Bill Rice Movies
Jim Jarmusch's black-and-white feature Coffee and Cigarettes contains three vignettes originally released as short films along with separate yet somewhat related sketches. As the title suggests, most of the vignettes involve famous people smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. The first, "Coffee and Cigarettes," is a six-minute short from 1986 starring Stephen Wright and Roberto Benigni. The 1989 installment, "Memphis Version," stars Steve Buscemi, Joie Lee, and Cinqué Lee. The award-winning 1993 segment, "Somewhere in California," stars musicians Iggy Pop and Tom Waits. The remaining sketches include Cate Blanchett performing a duel role, a conversation with Bill Murray and members of the Wu-Tang Clan, and Alfred Molina and British television actor Steve Coogan as themselves. In its full-length version form, Coffee and Cigarettes was shown at the 2003 Venice Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roberto Benigni, Steven Wright, (more)
- 1992
In this independently produced, short, meandering, plot-deprived, experimental, improvisational film, apparently intended as avant-garde fare, a group of pretentious white intellectuals gather at a vacant lot in Harlem for a party for a non-appearing guest of honor, a writer. In addition to the guests' vacant chatter, the film shows the black neighbors' reaction to this unusual neighborhood entertainment. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zohra Lampert
- 1990
In this black-and-white, independently produced crime drama, Izzy (Jack Kruschen) is surprised one day shortly after the death of his business partner to discover that he had been using their gumball machine franchise as a cover for selling crack. Though he's a bit long in the tooth to be starting out in such a rough business, he teams up with a middle-aged black man with street smarts (Don Fullilove), and together they cope with the competition for this business he didn't know he had. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Kruschen, Donald Fullilove, (more)
Veteran character actor James Hong wore two hats on The Vineyard as star and director. The scene is a remote island, dominated by a large, rambling vineyard. Mysterious Japanese vintner Hong gives his product an extra kick with a "special ingredient." The results: Immortality for Hong . . . and an army of vino-besotted zombies. In case you get tired of the violence in The Vineyard, there's also plenty of sex and nudity to keep you awake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
The wife of a policeman hires a private detective to spy on her unfaithful husband in this mystery film noir send-up. The detective finds no proof of infidelity but uncovers a drug-running operation that involves the crooked cop. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Brisbin, Taunie Vrenon, (more)
- 1987
Hargus Beesley is so afraid that his mother will get up off her sickbed and wander over to their Vermont barn that he is unable to do more than snuggle briefly with his long-suffering girlfriend, Lisa. Understandably impatient with his mother fixation and eager to get on with life, Lisa runs off to New York. Now it is years later, and mom is happily buried. Hargus books a room in a cheap hotel in New York and begins looking for his intended. The utterly naive and clueless lout gets a leg-up in his search when he runs into the flamboyantly gay Julius Marlboro, and though it doesn't seem like he's ever going to find Lisa, he does meet some colorful characters. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Rice, Rockets Redglare, (more)
- 1987
The title Landlord Blues is a lot catchier than the film itself. Mark Boone Jr. plays a slum tenant whose landlord might well be described a scumbucket, except this wouldn't be fair to the other scumbuckets. The more Boone complains, the nastier his landlord becomes. When the last straw is broken, Boone exacts revenge in bloody slasher-flick fashion. Nary a cliché remains unturned in Landlord Blues. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
The German Doomed Love deals not with a dying romance, but one which is already dead. Professor Bill Rice can't get over the demise of his true love. There is nothing for him to do but muse over the possibility of reviving the decedent so that she can return to his arms. At 75 minutes, the fantastic elements of this curious film are never permitted to get out of hand. A financial success (and multi-award winner) in Europe, Doomed Love has yet to receive much of a showcase in the States. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Rice, Rosemary Moore, (more)
This docudrama celebrates the colorful lives of teens who live in the South Bronx. There they are seen break dancing, creating graffiti art, and listening to raucous rap. The slim story centers on Zoro, who likes to spray-paint subway cars. He gets a break when he is hired to decorate a platform for an upcoming rap concert. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lee George Quinones, Patti Astor, (more)
- 1981
Scott B and Beth B, successful makers of short, experimental films made The Vortex an attempt at a "camp" film with a pessimistic "noirish" atmosphere. The detective Lunch (Lydia Lunch, a popular underground musician and poet) investigates a band of corporate businessman who seek government defense contracts through real "corporate wars" and the manipulation of politicians. Though a bit confusing, this film does have an excellent performance by Lunch, as the detective. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Russo, Lydia Lunch, (more)
- 1981
This detective drama was shot on location in New York City and chronicles the bloody wake of terror left by a murderous street saxophone player who hides out on the subway. The bizarre string of murders is investigated by a hard-bitten detective. Along the way he meets assorted New Wave scumbags. The mood of the film is heightened by an avant garde musical score. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robbie Coltrane, John Lurie, (more)
- 1980
Hailed as a "punk melodrama," this feature started out as a serial and was originally shown at the popular New York City punk club Max's Kansas City. The homemade saga begins when Young Turks abduct performer Adele Bertei and her dad. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1980
This experimental drama comes from the avant-garde team Scott B. and Beth B. and is their last film made on Super-8 film. It is the story of a jobless man's attempt to find stability in his life. His life is a nightmare of darkness and oppression and during his journey, the man encounters an assortment of strange, intensely self-absorbed characters. The tale culminates with the hapless man being knocked in the head during a mugging. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Considered by many to be one of the worst films ever made, Eegah! is the story of a gigantic Neanderthal who has managed to survive into modern times living in California's Mojave desert, and who falls in love with and kidnaps the teenage girl who discovered him in a cave. A handsome young man (Arch Hall, Jr., the director's teenage son) proves to be her savior and while he and his rock & roll band play, the police shoot the caveman to bits. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Kiel, Marilyn Manning, (more)
