AJ_Franklin-2 Reviews

Rat Race (2001)

Keep a change of underwear handy. (DVD)

[10/10 · 18 February 2002]

Certain movies promise more than they deliver. This one delivers even more than it promises. We watched the movie all the way thru, but had to stop at least 5 times so we could catch our breaths from laughing so hard.

When the DVD finished, we went back and watched some of the best outtakes the world has ever seen. I have no idea how the crew could have completed work on many of these scenes without a change of underwear. Timing, delivery, story line...this surprising comedy had it all. Watch it. For your mother...in heaven!

10/10 :-))

The Score (2001)

Full of surprises (DVD)

[7/10 · 18 February 2002]

Just when you thought you were stuck with the 'oldest new release' at the video store late Saturday night, you come away a winner!

This movie had great acting and actors, some pretty neat Montreal street scenes, and a lot of hard work by cast and crew. And a surprise ending that really satisfies!

There are plenty of reviews of it already. If you haven't taken it off the shelf at your local video store already, don't be afraid. I'll give you your money back if you're unhappy! (err, yaaa) :-)) 7/10

The Tailor of Panama (2001)

DVD Alternate Ending #2: Turn it off.

[1/10 · 2 October 2001]

Early in this movie there is promise. We hear about the colossal errors made by former U.S.A. CIA chieftain George H.W. Bush installing Manuel Noriega in a puppet government in Panama. Then, he has to take part in extricating Noriega and sets up bombing raids on the exact parts of Panama City that harbor the friends of the US CIA, killing them and wiping out their city. Then, Bush takes part in the actual capture of Noriega after the drug running becomes known to the whole world (before it became known, the drug running was A-OK).

Enter the British. Noriega is gone, and along with the rest of the 'civilized' world, there is concern over what will happen to this most important waterway, the Panama Canal. The Brits have a network of spies in clandestine operations all around the city, one played by Geoffrey Rush...and the only well-played role in this whole fictional fiasco.

Rush's character, Harry Pendel, a simple tailor, has his thumb on the pulse of international politics, and he and, against her will, his wife (Jamie Lee Curtis), become pawns in the British game to take over what was never theirs--the Canal.

Ok folks, time to change channels. It all goes downhill from here. Don't bother with this one, unless one of the stars rings a particular bell with you. It is another example of a good book that just goes floppo when it changes media. :-( 1/10 stars.

The King of Masks (1995)

A many-layered and beautiful movie.

[9/10 · 1 October 2001]

When tradition dictates that an artist must pass his great skills and magic on to an heir, the aging and very proud street performer, known to all as "The King of Masks," becomes desperate for a young man apprentice to adopt and cultivate.

His warmth and humanity, tho, find him paying a few dollars for a little person displaced by China's devastating natural disasters, in this case, massive flooding in the 1930's.

He takes his new, 7 year old companion, onto his straw houseboat, to live with his prized and beautiful monkey, "General," only to discover that the he-child is a she-child.

His life is instantly transformed, as the love he feels for this little slave girl becomes entwined in the stupifying tradition that requires him to pass his art on only to a young man.

There are many stories inside this one...many people are touched, and the culture of China opens itself for our Western eye to observe. Thousands of years of heritage boil down into a teacup of drama, and few will leave this DVD behind with a dry eye.

The technical transfer itself is not that great, as I found the sound levels all over the meter, and could actually see the video transfer lines in several parts of the movie. Highly recommended :-) 9/10 stars.

The Straight Story (1999)

This is what life is all about.

[10/10 · 28 September 2001]

Far from the "Matrix" and the "Mummy," on the other side of the world from a Jackie Chan kick fight, and worlds away from "Star Wars," there lives a world of just 'regular' folks. And as they get older, their lives take turns that make them reassess where they have been and what they have said. Who they may have hurt along the way.

Alvin Straight, (Richard Farnsworth) can't get a driver's license because of medical problems, won't get surgery for heart problems, and won't get a walker just because his hips are giving out. But he can still do one thing. He can get on his old, rusty lawn mower and head out to visit his estranged brother, Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton), even though that is over 300 hilly miles away.

If you find yourself choking back tears as this poignant journey progresses at 5 mph, through bad weather, odd lost people on the side of the road, and warm and wonderful people who help Alvin make this one last trip of his life, you won't be alone. And even with all that, you will be happy for Alvin. And wish you had come to know him better...maybe even be his next-door neighbor, or buy him a beer--chat a while to know a real person with malice toward none.

Don't miss this one, even though the DVD had no extras whatsoever. Did Farnsworth get the "Oscar" for this? If not, he was robbed. (DVD movie reviewed here.) 10/10 stars :-)

Blow (2001)

George Jung: Poster boy for America's failed "War" on Drugs.

[9/10 · 27 September 2001]

It was the early 1970's. America was just extricating itself from a war. In Viet Nam. A war that we had lost over 50,000 lives of our sons and daughters supporting a political agenda.

Well, that war is over and we had taken a beating. So Nixon, the shining example of Republican presidents, declares "War" on something else: Drugs.

The War on Drugs would be touted afterwards again by Reagan, who would reinstate harsh penalties for grass that Carter managed to rescind, and Poppy Bush. In light of the recent events of September 11, 2001, we can see that using the word "War" may be politically incendiary, and may be a call to action.

But the story of this DVD, Blow, and George Jung, its main character played with such charisma by Johnny Depp, is the poster story of why the "War on Drugs" is a total, complete, and crushing failure. In this case, the "War" took more lives of its own citizens, of all ages, and put them behind bars for the State to look after until they could go out and support themselves with newly prison-acquired skills, while running the price of a bag of grass from about $10 in 1968 to $250 now.

I loved this movie. It is smart, not cloying. It excuses nothing but explains much. And if you use the "Infinitifilm" extras on the DVD, you will have access to wonderful historical perspective played for you at appropriate times, at the bottom of the screen.

Oh yes, and let's let George Jung out of prison. He never hurt anyone. George is the 'poster boy' for the failed drug war. While his little girl grows up without a daddy, his life burns out behind bars. It is time for a change of paradigm in America. We should all have a grip on our use of language, and the "War on Drugs" became a metaphor for "catch the enemies of the Republican party." The young, minority children, the college kids, anyone who didn't want to join the War. 9/10 stars :-)

Memento (2000)

Remember Sammy Jankis

[10/10 · 17 September 2001]

First time through, you will not get the answer to this movie. Second time, maybe. If you watch the clues in the DVD extras file, there will be closure. Or will there?

This is a keeper! (10/10)

Billy Elliot (2000)

Sort of a fun movie.

[6/10 · 7 August 2001]

This was an enjoyable, gay little adventure into the life of a young Irish lad. Other than that, and the eventual outcome of this particular lad's love of dance, not much to recommend it, really. I don't understand the high ratings this movie has received from so many movie lovers. But it is worth a look-see. (DVD Version) 6/10 stars

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

A laugh a minute!

[7/10 · 24 July 2001]

A movie that overdoes everything. It overdoes the use of hallu--hallu--hallucinations . . it overuses the business of the cigarette holder in the corner of Johnny Depp's character's mouth. It is always hanging there. It is just an overdose. But it sure makes for an entertaining movie.

Plot? What plot? This is NOT about plot development...let's get that out of the way, now.

I couldn't take my eyes away from most of it. Memories (opps, I guess I never did enough of the chemicals these guys did!) of the 70's are strong here, right down to the polyester bell-bottom pants and Nehru jackets. The costuming was perfect, and that red convertable..that looked like FUN!

Buy the ticket and take the ride! 7/10 stars ;-)

Malena (2000)

Beauty as its own, worst enemy (DVD version)

[6/10 · 23 July 2001]

So here we are in Sicily in WWII with a small minded town and a gorgeous movie star with great--er, attraction.

If beauty can be its own worst enemy, this movie demonstrates that jealousy and envy ride the same whirlwind to hell. A lonely, beautiful woman is an easy target of the dark side of human nature, isn't she?

When all was said and done, I could not see the essence of good reviews of this movie. My DVD didn't have any director's commentary as some other said their's did, and I was left thinking that with any other actress, one less well-endowed physically, nothing at all would have come of this thing. The other actor of note, Guiseppe Sufaro (Renato), certainly was excellent in his first outing, and made me pine for that first untouchable older-lady-love of mine when I was a teenager.

Yes, Monica Belucci was beautiful, but her two paragraphs of dialogue did not let the viewer get to see anything inside of her. But we got to see it all on the outside, which was a plus ;-) 6/10 stars.

Thirteen Days (2000)

History unfolds--slowly.

[8/10 · 23 July 2001]

Having lived through the 13 days in question, I was very hopeful that this cinematic undertaking would take me to places in history with which I was unfamiliar.

It did that, although, like events surrounding this horrific encounter with the Soviets, the movie moved much slower than many viewers would have wanted.

I enjoyed meeting the protagonists. I liked to watch the personalities of the main players portrayed as expertly as they were, and we can all be happy there was John Kennedy in the White House at the time. I was particularly horrified at the political sentiment portrayed by his Republican detractors, who absolutely demanded a missile strike, armed response, and a war.

Let's hope events don't ever repeat themselves with a White House containing the present Resident. I think we'd all be digging holes in our back yards again. 8/10 stars ;-)

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Has it really been that long ago?

[10/10 · 18 July 2001]

I, a child of the 70's, watched this again for the ninth or tenth time last night...but the first time in about ten years. We all change as time goes on, but this wonderful and timeless movie never fails to deliver the emotions, the angst, the misery, the horror...the horror...

Dennis Hopper--well, man, to see him again in that incredibly timeless role, man...and Marlon Brando. Every single performance in this movie exceeds anything you expect. Martin Sheen--sent off as an assassin to 'terminate with extreme prejudice'...here is a man with obvious love for humanity and his fellow soldier. A respect for his target and a belief that his target probably did nothing wrong. Will he be able to carry out his mission? Could he do it today? Was it wrong then?

Certainly among the best movies on war ever made. Not to be missed by anyone. 10/10 :-))

Saving Grace (2000)

What a buzz! (DVD version)

[9/10 · 16 July 2001]

Walking the tightrope between comedy and drama is one of the toughest acts in cinema. How do you get laughs out of other people's misery and not start feeling bad when it goes on too long?

Well, this surprising little gem of a movie will deliver great big laughs, beautiful scenery, and quite a good buzz as well. I particularly like the concept that a trick of history made alcohol legal since white Europeans liked it, and marijuana illegal, since 'those other races' used it...undoubtedly true and exposes a racial side to the marijuana laws so openly flaunted by populations all over the world.

An extraordinary "DVD Extra" commentary...two of them in fact...run thru the whole movie with both the actors, and then again with the writers. I kept seeing things I was sure were not in the first movie, but then realizing how easy it is to miss much of the subtle comedy on the first take. What a hoot! Don't miss it! 9/10 stars

Dogma (1999)

The most god-awful concoction ever.

[1/10 · 27 June 2001]

Worse than listening to an organ grinder's monkey for over two hours.

Don't say you weren't warned. Do not get this movie. Don't accept it as a free rental. Don't watch it at a friend's house.

Every goofy bit of god-talk and obnoxious sybolism that could be stuffed into a worthless plot design made it into this one. Complete with a fat-assed angel in a tutu to save the day, even the blood stains and dry cleaning were handled by this phony, miserable accomodation to religious myth and bible thumping fairy tales.

Not a single good moment here. So bad it will melt the plastic Jesus on your dashboard. Must I really give it one star? :-(

The Pledge (I) (2001)

Instinct overwhelms sanity

[8/10 · 26 June 2001]

It is easy to dismiss this movie for one reason or another. Either it was too blue, or the ending didn't satisfy some, or whatever. But it was a really, good movie.

Tight directing, great acting, and the viewer becomes very invested in this drama from the first scene 'till the last. I felt my mood change about halfway through it--some might get upset by this feeling. For others, it is called 'getting lost' in the plot. I felt the pressure.

Jack Nicholson, who rarely disappoints, gives a commanding performance as a cop going into retirement with mixed emotions...he has had a great career, but in his last 6 hours as a detective, he visits the crime scene of a murdered juvenile girl. The family makes a demand on him that he doesn't have the heart to deny. That demand, his 'pledge' to them, and his reaction to it for the remainder of the movie, forms the basis of an obsession that gradually erodes the Nicholson character's view of the world to the end of the movie. The absolute certainty that Nicholson feels about the presence of his target later in the movie was particularly compelling, since only the viewer knows 'the big picture.' Great work. I was only disappointed with the lack of DVD extras...8/10 stars :-)

State and Main (2000)

I was glad to have the Actors' commentary on the DVD

[7/10 · 26 June 2001]

It takes a little while for the viewer to get acclimated to the Mamet dialog. It is very deliberate. No 'well, uh's' or 'know what I mean' or sloppy prose.

And many of the really funny lines and situations are so funny, that they don't come thru on the first viewing of the movie! Or maybe I'm just a little slower than some :-) .. but I laughed out loud.

I admit I had to watch the DVD commentary (with the actors) after the movie. And then watch the movie again with my girlfriend. Now some would say that if you need to go thru all this to enjoy a movie, why bother?

Yet, if the movie were a bad movie, I never would have done all that to get on top of it! Great performances--Bill Macy at the top of his game, and Rebecca Pidgeon is beautiful as the girl we all loved from 'next door.' I like action movies, and this was not one of those. But it is a first-rate comedy. 8/10 stars :-)

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

Lots of money and big names...so where's the meat?

[5/10 · 14 June 2001]

(dvd-view) Ok so we have a mediocre plot and some good names. You had better have a pot of strong coffee handy. So the main character (Clooney) likes to keep his hair pretty with pomade and hairnets. And a Mississippi chain gang ain't the place to spend 1929. Why doesn't some big time movie critic just say it: "This is a lousy waste of time." This movie proves that everyone likes a fat pay day for as little work as possible.

A Mississippi chain gang is probably a more exciting and involving experience than this movie. Some good moments and a tongue in cheek performance by George Clooney rate it a 5/10 stars for me. Glad I got it on a 'rent one get one free' deal.

Dark City (1998)

Hey Mr. Spaceman...give me a break.

[3/10 · 8 June 2001]

Roger Ebert or not, "Dark" is the best word to describe this one. It has the look and feel of a well-made movie, but spacemen floating in and out of their surreal nighttime-only space-city, with a setting that emulates the 1920's, just takes it too far out for me.

I usually enjoy Kiefer Sutherland, but his performance here is worse than a tortoise on prosac. And he is better than the others!

Some of the plot ideas and mediocre Fx still rate it 3/10 stars. Save it for a rainy night when the video store is out of all the good stuff. :-/

Magnolia (1999)

First, fire the music director.

[7 June 2001]

The movie starts out with about 10 minutes of bad music..."one is the loneliest number one is the loneliest number one..." You get it.

With an array of good talent and a complex story to tell...with a good budget and plenty of Fx waiting to happen, this should have been a good movie. But one after one, the characters reveal themselves to be obnoxious, sweaty, troublesome, boring, and misled by their director, who I think was pretty well drugged up for the whole shoot. Tom Cruise gave a stellar performance.

Yes, there were three plots that worked their way to the center of this l_o_n_g story, like some schitzoid spider making some deformed web. In the end, very little 'entertainment' and much malformed mentality. 3/10 stars. ;-(

Quills (2000)

Best Period Piece Ever

[9/10 · 29 May 2001]

Outstanding screen play and performances. I became interested in the life of Sade after viewing this movie (DVD) and although it doesn't attempt to follow his biography exactly, I was amazed at the many beautiful and creative methods used in the film to articulate his life, his humanity, and his tortured relationships while he was imprisoned in the Charenton asylum.

Along with splendid scenery and dialog, this film never disappoints. Don't miss the opportunity to view it with French dubbing and English subtitles (on DVD) as well! 9 out of 10 :-)

Miss Congeniality (2000)

Why did they make this movie?

[1/10 · 5 May 2001]

OK, so I and you and most movie goers like to see Sandra Bullock on the screen (I watched the DVD). But this movie has nothing at all to recommend it. It starts with the assumption that Bullock is just a plain-jane down-home farm-girl with an FBI badge, who must be transformed into a beauty queen in order to infiltrate this pageant and catch a mad bomber.

Is somebody cooking beans here? A drowsy plot line, caricature portrayals of paper-thin acting roles, and nobody to really care about from one end of this tiresome drone to the other make it a poor choice for any except the 13-year old and below crowd. Show it around bedtime and the kids will give you a quiet evening alone after about half way through it. :-))

Steal This Movie (2000)

Abbie and the 70's canned for your viewing pleasure!

[5 May 2001]

Good acting and casting give this flick an authentic flavor (I watched the newly minted DVD) but having lived through the era depicted, I felt as though I was getting a diluted version of it all. Others have said 'something was missing' from part or all of the movie, and I agree. The something that is missing is the heart and soul of the 70's. And short of watching Val Kilmer's right-on performance of Jim Morrison (The Doors), nothing will bring it back.

This movie is just a swiss cheese version of Abbie Hoffman's life...too many holes. I bought Abbie's book, "Steal this Book" by mailorder back then. I was hoping to see some of the 'schtick' in the book show up on the wide-screen...nope.

It was a great book for its time and place. Until it was stolen :-))

Welcome to Woop Woop (1997)

Hysterical!

[10/10 · 26 June 2000]

I like Aussie movies anyway. This one was a laugh a minute. Very creative and well-written. When the characters seemed to dissolve into caricatures of themselves, they were redeemed by excellent acting and creative costume.

Or maybe they were supposed to be caricatures?

And the authentic, outback script made it more fun than you can have with your shoes on!

I caught it on cable TV quite by accident. Don't miss it!