zetes Sam Raimi's follow-up to The Evil Dead is a goofy, live action cartoon. Reed Birney plays a dork who is about to be executed for murders he didn't commit. Sitting on the electric chair, he tells the improbable story of how a couple of crazy exterminators went on a killing spree and in reality he was the hero who stopped them. This is an utterly bizarre film, not really like anything else I've seen (the one film I've seen that it reminds me most of is Louis Malle's underrated comedy Zazie dans le metro). I wouldn't say it's overly successful - it's annoying as often as it's funny. But still, it's amusing, and every bit as inventive as The Evil Dead and the film that followed this one, Evil Dead II. In fact, I'd say a lot of the craziness of this film fed directly into Evil Dead II, which is probably Raimi's best film (well, I'd probably say his absolute best is A Simple Plan, but Evil Dead II is the more iconic contribution to cinema). Evil Dead II is a better film in every way, but Crimewave is most certainly worth a look.

Dave from Ottawa A nebbishy guy is on the run from the cops after a couple of hit men frame him for their wild crime spree in this dark and quite funny action comedy from early in the careers of the Coen Brothers. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. The plotting is sharp and inventive, and the action is fast moving, with Brion James and Paul L. Smith stealing the movie as the hit men. The two young lovers who get inadvertently caught up in the intrigue are more off-the-rack as characters and thus less interesting than their antagonists, but then again, the villains always get the best material. Everything in the movie has a slightly amber hue. I'm guessing that this was meant to suggest the yellowing pages of an old pulp novel. Certainly, that is what is being both constructed here and spoofed at the same time: Pepsodent clean good guy / good girl couple in over their heads, nasty villains driving the unrelenting action, sudden violence erupting out of nowhere. It's all pretty entertaining.

Scarecrow-88 The story of a nerdy loser with a heart of gold, Vic(Reed Birney)who yearns for the beautiful tenant, Nancy(Sheree J Wilson) who lives in the apartment complex he works in. The film allows Vic to tell his story of his innocence as security guards walk him to the dreaded electric chair. The film shows two demented exterminators(..who kill anything)hired to kill a businessman who signed away a company to a "heel" named Renaldo(Bruce Campbell), by his disgruntled partner who wasn't told of the sell. The murder, using "current juice" from an over charged battery, sets off a chain of crazy events soon involving Nancy and Vic.Zany madcap lunacy, completely over-the-top, delivered in-your-face as only director Sam Raimi can. There's one thing CRIMEWAVE ain't and that's subtle. When I read that the Coens had assisted Raimi in writing CRIMEWAVE, it didn't surprise me because their work often features a marriage of black humor, violence, and eccentric characters...most often set within a noirish setting. While CRIMEWAVE doesn't feature the kind of violence one is accustomed to in a Coens' picture(..or are the characters this animated), there are touches that remind us of their films. If you approach this in the right frame of mind(..as if you were watching a full-length live action loony toons cartoon using human characters), I think CRIMEWAVE might just entertain you. Others beware. The cast just flung themselves into their roles, going with the material.Paul L Smith(POPEYE)steals the film as the gargantuan Coddish, ripping doors off their hinges as he chases after Helen Trend(Louise Lasser;BANANAS), even at one point pulling her entire living room by the carpet towards him to nab her. Helen, who kept nagging at her husband Ernest(Edward R Pressman)to see what happened in his store across the street, discovers Coddish carrying a body to his car, with the chase to get her ensuing. Brion James, in a completely off-the-wall performance(..as you've never seen him before)is the squeaky voiced partner of Coddish, Faron Crush. Wilson(..known primarily for her television work on DALLAS & WALKER, Texas RANGER)has a key supporting role as the lovely object of desire for Vic. Bruce Campbell is up to his old tricks as a very confident(..and very brash), but very cheap and sleazy, businessman who uses his underhanded tricks to gain the contract of the company which started the series of events that transpire throughout the movie. The sound effects, music, facial expressions, camera work, car chase, human violence, and dialogue all established in an unrestrained manner..as often described, CRIMEWAVE is pure slapstick, made with a disregard for realism.

Greensleeves This is a fabulously unique film and I guarantee you have never seen anything like it. It's virtually a live action cartoon which proceeds at breakneck speed and is hilarious to watch. It's one of the most 'cinematic' films you will ever see and every scene uses colour, imaginative camera work and scenic design to optimum effect. The only downsides are the casting of Reed Birney in the lead when the part really calls for someone with more charisma. The sense of period becomes very fuzzy and the music score is a little too overpowering and becomes quite wearing after a while. But don't let anything put you off seeing this film if you get the chance because there is so much to enjoy. You will gasp at the sheer inventiveness of it all and Bruce Campbell fans will lap up his appearance here which he plays to absolute perfection.