Steve D
The mix of tones makes this one really unpleasant.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
02/12/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Elmore Leonard's least-Elmore book is turned into an incoherent, dull mess.
Rated 1/5 Stars •
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
01/26/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Touch (1997)
I'm a big fan of Elmore Leonard's books and heard that they made Touch into a made-for-cable movie in 1997. Where most Elmore Leonard books are caper, or cop stories, this one is slightly different.
The director, Paul Schrader has an interesting religious bent, having done Taxi Driver and The Last Temptation of Christ, so you know it's going to have an interesting bent in this movie.
Bill Hill (Christopher Walken) is an X-Evangelist (now selling travel trailers) who is finding out about this mysterious guy Juvenal (Skeet Ulrich) who is a young defrocked monk, who now works at an alcohol detox center. Juvenal can heal people by just touching them.
Bill has been trying to interview Juvenal, but keeps getting the run-around by everyone at the center. He has a friend, Lynn Faulkner (Bridget Fonda) go in to try to find out more about him. Could this Juvenal guy be for real?
There's also this radical religious nut, August Murray (Tom Arnold) who wants to bring back latin masses to the Catholic Church and with Bill Hill's help, is trying to cash in on Juvenal's healing powers.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/16/23
Full Review
Audience Member
70%---By in large a near failure as a comedy, but to see Christopher Walken is worth the effort in this one. He elevates everything he appears in, at least for my part. See it for him alone.
Don't expect too much from the writer for Taxi Driver in this one. Fame is very fleeting.
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bc/Touch.jpg/200px-Touch.jpg[/img]
NOTES:
1 Touch is a 1997 film written and directed by Paul Schrader, based on a novel by Elmore Leonard.
2 The film, which has elements of drama and black comedy, stars Christopher Walken, Richard Schiff, Bridget Fonda, Skeet Ulrich, Tom Arnold, Gina Gershon, Lolita Davidovich, Janeane Garofalo and Paul Mazursky. It was shot in Fullerton, California.
3 Writer-director Paul Schrader is best known for dark examinations of the human soul; he wrote Taxi Driver and wrote and directed such austere character studies as Mishima and Affliction.
[img]http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR35O3KCM8rWwjBsRKL7MD-8ntOPzwsnijrGxlCWr-Ht6fRld5SYA[/img] Christopher Walken
Plot:
A young man, Juvenal, is apparently able to cure the sick by the laying-on of hands. Mysterious stigmata appear from time to time on his flesh.
The former evangelist Bill Hill, tired of selling mobile homes for a living, persuades his friend Lynn Faulkner to befriend the innocent ex-monk and encourage him to aim for the big-time. But matters become complicated when the young couple falls in love, and even more complicated when fundamentalist August Murray takes exception to their relationship.
REVIEWS:
1 Incredibly underrated movie with great cast. Successful crossover of different genres: mysticism, lyric comedy, and satire. Very engaging and enjoyable.
2 Highly recommend this movie to those who tend to think outside the box.
3 I enjoyed this film. It's a comedy with some touches of nuttiness from the zealot protagonist Tom Arnold. Ulrich was especially good as the gifted former monk Juvenal.
4 I was surprised how closely it followed the novel.
(This is where Leonard broke from booze I think.)
I love this (book)movie. I recommend all to see it; there's always tomorrow.
Cast
Skeet Ulrich as Juvenal
Bridget Fonda as Lynn
Christopher Walken as Bill Hill
Gina Gershon as Debra
Tom Arnold as August Murray
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[/img]
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/19/23
Full Review
Audience Member
In the mid 1990's, Elmore Leonard adaptations seemed to be all the rage, from Get Shorty (1995) to Jackie Brown (1997) and Out of Sight (1998). Now it was the turn of writer/director Paul Schrader to take on Leonard with this low-budget black comedy about false prophets. It doesn't last too long, but it gets it's message across in that time. When Charlie Lawson, also known as Juvenal (Skeet Ulrich) a supposed miracle worker appears on the scene who gets Stigmata wounds, he finds an agent in the form of the slippery evangelist turned trailer park home owner Bill Hill (Christopher Walken) who snags him with the help of his associate Lynn Faulkner (Bridget Fonda). However, Hill's plans of cashing in on Juvenal's apparant powers are derailed when Juvenal falls for Lynn. Then more problems occur when the even more slippery Reverend August Murray (Tom Arnold) appears on the scene and he wants a piece of the action as well. So, it ends up with them all playing off one another, and then Juvenal's powers don't seem to be working anymore, but that doesn't please Murray, who wants Juvenal for his needs. It's a good, low-budget film with a good cast. It has a good score by Dave Grohl, and is probabily the lesser known of the Leonard adaptations of it's time, (it only made $408,097 on it's original release in America), but it's a film that's well worth a look.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/05/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Interesting idea but a dull film.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
02/25/23
Full Review
Read all reviews
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