Little Shop of Horrors

Directed by: Frank Oz

Written by: Howard Ashman (screenplay and musical play); Charles B. Griffith (1960 screenplay)








Some movies follow the cookie-cutter model. Some movies break off in new directions and blaze new trails.

Then there are movies like Little Shop of Horrors which subvert and twist the cookie cutter model into something completely different.

Little Shop of Horrors has elements of science fiction, elements of romance, elements of comedy (both dark and slapstick), and elements of horror, all under the disarming guise of a musical with puppets. It's disorienting and confusing, and unlike anything else.

It's brilliant. It doesn't try to be pretentious or over-the-top (except in its own ironic way). The energy is all focused in the same direction. There's a synergy which doesn't often hold up in other movies which try to pull off the same tricks this movie does.

Like the interesting looking plant in the window, this movie will lure you in. Just be prepared for what you'll find inside.

The Spanish Prisoner

Written and Directed by: David Mamet

For years I had heard the name David Mamet mentioned in hushed and reverent tones. Nothing I overheard gave me any insight into the man or his work, beyond general acclaim. Then, at some point, I saw a trailer for "The Spanish Prisoner," made the Mamet connection, and had been on the hunt for this film ever since.

Joe Ross (Scott), an up-and-coming engineer, runs across wealthy financier Jimmy Dell (Martin), who earns his trust and promises to help him out of an unpleasant work situation and bring him into ranks of the wealthy elite. Ross quickly realizes that Dell is actually a con-man and turns to the FBI for help. But trying to con a con-man brings Ross deeper into Dell's web of deception.

The plot of this film resembles something from Hitchcock at his best. There are layers under layers and twists within twists, and major reveals which only lead to more complexities. With so many unpredictable turns, "The Spanish Prisoner" manages to be an edge-of-your-seat thriller without requiring much action. Some cliché twists are used, but not in any predictable way or for any conventional purpose.

The noir-style dialogue (often delivered weakly) does not seem fit well with the modern setting, though it does add a bit of texture to the story. The acting is not terribly strong, although the weakness plays a major role in the overall effect of the film: when everyone is acting, it becomes much harder to tell when a character is telling the truth and when they are being deceptive (or even when they are intentionally trying to reveal a deception to hide some other truth).

I absolutely enjoyed this film. Despite its few but noticeable weaknesses, "The Spanish Prisoner" stands out as quite unique. It hearkens back to a time when intrigue and plot were king in films, and the actors were key players in delivering the story.