FROGS

title: FROGS

year: 1973

cast: Ray Milland, Joan Van Ark, Adam Rourke, Sam Elliott, Lynn Borden, Judy Pace

rating: ***1/2

It's kind of a misleading title as the FROGS are the instigative generals who only attack at the end. REPTILES would be more fitting as it embodies snakes, lizards, gators... and, yes, the frogs... who are surrounding a big mansion in New Orleans owned by a rich industrialist (Ray Milland) who's bad to the environment, making a lot of noise and pissing off his family who can't sleep. Sam Elliott is a "green" photographer who happens upon the bratty clan who all eventually get picked off one after the other during a holiday family gathering. Adam Rourke is a standout as Milland's playboy son, as is Lynn Borden as his beautiful, but aging, primadonna wife. This is actually a very well photographed film (with amazing natural shots) with a Tenessee Williams aura and not a cheesy B-movie as the title (and poster) implies. Overall it's quite RIBBITING!

ROAD HOUSE

title: ROAD HOUSE

year: 1989

cast: Patrick Swayze, Sam Elliott, Kelly Lynch, Ben Gazzara, Kathleen Wilhoite

rating: ***1/2

This Patrick Swayze late-eighties bar-brawling vehicle has become sort of a punchline. I'm not sure why because as far as bloody-knuckle action goes, this is top-notch. A sought-after bouncer is brought to a small-town to "clean up" a bar and that he does, first by getting rid of the crooked employees and then beating up the particularly seedy customers who's turned the place into something worse than the Cantina in "Star Wars". But it's not gonna be as easy as it seems, for the town is owned by a Hugh Hefner gone bad millionaire Ben Gazzara, who not only owns the import of all booze but has the hots for Swayze's lost interest, a sexy doctor played by Kelly Lynch. Sam Elliott as Swayze's bouncer mentor adds vitality to an already kickass film.