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Reviews
Pleasantville (1998)
Less there than meets the eye
I found the movie very slow, very uneventful, and quite boring.
The novelty of the plot and the "black-and-white to color" transition were all there was to it...the characters were as flat as the B/W Pleasantville regulars.
Psycho (1998)
New version an intriguing idea
Of course I haven't seen the film yet but I think the idea is intriguing! The goal isn't to better the original but represent some great material. The casting is inspired!
The big question for me is how the issue of suspense and surprise will be addressed. If we can think back to the first time we saw the original, a great part of the thrill was discovering the actual condition of Norman's mother. This device is gone, as no one in the audience is unaware of the story line. How will this new angle be addressed? Can a new avenue of suspense be created with in the same storyline? I can't wait to find out.
The Locusts (1997)
Why not, it's on video!
Considering that any subsequent viewing of this film will be on video or cable, why not take a look? The draw being a good performance from Vince Vaughn. The writing is terrible and the dialogue is almost embarrassing. The plot is ridiculous, full of literary (but really juvenile) symbolism.
Somehow, Vaughn still manages to be fun to watch, even when he is castrating bulls.
Your Friends and Neighbors (1998)
Interesting but not quite
An interesting film but somehow doesn't quite hit a home run. In 'The Company of Men' the riveting intensity and humor came from the characters, who while morally hideous, were real and identifiable. 'Your friends' cast seems like caricatures intended to be as wacky as possible...over the top for the sake of being over the top -- and more psychotic than morally flawed.
It was still very funny in spots and overall, entertaining.
Return to Paradise (1998)
Overall, very good with strong performances. Some...
Overall, very good with strong performances. Some flaws: too many interior entrance and exit scenes; not enough personal interaction between Vaughn and Heche prior to the romance, it seemed implausible. No fault of the film, but too much of the ending was revealed in the trailer and advance marketing releases...I would have rather not known who 'returned' before the movie began.