By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow me on X.
Amazon’s Prime Video has just revealed that it will remove 13 movies after June 30, 2024. Here are the three you should definitely watch before they leave, in my humble opinion:
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Martin Sheen stars as the military assassin Capt. Willard in this insane but brilliant Vietnam war drama from director Francis Ford Coppola. Willard is assigned to kill a former American officer (Marlon Brando) who, speaking of insane, has lost his mind in the jungle and assembled a ragtag army of worshipping natives and ex-soldiers. And when I say, speaking of insane, I am referring to both Brando’s character and the man himself. The greatest actor our nation has ever produced showed up on the movie’s set in the Philippines without knowing his lines, scores of pounds overweight, and eager to rewrite the movie. (This happened after Coppola had to fire Harvey Keitel who was first cast as Willard, and actually shot some early scenes, then hire Martin Sheen and then have to wait in mid-production for Sheen to recover from a heart attack!) Somehow, Coppola managed to keep his cool in the tropical heat — despite telling anyone who would listen that he was going crazy — and make one of the greatest, most spectacular films ever. The performances (even Brando) are sensational, particularly Robert Duvall as a psychotic Col. Kilgore who orders his men to surf while friendly fire bombs are dropping just a few meters away. Apocalypse Now is a movie that could never be made again, and it’s a miracle it was made at all.
Rain Man (1988)
Tom Cruise stars in this Barry Levinson-directed comedy/drama about a hustler (Cruise) who kidnaps his autistic long-lost older brother (Dustin Hoffman) when he learns their late father left an entire inheritance to him. The film becomes a lesson in blood ties and personal awakenings when the two set out on a cross- country trip to Los Angeles. In lesser hands, and a lesser cast, Rain Man could have resulted in a run-of-the-mill buddy movie albeit with a twist (autism.) But Cruise and Hoffman are so great together that their relationship touches your heart as well as offer some life lessons. Levinson also shows why he was one of the great directors of the 1980/90s (although highly underrated) with some fabulous set pieces (particularly the Vegas scenes). Great film!
Three Amigos (1986)
Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short play three silent movie stars who are mistaken for real heroes in a small Mexican village. Folks, unlike our first two selections here, there is nothing fancy about Three Amigos. It’s just three great comedians at the peak of their powers having fun and making funny. Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, singer Randy Newman and Martin wrote the script and SNL regulars Phil Hartman and Jon Lovitz have supporting roles.
Complete List of Movies Leaving Amazon’s Prime Video After June 30, 2024
Apocalypse Now
Rain Man
Dangerous
Evil Under the Sun
Men at Work
The Age of Adaline
Fortress
Three Amigos
Call Me By Your Name
Occupation: Rainfall
Demonic
All the Devil’s Men
Savior
The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.
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