This is a horribly directed film - the polar opposite of the brilliant Buffalo 66. The sole redeeming feature is the heart felt brilliant acting by Vincent Gallo. It's basically a bizarre form of experimental star vehicle.
Reviews
12 Reviews
Monster
(2003)
Charlize carries the film.
2 February 2004
The film's image and editing was very conventional, but Charlize Theron was phenomenal. A true actress, she completely submerges herself in the role. Christina Ricci, whose role gave her less to work with, gave a solid supporting performance.
The Last Samurai
(2003)
Showcase of Tom Cruise's strengths
8 December 2003
I found this film surprisingly good, despite the luke-warm reviews (e.g. Variety). The storyline was fairly predictable, but that's fine for this type of genre piece. Tom Cruise is, in my opinion, a fantastic one-trick-pony actor. He portrays the testosterone filled American Alpha-male in all his films, and does it superbly in this one. And yet, it is not pro-American. In fact, it is distinctly anti-American in terms of foreign policy commentary. Only an actor such as Cruise could be capable of pulling this off while still being considered a good American.
The similarities with Dances with Wolves are clearly there, but does this really matter? It's been a long time since Dances and this was a fun story anyway.
The only negative comment that I have on this picture is that Cruise could have let this be more about Katsumoto, who represented the real-life Saigo Takamori, rather than about a completely fictional American military advisor turned rebel. It was only a 1/3 of the way into the film before I realised that Cruise wasn't the Last Samurai and that led me to research the history of the true Last Samurai afterward.
The similarities with Dances with Wolves are clearly there, but does this really matter? It's been a long time since Dances and this was a fun story anyway.
The only negative comment that I have on this picture is that Cruise could have let this be more about Katsumoto, who represented the real-life Saigo Takamori, rather than about a completely fictional American military advisor turned rebel. It was only a 1/3 of the way into the film before I realised that Cruise wasn't the Last Samurai and that led me to research the history of the true Last Samurai afterward.
Jericho Mansions
(2003)
Admirable attempt to make an art-house thriller
11 November 2003
In the world of international cinema, with various countries cultures and actors beginning to have an increased presence on screens internationally, Jericho Mansions is an admirable attempt to merge European sensibility with American storytelling. While unlikely to win major awards, it does deserve some recognition for its professional production design, imaginative steady-cam work and world-class visual effects.
The Best Years of Our Lives
(1946)
Groundbreaking storytelling
11 November 2003
The brilliance of this film lies not in the filmmaking process, which is a conventional, but executed, intertwining tale of the lies of three servicemen post WWII, but in the fact that this story was told at all. Samuel Goldwyn deserves credit for having the chutzpah to push through a film who has for its leads a disabled vet with pincers for hands, an alcoholic, and an underachiever.
Full of awe for how awful this was.
7 November 2003
Poor coverage, poorly edited, poorly written = bad film
This mini-series was disgraceful. Not only is the script bad, but the production value terrible and the acting, for the most part, poor. I found it shocking that this would come out on DVD - clearly an attempt to capitalize on Traffic.
I began watching before I realized it was a Net (NBC) mini-series, and thought it must have been produced mega low-budget by a Mexican TV chain - it was done in such a latino soap-opera style.
Awful.
This mini-series was disgraceful. Not only is the script bad, but the production value terrible and the acting, for the most part, poor. I found it shocking that this would come out on DVD - clearly an attempt to capitalize on Traffic.
I began watching before I realized it was a Net (NBC) mini-series, and thought it must have been produced mega low-budget by a Mexican TV chain - it was done in such a latino soap-opera style.
Awful.
Boat Trip
(2002)
Look, we all knew it would be stupid, but it's a good stupid!
25 March 2003
This film was dumb. Really dumb. But then again, it's by the producer of Dumb and Dumber, so it makes sense.
It was also one of the first films in a long time that I really laughed out loud in. I also thought some stuff (especially dialog) was so lame that I couldn't get over it. But it's hard to know, as a filmmaker, what gag is going to work. The subject matter is so controversial, that the filmmakers, distribs and financiers have to be lauded for risking it.
I don't think it was that homophobic. I found the homophobs to be in the audience. I was surprised how cold the audience got whenever gays were portrayed simply as normal people with a different lifestyle choice.
Again, I think it was a risky film that made me laugh, and it deserves credit for that.
It was also one of the first films in a long time that I really laughed out loud in. I also thought some stuff (especially dialog) was so lame that I couldn't get over it. But it's hard to know, as a filmmaker, what gag is going to work. The subject matter is so controversial, that the filmmakers, distribs and financiers have to be lauded for risking it.
I don't think it was that homophobic. I found the homophobs to be in the audience. I was surprised how cold the audience got whenever gays were portrayed simply as normal people with a different lifestyle choice.
Again, I think it was a risky film that made me laugh, and it deserves credit for that.
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
(2000)
Poetry
19 April 2002
I was very pleasantly surprised by this film. George Clooney was superb, showing a comic side that is usually masked behind the stereotypical Hollywood leading man machismo. The interestingly manipulated colours and rich and fascinating use of Southern music remained with me long after the show was over.
Moulin Rouge!
(2001)
An absolutely stunning film that reinvents the musical.
8 March 2002
Any filmmaker that can reinvent a tired genre, bring new magic to the screen and to the hearts of a younger generation, deserves kudos. Baz Luhrman is this man - although we should not forget his fantastic crew and talented production heads (as well as focus-puller). It goes to show that even in way down-under in Australia (I am half-Australian), far, far from Hollywood, it is possible to do world-class imaginative features, developed, produced, and edited in Australia (Lord of the Rings supports the same supposition in New Zeland).
Nicole Kidman is brilliant, as is the set design and the costumes. Nothing, however, outshines the brilliance of the screenplay (Craig Pearce, Baz Luhrman), which magnificently weaves music throughout the ages in through it's classic comic tragedy storyline.
Congratulations!
Nicole Kidman is brilliant, as is the set design and the costumes. Nothing, however, outshines the brilliance of the screenplay (Craig Pearce, Baz Luhrman), which magnificently weaves music throughout the ages in through it's classic comic tragedy storyline.
Congratulations!
To Kill a Mockingbird
(1962)
Outstanding DVD.
17 December 2001
I recently watched this film on DVD and was very surprised by the high quality of this film. Robert Mulligan's directing was phenomenal. His use of two non-professional child actors as Atticus' kids (Gregory Peck) was exquisite. A superb example of disciplined directing. Peck is a wonderful actor and his gentleness and high mindedness makes him an excellent casting choice by producer Alan Pakula.
The DVD includes the short is the best making of documentary I have seen. It gives a wonderful incite into book and town upon which it is based and includes some excellent interviews, including one with a black Southern lawyer who is both knowledgeable of the film and of the civil movement that was beginning to take form in the 30s (when the film is set).
The DVD includes the short is the best making of documentary I have seen. It gives a wonderful incite into book and town upon which it is based and includes some excellent interviews, including one with a black Southern lawyer who is both knowledgeable of the film and of the civil movement that was beginning to take form in the 30s (when the film is set).
Memento
(2000)
excellent, groundbreaking film
14 September 2001
I rented this film to see Carrie-Anne Moss' acting (which was decent and, at times, very good) and I am glad I did. This is one of the ground-breaking films that Wim Wenders talks about when he speaks of the new revolutionary directions filmmaking will take.
The traditional thriller storyline is edited in a very unoriginal manner, which gives us the appropriate instability as a viewer to allow us to more fully appreciate the dilemma of the brilliant Guy Pearce (Joe Pantoliano's performance is also very good as the slimeball cop).
Top marks for screenwriting, editing, and directing - congratulations to Suzanne and Jennifer Todd on assembling such a team.
My only significant criticism was that there were no commentary tracks on the DVD.
The traditional thriller storyline is edited in a very unoriginal manner, which gives us the appropriate instability as a viewer to allow us to more fully appreciate the dilemma of the brilliant Guy Pearce (Joe Pantoliano's performance is also very good as the slimeball cop).
Top marks for screenwriting, editing, and directing - congratulations to Suzanne and Jennifer Todd on assembling such a team.
My only significant criticism was that there were no commentary tracks on the DVD.
Monkeybone
(2001)
Weak screenplay and weaker direction
12 September 2001
This was an effects film with a poor execution on every other front.
While the animation was studio quality, that was the only redeeming thing. The animatronics were weak (the snakes on Medusa's head and characters in the "waiting-room" amusement park town)and I found it to be a poor excuse to try and emulate a Tim Burton film's imagination.
The out takes shown on the DVD include the alternate car crash opening which launches the story. director Selick asks us to be the judge of which was better. Given the stilted acting and ridiculous dialogue (simply NOT funny) in this important scene, I am amazed he would ask such a question.
I was debating about whether it was the screenplay (written by the writer of Batman) or directing that was the problem, but given the decent performance of Fraser and Fonda, and the terrible delivery of awful lines the normally solid Whoopi Goldberg makes, I would say the problem is both.
Comedy requires a special talent to pull of in terms of directing talent and timing. Selick does not do a great job in this regard. He seems to be a director primarily interested in the special effects and does not give the actors the direction they need to pull off the story.
While the animation was studio quality, that was the only redeeming thing. The animatronics were weak (the snakes on Medusa's head and characters in the "waiting-room" amusement park town)and I found it to be a poor excuse to try and emulate a Tim Burton film's imagination.
The out takes shown on the DVD include the alternate car crash opening which launches the story. director Selick asks us to be the judge of which was better. Given the stilted acting and ridiculous dialogue (simply NOT funny) in this important scene, I am amazed he would ask such a question.
I was debating about whether it was the screenplay (written by the writer of Batman) or directing that was the problem, but given the decent performance of Fraser and Fonda, and the terrible delivery of awful lines the normally solid Whoopi Goldberg makes, I would say the problem is both.
Comedy requires a special talent to pull of in terms of directing talent and timing. Selick does not do a great job in this regard. He seems to be a director primarily interested in the special effects and does not give the actors the direction they need to pull off the story.
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