Director of dramas like Against All Odds in the 80s who moved to more varied stuff in the 90s and 00s.
An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) -- Like 1986's Top Gun, this movie has traditional appeal for men and women, a romantic movie with a Navy backdrop, with all kinds of big emotions for both sexes. Unlike Top Gun, it doesn't have all the towel-slapping gayness and -- the really good news -- this one isn't half bad. Richard Gere cries out lines like "I've got no place to go!" and "Up Where We Belong" is cramming our ears with bad music and we love it. B
White Nights (1985) -- Cold war goofiness (parading as seriousness) abounds with Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines showing off their respective dancing styles. C
The Devil's Advocate (1997) -- Apparently Taylor Hackford developed a sense of humor since his mid-80s days of melodrama. The movie is a big piece of fun that nevertheless plays it more or less straight (the devil runs a law firm--so what?), never winking at you. Slick and enjoyable. B
Copyright (c) Sep 2005 by Rusty Likes Movies