The Rocketeer (1991) Since we've at long last put that soul sucking Flu bug in the rear view mirror, we couldn't wait to continue this series we started a few weeks ago with Warren Beatty's 1990 Dick Tracy.
This one may be our favorite of the batch, a film we don't mind re-watching every so often.
Based on a graphic novel and directed by Joe Johnston, it's a perfectly conceived, delightful action-adventure steeped in late 1930's, early 40's Hollywood culture and lore.
We loved everything thrown into the mix here......the atmosphere, the large cast of memorable character actors, and the spectacular heroics that stir up just the right blend of action and comedy. Throw in the clever, sly referencing of real Hollywood people, places and ambiance, and you've got a triple Sundae dessert of a movie.
And at no time, unlike the Marvel Universe, do you feel like the movie is pounding you into jello with endless repetitive CGI battles that in the long run, signify and mean nothing. You don't have to sit through a 15 minute credit crawl after a 3 hour running time to wait for a teaser that tells you that the film you just endured was nothing but a really long trailer for the next one.
The film commences to a warm, piano-based main theme by James Horner, producing a score filled with period nostalgia and when needed, epic bombast.
Daredevil pilot Cliff (Billy Campbell) has the bad luck to barely survive the flight of his new test plane as it collides with a furious FBI chase of gangsters who've stolen valuable equipment from aviation magnate Howard Hughes (Terry O' Qunn).
What they've stolen is nothing less than Hughes' jet-propelled backpack to strap to its user's back so he can blast off and go soaring into the sky like Superman. And they ditched it where Cliff and his loyal mechanic fixer Peevey (Alan Arkin) stumble upon it.
The fearless Cliff gives the gadget a funny chaotic tryout at the Flying Circus where he performs aerial stunts. Then the newly dubbed 'Rocketeer' finds himself now in the crosshairs of whole host of colorful villains. These include the dapper gangster Eddie Valentine (Paul Sorvino) whose attempt to steal the jetpack was ordered up by the Errol Flynn-ish Hollywood swashbuckler Neville Sinclair (Timothy Dalton, enjoying his villainy) But patriotic thug Eddie doesn't realize that Sinclair is a Nazi spy who hopes to arm Hitler's armies to squadrons of death-dealing rocketeers.
There's nothing we didn't adore about this movie. Snappy dialogue, propulsive action and richly designed evocations of a bygone era. Cinema buffs will smile wide at Neville Sinclair's chief minion, whose makeup design duplicates the real life, physically afflicted horror star Rondo Hatton.
On the basis of his work on this film, director Johnston went on apply his talent for period nostalgia to Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).
Even if superhero fatigue has left you nauseous at the thought of sitting through any more, BQ highly recommends you check out this one. Before Disney ever went into the Marvel business, all by themselves they produced "The Rocketeer", a fun film that flies higher than any Avenger. 5 stars (*****)
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