Fast-Walking

figured i was gonna love this when the title card drops in front of someone slow-walking. i dunno how woods does it, he's such a gross loser here (some of the most disgusting smoking on film) and i'm still rooting for him like he's my sports idol.

James Woods is the ultimate male: handsome, genius IQ, giant penis, and one of the greatest actors this Earth has ever witnessed.

A really quite unusual and enjoyable prison tale, with an all-round good cast, entertaining dialogue and memorable monologues, and a pretty good score by Lalo Schifrin. There's a lot of pleasure to be had, with numerous surprising scenes and characters, and it's a real shame that this isn't better known. The Warner Archive Collection DVD is as bare-bones as they come. Considered along with COP, it seems that James B. Harris was working towards something rather worthwhile and out of the ordinary.

so fuckin cool

How did James Harris not make more movies?

Ehhh I guess it has a few fun moments but overall too silly for me.

Woods is a fine actor who has never starred in a single great film. Harris was not much of a director---his decisions were purely functionary--and his dialogue is often contrived, especially in scenes with adversaries, but there are a few interesting characters and moments.

This movie really lays out the plan for what James Woods would forever be; mixing serious subject matter, often seriously portrayed (prison violence, politics), with more than a dab of humorous schlock and blatant sexploitation - a combination defining Woods' persona in later films such as Videodrome, Salvador and Cop. I dare say Fast-Walking also sets the standard - it's well-made, with some interesting characters, but doesn't really commit to achieving greatness.