Change Your Image
habert
Reviews
Sironia (2011)
Deep in the Heart of Texas and Cunningham-Dickerson
Now here's a truly rare treat these days - a film with true heart. There is also plenty of spirit and pure innocence to be found. The characters are real and I found myself caring for them as the story unfolded. Amy Acker turned in an Oscar-worthy performance and everybody else fit their roles perfectly with Wes Cunningham a natural in his role. This won the Austin Film Festival Audience Award last October so come on somebody and distribute this already! Highly recommended in general and more than suitable for renewing any down-trodden spirits. And last but not least, Brandon Dickerson has delivered in spades and I hope to see more feature length productions from him soon!
Un monstre à Paris (2011)
Totally Delightful for the Child in All of Us
I watched this with my grandchildren and wife and son. My 6 year old grandson loved it 'to infinity and beyond', my 11 year old granddaughter loved it but thought it was 'weird', my son liked it a lot and my wife enjoyed it well enough. I'm with my grandson on loving it to the max. It was a totally delightful 90 minutes with several highlights scattered throughout. The English voice talent was spot-on with kudos to all involved and a truly great vocal performance by Danny Huston as Police Commissioner Maynott - listen carefully to his last big scene and wait for the end credits to finish ;o)
I've seen where some reviewers are very critical of 'A Monster In Paris' and seem to think it should have conformed to what they personally expected of it and complain about it 'borrowing' from classics like 'Beauty and the Beast, 'Frankenstein' and others. I believe it to be an original film - as much as can be these days, anyway - with classic themes that are beautifully integrated into a highly original base. 10+ Stars all the way!
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Definitely NOT for children or weak minded individuals!
I have no doubt that this film will help win souls over to Christianity. When my wife and I left the auditorium there was a circle of people praying with hands clasped, ringed around the hallway outside the auditorium exit. I was absorbed by what I had just seen and was sorting it out. I did not want to get into a prayer group at that particular moment and we were blocked from being able to leave for a few moments.
This film places classic images of the crucifixion into a modern colorful wide screen context with no holds barred and buckets and buckets of close-up, red, red blood. Is that a good thing? Is it a good film? How do you interpret "good film"? The technique was good. It was all well made. It invoked tears beyond measure. How could it not? When you love somebody so much, it's unbearable to see them suffer - especially this MUCH. So I cried - we cried - the theater cried. It was overwhelming. How could it not be?
Was the depiction of Christ's suffering and crucifixion too graphic, too bloody, too much? I believe that it was. I believe that the film numbs a normal viewer to their very core. I believe that it will be used as an evangelical tool for that reason more than any other. I believe that people will accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior in droves after seeing this film. The extreme mind numbing nature of this film will leave some people vulnerable to suggestion. Numbing the mind is, after all, a basic brainwashing technique. And as for my personal experience after seeing this film, I definitely felt vulnerable and even a little threatened by the group blocking the exit - no matter what they were doing. The "R" rating is well-deserved and children and weak minded people should definitely not see it for ANY reason.
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Tremendous Film For the Ages!
I've seen the term "Visionary" applied as a single word description for "Dancer In The Dark" and I certainly agree. I would go so far as to say that the film is light years ahead of it's time and space. It is overflowing with innovation, information, ideas and power. An instant classic that will be more widely accepted as such as years go by. Really. I don't just throw these words around loosely.
One of the greatest aspects of cinema for me is finding a film that works on multiple levels, and "Dancer In The Dark" delivers in spades. How many levels are at play here? I don't know yet. "Blade Runner" is the only other film that has left me wondering (even after all these years) at the actual depth of expression it contains, whether it be intentional or accidental.
SPOILER AHEAD!
One of the more interesting levels (Interpretively speaking) of "Dancer In The Dark" is of Selma Yeskova as a Christ figure. She dies for the sins of everyone else. She has her disciples who love her dearly and two of whom even kiss her hands. She has Bill as her Judas. He betrays her for money and is responsible for her arrest, trail and execution. She both forgives him and asks for his forgiveness. She exerts a positive influence upon those around her - they are happier for knowing her and draw from her great strength. They even learn from her in many subtle ways. She "lives forever" by staying within the "Next To Last Song" at the moment of her death. So cool!
I love this film and I love Björk's absolutely amazing film score and songs! The two death scenes are definitely disturbing but the film would suffer if their impact was lessened. I recommend it highly to anyone with an open mind who truly loves cinema.