An emotional tornado sends an actress over the rainbow to find herself: a review of "Betty"

Betty (1997)

     An emotional tornado sends an actress over the rainbow to find herself.

Directed: Richard Murphy.

Starring: Stephen Gregory (Fred), Udo Kier (Vincent Lord), Dan O'Donahue (Burt Becker), Ron Perlman (Donnie Shank), Cheryl Pollack (Betty Monday), Holland Taylor (Crystal Ball). 

     A kooky paranoid actress (Pollack), feeling out of place in her life and career, disappears in the midst of filming a $70 million dollar movie, and begins a journey down the bricky road of self rediscovery.  On her trail is her therapist/manager (Taylor), who flies between being bubbles and glitter supportive and evil mean wicked and nasty dictatorial.  As she winds her way through the forest of self re-evaluation, she teams up with three unusual individuals (Gregory, O"Donahue, Perlman) who, in teaching her the tricks of their trades, re-awaken her faith in her own brain, heart and courage, and remind her that she knows where her home is...and there's no place like it.  

     This is a quirky comedy with a unique style, some fantastic double meaning dialogue, and good performances.  If you're looking for a different kind of laugh, with cereal filled swimming pools, topical muscle relaxants and bad golf, along with a touch of dreams, follow "Betty."

     Favorite Line(s):  "Evel Knievel, he was my hero. He helped me through my childhood. I saw him break his back four times!"

"What's wrong with this thing (cigarette lighter)?"  "It's childproof."  "Childproof?!  A g*dd*mn f*cking scientist couldn't make this thing work!".

     Worth a rent/buy used.

     First published in 2004 on The Perlman Pages.

"She'll breed, you'll die...any questions?": a review of "Alien Resurrection"

Alien: Resurrection    (1997)

     She’ll breed, you’ll die…any questions?

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

Starring: Raymond Cruz, Gary Dourdan, Brad Dourif, J. E. Freeman, Kim Flowers, Dan Hedaya, Leland Orser, Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon, Winona Ryder, Sigourney Weaver, Michael Wincott.

     Two hundred years after her death Ripley is cloned for the Alien inside her by a rogue military faction. After the Alien is surgically removed the Ripley left is one of mixed species’ strengths and seemingly divided species loyalty. When the Alien breeds and decimates the military space station, it is left to Ripley and a group of "where the f*ck are the army guys?!" mercenary smugglers stuck on the outpost to stop the Aliens from reaching Earth.

    The standard Alien and space special effects are in play here (with one special "birth" near the end). The music has a tendency to get in the way of scenes instead of enhancing them. There's a nice mixed group of engaging characters in the smugglers (the lovers, the horny foul mouthed tough guy, the brainy soft hearted wheelchair bound guy, the calm leader, the one with a secret) and the obsessed to the point of arrogant blindness doctors. Over all, the idea of a hybrid Ripley/Alien is an interesting one and makes for a decent center to a good fun action film.

     Favorite line: "Earth? I'd rather stay here with the things man!"  

     Worth a rent if you're into the Alien movies and/or sci-fi/horror.

     First published in 2004 on The Perlman Pages.

Ron Perlman Movie Reviews

When "Hellboy" came out in 2004 I joined the official movie website forum (now defunct) for the film where I met Helen/Hellmistress (who runs The Doug Jones Experience) who suggested to Pat, who runs The Perlman Pages, that I would be a good movie reviewer, aaaand the next 34 posts were born.