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Reviews
Requiem for Murder (1999)
Peeyuuu
I must admit that I was a HUGE Molly Ringwald fan in the era of John Hughes and Pretty in Pink and 16 Candles, but I grew up and changed. And I wish Molly Ringwald had, too.
In this film, she plays Ann Winslow, a DJ on a Philadelphia-based Classical radio station (WZIN -- egads, say it out loud). Anyway, she is supposed to be the sultry, much-sought-after-by-all-the-men, nouveau-riche connoisseur of classical music. She is the *star* of the radio station and adored by many (mostly men -- especially those with whom she works). And, for me, it just didn't fly. She still had the dead-panned expression that she passes off for acting and, besides her fancy clothing and beautiful apartment, she wasn't convincing as a "hoity-toity" classical dj.
Ann is pursued by a fanatical fan (not the first in her life to be fanatical) who murders people in order to please her. Her situation is discovered by a male detective (yes, you guessed it -- he's interested in her, too) who was once a piano prodigy.
And the ending -- ugh. I won't spoil it for you, but if you have the same reaction, don't say I didn't warn you.
The only redeeming quality of the film were the two detectives, Heinz and Parks, who really played off of each other well and who are rather amusing in their small details (Heinz dunks his banana in a cup of coffee while waiting to confront a potential suspect). I felt as if these two deserved their own weekly series -- that's how much I liked them.
So, watch at your own risk. Molly isn't that great (and I didn't find her character sympathetic at all). The murderer is *who*? But the detectives are fantastic.
Farscape: Premiere (1999)
Wasn't interested at first, but now -- DAMN!!!!
I am a huge science fiction fan and have watched stupid sci fi show after stupid sci fi show for years (with a few exceptions, mind you). When a friend of mine told me about Farscape I thought "PA-LEEZE -- give me a break." I refused to watch it for a while. Then, bored one Friday night, during Season 2, I clicked on the Sci-Fi Channel and -- lo and behold -- there was the most fantastic sci fi show I have seen in a very very very long time. The next day, I was scrambling to find the first episodes that I had missed so that I could understand some of the banter. Thank goodness for the local video store -- Season One on DVD. Wahooo. I now understand Crais's anger toward Crichton and how Aeryn joined the group.
For those of you who are tired of the same old sci fi drivel (First Wave, LEXX, etc.) -- I urge you to find Farscape and give it a try.