melfreya Reviews

Irma la Douce (1963)

Feelgood comedy

[28 September 2001]

So it's not the greatest Billy Wilder/Jack Lemmon comedy ever, but it's definitely a very amusing film with witty performances from Jack Lemmon and Shirly McLaine who prove here once again what a believable, great screen couple they make. The scene stealer in this one, though, is Lou Jacobi as Moustache, the hilarious and "wise" bartender across the street. The film loses some of its humor at somes places, but it really takes off the moment Jack becomes Lord X. The music is a great asset, too.

Clueless (1995)

Brainless fun

[24 September 2001]

Clueless is a carefree teen movie with an attitude. It spawned a whole new film vocabulary and helped Alicia Silverstone's star shine brighter, though for a while. It's an enjoyable journey into the life and mind of `typical' teen girl, with lots of money to spend and a to-die-for wardrobe, who sets out to make good deeds and find a mate for everyone besides herself. Paul Rudd provides welcome eye-candy and don't forget to check out a little-used Dan Hedaya as Cher's lawyer dad. Amy Heckerling's script and direction are reminiscent of Fast Times At Ridgemont High. The ending seems rushed and formulaic, but as a whole, it's a fun ride.

Elizabeth (1998)

Excellent performances

[7/10 · 16 July 2001]

Elizabeth is an ambitious film that relies mostly on the performances of a great cast. Though visually superb, it never quite reaches a satisfactory climax except for the emotionally strong final scenes. The standout actor in this fine cast is of course, Cate Blanchett who portrays Elizabeth with the suitable depth, vulnerability and subsequent strength without failing. She was robbed of the Oscar in a sense, not so much because she was the best but because Gwyneth Paltrow just didn't deserve it compared to her. The other excellent performance is delivered by the ever-great Geoffrey Rush as Elizabeth's cunning but loyal counselor. The final shot of him crying when he first sees the Virgin Queen proves what a range of emotions he can portray and how many dimensions he can bring to a character. Kathy Burke as Queen Mary and Christopher Eccleston as Norfolk are equally great, and Joseph Fiennes proves that he is much more than Ralph's brother with his subtle portrayal of a somewhat controversial and of uncertain integrity character. Shekhar Kapur's direction is certainly elegant but also repeats some motifs without adding anything new. Overall, it's an interesting and superbly acted British production. 7/10

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Great strong performances

[16 July 2001]

Glengarry Glen Ross certainly works better as a theater play but it is rescued by an excellent cast that delivers memorable performances and makes this one a must-see. It's hard to say who is the best among these great character actors, but Jack Lemmon is certainly the scene-stealer with his portrayal of a desperate but still persistent salesman on the brink of losing his job after a poor sales record. In one of his final roles, dear Jack is still the everyman we knew and loved but this time he brings a never-before-seen edge to his character. Kevin Spacey is superb for once more in a relatively small but powerful turn, as is Jonathan Pryce, while Ed Harris delivers one more energetic performance. Al Pacino is unbelievably loud - that's something he does pretty often in his films, but the catch is that he was nominated for an Oscar for this particular portrayal of the top-of-his-class salesman, untouched by the desperation and decay that surrounds him. The honorable mention goes to Alec Baldwin - much louder than Al Pacino, but seriously overrated. David Mamet's script is alarmingly accurate and realistic. A must-see.