Sandra Bullock Movie Review: ***^ Speed (1994)

 Speed is a wild ride.  It is rated R as it has too mch f'ing.  It does have some memorial characters.  Annie (Sandra Bullock) is a bus passenger, who grabs the wheel when the driver is shot.  Jack Traven (Keanu Reevs) is a bomb specialist with LAPD.  Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) is the bomber.  He ius Ex bomb squad police who retired when fingers blown off; but not happy with his severance.  Harry (Jeff Daniels) is Traven's partner.  He does not survive as a bomb explodes when they go to Payne's home.  Not all of this is realistic; especially driving the bus through town and keeping it above 50 mph.  If it goes below 50 a bomb will explode.  Lots of action and lots of peril.  

Movie Review: ***** Hoosiers

Hoosiers is one of my favorite shows.  It came out in 1986.  It is a movie about a small town basketball team.  It is fictional, but loosely based on the story of Milan High School, 1952 and their state championship run.  In small towns, basketball can be the only show in town, and is followed by everyone.  At the same time, a person's whole life can be tied up with those few years of their high school playing years.  Coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) is coming back to the coaching profession, after a twelve year hiatus.  His last coaching was at the university level, and he was suspended for punching one of his players.  He had spent ten years in the navy.  He teaches fundamentals, starting with basics, and insisting the players follow what he says.  However, by the end of the year, he is listening to the opinion of his players, but is still the coach.  Dennis Hooper was nominated in a supportive role for his role as the assistant coach, Shooter.  His son plays on the team.  He has a drinking problem.  Even so he assists.  The pressure gets to him and he relapses.  He is in the hospital as the team plays for the state championship.  Shooter's reaction to the game as he listens on the radio are just classic.  I highly recommend this movie.