Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

The First Wives Club (1996)

Our final honorary pairing of 2025 finds us looking at the work of an amazing actress we lost too soon. We lost Diane Keaton on October 11th, 2025, so we're looking at two of her films, one of which netted her an Oscar nomination! First up, it's director Hugh Wilson's take on what it's like to find yourself divorced in your 50s. In 1996's "The First Wives Club," we follow the story of four college friends, Elice Elliot Atchison (Goldie Hawn), Brenda Morelli Cushman (Bette Midler), Annie MacDuggan Paradis (Keaton), and Cynthia Swann Griffin (Stockard Channing), who've lost touch with each other a few decades after their college graduation. The suicide of one brings the remaining three back together, and friendship rekindles. Over dinner, after the usual niceties, all three confess that their lives haven't turned out at all the way they had hoped. They decide to join forces in a scheme to get revenge on their ex-husbands while, at the same time, beginning to figure out what they want the next chapter of their individual and collective lives to look like. But it's the realization, after a falling out, of what they could accomplish together that truly sets them on their way forward! Also starring Maggie Smith, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dan Hedaya, Victor Garber, Stephen Collins, Marcia Gay Harden, and Bronson Pinchot!

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

Starting in the 1940s, the name Humphrey Bogart was common knowledge as Hollywood royalty, but he didn't always play the hero. In 1948's "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre," which re-teamed him with director John Huston, Bogart plays Fred C. Dobbs, a penniless American stuck in the Mexican town of Tampico. After begging for a meal "for a fellow American" from the same man three times (John Huston's cameo), he's recruited by contractor Pat McCormick (Barton MacLane) to help build oil derricks. On this job, he meets Bob Curtin (Tim Holt), and the two strike up a friendship. After completing the job, Pat can't find the agent who's supposed to have their pay, but promises to find them as soon as he does. Fred and Bob head to a cantina to have a drink, where they discover that Pat is running a scam and has "employed" many people in the past, and paid none of them. They head to a flophouse where they meet an old man, an ex-miner, who talks romantically about hunting for gold in the mountains. The next day, the pair encounter Pat outside of a cantina and he offers to buy the two a drink. The drink turns into a brawl and the two manage to take down Pat, then pay themselves their promised wages out of the money he has on-hand. They talk and decide to seek the old man (Howard, played by Walter Huston, John's father) out and try their luck as gold miners. From there, the story begins its laborious trek into the mountain in search of the promised wealth. They face painful weather conditions, mutual distrust, and bandit attacks, all in pursuit of the gold. But how the story ends is quite unusual for Hollywood of the 40s. Also starring Bruce Bennett, Alfonso Bedoya, and an extremely young Robert Blake! Plus, the trio unveil which two films they'll pair next, to honor the passing of Diane Keaton!

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

In this pairing, we'll be looking at the work of one of Hollywood's biggest stars, Humphrey Bogart! We begin in 1941 and the first time a film featured John Huston as director and Bogart as star, "The Maltese Falcon!" Based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett, the story follows detective Sam Spade (Bogart) who meets a new client who introduces herself as Ruth Wonderly (Mary Astor) and delivers a story of woe about a missing sister and a ne'er-do-well who has convinced her to run away with him. Sam, and his partner Miles Archer (Jerome Cowan) agree to take the case. Miles heads out to tail Wonderly while Sam stays in the office. That evening, the police arrive to inform Sam that Miles has been killed on his stake-out. Sam tries to contact Ruth only to discover she's no longer at her hotel. The police arrive and inform Sam that not only was his partner shot and killed, but the man who supposedly ran off with Ruth's sister, Floyd Thursby, has also been killed. This sets off a decidedly twisted tale of lies, deception, threats, greed, and false identities that spiral into a mystery worth being called a masterpiece of filmmaking! Also featuring the first cinematic appearance of Sidney Greenstreet, along with Peter Lorre, Gladys George, Barton MacLane, Lee Patrick, and Elisha Cook Jr.!

The Horse Whisperer (1998)

The second film in our tribute to Robert Redford gave us the first time he was both director and star in the same story! In 1998's "The Horse Whisperer," based on the book by Nicholas Evans, we're introduced to the MacLean family - father Robert (Sam Neill), mother Annie (Kristin Scott Thomas), and daughter Grace (Scarlett Johansson). While out riding horses with her friend Judith (Kate Bosworth in her first film role), there is an accident involving a semi-truck, during which Judith is killed, Grace is critically injured, and her horse, Pilgrim, is stuck by the truck and also critically injured. Grace's right leg is partially amputated, and Pilgrim is so traumatized that no one can get near her. In the hope of healing Pilgrim, and by doing so help Grace to heal as well, Annie researches horse experts and comes across a "horse whisperer" in Montana named Tom Booker (Redford). After Booker turns down her request for help on the phone, Annie decides to force the issue and embarks on a cross-country trip with Grace and Pilgrim, headed for Booker's ranch. Upon arrival, Booker sees Grace and Pilgrim, puts two and two together, and agrees to try to help Pilgrim, provided Grace will assist him. Ultimately Grace agrees to help, although somewhat surly at the idea. Tom's brother, Frank (Chris Cooper) and his wife Diane (Dianne Wiest) convince Annie and Grace to come and stay on the ranch while Tom is working with Pilgrim. As Grace is befriended by Frank's young son Joe (Ty Hillman), Tom and Annie become closer as well. The sudden arrival of Robert on the farm, however, brings the feelings between Tom and Annie to a head, and forces all involved to confront the reality of the situation, including whether or not Pilgrim can, in fact, be cured. Plus, the gents unveil which two Humphrey Bogart films will make up the next pairing!

Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

We're turning to another tribute pairing this week, the second of fourth-quarter 2025. This time around, it's a celebration of the life and work of veteran actor and superstar Robert Redford, who passed away on September 16th, 2025. Directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Redford, 1972's "Jeremiah Johnson" tells one of the true-ish tale of the American frontier. Jeremiah Johnson (Redford), after serving in the U.S. Army, has chosen to embrace the life of a mountain man and heads deep into the Rocky Mountains to hunt and trap. After a rough start, he encounters Bear Claw (Will Geer), a trapper who specialized in grizzly bears. Taking Johnson in, he also takes him under his wing and orients him to life in the wilderness. While staying with Bear Claw, he meets the chief of the nearby Crow tribe of native Americans, Paints-His-Shirt-Red (Joaquin Martinez). After leaving the grizzly hunter, Jeremiah runs across the cabin of a family recently attacked by the Blackfoot tribe. "Crazy Woman," (Allyn Ann McLerie) and her son who Jeremiah dubs Caleb (Josh Albee) are the only survivors. When it becomes time to depart the farm, Crazy Woman demands that Jeremiah take Caleb with him, which he does. Jeremiah and Caleb discover a man buried to his chin in the dirt, who introduces himself as Del Gue (Stefan Gierasch), and Del convinces Jeremiah to help him get his belongings back from the Blackfoot. The encounter isn't to Jeremiah's satisfaction, so he and Caleb depart. They soon encounter members of the Flathead native American tribe, who treat them as guests of honor. Unknowingly, Jeremiah places the chief in a difficult position when he gives the chief the Blackfeet horses and scalps. To save his honor, the chief gives Jeremiah his daughter, Swan (Delle Bolton) in marriage. Over time, Jeremiah and Swan become close, and both are dedicated to taking care of Caleb, who still hasn't spoken aloud since he was separated from his Mother. But a chance encounter with a Reverend and a troop of U.S. Army Cavalry soon upends Jeremiah's life and sets him on the path that created the legend of "Liver-Eater Johnson," whose story is the basis for this film!