Review of The Sentinel (1977) by Guillaume H — 13 May 2013
This is a style of awesome story I cherish, loads of trippy evocations and twisted turns, theres a good pacing and the cast is very impressive. But there's a major but : The lead actress is the worst actress ever in a professional movie and lead role.
Even John Water wouldnt find her funny. Cristina Raines is Drop dead gorgeous but limited to smiling like a toothpaste ad and saying leaden lines like a junior school amateur, she seems strained not to forget the actual line.
Chris Sarandon is also a cardboard cutout. His handling of the situation makes it look ridiculous. Granted,some of the lines handed to them are pretty dumb but usually apt actors can work their way around that.
Not them. Its a shame because it should have been a 70's classic of a certain type. Karen Black, famed for this genre, could have make this movie sparkle. So, words to the industry; dont settle for a model, you need an actress, beauty is not sufficient in itself to carry a caracter based story.
It can wreck a movie and make it miss the train for decades to come.
This review of The Sentinel (1977) was written by Guillaume H on 13 May 2013.
The Sentinel has generally received mixed reviews.
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