Riverbend

Daniel Shillito4.0

When civil rights meet civil wrongs, representing gritty exploitation in a post-Cannon world, Riverbend's long-overdue rediscovery and restoration is more than a cause for celebration, and one that I am proud to have been a part of. An action-packed, racially and emotionally charged explosion that delivers a slice of everything beautiful about 80s action cinema, but with an urgency and level of thoughtful social commentary that makes all the conventions feel fresh. From the outset, there is an uneasy sense that violence could erupt at any moment, delivering a grim tension that the film sustains effectively; its rougher edges giving it an immediacy and sincerity without going overboard into full-blown cheese. The characters might be in a pulpy genre flick, but the actors play everything like it's the first time anyone ever did these things on screen. It's a rather poignant film, not just in its subject matter spotlighting just how far our society has failed to progress, but also because it marks the final collaboration between director Sam Firstenberg and Steve James gifting us one final bout of kick-arsery from the American Ninja vets. It's a bittersweet one, not because it highlights just how great a director Firstenberg is, orchestrating the delicate character moments and bone-crushing action with real flair, but because it finally promotes James to the role of leading man, something he had been desperate to do for so long, gracing us with perhaps the finest performance of his tragically short career. Uniformly, it's a very well-acted film with Margaret Avery and Tony Frank as particular highlights, but this is Steve James' show, and Firstenberg makes that clear. The score by Paul Loomis is an interesting one, blending soulful melodies with rocking 80s synths; it certainly fits the spirit and tone the film is going for without going too far overboard, even though I would have happily welcomed it. Uncompromising, atmospheric and genuinely well-intentioned, Riverbend's willingness to confront its uncomfortable subjects of racial tension, intolerance and extremism directly remains extremely powerful, evoking Vietnam-era America with plenty of rich textures and some evocative conversation; its triumphant moment as the opposing sides come together and join hands is everything the forces of justice are fighting for, but here in the real world, it remains a dream yet to be grasped. What a gem.

Superargo2.5

I knew a guy named Steve James in college. A unique dude, for sure. He’d always refer to himself in the third person, not unlike Rickey Henderson: “How’s it going, man? Steve James ain’t seen you in a while!” And he had a sky-high opinion of himself. Steve thought he was the coolest person on the planet and didn’t mind letting you know that. He’d see something cool and say “That’s cool, but it ain’t Steve James cool.” We were talking once and I said to him, you know, Steve, it’s possible that you’re not as cool as you think you are. I mean, you aren’t even the coolest Steve James I know. The coolest Steve James I know is that actor and martial artist from AVENGING FORCE and the AMERICAN NINJA movies. He was like “Steve James ain’t ever heard of that guy. Steve James don’t watch too many movies, though.”I stole his catchphrase for a while when I was in my early twenties. I’d say things were cool, but they weren’t Steve James cool. I haven’t said that in years, though. Maybe I should bring it back.Anyway. RIVERBEND is not the coolest Steve James starring vehicle ever made. That remains STREET HUNTER, in which James and his trusty pet Dobermann do battle with Reb Brown as a psychotic ex-Marine. I’d only recommend RIVERBEND if you’re the most hardcore of James completists. It’s got an interesting premise and a few effective moments, but it’s pretty hokey when it’s not being offensively racist and unpleasant, and it doesn’t have enough scenes of James kicking people’s asses. It’s not Steve James cool, in other words. Far from it.I wonder what kind of career James would’ve carved out if he hadn’t been hit with cancer so young. Would we have gotten more STREET HUNTER movies? Maybe a BATTLE OF THE STEVES movie pitting James against Seagal? Would James have showed up in any of Sly’s EXPENDABLES joints?

laird

Venus, TexasApparently I had watched this in 2018 and completely forgot it. Maybe the VHS was too dark. Maybe I was drunk. Or maybe in its thematic pursuit to prioritize justice over vengeance, this movie feels a little less satisfying than something more exploitative. In any case, I won't forget tonight's screening at Austin Film Society with cast and director (Sam Firstenberg!) in attendance. A real, genuine presentation of a movie that would otherwise be treated as trash.