thegort Reviews

Breathe (2014)

Inhale DEEPLY

[10/10 · 8 February 2016]

It starts out rather breezy, like an Eric Rohmer film of yore--sunny vacation days at the seaside, relationships not quite in sync, a highly observant drama with beautiful young actors in in believable situations. Soooo French. Will there be a moral to this tale? I will not spoil any further, but suffice it to say that it becomes MUCH more intense, and totally spellbinding.

The acting is phenomenal. The direction stunning, from Melanie Laurent, still in her 30's, a familiar actress who has graced many a production since 1999. (Although NOTHING could have saved the cosmically terrible Inglorious Basterds).

Don't miss this one if nuanced characterizations and intricate plots appeal to you.

Treme (2010–2013)

Season finale elevates this series to GREAT

[9/10 · 28 June 2010]

I've enjoyed this series from the start. Of course it's been difficult to see the destruction of perhaps the country's greatest city reflected in the characters' lives. In spite of the effective use of music as the continual pulse of the show, I felt most of the middle episodes lagged. But the season finale catapulted the series, in my estimation, to the stratosphere. Incredibly moving and richly metaphorical, this is one of the greatest hours of television I've ever seen. Now,I can't wait for Season 2.

ALL of the actors are terrific, but Melissa Leo stands out. She's likely the greatest "mature" American actress working today.

But Khandi Alexander's scary plastic surgery froze her ability to express. Faces are the essential instruments of actors, and when you do facelift or botox or whatever she had, they no longer register as human. Is it just me?

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

this movie sucks

[3/10 · 9 January 2006]

Whats with the face lift, Clint? That was your instrument, your face, and we all enjoyed seeing you age in a gracious way. Now, you look hideous and I'll never want to see you on screen again.

Oh, and this movie! How you got such raves, I'll never know. You had a pretty good story brewing about the trainer finding a surrogate daughter, but to let it mire down into a euthanasia dilemma was farcical. And it was the wrong kind of case to be seriously considered in that (medical ethical) light.

You could have used a chimp. It would have been the most believable character.

It's time to quit while you still have some credibility in the film world.

Edge of America (2004 TV Movie)

another fine effort from Chris Eyre

[9/10 · 25 November 2005]

This fine film has been shown on Showtime and has finally been released on DVD. The previous documentary on the subject, Rocks With Wings, is not available on video or DVD, to my knowledge. If you enjoyed Eyre's Smoke Signals, you will likely love this one. Great characters, a lovely story, much humor, and some pathos are present with a large dose of Navajo wisdom and custom. A highlight was Coach's realization of the irony of being called "white man", a highly derogatory term, when he was behaving badly. The acting was consistently fine from both the professionals and the young amateurs. The director's deft touch had us constantly on the verge of tears and laughter. Highly recommended.

Sing Faster: The Stagehands' Ring Cycle (1999)

sing slower!

[8/10 · 21 April 2004]

Wagner's Ring Cycle is musical nirvana to some; but to others it is the most pretentious, bloated, endlessly boring nonsense ever conceived. Sing Faster takes no real position on the matter, but offers a pragmatic point of view from behind the scenes. The enormity of the San Francisco Opera's project staggers the viewer and the magnificence of the talent impresses, but the stars of the documentary are the stagehands who can do magic with sets and effects while remaining detached enough to play poker or watch the game on TV while one of Western Civilization's greatest spectacles is being recreated. This makes for a fascinating glimpse into the process that is often surreal and hilarious, while still conveying the excitement of the world-class opera company. The singing might be screaming, as one hand explains, but it is often gorgeous. The orchestra is never seen, but provides a continuous soundtrack, courtesy of Richard Wagner, that truly soars. At one hour, the entertainment value never starts to fade. I was hoping they would sing slower!

Highway (I) (2002)

Did someone mention this is a comedy?

[7/10 · 19 April 2002]

It IS a comedy. "Highway" pays homage to the established genres of buddy film, road trip film, and drug trip film in the "Go" style. It has a few thugs and a Seattle-grunge soundtrack. The leads, Jared Leto (Requiem for a Dream) and Jake Gyllenhaal(Donnie Darko) continue to dazzle the screen, even in a film that has limitations in the script department. There is much that is genuinely funny, a lively and colorful look to the film, and involving music. Recommended, but only if you aren't expecting great literary revelations. *** out of *****