Change Your Image
rkk
Reviews
The Rockford Files: The Farnsworth Stratagem (1975)
Lightweight Rockford
This episode finds Rockford and Becker driving together on vacation. Becker has purchased a 2.5% share in a resort hotel, apparently worth a million dollars, and he wants to impress Rockford by getting preferential treatment as an "owner". The hotel is indeed impressive, but when they try to check in it becomes apparent that Becker has been conned and he doesn't own much of anything for his $7500 investment. He "hires" Rockford to figure out a way to get his money back, and Rockford reluctantly agrees.
This episode has a lightweight feel to it, a softer edge than earlier Rockford episodes. Rockford arranges one of his more elaborate cons to help Becker recover his investment. It involves Angel, Rocky and about a dozen of their friends, with Rockford playing an oilman from Oklahoma. It isn't bad, but somehow the writing is not on par with the better episodes. We never feel that Rockford is in any real danger, and many things just "happen" a bit too easily. The ending also seems a bit contrived.
This episode also features Linda Evans in her second and final appearance on the series, and we are introduced to Becker's wife Peggy (Pat Finley). Worth watching for series fans, but not the best.
Gandhi (1982)
An OK movie about a very great man
This is a fairly enjoyable movie. It tries to cover a lot of ground, and even though it is long, it seems to rush through many events in a way that makes it seem strangely disjointed. The two strenghts of the movie are the fine acting by Ben Kingsley, and the fact that it introduces Gandhi to a wider audience than would be otherwise likely. However, if you are hoping to gain any insight into the real Gandhi then you will be disappointed. The movie also has some historical inaccuracies. The first (South Africa) section of the movie is more interesting than the latter portions. If you have the slightest interest in learning more about the Mahatma I urge you to read his autobiography "The story of my experiments with truth". There will then be little doubt that this movie is not, and can never be, a whitewash to make Gandhi appear in a better light than he really deserved. I give this an 8/10, mainly for it's entertainment value - as a biography it does not work.