gabyroads Reviews

Speed (1994)

You Can't be Serious

[29 September 2003]

Best film of all time say some user comments.Are you kidding?.This movie can only be described as the most stupid film of all time.First of all you are expected to believe you can keep a bus moving at a constant 50mph over a long period.Forgive me I live in England and you are hard pressed to get up to 50mph and for what i've heard about america it's the same.Add two completeley wooden actors with no chemistry,Dennis Hopper doing his usual I am a lunatic act and this adds up to a big fat 0. Ok you have to have a bit of unreality and action to appeal to today's market but for god's sake let's have some credibility.I feel heartily sad that a good actor like Jeff Daniels is playing second fiddle in a role like this but forgivness is in order as he has done good work 1/10 for cheek Jim

The French Connection (1971)

Superb Crime Thriller

[22 September 2003]

This is simply one of the greatest films ever made.Gene Hackman I believe wasn't the original choice for the lead but as it turned out what a triumph of casting.If I'm not mistaken Eddy Egan was the real life copper Popeye from who m Hackmans character is based,and his role in the french connection paved the way for an acting carreer. Hackman's performance as ever is incredibly powerful and Fernando Rey is also superbly cast as the well dressed drug lord.I find it amazing that some people s comments suggest the film is dated and would be of little interest in today's market.So antiques like Casablanca would be of no interest,give me a break.I may be in the minorty(I'm only 42) but find films made today not all! are overladen with computer laden special effects (The Matrix and Mission Impossible) with absolutely no sense of reality and actors only interested in box office and appealing to the infantile.This is not to say that stunts and special effects have no place after all the french connection boasts one of the best two car chases in history. All in all The French Connection represents everythin great about film making Great Directing (William Friedkin)Great Acting.Gritty true life story that is ultimately realistic and breathtaking. 10/10

jim

The Matrix (1999)

Soulless Bunk

[20 September 2003]

This film takes the biscuit as everything that is wrong with hollywood now.I watched this film on the recommendation of a friend who is a Computer genius and can only draw paralells that if your obsession is with special effects it overrides any need for a coherent plot.Lets keep computers and Cinema seperate please.Ok it is science fiction and you have to suspend reality but please don't insult the intelligence by dressing it up in some kind of intellectual deep meaning .Blade Runner is far superior and so is Highlander to name but two I feel the public are being brainwashed.Watch the Manchurian candidate and beware (a great 60's film) jim

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Superb

[19 September 2003]

This movie was simply superb in the old tradition of good cop, bad cop who find they are really on the same side.Very uplifting with good acting performances and a great script in the style of the Maltese falcon with some nice twists and turns.I particularly like the scene when they dangle that very smug arrogant guy out of the window to extract information. The acting is a joy to watch,Kevin Spacey,Russell Crowe,Guy Pearce,Danny DeVito all excellent actors with a naturalness about them,not the usual I am an actor watch me,with the movie becoming of secondary importance (Sorry Al Pacino,Robert De-Niro Fans) A Couple of problems though I think Kim Bassinger's role is overrated and could be played by any half way decent actress,she's ok though. Why the use of F*** word.Would this have been used so liberally in the era when the film was set. Overall 9/10

Heat (1995)

Nothing special

[17 September 2003]

I thought the film to be reasonably entertaining but I'm afraid I dont understand why the two leading protagonists are drenched with acting accolades all the time. De-Niro is well cast in this one but I thought Pacino was embarrassingly bad, acting way over the top, look at me here I'm tough .I've commented before on this, a good actor to me is one who is natural and not trying to show off in a role where it is not needed .Compare Gene Hackman in The french connection to Al pacino in Heat.I really believed Hackman was a tough hard boiled cop on the edge but the latter as some kind of over the top batman character from the 60's series.For a good heist movie watch Walter Matthau in Charley Varrick a truly great actor in a film that was unusual for him and pulled it off with aplomb.

jim

Cape Fear (1962)

Absolute Classic

[17 September 2003]

The original cape fear was an absolute classic with an incredible performance by Robert Mitchum that is truly menacing.The rest of the cast are excellent too.The remake was pathetic with a completely over the top performance by Robert De Niro who overacts as usual to please the I can't do no wrong fans of the church of De-Niro and Scorcese.A good actor will never be seen to be acting and that was Mitchum.

Jim

A Storm in Summer (2000 TV Movie)

Very Enjoyable Departure from Columbo

[11 September 2003]

I've not seen the original 1970 version but I found this one very enjoyable particularly Peter Falk showing he has great versatility as an actor beyond his role as Columbo.The young boy was very good.PS Does the young boy remind you of another black actor who starred in a 80's series called different strokes. 8/10.

gabyroads