donnazzass Reviews

Forbidden Secrets (2005 TV Movie)

about Montreal...

[7/10 · 9 December 2006]

This just reminded me of a movie on IFC I recently saw, Leolo.

The start of this movie, with an unspeakable act over a bunch of in Italy picked tomatoes, heading for export to the USA (???) actually took place in Montreal as well.

I can imagine that after how this Leolo movie started, and the subsequent ICKY consequences of the unspeakable acts of the disgusting Italian picker.... No ONE would ever be willing to refer to Montreal in ANY movie again, ha ha.

Just kidding.

Anyway, this FORBIDDEN SECRETS movie is not bad at all. Never heard of Kristy Swanson, and she is not bad either.

Kristin Lavransdatter (1995)

Absolutely Beautiful!

[10/10 · 9 December 2005]

It follows the first book in the trilogy very faithfully. Many scenes were actually just as I had imagined them while reading the books.

The photography is breathtaking and the sets amazing. According to scholars of fourteenth century Norway, the attention to detail in depicting every day life and customs is very authentic.

The costumes are beautiful and the actors, without exception, perfect for the parts. We were riveted!

Buy the DVD with the uncut version and extras. Definitely worthwhile watching more than once... or twice... or thrice....!!!

I hope Liv Ullmann will film the other two books as well. And soon!

Don't miss this remarkable movie.

In the Soup (1992)

Best Soup I ever saw

[9/10 · 29 March 2005]

Thanks for Amazon and their: people who bought this... also bought "In the Soup",

I ordered it. I am a fan of Steve Buscemi, so "hey you got no complaints".

What a delightful surprise this movie turned out to be. The lovely Jennifer Beals has aged so gracefully (she looks even better here than in Flashdance; more rounded out character too) and Seymour Cassel should have been nominated for an Oscar in this, I believe, mostly ignored movie. Can't even find a Roger Ebert review of it, and he usually has a nose for unusual, but good movies.

Speaking of noses, Cassel is a delight who delights in existing from day to day, always ready for an adventure, a surprise, or a bit of crime and a bit of a ca-noodle. Poor Buscemi, who is a dreamer with a script for the "great American movie" and hasn't had much of a life, is at first thrilled to meet the potential film financier (Cassel), then becomes a bit frightened of him and in the end realizes he grew as a person and made some friends and possibly can make a more simplified version of his movie after all.

Don't want to give much more away. The lovely black and white vignettes, following each other quickly give you a taste of life in a squalid part of New York. It is European in execution, a bit film-noir-ish, but unique, entertaining, and touching.

The singing rent collectors are a hoot-!

Don't miss it!

Last Orders (2001)

Lovely, heartwarming and riveting!

[31 October 2004]

Just saw this movie, thanks to Amazon's excellent referral system (people who bought this item also bought.....). I had never heard of it, even though I am an ardent Michael Caine fan and somehow I missed the "two thumbs up" episode for this movie as well.

Anyway, to make a long story longer, this is such a heartwarming movie. And the talent (and collective work) of the five main players is enormous.

I don't want to give the story away, and Claudio, above, already gave a very good synopsis. Just wanted to add that in these times of sex and violence, this is a refreshing and sensitive movie on aging and death and promises between friends. Hardly any nudity or sex, but lots of mystery, character, poignancy and humor.

In the end decency and honor win.

Just one tip, when you watch it the first time (and I am pretty sure you will want to watch it again) turn on the English subtitles because at least for me, sometimes the local London accent was a little hard to understand and there is a lot going on, part of which you might miss.

Don't miss this wonderful movie. I too, give it 9 stars!

Curacao (1993 TV Movie)

Wonderfully moody, dark little film with a tight story

[22 January 2004]

I just saw this movie on TV. I watched it because I am a great fan of William Peterson and I thought he was appropriately moody and mysterious in it. I liked the story and the way it was told and the bits of "colour locale" of Curacao, i.e. "Karnaval", which lasts about half a year now, I have been told. George C. Scott was, well, George C. Scott. He was never a favorite of mine, but he did the usual job.

What puzzled me is this: Trish vandeVere, Scott's last wife (how he ever could have picked this mediocre actress over the formidable COLLEEN DEWHURST will forever be a riddle to me, but then aging men do silly things) ... where was I ... Oh, ok, Ole Trish was billed as a major part, in the role of Rose.

Did anyone who saw this movie ever see Trish, or a person named Rose? I did not. Perhaps she was cut out of the TV version, but it was already a made for TV movie... so what was up with that. Just billing and bucks?