Where the Buffalo Roam (Murray as Thompson)

Score: 8 out of 10

       I will start by saying I am absolutely floored that I had no idea this movie even existed until two weeks ago. What is even more shocking is that it was actually pretty good. "Where the Buffalo Roam" was directed by Art Linson and Stars Peter Boyle, Bill Murray and Bruno Kirby. The film tells the (tall) tales of legendary journalist Hunter S. Thompson. In fact, large parts of the film are based on Thompson's books "Fear and Loathing at the Superbowl" and "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72." How much of the film is factual is open to debate. The big question here is how does Murray do portraying Thompson. The answer is pretty well. Murray spent quite a bit of time with the famed "gonzo journalist" before and while filming and really nailed the his mannerisms. I think it is important to note that this is one of those few films where Bill Murray steps out of his own persona. Even in Wes Anderson movies, there is something about Bill that just puts a stamp on the movie. It becomes a "Bill Murray movie." This is the first time I have really seen a movie starring Mr. Murray where it really was not a "Bill Murray movie."

       The other key component here is Peter Boyle. I felt while watching it that this was really one of Boyle's best performances. I absolutely loved every scene he was in. I laughed because of him and got angry with him. It was just all around fun. The downside is 1998's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." That movie has become so ingrained with most people and there idea of who HST was that I feel this film might be hard for most to bear. Honestly though, if you could put that movie out of your head and just take this one in, I promise it will be worth it. I hate to advocate weird chemicals, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone... 

Love,

   The B-Movie Guy

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The Wickeds (Zombies Done Wrong)

 Score: 2 Out Of 10

         Oh my god, this movie was so terrible that I actually feel like a terrible person because I watched it. "The Wickeds (2005)" was directed by John Poague and stars Ron Jeremy (Yes, that Ron Jeremy), Justin Alvarez and Anna Bridgforth. The movie tells the story of two idiot grave robbers who accidentally raise a bunch of zombies (and a vampire, because, why not?) and then hide in an abandoned farm house with some teenagers who are trying to have a half-assed Halloween party. I am pretty used to watching bad movies but this one is not even "funny bad." It is just "sad bad." It falls victim to every zombie/vampire movie cliche and that is just the tip of the iceberg. The zombies are so bad that at one point a zombie bride starts to loose her veil and actually stops to adjust it. But even the acting of the survivors is terrible. I was particularly bothered by one guy who kept talking like Bill from "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)." Because the acting is this bad, the irrational decisions that characters make just seem so much more obvious. 

    Now lets talk about Ron Jeremy. Ron is not a bad actor. He appears in some Troma films and even some big budget Hollywood productions and turns in some pretty good performances. So what happened here? It almost seems as if he was not even trying. I am willing to believe after watching the movie that he just showed up and said "Where's my check?" I have seen a couple of his porn movies from back in the seventies and he even acted (much) better in those. To summarize, I can not recommend this movie to anyone. Not even people I dislike. I just hope that this does not ruin your opinion of Ron Jeremy. He really is a pretty good actor.

Love,

   The B-Movie Guy

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