Being There (1979)

Simple-minded gardener Chance is forced to leave the only world he's ever known when the master of the house dies. He has literally no experience outside of that house until he's forced to exit it and has spent all of his time either gardening or watching television. After being backed-into by an automobile, the ultra-rich owner of the car decides to take him back to her home since they've already got a team of doctors there caring for her husband. "Chauncey Gardiner" soon has a reputation as wise and careful due to his agreeability and tendency to speak in what is assumed to be gardening metaphors.

I mean... yeah. I get it. If you look the part, people make a lot of assumptions. They'll also peg you as wise when you're reflecting their own ideas back at them. But it got a little icky and a lot repetitive before it was over.

C+

And Justice for All (1979)

This is a bang-up story. Pacino plays Arthur, a defense attorney with a pesky conscience. He actually cares about his clients, especially those whom he deems to be too fragile for the punishments they're being given. Unlike Arthur, Judge Fleming has no compunctions about following the "letter of the law" and would even like to try extreme consequences for crimes -- at one point suggesting hangings for armed robbers. Arthur and Fleming don't get along, obviously. So, when the Judge is accused of a brutal rape, he taps Arthur to defend him, calculating that this will make him look super innocent.

There's definitely a tragicomic vibe as we watch Arthur scramble and (mostly) fail to protect his clients. The people around him aren't doing much better, and I'm not even talking about the clients. His partner's having a nervous breakdown, his judge friend has a death wish, his grandfather suffers from dementia, and his girlfriend is a member of the ethics committee. His frustration is palpable and we can't help but hope he'll come through it intact.

B+

Chapter Two (1979)

A widower and a recent divorcee aren’t interested in finding anyone new right now, but they do anyway. They’re in love in minutes, married in weeks, and on the rocks -- for no reason at all -- on their honeymoon.  It all gets wrapped up neatly, but I couldn’t get past the doormat mentality of the woman.

I think it’s supposed to be a comedy (this is the movie mentioned in Seinfeld’s ep “The Letter,” in which it’s called “funny....fuh-nee”), but other than a couple of witty conversations early on, I found little to make me laugh.

C+

Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979)

On the TCM recording, Robert Osborne introduced this as being one of his selections for an "Overlooked Film" Festival in L.A. He blamed the original title ("Head Over Heels") as one of the reasons it wasn't seen during its theater run. I think it's more likely because the story is rather small and unoriginal.

John Heard and Mary Beth Hurt do as good a job as they can in their roles, but it winds up just being a love story that doesn't go anywhere. It's basically an awkwardly presented (complete with to-the-camera narration at times) light take on obsession in which it's never quite clear on why Heard would be obsessed with this rather unremarkable woman.

It wasn't rooting either way -- whether or not they were together didn't matter a bit to me. It was fine when they were dating and fine when they weren't...they seemed equally messed up regardless. Why bother, you know?

C-

The In-Laws (1979)

Peter Falk is a zany guy who crashes into the quiet dentist life of Alan Arkin when their children get engaged.

Some parts made me chuckle ("serpentine!"), but it's mostly a series of slight variations of Falk forcing some wacky agenda while Arkin reacts exaggeratedly and almost gets killed. We're also occasionally treated to truly boring scenes of Arkin's family wondering what's happening.

A real letdown.

C

The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979)

Interesting story…but it was a bit too cool for me and the ending nearly ruined the whole she-bang (hoo-hoo! Pun! I kill me!). I admired Maria and the fact that the goal was the thing; but the fact that she grew ever less feeling -- almost less human -- made my interest in what the outcome of her life was going to be wane.

B-

Starting Over (1979)

What an annoying movie. What on earth Clayburgh sees in Reynolds is invisible to my eye. He's kind of a jerk…and they're both intensely boring. It's labeled as a comedy, but I the only time I smiled during the entire thing was very near the end when Bergen starts writing a lyric in her head.

D-

Alien (1979)

We rented this in anticipation of the upcoming Alien vs. Predator film. Prediction: Predator will kick ass. There was a bit too much of the "let's split up so it can kill us more easily" strategy employed. Just felt tired...and the "baby alien" looked like a finger-puppet. Going off my memories (this being my second viewing), I was concerned that this may be too intense for the boys. I needn't have worried - neither were scared in the least.

C+