• Review Index
  • About Me
  • Suggestions

vinnieh

~ Movie reviews and anything else that comes to mind

vinnieh

Daily Archives: November 14, 2016

Friday Foster

14 Monday Nov 2016

Posted by vinnieh in Movie Reviews

≈ 45 Comments

Tags

1970's, Arthur Marks, Blaxploitation, Carl Weathers, Crime, Eartha Kitt, Friday Foster, Godfrey Cambridge, Julius Harris, Pam Grier, Scatman Crothers, Ted Lange, Thalmus Rasulala, Thriller, Yaphet Kotto

Film Title

Friday Foster

Director

Arthur Marks

Starring

  • Pam Grier as Friday Foster
  • Yaphet Kotto as Colt Hawkins
  • Carl Weathers as Yarbro
  • Thalmus Rasulala as Blake Tarr
  • Eartha Kitt as Madame Rena
  • Ted Lange as Fancy Dexter
  • Godfrey Cambridge as Ford Malotte
  • Scatman Crothers as Noble Franklin
  • Julius Harris as Monk Riley

It lacks the raw power of some Blaxploitation movies, but Friday Foster attempts to offer more of a polished product. And for the most part, it is very fun and exciting. The plot gets a bit convoluted, but the energy, colourful characters and style of the piece(which takes its basis from a comic strip) entertain.

Friday Foster is a dedicated former fashion model turned photographer for a magazine. friday-foster-movie-posterThough immensely good at her job, she commonly gets herself in way too deep on assignment, yet always thankfully has a way out. Her latest job is to photograph the nation’s wealthiest black man Blake Tarr, who is notoriously reclusive but is making his way to Los Angeles. Seizing the opportunity, Friday goes to the airport and through her charms manages to sneak into the back. What she gets is a lot more than she bargained for. She witnesses an assassination attempt on Tarr and manages to photograph it. Having been present, she is now in real danger, especially after a friend of hers is murdered and a mysterious man begins stalking her. The last words of her friend ‘Black Widow’ set Friday’s mind racing with questions of what it could possibly mean. She teams up with private eye Colt Hawkins, who can’t resist the chance to uncover a rat in a maze. Lead to Washington, D.C., the two unravel a most complex conspiracy of the highest proportions that reaches up to high levels of political power and could spell something sinister.

Arthur Marks thrusts us right into the adventure from the get-go, incorporating quick camera edits and action to suck us right into the crime thriller. Exciting sequences can be found in abundance here, in particular the assassination attempt, a jumping rooftop chase and Friday being pursued by a hit man in an abandoned warehouse. friday-fosterThe plot is winding and twisting to the extreme, with some of it coming off better than other parts. I am all for a plot of unexpected surprise and intrigue as much as the next guy, and it must be stated that this film sets up an exciting feeling of mystery that Friday finds herself embroiled in. It is in the latter stages that the twists get way too confusing and sometimes bewilder and boggle the mind. Still, any mystery is better than one at all. A bit more cohesion is what the plot needed. The budget on this film seems higher than on others in the Blaxploitation genre, ensuring a more glossy and cleaner film. I would have liked a bit more grit to it, but I can still appreciate colourful style and set design which are both things to praise in Friday Foster. You can tell that this is a film based on a comic strip from the fantastical quality it has, and to be honest, it does provide escapist fare pretty well. Yet it also taps into themes of race and community which surprised me, that added something different to the film in between the action and thrills. I like films to have some underlying context and the sub-plots and issues Friday Foster deals with stand up well even today. A slinky score puts the groove in groovy so much that I had the temptation to jump up and shake my hips to it.

As confusing as the film gets in the later half of it, the winning cast keeps you really invested in the action. Pam Grier is softer here, yet can still handle herself in a dangerous situation. pam-grier-friday-fosterShe comes across as smart and flirty, with a real nose for getting into potentially fatal situations. Grier makes Friday a largely unflappable heroine whose killer smile and unwavering loyalty to the job once she unearths the conspiracy are good traits to have. Once more, the sassy energy of Pam Grier is on full display as the crusading central character which gives her a chance to play some vulnerable but still strong notes. And I have to point out that Pam Grier has never looked more lovely than how she does here. Yaphet Kotto exudes a real sense of physical as well as intelligent prowess when playing the smiling private detective, who can solve a situation with both his fists and his mind. The imposing presence of Carl Weathers colours the largely silent character of Yarbro, a hit man who is constantly after Friday with menacing intent. There is Thalmus Rasulala in the part of the billionaire whose attempted assassinations pulls everyone into a scheme. Rasulala has a real charisma and style to him that is nicely observed in his acting. A scene-stealing Eartha Kitt is theatrical and bitchy as a fashion designer friend of Friday’s with a flair for the exotic and eccentric. Ted Lange brings humour to proceedings playing a pimp who is kept at arm’s length by Friday, despite his rich and flamboyant gifts. Godfrey Cambridge, Scatman Crothers and Julius Harris each give their supporting characters something to do and make their brief appearances count.

So while it isn’t a big shining example of the Blaxploitation genre, Friday Foster undoubtedly has its pluses to promise an action-filled movie.

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012

Categories

  • 007 thoughts and reviews
  • Adventures of Satrap
  • Announcements
  • Awards and Achievements
  • Birthdays and Tributes
  • Blogging Community
  • Blogging Questions
  • Creepy
  • Gif Posts
  • Humour
  • Movie and Television Trivia
  • Movie opinions and thoughts
  • Movie Reviews
  • Music reviews and opinions
  • Photography Discussion
  • Rest In Peace
  • Sport
  • Television Opinions
  • Television Reviews
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
November 2016
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  
« Oct   Dec »

Tags

007 1940's 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's 2000's 2010's Action Adventure Announcement Based on a true story Bernard Lee Bette Davis Birthday Blogs You Should Follow Cate Blanchett Comedy Crime Desmond Llewelyn Disney Drama Fantasy Foreign Language Film Gillian Anderson Halle Berry Happy Birthday Horror James Bond Judi Dench Julianne Moore Julia Roberts Liebster Award Lois Maxwell Madonna Maggie Smith Matthew Fox Meryl Streep Music Musical Mystery Natalie Portman Neve Campbell Period Drama Psychological Horror Psychological Thriller Rest In Peace Romance Romantic Comedy Science Fiction Spy Supernatural Horror Thriller

Top Posts & Pages

Lyric Analysis - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Kylie Minogue: Where the Wild Roses Grow
The Babysitter
Dangerous Beauty
Hope Floats
Charmed Season 8
The Stud
Party of Five Season 5
Desperate Housewives Season 7
Gilda
Copycat
Follow vinnieh on WordPress.com

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • vinnieh
    • Join 3,769 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • vinnieh
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...