Continental Divide (1981) Conceived by writer Lawrence Kasdan as a tribute to screwball comedies of the 1940s (think His Girl Friday). Tonally it can’t commit and, at times, plays like uninspired slapstick with Belushi’s buffoonery in contrast to Brown’s uptight scientist romantic interest.

All's Fair (1989) Yet another post-Police Academy attempt at comedy via bumbling idiots unified by an occupation or social group.

Green Eyes (1977) Veteran Lloyd Dubeck (Paul Winfield) returns home and finds America unwilling to reintegrate veterans into society. Disillusioned and unable to find work, he returns to Vietnam to look for the child he fathered while recuperating there.

The Glass House (1972) Plays like a more procedural Short Eyes but less New York and more philosophical contemplation with corruption steering the narrative. But holy cow! What an atmosphere! What acting! Vic Morrow is a total scumbag and 100% authentic and gross! Fuck you John Landis!

Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979) 70s romantic ennui channeled through a 100% unlikable protagonist.

He Who Walks Alone (1978) Police in a Alabama town take all their aggression out on the town’s black population. After a young girl is attacked and the townspeople can’t get the DA to take action, Tom Hayward (Lou Gossett Jr.) decides to run for sheriff.

Crossfire (1979) Shelly is in Puerto Rico for a vacation and instantly falls in love with the mysterious Palo. Intercut with the love montages are scenes of Palo participating in domestic terrorism-related activities.

Distant Thunder (1988) There’s an over-the-top synth-stab soundtrack running through the entirety of this movie. Someone trips on a stick in the forest?: Unrelenting synth-stabs until the person gets up.

A Long Way Home (1981) A social worker starting her new job gets the rundown on a family of three siblings living at a group home. These three siblings have lived on their own for years after being abandoned by their alcoholic parents, who dragged them from town to town looking for work.

Rodeo Girl (1980) Cowgirl Sammy Garrett (Katherine Ross) lives in the shadow of her rodeo star husband Will Garrett (Bo Hopkins) who is constantly flirting with rodeo fan-girls.

First Love (1977) The story of a controlling curly-haired nerd and the woman he loves.

Misunderstood (1984) An emotionally distant father and his son learn to live with loss.

TEST: Constant Crisis [01] (2024)