performances by all, including Denzel Washington who always embodies every character he plays with the finesse of a true and honest actor. Denzel's scenes with Aubrey Joseph as his son are involving and intimately portrayed (especially the potent moment when Trey curses out his father). The musical sequences are mind-blowing and hold one's interest, especially the finale. ASAP Rocky is also a phenomenal performer and rivets our attention, plus holding his own against Denzel. The film is just not electrifying to watch, not like some of Lee's other notable films, and the whole affair feels muted and has scant emotional resonance. 

God gave me ears to hear

 SARAH'S OIL (2025)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

I was afraid Amazon Studios might release an earnest, noble film that would sugarcoat the real true story of Sarah Rector, the first black child to inherit oil wealth. Let's be honest - many films of its ilk tend to soften the realities of the time, specifically in the early 1900's when kindness and empathy were in short supply towards black people and the few white people who supported them. Thankfully, director Cyrus Nowrasteh aims to reveal the racism of the Jim Crow South and balance it with the hope and faith required to make that leap forward. This Sarah is no Disney-fied smart aleck - she is also self-aware and good with numbers. 

Sarah Rector (an astonishing debut by Naya Desir-Johnson), an 11-year-old Oklahoma girl, hears the roar, the humming sound of oil rattling beneath her feet in land considered barren (anyone who has read or seen "Killers of the Flower Moon," another Oklahoma true story, knows what is coming next). Sarah is elated and enthusiastic about this discovery despite not seeing a drop of oil - she tells her parents that her God-given ears know it is true. It is 159 acres of land and, thanks to the Treaty of 1866, she is the owner of such land thanks to her Creek Indian ancestry. She convinces her father to venture to oil companies to determine the land's value. Most are reluctant to participate except for one, a seemingly courteous Jim Devnan (Garret Dillahunt), an oil company executive. Jim has his team drill and they find nothing (of course, they do. It turns out they want the land for themselves regardless of the signed deed to Sarah).

Along the way she meets friendly wildcatter Bert (Zachary Levi) at an all-white diner where he buys her a lemonade. A friendship grows between them when she insists that he helps her cultivate that oil along with Bert's trusty Mexican friend/partner, Mace (Mel Rodriguez). These two wildcatters seem too good to be true yet they turn out to be the good guys - they really want to aid Sarah in drilling that oil and making her wealthy. Naturally, the other oil prospectors led by Jim has them threatening Sarah and her family with guns. And Bert has lost money in his past prospecting missions, and no doubt that the oil execs will make a sweet financial deal with Bert while he becomes Sarah's guardian in order to protect her wealth.

"Sarah's Oil" could have been rougher in its depiction of the hardships of a young smart girl obtaining the mineral rights to the land. This is a simplified tale yet I was quite moved by it. Naya Desir-Johnson brings such vibrancy and hope to this Sarah Rector that you are swept along by her - you want her to succeed. Money is the name of the game and there is no way on God's green earth that these white businessmen and swindlers/con men will not get their greedy hands on the oil. You have to admire Sarah's tenacity and strength - she seems older than her years suggest. That is the beauty of "Sarah's Oil" - it is Sarah's story through and through and, despite the presence of the fictitious Bert and Mace, they are refreshingly not white saviors. Sarah is determined and proud and her religious parents, Joe and Rose (sincerely played by Kenric Green and Sonequa Martin-Green), are ready to support her daughter in her cause despite initial doubts by Pops (property tax alone of 30 dollars is tough on an impoverished family). As far as biographical tales go (we get too few about black pioneers in early 20th century America), this is that rare movie that feels inspired and inspiring.

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera

 SEASON OF THE WITCH (1972)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

George Romero's "Season of the Witch" is not a misleading title and far more memorable than its original titles such as "Jack's Wife" or "Hungry Wives" (the latter could have been a Living Dead sequel). It shows the unmistakable urge for Romero to make a dramatic film about feminism and, since this was the 1970's, it makes perfect sense and it is an honorable effort.

A bored, stiff housewife, Joan (Jan White), is practically doing nothing except laying in bed. Her husband, Jack (Bill Thunhurst), wakes up early before she does and makes no effort in kissing her goodbye before heading to work. She has nightmares about her husband paying no attention to her as they go for walks in the woods where she sees a baby crawling on the ground, a woman on a swing, etc (Etcetera, etcetera is something uttered in a hallucination she has at one point). Joan also gets scratched on her forehead and her hands as she tries to push through twigs and branches while trying to approach her husband. These scenes, which contains fast cuts and odd sounds in the soundtrack, demonstrate Joan as a woman unable to cope and her willingness for something, some meaning in her life yet she feels trapped. When Joan meets with her friends, they all talk about a woman practicing witchcraft who believes in it fully as a way of life. Intrigue leads to Joan buying all the tools of the witchcraft trade and includes scenes where she pierces her skin with pins and draws spells with the hope of conjuring a demon.

Romero doesn't exactly balance all these ideas perfectly but give him credit for trying. "Season of the Witch" has a nerve-wracking pot-smoking scene with a nervous older woman that doesn't involve pot at all - a teacher puts this woman under a spell by making her believe she's ingesting something she wished she didn't (it is just a crunched up cigarette). The rest of the film has unnerving hallucinations that include a masked man outside Joan's house; Joan getting a major orgasm after hearing her daughter's moans in her bedroom; an extra-marital affair with that teacher, and some lengthy discussions about witches. One very telling scene that pretty much sets up the film is Joan having a hallucination about what her middle-class home will be like, including introductions to her social circle, her daughter, who to reach for emergencies, etc. This is the Etcetera hallucination sequence.

"Season of the Witch" is not a horror film though it contains brief woman-in-danger-inside-her-home moments that later became staples of slasher horror. It is ultimately a film about a woman trying to find an escape from her boredom. Intriguing, fascinating and, purposely, emotionally distant. A true non-horror find for Romero fans.

Mia is the heart and soul of this Stuckmannized horror flick

 SHELBY OAKS (2024)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

I only wish the best for anyone debuting as a film director in this climate of repetitive remakes and endless comic-book movies. Of course, that is not all there is because recent horror films have raised the stakes for imbuing some originality and thought rather than just mindless remaking. Some of the best horror output is from Neon Pictures and A24 and kudos to them for seeking out fresher material. You Tube Movie Reviewer Chris Stuckmann has accomplished his lifelong goal of making a movie (and he still reviews movies except only the ones he likes). "Shelby Oaks" is not the most inspired horror film (it feels like the third or fourth sequel in a series) and hardly one that will scare many out of their wits. It does, however, bear the stamp of something personal that never ventures as deeply as it could have. Still, got to give credit to Stuckmann for giving it a go and succeeding only partially.

The opening of this movie features some found footage in news segments detailing the disappearance of the Paranormal Paranoids, a group of five YouTubers that have a vested interest in finding ghosts or paranormal activity in abandoned buildings or haunted homes. Almost immediately we are entering "Grave Encounters" territory and any number of other ghostly encounter TV shows or YouTube streaming channels that you've seen millions of times. This is not a found footage film - it is actually about finding the clues in found footage in the rarest of mediums nowadays - a mini-DV cassette. Camille Sullivan is Mia who becomes obsessed with her sister's disappearance and somehow knows she's not dead (the other members of the Paranormal Paranoids were murdered). This leads to numerous scenes with typical flashlight searches inside a closed "Shawshank" prison, the dark forbidden woodsy areas, an abandoned amusement park, and finally some log cabin with a mysterious, unhealthy-looking woman whose home is filled with moldy walls. Oh, yes, and we shan't forget the ravenous dogs with glowing eyes. Mia's sister, Riley (Sarah Durn), might have encountered foul play with that other horror trope - an occult group.

"Shelby Oaks" builds itself on atmosphere and many scenes inside these dreadful, underlit locations do rivet the attention and cause one to occasionally shake their shoulders. Stuckmann might also have a gift for personal matters including Mia's fondness and despair over her sister and dark forces that always seem to surround them in their upbringing. The found footage of the forlorn Riley sensing something ominous in daylight shots in some corner of an amusement park, or in some room where something nasty and unseen this way comes, can also shock the system. Stuckmann doesn't quite the nail the depth that Mia needs on this personal journey, and her relationship with her unemotional husband (Brendan Sexton III) is lacking a pulse. 

"Shelby Oaks" needed to be deeper and more entrenched in Mia's relentless pursuit of clues to her sister's disappearance. Camille Sullivan gives it her every ounce of regret and passion she can muster and the scene of the unveiling of a photo scrapbook had me on edge. Ravenous dogs? Not so much. Cracks on the window had me on the edge of my seat. It is doubly wonderful to see veteran actors like the charismatic Keith David as a prison warden and Michael Beach as a by-the-book detective, though I did miss them as soon as they were gone. Ultimately, Camille Sullivan is the heart and soul of this movie and you kinda wish there was more of each to really give this film a jolt.