Conference bookie::movies

444.0. "Blink" by RNDHSE::WALL (Show me, don't tell me) Mon Jan 31 1994 10:30

    "Blink" stars Madelaine Stowe, Aidan Quinn, and James Remar in a twist
    on the competent-blind-woman-in-distress theme that Hollywood seems to
    explore every couple of years or whenever a suitable actor and actress
    come together, whichever comes first.  This doesn't make Blink a bad
    movie, but its novelties come mostly from the variations on this theme
    and the motivation of the serial killer villian.
    
    Ms. Stowe plays Emma, a fiddler in a popular Chicago club band whose
    muscial style appears to be folk eclectic with some Celtic overtones. 
    Aidan Quinn is John Halstrom, a Chicago detective who is not as pure as
    the new-fallen snow.  Remar does well in a supporting role as
    Halstrom's partner.
    
    Basically, this movie strings a lot of dependable devices together in a
    moderately entertaining way.  I avoid saying too much because a lot of
    the entertainment value comes from the little twists.  I found both of
    the main characters engaging because they had some depth.  Stowe's
    character has her troubles, but she's not helpless and she doesn't act
    it, but she's not a paragon, either.  Quinn's is only mildly obnoxious
    and he does have his moments.  They're believable as people, as opposed
    to just characters, which is always a pleasant surprise.
    
    The most glaring flaw in the movie is a sexual collision between Stowe
    and Quinn that does not advance the story a single iota and goes on
    entirely too long.  I think it's an attempt to connect to something
    Stowe says to a friend earlier, but it's so spectacularly inappropriate
    that on reflection I think it was put in to allow people who drank too
    much soda before the film time to nip out to the restroom and get back
    before something else interesting happens.  Stowe and Quinn are both
    attractive people but this scene reminds us why so many couples choose
    to make love in the dark.  Totally unnecessary.
    
    Arbitrary rating -- three stars out of five.  A little more if you're a
    real fan of this genre.  R-rating probably earned by a few carefully
    chosen cuss words and the unnecessary sex scene mentioned above.
    
    DFW

    Saw it against my better judgement. I KNEW I should have
    waited for it to be out on video. Contrived, trite etc etc
    The main characters are unlikeable, except for the dog.
    1 star.
    
    			-Jim-

    I saw it when it first came out and I enjoyed it.   I would probably
    also give it 3 out of 5 for that gendre flick.
    
    
    Stowe and Quinn had acted together before in an old movie 
    (a funny one) "Stakeout" with Richard Dreyfuss and Emelio Estevez

Can anybody tell me what other movies James Remar has been in?  He looks 
really familar but I can't place him.

Thanks!

Chris

    Off the top of my head (and in no particular order) I can think of:
    
    The Warriors
    The Long Riders
    Cruising
    48 Hours
    The Cotton Club
    The Dream Team
    
    Nick