Two-Minute Warning (1976)
I have a very funny story about Two-Minute Warning, which really comes in handy since the subject matter is so upsetting. I had written down a list of potential movies to watch with my mom for our movie night, but my mom couldn’t read my handwriting. “Two Men Waving?” she asked. “What’s that movie about?” Now, whenever we reference this movie, we call it Two Men Waving.
So, in Two Men Waving, you’ll see a huge ensemble cast. It’s a disaster movie with a twist, but it does follow the same format. Characters are given a tiny backstory with hopes that you’ll care about them, and some people die when the disaster first strikes. The setting is a football game, and as everyone’s cheering in the risers, a sniper starts attacking the crowd. Back in 1976, this was pretty upsetting, but in the modern era with mass shootings constantly in the news, it’s nearly impossible to watch for entertainment. I picked it to support the cast, but when it was all over, I wished I hadn’t seen it. David Janssen and his long-time squeeze Gena Rowlands are bickering the whole time, Beau Bridges and his wife Pamela Bellwood are trying to show their kids a good time even after he got fired, Jack Klugman has a lot of money riding on the game that could end up ruining him, David Groh tries to flirt with Marilyn Hassett, and Walter Pidgeon is an old pickpocket. Martin Balsam is the stadium manager who calls the police for help, and Charlton Heston and John Cassavetes are the SWAT team fellows who try to save the day. With that cast list, I understand why you’re drawn to rent it. If you think you can handle a movie centered on a madman shooting up a crowd, be my guest. I just wish David Janssen hadn’t been in it, then I wouldn’t have wanted to watch it.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. Most of the segments from the sniper’s POV are filmed with a handheld camera, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "The Projection Room" for posting!
More Martin Balsam movies here!
So, in Two Men Waving, you’ll see a huge ensemble cast. It’s a disaster movie with a twist, but it does follow the same format. Characters are given a tiny backstory with hopes that you’ll care about them, and some people die when the disaster first strikes. The setting is a football game, and as everyone’s cheering in the risers, a sniper starts attacking the crowd. Back in 1976, this was pretty upsetting, but in the modern era with mass shootings constantly in the news, it’s nearly impossible to watch for entertainment. I picked it to support the cast, but when it was all over, I wished I hadn’t seen it. David Janssen and his long-time squeeze Gena Rowlands are bickering the whole time, Beau Bridges and his wife Pamela Bellwood are trying to show their kids a good time even after he got fired, Jack Klugman has a lot of money riding on the game that could end up ruining him, David Groh tries to flirt with Marilyn Hassett, and Walter Pidgeon is an old pickpocket. Martin Balsam is the stadium manager who calls the police for help, and Charlton Heston and John Cassavetes are the SWAT team fellows who try to save the day. With that cast list, I understand why you’re drawn to rent it. If you think you can handle a movie centered on a madman shooting up a crowd, be my guest. I just wish David Janssen hadn’t been in it, then I wouldn’t have wanted to watch it.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. Most of the segments from the sniper’s POV are filmed with a handheld camera, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "The Projection Room" for posting!
More Martin Balsam movies here!