John Powers Movies
- 2002
Directed by John Feldman, Who the Hell is Bobby Roos? is a wholly improvised film based on the real-life experiences of co-screenwriter and star Roger Kabler. Kabler's career as a widely acclaimed comedic impressionist wobbled slightly in the early '90s, when he began to feel overwhelmed by his own subject matter. Likewise, the character of Bobby Roos (Kabler) rises quickly through the comedy circuit, becoming well-known for his impressions of Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, and Al Pacino. However, Roos' professionalism teeters precariously when he begins to continue his impressions outside of the comedy club. Some of his antics include beating a heckler as he believes De Niro would have in Taxi Driver, and pursuing a romantic relationship exclusively in his De Niro persona. It takes a snowbound experience in a New England cabin to snap Roos out of his daze and force him to embrace his true identity. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
- Starring:
- Roger Kabler, Iris Paldiel, (more)
- 1989
- R
Favorite "B"-movie tough guy William Smith stars in this dull and tacky occult horror film, released directly to home video. Smith plays a maniacal Satanist with the entire town of Red Rock under his thumb. The key to his power is his regular provision of souls for his evil master, which he acquires from unfortunate townspeople with the aid of a sinister cop (professional behemoth Robert Z'Dar, of the Maniac Cop series) and offers up via frequent ritual sacrifices and a spate of gory murders. Aside from the welcome presence of Smith, this is basically a cheap slasher film which offers absolutely nothing new, and suffers from the usual ham-fisted direction, hideous acting and lackluster special effects. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Starring:
- William Smith, Pepper Martin, (more)
This cult favorite from director/producer Sig Shore featured the music of Earth, Wind and Fire and had a #1 soundtrack album, but went belly-up at the box-office. That's a shame, because what other film offers viewers Harvey Keitel as a record producer who skates at an all-black disco rink, Bert Parks as a child molester, and squeaky-clean singer Jimmy Boyd ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus") as a hardcase junkie? Other treats on hand include the manager of a Christian pop band threatening to stick an ice pick in Keitel's ear and appearances by noted disc jockeys Murray the K and Frankie Crocker. Amidst all of this insanity, Cynthia Bostick's female-lead turn as a Joplin-like junkie singer named Velour is lost. The film ends with a number of Earth, Wind and Fire songs, but by that point most viewers will be in bad-movie shellshock. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- Starring:
- Harvey Keitel, Ed Nelson, (more)
- 1974
- R
Freebie (James Caan) and the Bean (Alan Arkin) are a pair of San Francisco cops. Red Meyers (Jack Kruschen) is the mobster whom Freebie and the Bean would like to see behind bars -- or, failing that, six feet under. Nothing stands in the way of the cops' pursuit of Meyers, meaning that private property is given quite a going-over in this picture. The film's most memorable scene finds Freebie and the Bean crashing their car into a poor schnook's living room. TV favorites Loretta Swit and Valerie Harper play the only female roles worth mentioning. The racist and sexist humor in Freebie and the Bean may not go over as well today as it did in the politically incorrect early '70s. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alan Arkin, James Caan, (more)
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