Movies are rated from 1 to 5 stars (1 star being terrible, 5 being outstanding)."Top Pick!" indicates a movie that I think is very good and will have a lot of popular appeal.

Movie links go to Amazon.com. If the film you are interested in is out-of-print, I recommend ordering a used copy via Amazon.com. I've had very good luck obtaining hard-to-find and obscure films this way.

This is not really a terrible film, it's just not that great. But for the most part, it is a nonsensical, dumb and zany "road trip" flick. But I found myself laughing more than a few times anyway.

Berenger plays a grumpy sailor who is paired with baby-faced William McNamara in an assignment to transport a prisoner. Erika Eleniak plays the beautiful but wiley prisoner, who repeatedly tries to escape from the two guys. McNamara is OK (in a pouty, boyish way) but his character is scam artist and I guess I didn't find that terribly adorable. Eleniak is very pretty and adequate in her part as well.

Berenger is amusingly gruff and curmudgeonly as he has to deal with these two younger characters. His character can be wickedly ill-tempered but underneath, he's really not a bad guy. I had a hard time getting used to the unusually gravelly voice he used in this movie, though.

Eventually McNamara and Eleniak fall for each other (I won't say that they "fall in love"), but their romance is flat, forced and doesn't ring true. There is an obligatory sex scene which features Eleniak's gravity-defying breasts prominently. Be warned if you are offended by nudity.

A lot of recognizable faces show up in this film—Gary Busey, Dean Stockwell, Dennis Hopper (who also directed) and Marilu Henner (in a small part as Berenger's love interest). This movie never really works that well but it is amusing in a mind-numbing kind of way. 

Uneven but sometimes hilarious send-up of the Hollywood system. I should really give this movie 3 1/2 stars, because it definitely had flaws. But it made me laugh more than once and was a good vehicle for the main actors, so I'll give it four stars.

Perhaps I enjoyed it as much as I did because the reviews I read were so lukewarm—I definitely had "lowered expectations". But it turned out to be pretty decent, in my opinion. Sure, there were some flaws—like the completely unbelievable premise (hair-brained scheme to scam the mob) and a series of absurd coincidences. But still, the three main characters (Berenger, Burt Reynolds, Rod Steiger) work well together and give amusing performances and that made up for a lot. Berenger usually takes the part of the "straight man"—someone who reacts to the other two main character's zany antics. Reynolds and the late Steiger are also good. Sure, they chew the scenery a bit, but they can be quite funny (especially Steiger).

If you go into this film with the expectation that it is flawed and has some very funny parts, then you will not be disappointed.

The Big Chill ****
VHS | DVD

Admittedly, a classic in its genre, but not my cup of tea. I give it four stars out of respect, because I could tell it was good—I just didn't enjoy it all that much.

It's a movie that will appeal to Baby Boomers who remember being in their 30s in the 1980s, the era in which this film is set (and was filmed). A group of old friends reunite at the funeral of another friend. They spend the weekend at the dead friend's house, where they all get reacquainted, rekindle old romances, air dirty laundry, and start new romances. It's interesting, but like I mentioned before, not my cup of tea. Berenger stars along with William Hurt, Jeff Goldblum, Glenn Close, JoBeth Williams, Kevin Kline and others. They're all good in their roles, and this film is considered a favorite for many people. I just wasn't that crazy about it. Go figure.

Pretty decent mystery noir thriller. Berenger plays a 40-something world-weary cop who has been there and done that and seems to be more than a little tired of it all. Things get complicated for him when he finds himself in the middle of a convoluted plot which includes corruption, mystery body parts, S&M, and asian gangsters. A beautiful "damsel in distress" also provides an additional complication.

This movie has many twists and turns; in my opinion that's what makes it worth watching. I usually am able to predict "who dunnit" in these kind of films, but I confess, I was always a step behind in this film! It was a refreshing change—the story is not predictable and keeps you on your toes!

While I enjoyed this film, it was not perfect. I found some plot holes, and the girl who played the "damsel in distress" did not give a very good performance (in my opinion). But it was still a pretty solid film noir mystery—moody, downbeat, and with a surprise twist ending! Some disturbing content (including a rather fake-looking "bondage" scene) earn this film a well-deserved R-rating.

Depressing! I did not care for this movie very much at all. And if you don't enjoy seeing movies where the "hero" has a gloomy fate, you won't enjoy this film. I'll repeat—depressing!

Berenger plays a hot-shot L.A. lawyer with lapsed morals. He finds himself involved in a steamy affair with a stripper, who feeds him a tale of woe about an abusive brutish husband (Robert Patrick). She persuades him to become involved in a completely rash and dangerous plot—one that you know will end badly. And it does.

Rated R for some strong sexuality and nudity. And it's just so depressing. Not recommended unless you are a "completist" who wants to see all of Berenger's work.

Robert Altman offers a solid mystery. This film has an all-star cast and the story is based on a John Grisham novel. The plot (a mystery set in the South) is intriguing and keeps you riveted. Berenger's part in this film is a little too big to be considered a cameo, but not by much. He doesn't have very many scenes in this film, but that is not to say that his role isn't important. He does a good job playing a hostile blue-collar ex-husband of a woman in distress.

If you are a fan of Robert Altman's or John Grisham's work, or enjoy moody mysteries, this film is probably worth seeing.

I gave this glitzy '80s show 5 stars simply because it's so darn fun to watch. It's addictive, I tell you, addictive! It's full of exotic locales, jewel thieves and elaborate scams. It's all good-natured fun, though—this show doesn't take itself too seriously.

Tracy (Madolyn Smith) is a beautiful young woman who learns to think on her feet as she is foisted into many dramas and adventures. First, she's imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit; later she becomes the protegé of a European jewel thief. She always seems to be faking some exotic accent while wearing a series of glamorous gowns.

Jeff (Berenger) is a handsome ladies' man and easy-going con artist who keeps bumping into Tracy in the most unusual places. It's amazing to realize that the same year Berenger did this lightweight TV miniseries, he also did his Oscar-nominated performance in "Platoon". He's the antithesis of the tormented "Platoon" character in this movie—good-natured, likeable and laid-back. He also dons a few disguises too. It's all a fun harmless little lark.

A lot of notable stars (and future stars) also appear in this 5 hour miniseries, including a young-looking Liam Neeson, David Keith, CCH Pounder and Richard Kiley.  VHS

Definitely a "guilty pleasure" for me. So, this isn't the best movie, but I got a kick out of it anyway—I'm not ashamed to admit it. I noticed that Sun-Times reviewer Roger Ebert (someone who I often respect) have this movie zero stars. I thought that was funny! He hated it that much! I wasn't as offended by this movie as he was (obviously), but I admit that it is not a high-minded, edifying film. It is a tawdry B-movie.

Handsome priest (Berenger) is sucked into a complicated plot involving a lovely Mexican girl (Daphne Zuniga) and the mob. It's a convoluted tale, and suffice it to say that the filmmakers are pretty transparent—their obvious agenda is to get this priest to break his vows and get romantically involved with the girl. We all see it coming from a mile away. Some devout Catholics may find that offensive, so you have been warned. An additional warning should be given for an explicit sex scene and nudity.(It's an R-rated movie.)

I enjoyed this movie—it was an overripe potboiler and I never took it as anything else. If you are in the mood for a "lowbrow" movie with attractive stars and a melodramatic plot, look no further.