Tuck_Frump Reviews

Ed (1996)

A masterpiece!

[8/10 · 2 June 2018]

Forget script, forget plot and don't concern yourself with character arc, this movie is about fun. A monkey and man relationship that questions our own desires, pain and spiritual fulfillment is what this fantastic film is about. During a time in the mid nineties when "The English Patient" and "The Shawshank Redemption" were filling movie theatres, "Ed" was overlooked, but now considered a post modern classic. I will call it the "Citizen Kane of man/monkey movies, beating out 'Every Which Way But Loose" and "How To Commit A Marriage'. Matt LeBlanc shows what human evolution is really about as he and his companion join together to accomplish their dreams and show the world that man and monkey can live in harmony.

Titanic (1997)

Waste of time

[3/10 · 3 January 2007]

I thought this movie was tremendously overrated. Considering the talent involved, it should have been a lot better. First of all, the movie went on way too long and although both great actors, DiCaprio and Winslett didn't match well together. In the kissing scenes I felt like I was watching a boy make out with his mother. I read somewhere that the Kate Winslett role was originally offered to Renee Zellweger, but that wouldn't have mattered because the entire movie was one big yawn. There were a few good scenes, but this movie should have only been an hour and a half to an hour and three quarters, not nearly three hours long. I also thought the lighting was really bad and the ship looked really fake in the water scenes. I am sure I am in the minority on this, but I would rather watch paint dry and listen to music than sit thought this entire movie again.

Crash (I) (2004)

Overrated

[1/10 · 3 January 2007]

I really don't know how this movie won an Oscar for best picture. Both "Capote" and "Brokeback Mountain" were far far superior to this film. I even thought "Matchpoint" was better and that wasn't even nominated. I felt like I was watching an after-school special, not an Oscar winning Hollywood movie. I was very disappointed with this movie. I thought the characters were thin and unrealistic. I thought the message was ridiculous, if there really was a message. Every white racist I know liked this film because they can relate to the Matt Dillon character. By the way, Matt Dillon isn't an actor, he just plays Matt Dillon in every movie he is in. You would think that someone that has been around as long as he has would eventually improve their acting skills. I think he is just getting worse and worse. I also don't like Sandra Bullock, she is another terrible actress, too bad very talented actors such as Don Cheadle gets wasted in such a terrible movie.

The Principal (1987)

"No More!"

[3/10 · 30 December 2006]

I originally saw this movie on HBO back in the late eighties about 3:00 AM after a night of drinking. I laughed my rear end off, not because it was funny, but because of how stupid it was. That doesn't mean it is a bad film. It gives you exactly what you would expect from Jim Belushi which is "Jim Belushi"! He doesn't act, he just acts like a tough guy that is really likable. Him as a high school principal is the most ridiculous idea for a plot. It came out during the Reagan years, which is no surprise because that was a time when any lazy person could make a movie. It was also during that "tough love" era, where it takes a good-hearted, aggressively dumb person, to straighten out problems with the education system of poor inner city schools instead of stuffy liberal weasels. Forget the stupid plot, grab some alcohol, sit back and laugh!

Popcorn (1969)

Interesting period piece

[5/10 · 29 December 2006]

This film is NOT for everybody, but those of us (like myself)that were born during that era (1968 - 1971) and love stock footage of rare interviews and weirdness, might enjoy it. It is obviously meant for viewing by the drug culture with an "All You Need Is Love" message and has really rare videos of people like John Farnham & Russell Morris.

There are interviews with Mick Jagger and a preview of Arthur Lee and then juxtaposes off to car advertisements, pictures of Alan Ginsberg and John Lennon and then to robots and Twiggy. There are scenes from India (with a sitar playing) and then Vietnam war pictures and back to American life with surfers and Beach Boys music. Very bizarre and that is what makes it fascinating, very dated, but fascinating.

S.F.W. (1994)

I hate being misinformed

[1/10 · 29 December 2006]

The only reason I checked out this movie is because in the credits it states that China Kantner is in this movie. She might have been, but I didn't see her. I loved her in a movie called "The Stoned Age" (1994), so I wanted to see her again. She might have had a very very small role, but it wasn't worth my time watching this movie for a blink. I have never been a Reese Witherspoon fan, but I love Renee Zellweger and I rented "Dazed and Confused" (1993) just to see her, but just like this movie, I was disappointed to find out that she is only in it for a moment. I don't think they should list actors in the credits unless they have prominent roles, and if they do, then maybe the word "bit part" should be next to their names.

Let It Be (1970)

Beatles' home movie

[10/10 · 29 December 2006]

What more can one ask for than the greatest rock band in history jamming, feuding, joking, creating and for the finale, performing live on a London rooftop? The reason why this movie is sometimes panned is because of how ragged their (the Beatles) playing was at times. That is the good stuff to me,and for people that love the album. That ragged sound was popular by bands later, but the Beatles had moments of pure brilliance. John and Paul harmonizing at the beginning of "Across the Universe" and the rehearsal of "Two of Us" is what the public never saw before of the Beatles recording process. A must see for any Beatles fan or music fan. This is a classic film that captures an era of the break-up of the Beatles.

Love and a .45 (1994)

Zellweger's first "Independent Spirit Award"

[7/10 · 29 December 2006]

Fairly good independent film in the same vein as "Natural Born Killers", but with the exception of Peter Fonda, contained an unknown cast. It wasn't noticed at all when it came out and was only in limited release. Now it is easily located at major rental chains because it contains an unknown actress by the name of Renee Zellweger. She steals the film from her co-stars and frame by frame takes over the movie. It is worth renting just to see her in her first major role in which she walked away with the "Independent Spirit Award" in 1994. She won another in her very next film "The Whole Wide World" and then came "Jerry Maguire and she hasn't looked back since.