Amos (1985)

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

I watched it on a french channel years ago. I searched for it since. And was finally rewarded. What a film. I don't know any movie about retirement homes for elders. I guess there are somewhere. And I am not sure they would be better than this one. OK, every one thinks of ONE FLEW OVER A COCOO NEST, that took place in an insane asylum. OK, Milo's Forman's film is more magnificent. Speaking of it, Kirk Douglas played it on stage, back in the seventies. So may be that explains why he accepted this TV feature. Elizabeth Montgomery is here as her best as the evil female manager, as Louise Fletcher was in ONE FLEW...The opposite characters between Douglas and Montgomery are tremendous. A poignant and painful story which my father was particularly sensitive about before he himself went to a retirement home...Unless to say that he was not excited to go to it.

Kirk Douglas plays the title role in made for television film Amos, a film where he finally transitions into playing senior citizens which he would do the rest of his career. Who knows, at 96 he might yet have another role in him.After losing his wife and home in a tragedy, Douglas is forced into a nursing home run by Elizabeth Montgomery. The sweet and wholesome Samantha Stevens gives way to Nurse Ratched's mentor Daisy Dawes. She runs the home with a corrupt iron hand. She encourages the staff to be cruel and vicious to the residents if they make a complaint. The infirmities of old age are truly explored in this film. Douglas is a former athletic coach and presumably in good shape. But even he's a victim of the staff and Montgomery.Such familiar faces as Pat Morita, Ray Walston, and Dorothy McGuire are other residents who Douglas sacrifices for to bring them respect and justice.Abuses of senior citizen homes was a hot topic back in those times and Amos was both timely and entertaining. Kirk was great in the part, but the real revelation in this film was how evil Liz Montgomery could play.

OK, so "Amos" is in many ways the same sort of idea as "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", but it's still worth seeing. Kirk Douglas plays elderly Amos Lasher, who loses his wife in a car wreck. He gets sent to a retirement home run by nurse Daisy Daws (Elizabeth Montgomery). But as it becomes clear that Daisy is not a nice gal, Amos becomes more desperate about what to do.Probably the movie's most interesting aspect is the casting of Elizabeth Montgomery. When she first appears, she's putting on her nurse outfit (she actually looks mighty fine wearing those stockings). When she first greets Kirk Douglas, here we basically see a slightly older version of Samantha Stephens, but with just a hint of malice in her eyes. As the movie progresses, you might say that Samantha becomes more and more like Endora...an evil Endora, that is.So, this isn't any kind of masterpiece; "OFOTCN" did a better job with this topic. But it's good to see that these folks still had it no matter their age, and to see the big screen's most famous gladiator meet the small screen's most famous witch (and she's a REAL witch here). Also starring Dorothy McGuire (of "Gentleman's Agreement"), Pat Morita (of the "Karate Kid" movies) and Ray Walston (Mr. Hand in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High").

This movie isn't the greatest ever, but it's good if you're bored and happen to have it around. Elizabeth Montgomery is (as usual) wonderful in her role, although decidedly evil. Don't see this movie the same way I did, while waiting to go in for day surgery. Daisy is one nurse you do not want looking after you!