brownrainjacket Reviews

Sonny (2002)

Cage's debut was not a failure in artsnob society anymore than it was in making money.

[7/10 · 26 August 2003]

God. So many of you amateur critics were not paying attention. Please don't tell me the 'jist' of the story. Don't give me some distorted, film-spliced preview version so that I can go into it thinking I'm on the right track with your unconscious blather consoling my brain. There is much to be missed seeing this film. I'll admit that I was slightly, if not very, disappionted after seeing it. But there's something there that many have ignored but instead found the time to criticize poor this and poor that. Please, just take things for what they are. Cage's debut was not a failure in artsnob society anymore than it was in making money. Its good points are and will be overlooked. -- Ok. What did I dislike of the film, if that really matters. - Please. Don't ever show Scott Caan touching a Camus novel on screen ever again. "It's good. You should read it." Don't say that he's one of your favorite young actors just b/c, i presume, of your uncle and his dad. Refrain from melodramatic calvin klein scenes in the rain, unless it's a scary movie sequel. If you're going to scalp the audience with incessant drivel, at least give us something not so recycled. And I'm sure there's more. But the biggest thing is that the script should have been reworked again and again and then more. I know--the loyalty to the author's work, but this script was really very limited. It just shows why Richard Gere turned it down for American Gigilo back when it was first written. But at least Gere wasn't in this one. Franco is great. He will live to prove that to doubters in his future career. Cage could have done much worse. And he won't have to live with making a cliche big easy picture. Harry Dean, Harry Dean. Man, what a cool cat. Mena Suvari--very surprising. And I'll check with my cajun grandpa on how good Blethyn's 2wk accent was. That's it. Peace and love to the creators and the wannabe critics. Don't get so hyped up on wordy little nonsensical wisdom your dog could think up, and learn how to embrace the whole world, even if it doesn't meet your personal mark of approval.

The Golden Mask (1953)

Great old fossils are ignored everyday

[7/10 · 4 August 2003]

The thing that struck me about this movie was how much it set itself apart from similar 'treasure hunt' movies of its day. None of the acting was so overdone that it became unbareable. And the authenticity of the setting and location were extremely refreshing, peeking through the dusty cotton print that has survived. Van was actually cool. He didn't do any big cliches that was criminal. The Egyptian cast was first rate. No Peter Lorre's and miscast Europeans playing the native tongue to the ground. Jack Lee. BAM.

On the Old Spanish Trail (1947)

Surprisingly suspenseful for a 4AM Roy Rogers sing-along.

[6/10 · 15 November 2002]

This movie was very corny and fun to watch. I'd never seen a Roy Rogers picture before, but my expectations were not disappointed. The stage chases really seem fast-paced, like a big budget Mummy movie. But really, the stuntmen were very good (with horses). Roy is kind of a dope, but fulfills the classic trusting cowboy a baby boomer would need for a hero. (My dad) Jane Frazee is pretty hot in black and white. But the silver screen was a sexy thing. Tito Guizar's voice is quite beautiful, singing clear melodies that remind me of old, pasty, pre-bugs bunny cartoons and merry old England for some reason. Anyway, it's worth a middle of the night view - and if you're going on your 3rd day of awake, it's entertaining. Dopey happy endings that would make John Wayne's reversable, matching red and blue flannels jealous.

Dead Kennedys: The Early Years (1987 Video)

Jello Biafra and The Dead Kennedys show why they're the kings of satire in 9 live early performances.

[9/10 · 16 September 2002]

This made-in-Canada cheapie is a must own for any Dead Kennedys fan or anyone who has any interest in the early days of San Fran punk rock. It includes some great footage of Jello Biafra running for office, and sing-along option for those of you unfamiliar with the language of Jello. Among performances at historical locations such as Mabuhay Gardens, Sproul Plaza, and one at 330 Grove St., are two live recordings at Target Studios. So enjoy, let East Bay Ray's solos, Klaus Flouride's possessed bass, Ted Peligro's frantic drumming and Jello Biafra's Johnathon Swiftian lyrics take you into the late 70s and early 80s and show you what lame feature's like SLC Punk couldn't. And remember, "There's always room for jello."

The Château (2001)

Paul Rudd does a great job at making the audience want to kill him.

[1/10 · 12 September 2002]

After sitting in the theater to watch this "hysterical" independent film called The Chateau, I found that I could find absolutely nothing redeeming about it. I sat for what seemed like 2 hrs, watching this supposed comedy, and I began wondering how a filmmaker can devote more than that to making the film that I just watched in torment. Honestly, I appreciate Paul Rudd's performance. The character he's playing is a tremendous ass, as well as his adopted brother. And they both do pretty good jobs at demonstrating that. But is there an actual reason to give 2 hrs to viewing this movie? I mean, besides studying intercultural conflicts? Where the American visitors are of course, the ignorant ones, and the French are of course the pompous ones. Nothing new. It does a great job at exploiting that to the brink. In fact, if one chose to, one could say that The Chateau does a great job at exploiting the Indy genre to the brink. Lots of film-makers tend to make films about things that interest them, rather than what will interest the audience, and that's fine. But what could Jesse Peretz be thinking?

Deuces Wild (2002)

Brad Renfro is terrible, terrible, terrible.

[2/10 · 12 September 2002]

It has more slow-motion, motown-music flashback scenes than hugs from an episode of Seventh Heaven. Really, I'm not quite sure what the director of The Basketball Diaries was trying to do here. He flagrantly ripped off just about every street gang film to date. West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet all over again, only much less interesting. And I can't emphasize this enough...Brad Renfro, the younger brother Bobby, is horrible in this movie. I think I might rather watch Liza Minelli in a 2000's remake of Cabaret than watch this guy act. At least in this movie. He seemed to fit the part in Bully, where he was semi-credible. Steven Dorff is watchable, but not enough to star in the movie. And the director should've had the insight to take all of Renfro's screentime and give it to the likes of Drea de Matteo who plays Dorffs girl, and James Franco (Tino) who stays in the shadows the entire film, except for one 2 minute scene, improvised on apartments steps with Dorff (one of the only enjoyable scenes at all). And please don't compare the fight scenes in Deuces Wild to those of Fight Club, Vady. Anyone who went to see this movie and sat thru its entirity, you did what most of us couldn't do. This movie wasn't even bad enough to be good.

L.A. Without a Map (1998)

Definately worth watching for any Vincent Gallo fan.

[6/10 · 26 June 2002]

Although the box may have JOHNNY DEPP & VINCENT GALLO in big letters, both actors play minor parts. Some very magical Depp cameo moments. Gallo is amazing and funny as hell the whole time he's on film. Any fan of his will definately want to see this. There's also a main love story that tries desperately to be charming but just ends up boring and lame. (I already know L.A. is fake--I just wanna hear more philosophy from Vincent Gallo.) This movie is supposedly hard to find. Maybe you can get a pirated copy.