Sandra Bullock Movie:

Who Shot Patakango? Reviews:
Sandra Bullock Teenager?
2009-09-13 - Unbiassed review not possible as I am a fan of Sandra Bullock, It is interesting how much younger and virginal Sandra Bullock looked prior to "While You Were Sleeping". The movie itself isn't otherwise worth while remembering - even the title, GVP

Neglible nostalgia flick with Sandra Bullock
2006-11-04 - Three stars is a bit generous for this film as far as any finer qualities go. It's low-budget, with second- and third-tier acting, writing and, well, pretty much everything. But it's well intentioned, sweet, and does have Bullock in a very early, pre-fame role. The first time I saw it I hated it, and wrote a harsh review of it here, but coming at it again (more or less accidentally) with very low expectations allowed its better points, such as they are, to come forward.

This is basically a coming-of-age nostalgia piece, predominantly comedic in tone. A group of guys at a late 1950s Brooklyn technical high school fight, talk about fighting, get into trouble, have some not-quite-Mr.-Chips moments, a talent show, and fight. There is some angst connected with the fighting, and a bit of race friction, though the only gang activity is among whites. There's also the mystery of who shot Pat, which is resolved before the last reel, and isn't central. The humor isn't brilliant, but it's less insulting to the mind than a good deal of movie humor.

The female roles are secondary. The main character has a rather implausible romance with Sandra Bullock's character, a Sarah Lawrence College student from the rich side of the tracks, who is oddly willing. Bullock has enough screen time, and brief romantic moments, to make this worth seeking out for big fans or the curious, but don't expect a major role, great acting, or a very full range of her trademark expressions.

The music is a weird mix of 50s songs and sparely used cheesy, cheap 70s-sounding film scoring, with a 70s-ish romantic duet. Odd, since the film came out in 1989. There's some swearing (including the f-word) and sexual humor. Bullock has a gratuitous, brief, and not very revealing nude scene that will add to the attraction for some.

The version I have is part of a double feature from Disc Plaza/Cascadia. The DVD transfer is OK for the price, which is to say a little soft, somewhat pixelly when the camera moves, good color, full screen. The Disk Plaza/Cascadia version was also available by itself. It's 105 minutes, not the 90 minutes reported for the CineVu release or the 102 listed for the Platinum Disc release. It cuts off the last few seconds of the song that runs over the credits. More reviews at the links. The US title varies: Who Shot Pat?, Who Shot Patakango?

Why did I pay good money to see this
2003-06-09 - I love Sandra Bullock, but this was a very boring movie and I cannot belive I paid good money for this. This a very bad movie and should not be sold anywhere. Don't wasre your money on this one.

Sandra shines -- Movie Stinks
2002-08-04 - The title of this review pretty much sums it up. As a Sandra Bullock fan I bought this movie because she was in it. It was interesting to see her youthful performance. She was great. The movie itself is another story. It is utterly awful. The back cover said it was a "wistful" look back in time. Yuk! The movie paints pathetic pictures of meaningless lives and beatings by bullys. How can anyone view that trash wistfully?

Sandra Bullock shines in an early independent film role.
2001-10-10 - Prior to "Speed" and all of the other Hollywood blockbusters that she's since done, Sandra Bullock was a struggling actress who worked in independent films or had smaller roles in studio films (see the remake of "The Vanishing"). "Who Shot Patakango?" (a/k/a "Who Shot Pat?) is one of her earliest independent film appearances and here she begins to demonstrate the appeal that would later make her a box office success. She plays a Sarah Lawrence College student who becomes romantically involved with a high school senior from a Brooklyn vocational high school in 1957. Save Ms. Bullock and Allison Janney (in a small role), the cast is comprised of unknowns, but the acting, generally, is passable to good.

"Who Shot Patakango?" is a largely episodic film that follows the lives of a group of high school seniors who are on the threshold of graduation. What's interesting here is that it features a school where both blacks and whites attend, certainly unusual for a film set in the 1950s. That angle is not explored as well as it could have been, however. Instead, the film mostly follows the adventures and misadventures of the students.

Digital Multimedia Limited's DVD is a budget release through and through. The film looks great with vivid colors, but is presented full screen. There are no extras (not surprising for a low budget, independent film), save chapter breaks. The bottom line on "Who Shot Patakango?" is that it is a good nostalgic look on high school in the 1950s with a charming performance by a young Sandra Bullock.