Five Corners (1987)

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“So give the stupid dog the stupid sweater and see if he can pick up the stupid trail.”
Billed as a suspense comedy, this curious film focuses on the Five Corners area of the Bronx in 1964.

Linda (Jodie Foster), a young twenty-something pet store clerk, has a sociopathic stalker, Heinz (John Turturro), who was just let out of jail. She asks her former tough boyfriend, Harry (Tim Robbins), to help her but he’s not available much anymore since he became involved in the civil rights movement. Linda’s current boyfriend James (Todd Graff) wants to help but Linda refuses because the last time he tried to help he was badly beaten.

Others in the cast include Anthony Powers as Officer Zola; John Seitz as Officer Sullivan; Rose Gregorino as Heinz’s clueless mother; Kathleen Chalphant as Harry’s mother.

Directed by Tony Bill.

Run time: 1 hour, 22 minutes

Rated R for violence.

My personal rating: B-

Blind Date (1987)

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"I just have this chemical imbalance almost like an allergy to alcohol. It just makes me crazy!"
Walter Davis (Bruce Willis) is a serious workaholic. He's been so enmeshed in his career that he's not bothered with other relationships. When he's required to bring a date to an important business dinner, he's at a lost until his brother Ted (Phil Hartman) and sister-in-law (Stepahnie Faracy) arrange a blind date with a friend of hers. However, he is cautioned to not let her drink alcohol.

Not paying heed to the warning, he offers Nadia (Kim Basinger) champagne before going to the restaurant. Big mistake. She twirls out of control and does several things that embarrass him and even compromise his job. As though that isn't bad enough, her ex-boyfriend David Bedford (John Larroquette) is stalking her and making Walter's life absolutely crazy.

Also appearing are George Coe as Walter's boss; William Daniels as the judge; Alice Hirson as David's mother; Joyce Van Patton as Nadia's mother.

Bruce Willis' first credited film.

Directed by Blake Edwards.

Run time: 1 hour, 33 minutes.

Rated PG-13.

My personal rating: C

Prick Up Your Ears (1987)

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"The whole point about irrational behavior is that it IS irrational!"
The life and death of English playwright Joe Orton (Gary Oldman) as told in retrospect by his friend and agent Peggy Ramsay (Vanessa Redgrave) to Orton's biographer John Lahr (Wallace Shawn).

Also appearing ar Alfred Molina as Orton's jealous long-term lover Kenneth Halliwell; Frances Barber as Orton's mother; Julie Walters as Orton's sister; and Janet Dale as the landlady.

Directed by Stephen Frears.

Run time: 1 hour, 51 minutes

Rated R.

My personal rating: B-