optimism_always Reviews

Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Poetically abusive..

[16 July 2005]

For me watching Leaving Las Vegas was like having a good friend die on my birthday. It's also paradoxical that simultaneously the experience is remarkable enough to leave you bereft of all inner anger and frustration as if you had slept a good night's sleep, woke up refreshed and the first thought that went through your mind was that of how there's still some people on this earth which give our planet a good name. Las Vegas maybe the Sodom and Gemorrah of our days but what is of grave importance here is to realize that there is a multi-layered working class in the city which includes cops, pimps, bookies prostitutes and so on. And what the prostitutes have to go through every night is beyond the understanding of any regular member of any middle-class family across the States. While watching those college degenerates rape Sera I felt like diving into the television set and reemerging in the movie, even though I understood very well that what was happening before my eyes wasn't real. I guess my urge to help was due to the fact that the film was shot so realistically, as is the case with 95 percent of Hollywood cinema.

American Beauty (1999)

A powerful drama depicting the rotten and unwanted reality which is there anyway however much American society likes living in constant denial.

[10/10 · 24 April 2005]

There had always been a tradition among the Americans themselves as well as the rest of the world, not without exceptions, of course, to believe in the unity and the firmness of the interrelationships within the typical American family. Before the sixties it had been the privilege of most families on U.S. soil to say that "The bonds which hold our family units together make us the greatest nation on this planet." Nevertheless we should not disparage the family values of the rest of the world for our country consists entirely of the indigenous populations of a multitude of states around the globe. We ought to be fair and unbiased when judging ourselves and everyone else, indeed. But as far as fairly judging ourselves is concerned we have come to the point when all our illusions can no longer shield us from the bitter truth. And that is when cinematic masterpieces like 'American Beauty' are born.

The film catches us completely off guard and awakens a kind of nostalgia towards the past of our great country when parents were respected and teenagers' only income stemmed from respectable diligent part-time work and not from the sale of drugs. Back then a high school education was considerably more impressive and its quality was incomparably better than the relative knowledge of a few pages of Shakespeare and a few simple mathematical formulas we have today instead of a thorough and systematic academic programme which United Kingdom for instance has.

As we watch 'American Beauty' we start to panic and think about our own families especially if our children are teenagers. On the screen in front of us we can see the disintegration of two middle-class families not much different from our own in most cases. Some of us begin to take preventive measures soon after leaving the cinema. And that is the way it should be. In fact it's the only way it should be. Therefore movies like 'American Beauty' are a blessing in disguise, even though the rest of the world may experience a feeling of triumph or scorn and even be encouraged to continue to tamper with our security, prosperity and well-being. Bravo. A 10/10.

Casino (1995)

Brilliant acting. Superb story based on events that happened in real life.

[10/10 · 22 January 2005]

Martin Scorcese's harsh and yet delicately balanced masterpiece rises above anything petty meaning that if one wishes and has the ability and means to create a Sicilian mafia movie he should do so with grandeur and put into it as much effort as possible for people remember those who take advantage of their talent and circumstances and are diligent in their undertakings. Casino is in my opinion an epic, but it's much more than that. This film speaks even to those who dislike the subject of organized crime. You have to be objective when judging this movie and those of us who criticize everything that stands out amongst the grey background of that which is mediocre are fools who envy others' accomplishments and view them as insults to their own personal uselessness. Casino is one of the best movies of the 90's. In fact, in my opinion, it's one of the best organized crime movies of all time. Its moral is that no matter how tough you think you are there's always someone you answer to and that you ultimately will, indeed, if you screw things up.

Bullet (1996)

Definitely a classic although rejected by many as being too dark and morose.

[10/10 · 14 January 2005]

This, in my opinion, is one of Rourke's greatest roles. It's infinitely sad that Americans prefer movies which tend to resemble fairy tales instead of those which reflect real life's hardships. Bullet, superbly directed and acted out with a profundity which we rarely witness in movies of this genre, had been treated with utter injustice for it was released directly to video. It features the day-to-day reality which does not conform to society and its laws as well as the teachings of theologians or those professed by pedagogues in high schools and universities. I had lived in BKLN for nine years before moving to London. There is nothing more sad than wasted youth and drug-induced frustration. Bullet demonstrates that only too well. Those of you who love Bullet might enjoy watching Menace to Society, New Jersey Drive and 187. Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions or comments. [e-mail]