| Review:
|
A comedic-mystery farce that died at the box office
“Radioland Murders” was the first film involving George
Lucas in quite some time. The film has stellar performances
despite the ham fisted script. Critically reviled when it
was released the film certainly deserved recognition if
for nothing else than the sharp performances by the cast.
Featuring a terrific cast of Hollywood veterans including
Brian Benben, Mary Stuart Masterson, Ned Beatty, George
Burns, Michael McKean, Michael Nerner, the late Brion James,
Stephen Tobolowsky, Jeffrey Tambor, Corbin Bernsen, Rosemary
Glooney, Bobcat Goldthwait, Candy Clark, Robert Klein, Chrisotpher
Lloyd and Larry Miller the film may be less than the sum
of its parts (much like the film version of “Noises Off”).
As a comedy it’s a disaster and the mystery is about as
transparent as can be midway through the film. The performances
by the cast and the sharp direction by Mel Smith can’t overcome
the tired screenplay but make “Radioland Murders” less than
the disaster that its painted to be. The script is the main
suspect here in the killing of a potentially funny film.
The film is bludgeoned by weapons consisting of tired jokes
and clichéd plot devices that ultimately cause the film
to come undone like the best laid plans of all criminals.
***
Set during 1939 the film is a murder-mystery-comedy
that’s akin to some of the films from the 30’s and 40.s
During a broadcast on the premiere of the season for WBN
the 4th radio network in America someone begins killing
cast and crew members. Penny Henderson (Mary Stuart Masterson)the
owner’s secretary must deal with the amorous advances of
a sponsor, her pain in the rear boss and her a soon-to-be
ex-husband (Brian Benben) who is trying to woo her back
before the divorce becomes final. ---
Image & Sound: “Murders” looks quite good with a nice
anamorphic transfer that may not be to die for but is a
huge improvement over the previous edition. Audio sounds
clean with no distortion and dialog is quite clear throughout.
|
