abbywts Reviews

Falling Down (1993)

Coming home, two men's journeys

[9/10 · 22 June 2015]

This tremendous film is not the story of one 'coming home', rather, it's the story of two men. They both have been gradually crushed by life. One a laid off, divorced man at the end of his rope, the other a disrespected, ashamed man who is about to retire. Gradually, they shed their former selves, as when Foster gives him his breifcase saying 'I won't be needing it anymore.

There are so many symbols sprinkled throughout, from the fact that both men have the same the toy in their possession that plays the same tune-'London bridges falling down', it is hard to pick just one. But here is one. One is the scene where Bill Foster is pleading with his exwife when he is the intended target of a retaliatory driveby. They miss and wind up crashing the car. He calmly walks over and then stops. There behind is an Hispanic style portrait of Jesus with his arms outstretched. He then blocks the view so that he has replaced Jesus. This imagery is repeated again at the very end when he gets shot and falls with his arms similar into the ocean. Another is him telling his ex over the phone how an Apollo mission had gone past the point of no return, and had to finish their journey to the end, what Foster must do.

The cop, Pendergast, is on the same journey, gradually getting sucked into the of man on the loose. During the process, he loses his timidity and begins to reclaim what the once had. Both men, the end of their respective journeys, meet at the end in a showdown. A great scene. But one of the more subtle ones standout just as much. A man has been coming the same bank for seven years, the same as Foster's employment before his lay off, and is refused a loan. He protests with a sign saying 'not economically viable'. He is wearing the same outfit as Foster to a tee, and as he is led away by police in handcuffs, he catches Foster's eye, and Foster gives a slight nod. Great stuff.

Overall, a fantastic film that will give you chills, especially if you've been down and out. It will give humor. It will make you think.

Clockwatchers (1997)

"Do you ever feel like you're just floating...?"

[8/10 · 22 February 2015]

That's the line that Parker Posey's character, Margaret Burre (as in burr under the saddle?), asks Toni Collete's, Iris (one who watches and sees?). It comes at the halfway point in this densely layered, fully character driven, dark comedy-drama. She goes on, "...like you're not connected to anything or anyone?" And that is the main question, what are these people connected to?

Hard to believe this film is 17 years old, I've watched it a dozen times over the years and, like a good novel, pick something up every time. I recall the first time I watched it, I had a strange sense of awkwardness and unease, much like how the shy Iris must feel a lot of the time. It has a low key humor about it, but it is really quite dark. Iris stumbles into a group friendship at work that finally makes her feel less awkward and belonging to something that matters. All four of the ladies have their issues, mostly in some form of denial of reality. To me, the healthiest one of the bunch is Parker Posey's character, Margaret. Posey does one of her best roles ever playing a spunky, irascible but ultimately hollow young woman who is floating through life, much to the disappointment of her parents. Margaret gets it, though. She knows the score, with the BS the company puts out and even the things her friends try to hide. She has a fearlessness about her. As all good things must end, the closeness and bonding come to an end when a strange, shy almost Iris-like character from another dimension comes into the firm, Cleo. Cleo is a disturbed woman who makes up for her shortcomings but shortchanging others, in this case by targeted stealing that makes it seem as if the four temps-Cleo is permanent-are the ones stealing. It works, the four are suspected and gradually put into more and more demeaning work situations. At one point, even Iris thinks that Margaret is the one stealing. The dramatic scene of Margaret being walked out is painful, especially when it's revealed for certain it's not her, but true to her fearlessness, she does not go out without a fight. Iris finds out that it's Cleo just like Margaret suspected from the start and seeks a restitution that also winds up transforming her.

Just like the characters had a special moment in time that could never come again, so to did these actors. Collette was just a few years in America having been successful in her native Australia. Posey was making a name for herself as the quirky indie film girl. Kudrow was at the height of visibility with Friends and branching off into movies. Don't know much about Ubach. All in all, a great, quiet, strangely uneasy movie that should be seen more than once.

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

Pretentious clap trap that goes nowhere fast

[2/10 · 20 February 2015]

I sensed this was going to be bad from the beginning, what with the score consisting of annoying jazz type drumming that never ends, but I'm a fan of Zach Galifianakis, so I stuck with it. Big mistake, but live and learn.

Very surprised this has mostly positive reviews. I can understand critics because they interpret anything that's different as groundbreaking, but supposedly normal people like this as well. Most confusing. Some are comparing this to Black Swan. No!!! Black Swan actually had a point, even if not particularly clear, and it used surrealism and the expectations of the audience to great effect. This is just a script written by someone on his 10th straight day on crystal meth. 2 stars, both for Zach.

The Joneses (2009)

One very important and amusing satire for modern times.

[8/10 · 12 June 2014]

If you're thinking about seeing this movie, stop reading. If you go in knowing too much about it, you will enjoy it far less. Just a warning. Basic plot summary: perfect family moves into great neighborhood, taking said neighborhood by storm. But all is not what it seems. That is ALL you need to know.

Myself, I was just a fan of Duchovny and Moore, I had no clue about the other actors and just went in head first. Fairly early into the movie, before it was revealed, I said to myself, "These people are professional trendsetters. My God, what a great idea for a movie!" They're actually called 'stealth marketers' or some such terms. They do exist in the real world, but usually for something like cool people buying certain drinks in upscale bars to get others to buy them-as far as we know (wink wink).

All the actors are brilliant, and there's even Mr. Lumbergh (Gary Cole)! There are no dead spots or extraneous exposition, everything fits and is well paced. Lots of little moments of sly, subtle humor, no loud belly laughs here. The fantastic premise of the movie is fleshed out by the exploration of the characters personal lives and this draws the majority of the movie going public in. How much would you give up for great personal wealth? To look at the answer, just look at the world around us. This movie asks, 'is it worth it'?

Do you know why you like what you like? How do you know? Bill Hicks, the late comedian, once told his audience, "If there's anyone in sales in the audience-go kill yourselves. No I'm not joking, just kill yourselves". If Bill Hicks were to pitch a movie to Hollywood, it might look something like this. After a lot of 'notes' I'm sure.

Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011)

Shooting for the target, missing it

[3/10 · 12 June 2014]

I know what this movie is supposed to be shooting for, but it misses its mark badly. It's trying to go for quiet, quirky comedy/drama that contains meaningful message. But instead of quiet-it's lethargic. Instead of quirky-it's unfocused. Instead of meaningful, it's saccharin. The concept is silly, which is fine if you can pull it off, here it's not. A 30 year old loser with no prospects sits in his mom's basement smoking pot and obsessed with the movie 'Signs'. His obsession winds up affecting the lives of people around him whose lives are superficially OK, but just as messed up. The part where Susan Sarandon's character starts imaging the sprinklers as a waterfall was where the fake schmaltz level went through the roof. The dramatic rescue scene was the only saving grace in the entire movie.

I'm open to these kinds of movies done well, done badly it's just a painful waste of time. Time better spent smoking pot in the basement. If you want to see a movie that's along similar themes that's far more entertaining, go see 'Our Idiot Brother'.

The Invention of Lying (2009)

Witty, interesting conceptual movie

[7/10 · 23 April 2010]

Well, I liked this movie. It was full of outrageously dark, biting scenes that really had me sort of stunned that a mainstream movie could say and do stuff like this as well as just amusing the heck out of me. And that's what this will do, amuse the heck out of you if you let it. Probably won't have you falling off the couch with laughter, but it's not that kind of comedy.

Ricky Gervais is fantastic here, he does his own version of the 'beaten man' that makes you completely identify and root for him, while noting and laughing at the absurdity all around him. He has this wonderful style where he trails off or mutters something barely audible that turns out to be a gem.

The movie revolves around a concept, not a plot per se. If you like the concept, you'll get something out of this movie. You can be forgiving of the ending, the all too-tired Hollywood ending of interrupting a wedding, or the general lack of effort that seems to occur as the movie winds down.

There are other quibbles, but eh, I was genuinely entertained and mentally stimulated-something that 95% of movies aren't able to do.

Wendy and Lucy (2008)

Unsettling tale of life on the fringes of America

[7/10 · 18 October 2009]

Here we have something most movies don't really deal with, or TV shows, or most popular media for that matter- what life is like for a sizable but forgotten portion of the public. We always see beautiful people living in fine apartments whose biggest worry always seems to be relationship woes. The reality for a lot of people, especially at the time of this writing, is just getting by.

The movie portrays this reality well, without hitting anyone over the head with it. A sense of bleakness permeates the film. Even though most of the time it's sunny, the scenery says indifference and everyone is just a stranger. They may be polite at times, but there is a wall. We see that the things that most people take for granted become SO much harder when you're one of the outsiders. Where will you take a shower? Where will you brush your teeth? How do you get drinking water? Get even a simple low-paying job? Without an address or even a phone? Good luck. No..when you're out of the system, it's hard to get back in, very hard.

This is a movie that will break your heart; the main character is someone that you root for, and pray for, because you've seen them or known them or maybe because you've been them. Not a feel good movie, highly realistic in tone, and one that you should see at least once.

Ultraviolet (2006)

Watch the first half hour.

[5/10 · 11 March 2009]

The first half hour of this movie is fantastic. VERY stylish and daring. Nice action scenes. It's mindless action fun. From then on, things start going downhill really fast. The plot, such as it it, revolves around a boy and what he has to do with saving the world. There are vampires and kung fu type fight scenes, and a lot of talking about nothing. A lot of slow, pointless dialogue about nothing. And so on.

So, if this ever comes on, or you have a chance to watch this for free, watch the first half hour, and then go about your business. If only they could have kept it up, this would have been a movie worth talking about.

Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

Delusions, and what they reveal

[9/10 · 5 March 2009]

I have to say, I wasn't expecting much from this movie. The plot makes it sound absolutely terrible, but I gave it a chance and it worked out, for a change. People will probably love this movie or hate it, I doubt there will be much middle ground.

It's an incredibly original tale, which is hard to do with all the history of films to go against. "Harvey" with Jimmy Stewart may have some similarities in that a character has a delusional relationship with something that doesn't exist (in his case, a giant rabbit), but this delusion serves a real purpose.

This movie is sad, very sad-but in a good way. It has comedic elements, but really, even those are muted by a strange awkwardness. A likable but damaged man seems to go off the deep end and order a lifelike doll to be his companion because real relationships are too disturbing. While at first the town reacts with surprise and ridicule, things turn around remarkably. This movie is not trying to be realistic, it's a fable. Sit back and enjoy it.

The actors really show an amazing sense of restraint throughout the movie, which is the only way something like this could work. Instead of making dramatic gestures and contorted faces, it's subdued and believable in context. The writing is quite fine as well. Be warned again that this is really not a laugh out loud comedy. If you have had periods of loneliness or being an outcast in your life, this may bring up some disturbing feelings in you, it's quite intense.

Small Time Crooks (2000)

A hidden gem.

[8/10 · 15 January 2009]

I'll say this right upfront, I'm not really a Woody Allen fan. I like his earlier movies where he was simply funny and not trying to figure out the meaning of life or display the ennui of rich Manhattanites. I find those films incredibly ponderous and self-indulgent. But stuff like 'Play it Again Sam' (even though it has the equally whiny Diane Keaton), or 'Take the Money and Run' were his best films.

This film is a return to simple funny. One thing that happened while watching this movie: about 20 minutes into the movie I felt something about this movie was strange, but I couldn't figure out what. Then it hit me: no swearing. I can't remember the last time I saw a movie directed at adults that didn't have swearing. I'm not against swearing in movies by any means, but I have to say, I found it really refreshing. The script was forced to find the funny for real, rather on shock value. Needless to say, it also thankfully doesn't have any of the gross-out humour that passes for comedy in most films these days either. In the hands of most writers, it's not about pushing boundaries, but simply revealing the lack of genuine talent.

Although Ullman does a very good job, and Allen is at his comedic best, Elaine May really shines through in her role and is the one that makes me smile the most. It's a shame that she doesn't get, or take, more roles.

Edmond (2005)

Beyond Bad

[1/10 · 15 January 2009]

I've never given out one star so far, I try to find SOMETHING redeeming about most movies. This one, no such luck. The character goes through many clichés of 'depravity', most focusing on sex. It's like they went through a checklist of depravity, and then wrote ridiculous scenes around the list. The thing that makes this movie beyond bad, is the utter unbelievability of the scenes. This guy is meek one minute, and then violently killing and brutalizing people the next. Like a scene with a customer coming into a diner with blood on his clothes, looking like he's on some kind of substance, being rude and obnoxious, not to mention unattractive, then goes to bed with a fantastic looking waitress many years his junior (Julia Stiles). Yeah, that happens all the time.

I'll be honest, I couldn't take it anymore and fast forwarded through the last third of the movie, where he goes to prison. So it's possible some brilliant redemption of the movie took place, but I kind of doubt it. Macy was brilliant in 'Fargo', decent in 'The Cooler', interesting in 'Door to Door', but this is the low point of his career. I think actors take on these 'gritty' type roles to lend some seriousness to their resume or in his case to try to break out a certain stereotype role. He should've chosen better.

Drowning Mona (2000)

A quirky, refreshing movie.

[7/10 · 3 November 2008]

I've seen this movie many times now, and it holds up every time I see it. There are some decent moments here that really come to the fore with multiple viewings. There's so many things about this movie that are completely stupid, but in a good way. The fixation on Yugos and Wheel of Fortune- it makes no sense, but I laugh. The missing hand of one of the characters- but it works. The bizarre amalgam of time periods-is it the 1970's or the 1980's or what?. The music and some fashions seem to be from the 70's, but Wheel of Fortune and Yugo seems to indicate 80's. But it doesn't matter. It's its own universe, and if you can buy the strangeness, you might have a good time. The interchange between the two cops, and the Will Ferrell character are special standouts (and I normally can't stand Ferrell).

Now the bad part, Bette Midler almost single-handedly tanks this movie. She overacts so badly and is so amateurish, that it's really stunning. My guess is that the casting directors looked at Ruthless People (where she was decent) and thought that that would work here. It doesn't. I can't help but feel that people who watch this for the first time are so poisoned by her presence, that they turn off from the whole thing. But I didn't really want to punish the rest of the movie just for her, I can ignore her.

Also watch just for a display of the some of the worst hairstyles ever, especially on Curtis and her character's boyfriend.

The Howling (1981)

Like an episode of McCloud, with werewolves.

[2/10 · 3 November 2008]

The werewolf is my favorite traditional monster, much more so than the vampire. So, it was with great anticipation that I met this movie, hailed as one of the best of the genre. I was prepared to be disappointed, because Hollywood doesn't usually do werewolf movies very well, when it does them at all.

But this was just terrible. Horrible, horrible pacing, stilted acting, and special effects that I suppose for the time were good, but now are absolutely laughable. Not to mention the weird attempts at humour that destroy any mood at all. Is it campy, or earnest? Everything just seemed very superficial. It was like a badly written episode of the TV show McCloud, 'McCloud Meets the Wolfman' or something.

Now, it didn't have to be this way. The film that really started it all, The Wolfman, STILL holds up. And the special effects are worse, but it doesn't matter, because it creates a great atmosphere, tells a great story, and never lets up. The best take on the genre in recent years is the Ginger Snaps series, from the Canadians. The writers actually seemed to take werewolves seriously, and produced some really original works.

Married... with Children (1987–1997)

Went on for waaay too long.

[3/10 · 9 October 2008]

I actually couldn't believe this show went on for as long as it did, I thought it stopped in the late eighties early nineties. When this show first came out, it might have had something to say at the time. The most popular shows on TV at the time, were the family type shows, where everyone learns a really important lesson. This show was like the anti-Cosby. And for that, it was really good.

However, a little goes a long way. After a while, the terrifyingly stilted writing starts to grate, the 'it's obvious I'm acting' acting style goes from noticeable to overbearing, and well, don't forget Ted McGinley. Either he or Danny Bonaduce represent the kiss of death for any show. Having watched several episodes in a row, it became frighteningly easy to predict what would happen next in an episode. In one, the son is being made fun of for being alone on his eighteenth birthday when the daughter tells him he's got a phone call- a girl. I said, "It's going to be his grandmother or aunt." He makes a speech about how he doesn't need anyone's pity-company and how he's a stud and says, "Hello Grandma."

Maria Full of Grace (2004)

Simple portrait hiding depths

[8/10 · 24 May 2008]

There's not a moment in this movie that I found out of line or unrealistic. It makes you ask yourself "what would I do if this were my situation?" It is a perfectly normal portrait of how the other half has to live. The film has a slow desperation about it, without the usual modern artifacts like music or camera tricks. The desperation occurs from the story itself- how about that for a concept. The actors are tremendous in showing restraint and it pays off. The exchanges between the sisters are heartbreaking and frustrating and, again, believable. The scene in which a minor character dies could have been savagely shown, but instead only the aftermath was shown and described. It somehow makes what happened only that much more savage in our imaginations.

3 Women (1977)

Character study meets Rod Serling

[3/10 · 11 April 2008]

The first half of the movie is like a quirky character study. This part was intriguing, if strange and cringe-inducing. Millie is a woman who thinks she's in the center of life, but in reality is far from it. In scene after scene she is ignored, or made fun of behind her back. A naive Pinky (whose real name is also Mildred, while Millie is short for Mildred), comes into her life first as workmates, then roommates. Probably due to her limited experience she thinks Millie is just wonderful, while Millie sees her as first a convenience, then a nuisance.

Then, the movie turns into the Twilight Zone. Here's where it all falls apart. After a vulgar browbeating by Millie, Pinky attempts suicide and, possibly due to brain damage from the attempt, changes personality and has problems remembering her past. The new personality is what Millie thinks she is, but this time it's real. A brash, confident, and actually nasty, self-obsessed person-and very popular. In a dream, remnants of Pinky's memory come back to her, and she starts to revert to her former self, or some amalgam of the two personalities. The final scene makes it seem as if the entire episode might have been the dream of the third woman, Willie (get it, the names are so similar, ha ha). Here, Millie is the mother to Pinky, and Willie may be the grandma or Millie's sister. Did it happen? Did they kill Edgar, the ne'er do well who was involved with all three, and just create some alternative family? Who knows. And more importantly, who cares?

I normally don't give any mention to music, unless it's really bad or really good. Here, it's the former. Terrible, spitty flute playing tries to make this seem arty, but is just annoying and out of character for the scenes.

This is an utterly forgettable experience, with no concern whatsoever for any deeper meaning. The acting is the only saving grace here. Shelley Duvall is both pathetic and creepy, while strangely engaging. Sissy Spacek really makes the character shine with tiny expressions that convey very well. She's believable both as a simpleton and a sophisticate. It is original, however, I'll give it that. Overall, unsatisfying and irrelevant.

Stick It (2006)

Surprisingly good teen movie

[7/10 · 12 March 2008]

This is a movie I SHOULD have hated. It fits into several genres I normally can't stand. It's a teen movie (hate them), it's a sports movie (hate them), it's a formulaic troubled teen makes good with help of mentor movie (you get the idea). It came on cable one day and I ended up sticking with it-I'm glad I did. Instead of hating it, I found myself enjoying it quite a bit. It's definitely formulaic, but so are 95% of the movies out there, anyway. They just pull off the formula very well. Gymnastics is something I have a great deal of respect for (unlike figure skaters, sorry), those people are hardcore athletes. The scenes involving the actual gymnastics, whether in competition or practice, are filmed quite creatively. The actors are cast well, also, especially the lead. She looks so...all-American, for lack of a better description, and can actually act. I'm not a teenager, BTW, so I would imagine teens would enjoy this even more.

Quibbles? The music. It's not my taste (except for blink 182). Other than that, for this type of movie, they did a good job. This isn't supposed to be Taxi Driver or Fargo-just a relatively light, feel-good movie that hits the target it was aiming for.

Baise-moi (2000)

Could've been a contender

[2/10 · 6 December 2007]

People will come to this film for different reasons. Some will be intrigued by the tales of extremism and will view it as a kind of cinematic equivalent of eating an habanero pepper. Some will be in it strictly for the sex scenes. Myself, I was drawn to it because of the supposed feminist content. Supposed being the key word. Because there are female leads and a rape scene, I suppose it's reasonable that some people come to that conclusion, but it's the incorrect one. First, a short word on content. I don't normally watch porno, so the sex stuff was shocking in the sense that I wasn't expecting quite that level of graphicness. Let me just say, the word 'tasteful' has no place here. It didn't traumatize me for life, I'm just telling this to let readers know who might be wondering-you will be in for a full-on hardcore porn film with an extended plot line.

I find it hard to believe that even the most extreme strains of feminism could find anything of value here. Not only do these women kill men who, within the logic of the plot line, could be construed as 'deserving it', but they kill women who did nothing more than cross their path. One of the women kills her roommate because she dared to suggest she should keep up with her roommate responsibilities. They both kill a woman going to an ATM. And an indiscriminate bloodbath occurs at a sex club. The rape scene is confusing because while it could be pointed to as a trigger, the woman raped seems almost nonchalant about it. Denial? Something going on below the surface? Perhaps. But that's a realm of subtlety the film doesn't seem to have much of. I guess if you're being extremely generous, you could say the women are simply a product of a crazy society that treats women like crap and now that society is getting its just desserts, and here's how it would play out. But it seems more like a cover. A thin veneer of integrity placed by the makers to display nihilism. Because that is what it's about-nihilism. Life is a crazy meaningless escapade, so get your kicks any way you can.

There are many other shortcomings to the movie. I just didn't find it believable these women would suddenly start killing, be so good at it, and find it all so irrelevant. And what are the apartment walls in France made of-ten inches of lead? No one could hear gunshots and beatings going on? And the streets are always deserted except for the hapless victims? I suppose these logical failings also apply to ninety percent of the typical Hollywood action movies, but I had to mention it.

This film is a disappointment, it could have been something of a modern day exploration of forces shaping the lowest of the lower class, women, and I don't mind debauchery if it has a point. This didn't. I just felt manipulated. Two stars for trying something different, and for at least not boring me.

Requiem (2006)

Aching, compelling character study

[9/10 · 5 December 2007]

I had heard nothing of the true story on which this was based beforehand, but the opening lines indicate that this is really not a strict presentation, but a jumping off point. That's fine, because movies, in general, are very poor at rendering true events. It is really a character study, using events as a springboard.

Note: this has spoilers coming up. The movie is presented in a stark, almost documentary style. It presents us with a young woman who is torn between two worlds-the one she has known and its obligations and restrictions and comforts, and the world she is about to know, with its freedoms, and excitement and scariness. She leaves the small town for life as a young adult in a university. We see her starting out and wonder if she can cope. She gets made fun of somewhat on the first day of class, for example. But, she does cope and starts to really come into her own. Doing well in class, having friends, and a first love. But her illness comes into the fore once again, and eventually, kills any hope of independence.

Personally, I'm not religious and that may color my take, but this film seems to strongly suggest religion as folly. It doesn't beat you over the head with it, but it's there. She suffers from epilepsy, and the film mentions the prospect of psychogenic psychosis as being the cause of her delusions. The same physical abnormalities in the brain that cause epilepsy, can also cause damage to the part that senses reality, and sense of self. Someone raised in a strict religious household can easily interpret this as signs of God or the Devil or whatever. At the time, medications were pretty much hit or miss, and so it seemed cruelly hopeless to sufferers who kept getting a 'miss'. It wasn't as clearly understood then, either.

The film succeeds in showing what well meaning but clueless people can do when they yield to superstition. The main character's best friend (a beautiful friendship!) really represents the opposing view. She keeps trying to take her to a hospital and tells her these visions are due to another cause, but, alas, religion has an answer to every rational impulse. It's also interesting that her episodes occur in times of greater stress, especially her parents visiting, or being scolded by her mother.

The casting for this movie is fantastic. Every actor large and small played their role perfectly, a rare feat. From the virtuoso performance of Sandra Huller, to every side character like her character's sister. The only thing keeping this from a ten, the ending was unsettled. Too abrupt, seemed unnatural somehow.