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gusalden
Reviews
Eye of God (1997)
A tragic story that asks, "Why, God?"
Eye of God, a suspenseful and painfully real story as narrated by Hal Holbrook who plays the town sherriff of an oil town in Oklahoma. He speaks of the story of Abraham & Isaac from the Old Testament with an air of sad resignation and cynicism. His faith in God has been eroded by a harrowing event and he is obviously bitter over it. I would venture to say the screenplay writer has a bone or two to pick with God, and having just seen this film, it's easier than ever for me to say rightfully so. This movie asks over and over again, "Why, God?"
A local 14 year old boy has just been found by the local cops, in the woods by the lake, completely covered in blood, and in a state of speechless shock. The blood is not his. It's quite evident that he's been witness to a murder.
As the story unfolds, it becomes quite evident early on in the movie what the outcome of this tragic story is going to be, but this doesn't detract from the suspense created by the film one iota. Wonderfully directed, the story is presented in fragmented pieces of time and space, like the pieces of a jig saw puzzle. You may already have a good idea what it's going to look like when it's all been put together, but the process of putting the pieces together is what keeps the viewer intently interested all the way to the seemingly inevitable conclusion.
A very well told story, socially relevent, well directed, well cast and wonderfully acted. Martha Plimpton is fabulous in her role as the carrier of the eye of God. 9.5/10
Any Given Sunday (1999)
Mildly disappointing, but entertaining just the same.
Any Given Sunday begins as a rather powerful statement on racial issues that draws an interesting comparison of a football team to a regiment of military soldiers. (I couldn't help but see echoes of Vietnam in some of the gridiron scenes.) I found most of the film to be quite insightful, as one might expect an Oliver Stone film to be, and highly entertaining. I was disappointed though - mildly embarrassed even - by it's formulaic plot resolution (ala. Rocky), the feeling being that I had seen this movie too many times before already, and that the film had fallen short of the potential it had to be a far more important film than it is.
A very good football flick, just the same. I give it 3 stars out of 5.
Gus