"Les
Miserables"-Yes, it is the story of Jean
Valjean once again. But no singing this time. Liam Neeson, a very
talented actor with a strong presence, is certainly up to the part of
the good and decent Valjean. Geoffrey Rush is a wonderfully sinister
and overly severe Inspector Javert. Uma Thurman unfortunately has
little to do as the dying Fantine other than look pretty and worn
out. Claire Danes, however, is delightful as Cosette, Fantine's
daughter, who falls into Valjean's care and whose love for a
revolutionary almost destroys Valjean. This is certainly not a great
film, but it tells the story simply, effectively, and well. Video.
***1/2
(12/31/98)
"Why
Do Fools Fall In Love"-A minor
rock-based Rashomon, this is the story of three women who met, fell
in love with, and "married" the singer Frankie Lymon. Lymon, who made
the great rock hit which is the title of film at age 15 in 1955 had a
meteoric rise and fall, and ultimately died of a drug overdose at 28.
Larenz Tate is quite good as Lymon, although certainly a lot more
attractive than the real singer. Lymon managed to attract three
interesting women, one of whom was one of the original members of
"The Platters." This is the story of the mid-1980's lawsuits of each
seeking Lymon's royalties, and it's also the story of their differing
memories of the ill-fated early star of rock. The women are well
played by Hallie Berry, Lela Rochon, and Viveca Fox. The early scenes
of the Alan Freed rock shows are quite authentic. Video. ***
(12/29/98)
"The
Gingerbread Man"-A Robert Altman film
based on a John Grisham story. Kenneth Branagh stars with Embeth
Davidtz, Darryl Hannah, Robert Downey, Jr., and Robert Altman. The
film is an unmitigated disaster. Miss it at all costs. Video. 1/2
(12/26/98)
"Cousin
Bette"-A costume drama in 1840's Paris
based on the Balzac novel. A group of good actors, including Jessica
Lange, Bob Hoskins, and Hugh Laurie. A plot involving the hoped-for
revenge of a jealous and ill-treated cousin. All the makings of a
perfect film? Alas, while this movie is mildly entertaining, the
whole thing is amazingly flat. The direction lacks the snap and
excitement necessary for this genre. And Elisabeth Shue is miscast as
a gorgeous courtesan/entertainer who plays a significant role in
Cousin Bette's plans to destroy her cousin's family. Video. **1/2
(12/25/98)
"City
of Angels"-Just as I suspected, this
film is pretty pap. Nonsense and bunk for the mindless. Meg Ryan is
fun to look at. Nicolas Cage does his usual stupefying performance as
a hopeless lovesick "angel," for want of a better word. I kept
wondering if angels only "live" in LA libraries and go to LA beaches
for their salute to the sun, or if they are also out there in the
wilds and beauty of city ghettos checking out the sunsets and
sunrises. Video. **
(12/24/98)
"La
Promesse"-This is a Belgian film about a
teenage boy who is being carefully taught by his father to live the
life of a sleazy thief. When the father commits an atrocity, the boy
has a revelation and a desire to atone for the misdeed in which he
participated. This is an uplifting film, but not in the way American
films would do it. The scenery and the environment are unremittingly
ugly, and at the end there is no miracle. This is sad but moral film.
Video. ***1/2
(12/19/98)
"The
Other Side of Sunday"-This Norwegian
film is an absolute gem (it was a best foreign language film Oscar
nominee). Maria, a beautiful teen with normal desires, is the
daughter of the ultra-strict and ultra-orthodox local priest, and
this is the tale of her rebellion against a father and an orthodox
religion that does not allow people to enjoy life without asking
Jesus constantly for forgiveness. Maria's discovery of her own
humanity and her own more liberal views of religion and life are
elating. Highly recommended. Video. ****
(12/11/98)
"Nenette
and Boni"-It seems that most European
films these days are about children and are often coming of age
stories. This one fits the bill. A young man (Boni) is alienated from
his father and sister (Nenette) and lives in the home left to him by
his late mother. He is fantasizing over the baker's sexy wife.
Pregnant teen sister arrives, having run from school, and brother and
sister engage in various forms of angst. Pregnant sister doesn't know
what she wants to do with her life, but she ultimately has the child
and the young man is transformed. Video. **1/2
(12/11/98)
"The
Mask of Zorro"-Occasionally, we all must
just sit back and enjoy the kind of film I think of as a "good bad
film." Nothing serious. Just a little adventure, evil, intrigue, and
romance. This fun film fits the bill. Fortunately, it has Anthony
Hopkins as an aging Zorro, Antonio Banderas as a young thug turning
into a young Zorro, and the beautiful Catherine Zeta Jones (is she
really Welsh?). Stuart Wilson also does a nice job as the evil
governor. It is ironic that to portray Spanish characters, three
British actors were used: Hopkins, Jones, and Wilson. At least
Banderas is the real thing. Video. ***
(12/5/98)
"The
Land Girls"-This is a film about three
young women in the Women's Land Army of Britain during WW II, who
come to work at a farm occupied by a husband and wife and grown son.
The son, played by Steven Mackintosh, ultimately becomes involved
with all three women (Catherine McCormack, Anna Friel and Rachel
Weisz) in one way or another. The film is pretty and the women are
pretty. But the corny romance of the film ultimately and
unfortunately wins out. Video. **1/2
(11/24/98)
"The
Butcher Boy"-I read this book and
wondered how it could be translated into a movie. But Neil Jordan,
the Director of "The Crying Game," has done wonders. The story of an
Irish boy with a disturbed and suicidal mother and drunk father has
been made into a colorful and human story about the serious
deterioration of innocence and the mind. Eamonn Owens is a marvelous
find as Francie Brady, and the excellent cast includes Stephen Rea as
Francie's father, Fiona Shaw as Francie's nemesis, Mrs. Nugent,
Sinead O'Connor as the Virgin Mary, and Milo O'Shea as a somewhat
nutty old priest. The cinematography is beautiful and the more
unpleasant scenes are done very tastefully. I rented this film with
trepidations, but can recommend it highly. Video. ****
(11/23/98)
"The
Horse Whisperer"-This movie is a fantasy
of sorts. A horrible accident occurs to two young girls and their
horses and the mother of one girl decides to risk all and take her
injured daughter and injured horse to Montana to allow a "horse
whisperer" to do wonders and, of course, he does. For that "Horse
Whisperer" is none other than Robert Redford, the golden man who also
directed the film. Redford is always the good, the decent and the
inspirational. Corny? Absolutely, but it is a delightful pleasure
when one considers the range, quality and themes of most other
contemporary movies. This film is somewhat typical of Redford's
direction. The cinematography and scenery are absolutely gorgeous.
The cast is first rate (Kristen Scott Thomas, last seen in "The
English Patient" is the mother; Scarlett Johansson is excellent as
the teenage daughter; Sam Neill does his usual good job as Thomas'
husband; and Dianne Wiest, most often seen in New York based films
and plays, is wonderful as Redford's ranch bound sister-in-law). The
theme of healing is obvious and yet subtle in its application. The
film is long, almost three hours, but Redford does it so beautifully
and smoothly, that it seems to fly by. Video. ****
(11/14/98)
"A
Perfect Murder"-Gwyneth Paltrow is cute.
That's about it for her. Michael Douglas is, well, Michael Douglas.
He's played this part many times before. This is a retread; a
mediocre copy of a first-rate play/movie called "Dial M For Murder."
Video. **
(11/7/98)
"Godzilla"-Yes,
this film got horrible reviews and bombed at the box office. But it
has some terrific special effects (although many of the scenes of New
York look more like the "Batman" scenery than anything one has ever
seen in NYC) which may look better on a decent size TV screen than it
did on the large theater screens; some appealing actors, including
Matthew Broderick and Jean Reno; and a fairly humorous (at times)
script. The film does not take itself totally seriously, and that
helps. And it has a monster who has both appealing animal
characteristics and some of the greatest footsteps that I've ever
seen in a monster movie. For what it's worth, I enjoyed myself
watching this film. Video. ***
(11/7/98)
"The
Last Days of Disco"-Anyone who has seen
"Metropolitan" and "Barcelona," knows that Whit Stillman is a
director of films unique to himself: witty films with wonderful
dialogue about young and affluent people. This film is no different,
and it is certainly completely worthy of the other two. Kate
Beckinsale, who was wonderful in "Cold Comfort Farm" and Chloe
Sevigny play two young women up and coming in the business world who
are looking for love, real friendship, and a decent place to live and
are surrounded by former college classmates going through similar
experiences amidst the power and magic of the world of business and
the world of disco in the "very early 1980's." The men include Chris
Eigeman, Robert Sean Leonard, and Mackenzie Astin. The script is
sharp and witty, the characters are equally pained and painful, and
the experience of life in one's 20's surrounded by jealousy, lust,
desire, envy, and hope comes through crystal clear. I liked this film
and was especially impressed with the acting of Kate Beckinsale, a
British actress (without an accent) playing a lonely but bitchy young
woman, and Chloe Sevigny who plays a low-key young woman with seeming
nerves of steel. And there's plenty of disco music, if you enjoy that
sort of thing. Video. ****
(10/30/98)
"The
Spanish Prisoner"-An ultimate con game
and an innocent victim. The cast sounds like it came right out of the
1950's TV show "Dragnet," but then that's the typical creation of
David Mamet who wrote and directed this thriller. Campbell Scott is a
smart scientist, but he's not terribly smart in other aspects of his
life, including trusting people, and he allows himself to be taken in
by a gang of con artists. In fact, Scott can't trust anyone, even the
FBI and the police. Sound familiar? Well, in a way, yes, although
with Mamet in charge it isn't quite like the usual thriller. There
are some real holes in the plot and some unlikely events in the film,
but watching the cast (which includes Rebecca Pidgeon (sure she's not
Holly Hunter without a southern accent?), Ben Gazzara, Ricky Jay, and
Steve Martin), go through their Mamet script and direction is fun
itself. Video. ***
(10/12/98)
"Men
With Guns"-These days we rarely see
films made by a director with a conscience. John Sayles is one of
those exceptions to the rule. This is a film, mostly in Spanish,
about evil in the mountains of a Latin American country
(unspecified). Dr. Fuentes (Federico Luppi), a distinguished looking
white haired doctor from the capitol city decides to take his
vacation by visiting his former students who are practicing medicine
among the Indians of the mountains. What he finds is that his former
students have met up with "men with guns" in a battle between the
army and the guerillas in which the local Indians are the ultimate
tragic victims. Sayles comments on the banality of evil. Mandy
Patinkin has a cameo as an American tourist treading on dangerous
grounds. On video. ****
(10/11/98)
"Twilight"-Here
we have a modern day film noir set in the usual location, Los Angeles
and its environs, with a fairly predictable plot. The fun comes from
watching old pros like Paul Newman as an almost broken-down
detective, Gene Hackman and Susan Sarandon as a wealthy couple with
some secrets to protect, Stockard Channing as a police lieutenant,
and James Garner as a retired cop friend of Newman's character. Some
humor and pathos make the film decent entertainment if nothing else
is going on. On video. **1/2
(10/10/98)
"Chinese
Box"-This is a somewhat tortured film
about a dying British journalist (Jeremy Irons) in Hong Kong who has
somewhat of an unrequited love for a gorgeous Chinese woman (Gong Li)
with a suspicious background. The film takes place during the first
half of 1997 as Hong Kong prepared for the departure of the British
and its return to China. Gong Li, who apparently is not well versed
in English, has little to say and therein lies a major weakness. She
too often stands around mute with a dull expression as if she knows
no language. It comes almost as a shock at the end to hear her speak
beautifully and expressively in her native Chinese. Two virtues of
this film are the scenes of Hong Kong and the performance of Maggie
Cheung as an object of Irons' journalistic endeavors. On video. ***
(10/3/98)
"Jackie
Brown"-It's a Quentin Tarantino movie.
Lots of bloody violence, right? Well, surprisingly, the answer is no.
Oh, of course, there are a few shooting deaths, but Tarantino this
time keeps it fairly subtle. And the story is relatively low key
considering the subject matter of a very clever theft of a large sum
of money right under the noses of the cops. Robert Forster was
nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor, and he did a good
job, but why Samuel L. Jackson wasn't recognized for his wonderful
performance as a gun runner is beyond me. Robert DeNiro expands his
horizons with a low-key performance as Jackson's dim-witted sidekick.
Pam Grier is clever and sexy as the flight attendant who has everyone
on the run. And Bridget Fonda is fine as a "surfer girl." Michael
Keaton, on the other hand, is Michael Keaton. On video. *** 1/2
(9/11/98)
"Titanic"-This
is one of those must-see movies that I finally saw. And, yes, it is
ultra-romantic, corny, is loaded with efforts to push the buttons of
the viewer, and in some places is excruciatingly slow (I practically
screamed at the scene of Kate Winslet floating on a piece of wood in
a frozen sea, almost allowing a rescue boat to pass her by). In fact,
it is so slow at times that one must believe that James Cameron, the
director, wanted to drag it out to 3 1/4 hours (one can only imagine
what was deleted to make the final cut!). But ultimately, it is an
example of what makes movies magic. Cameron's efforts are truly
spectacular. Even when occasional scenes don't look completely
realistic, there is enough here upon which to feast one's eyes. The
re-creation of the inside of the Titanic is as authentic as one can
imagine. The water scenes inside the sinking ship are as frightening
as anything seen in fright/scare movies or science fiction. And the
final scenes of the ship going down are like nothing seen before in
movies, including the earlier films about this 1912 tragedy. Finally,
the quality of the acting is not really an issue here. The film is
not intended as an acting vehicle for its stars. Leonardo DiCaprio
and Kate Winslet are extremely attractive as the romantic pair.
Gloria Stuart is wonderful as the elderly Rose Calvert. And Billy
Zane and David Warner are sufficiently rotten as Rose's obnoxious
fiance and his thug. Frances Fisher is memorable as Rose's
snob-of-a-mother. And Kathy Bates is fine as Molly Brown. On video.
****
(9/6/98)
"The
Apostle"-This is Robert Duvall's film
all the way. And it is quite an accomplishment. Duvall has truly
captured the character of a fanatic evangelist who is at the same
time a flawed and somewhat hypocritical individual. Having been
exposed to evangelism as a child, Sonny, Duvall's character, is
obviously obsessed with his religious fervor as a way of dealing with
his otherwise very human traits. This is a powerful performance by
Duvall in this movie of his own creation. Farrah Fawcett is good as
Sonny's unhappy wife. Miranda Richardson, an English actress, does an
excellent turn as a southern woman who catches Sonny's eye. On video.
****
(9/5/98)
"Kundun"-Who
would have expected this type of film from Director Martin Scorsese?
Known primarily for films about toughs in New York City, Scorsese has
made a gorgeous film about Tibet and the Dalai Lama. With the
essential and unusually beautiful music of Philip Glass in the
background, Scorsese tells the story of the search for the 14th Dalai
Lama in the 1930's when he was only an infant, his selection, and
ultimately his tragedy at being forced from his native Tibet by the
Communist Chinese in the early 1950s. The photography and scenery are
beautiful and the acting is extremely well done by what appears to be
native Tibetan cast. The reactions of a religious (but also
governmental) leader to extreme political pressures are the primary
theme. On video. ****
(8/29/98)
"Dead|Heart"-An
Australian murder mystery starring Bryan Brown, this cultural drama
involves hostilities between Aborigines and whites in a remote area
of the Australian outback. Culture, sex, and murder. Certainly a good
combination and unusually interesting in light of the setting. On
video. ***
(8/22/98)
"The
Big Lebowski"-Joel and Ethan Coen, who
have made some funny and bizarre films, most notably "Fargo," have
gone astray with this weird and aimless film about an unemployed
member of a wacky bowling team who gets involved with confused
underworld types. Jeff Bridges' performance as "The Dude" borders on
complete aimlessness and John Goodman is wonderfully wrong headed as
a super opinionated dunderhead. My primary question at the end of the
film: "Why?" On video. **1/2
(8/22/98)
"Ma
Vie En
Rose"
(My Life in
Pink)-European (especially French) film
directors seem somewhat obsessed these days about making films about
children. Some, such as "Ponette," ultimately are duds, but this film
is absolutely delightful and painful at the same time. Georges Du
Fresne plays young Ludovic, a seven year old boy who wants to be a
girl. Michele Laroque and Jean-Philippe Ecoffey are excellent as
Ludovic's parents who suffer the social and economic consequences of
having such a son. A commentary on love, understanding, and the
suburban mentality, the film is beautifully made and acted. Young
Georges' performance is a wonder. On video. ****
(7/26/98)
"Sphere"-This
fairly decent science fiction film from the book by Michael Crichton
stars Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, and Samuel L. Jackson, as members
of a crew chosen to investigate a space ship that is on the bottom of
the Pacific and which has been there for hundreds of years. The
psychological elements of the story are reminders of the early sci-fi
film "Forbidden Planet." Many of the usual cliches are present and
the spaceship looks like it was a leftover set from one of the
"Alien" films, but there are some good moments. On video. ***
(7/25/98)
"Amistad"-Three
elements: Stephen Spielberg, the subject of man's monumental
inhumanity, and a big picture. These are all of the elements that
caused "Schindler's List" to be raved about and rated one of the best
films. And yet this film got none of the recognition that
"Schindler's List" got. Although it has its flaws (how many films
don't?) this film is beautifully produced and filmed, extremely well
acted, and makes many important points about a subject, slavery, that
continue to haunt us to this day. Djimon Hounsou is wonderful as
Cinque the African rebel leader aboard the slave ship La Amistad;
Anthony Hopkins performs his usual wonders as John Quincy Adams; and
Matthew McConaughey and Morgan Freeman provide excellent support as,
respectively, Cinque's attorney and a former slave fighting for
justice. On video. ****1/2
(7/18/98)
"Good
Will Hunting"-This is one of those films
one sees after so many rave reviews and discovers, to one's delight,
that it is actually as good as people have been saying. Matt Damon is
first-rate as the young savant tough who comes under the wings of
Stellan Skarsgard as an MIT math professor and Robin Williams as the
psychologist of like background. Both Skarsgard and Williams are
excellent and it is a particular pleasure to see Robin Williams, one
of the funniest people on earth, playing a completely serious role to
the hilt. Ben Affleck, who co-wrote the story, is also good as
Damon's buddy, and Minnie Driver does her usual outstanding job as a
funny pre-Med student who falls for Damon and then has to leave. On
video. ****
(7/12/98)
"Afterglow"-Two
confused couples, a lot of sex on the mind, and some insight into
troubled marriages. It's nice to have Julie Christie back. Where has
she been all these years? On video. ***
(7/4/98)
"Wings
of the Dove"-I've long felt that movie
trailers are overly long and often show far too much of the film. I
had seen the coming attractions of this film so many times that I
almost didn't want to watch the actual movie. And then there was the
surprise: the film is very different from what the trailer implies.
It's a slow-moving and well-filmed story of love and greed based on
the novel by Henry James. The scenes in Venice are exquisite, but
it's hard to go wrong filming Venice. Helena Bonham Carter does her
usual good job as a woman attempting to be part of the rich
establishment and failing. Linus Roache is very appealing as the
object of her affections who is caught up in her confusion. And
Alison Elliott is delightful as an ultra-rich American who is the
object of both their affection and their greed. On video. ***1/2
(7/3/98)
"Wag
The Dog"-Are we as manipulated as this
movie implies? Not likely (the press would have to be almost totally
brain dead to allow the events of this film to be broadcast on
national news without question). But the film certainly makes its
point about the artificiality of much of what we, the public, is
thinking about thanks to the media, politicians, and spinmeisters.
And not only is it about the manipulation of the public by media
types, but even more frighteningly, it's also about the manipulation
of the manipulators. Robert DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman form a perfect
comedic "on the road" pair, with Anne Heche quite fetching as the
comedic sidekick. Woody Harrelson plays a humorous psychopath. On
video. ***1/2
(7/3/98)
"Oscar
and Lucinda"-Here is a wonderful film,
little known and little seen. Directed by Gillian Armstrong, Ralph
Fiennes and Cate Blanchett play the title characters, an Englishman
and an Australian with common bonds, i.e., gambling fever. Oscar, who
hates water, meets Lucinda aboard a ship sailing for Australia and
they ultimately form a fateful relationship. Lucinda, the owner of a
glassworks in New South Wales, is the object of Oscar's love. Fearing
that she loves another, Oscar undertakes an adventure that will
change all of their lives and is centered around one of the more
unusual structures seen in film: a glass church which Oscar attempts
to transport across Australia. The scene of the church floating down
an Australian river toward its destination is one that cannot be
forgotten. Fiennes is outstanding as a nervous Oscar, uncertain about
just who he is and what he's about. And Cate Blanchett is absolutely
radiant and wonderful as Lucinda. From the novel by Peter Carey. On
video. ****
(6/12/98)
"Midnight
In The Garden of Good and Evil"-Despite
a somewhat slow and rocky start, this film about some of the more
unusual and bizarre characters in Savannah, GA, gains momentum and
turns into a rather interesting tale of "murder and mayhem" among the
relatively "nouveau riche." John Cusack does his usual good but not
overwhelming job as John Kelso, a writer from New York, who discovers
that there is more "life" in Savannah than he expects. Kevin Spacey
looks a little artificial as Jim Williams, Kelso's host, and
ultimately a murder defendant, but he finally convinces the viewer
that he is in fact the unusual owner of Mercer House. Most notable is
a rather amazing performance by The Lady Chablis playing "herself."
And finally to be noted is Alison Eastwood as an Elizabeth Shue
look-a-like. Directed by Clint Eastwood. On video. ***1/2
(6/12/98)
"The
Sweet Hereafter"-This is an extremely
well filmed and well acted movie about the aftermath of a school bus
accident. Filmed around an obvious "pied piper" theme, the film deals
with the loss of children and the loss of innocence. I had already
read the book and there is no question that, having done so, it took
some of the sting out of the film. The book is excellent, but I
recommend seeing the film first. My only problem with the film is
that it is presented in somewhat confusing time sequences. My sense
was that had I not read the book I might have been confused about
what was happening, at least initially. Ian Holm plays a lawyer with
a mission and a drug addict daughter. Sarah Polley is outstanding as
a double victim who ultimately decides the fate of the lawsuit Holm
is trying to build. The cast was made up of relative unknowns all of
whom do a wonderful job. It was filmed beautifully in British
Columbia, although the original site of the story in the book is
upstate New York. On video. ****
(5/29/98)
"Kiss
The Girls"-Morgan Freeman and Ashley
Judd work well together as a police forensic psychologist and a
doctor/victim/investigator, respectively, who battle against evil.
The story is predictable and formulaic but okay for a couple of hours
of mindless diversion. On the plus side, for a story of a madman who
kidnaps women, the movie has surprisingly little violence or sex. On
video. **1/2
(5/29/98)
"Shall
We Dance"-This is a charming Japanese
film about a businessman who is becoming a little bored with his life
and decides to try ballroom dancing after noticing a beautiful dance
teacher in the window of a dance studio. The film is naturally acted
with wit and humor. It reflects cultural and marriage mores of the
Japanese, as well as good insight into basic human desires. No famous
stars, no car crashes, just a first-rate experience. On video. ****
(5/23/98)
"As
Good As It Gets"-What do we have here?
Three misfits who find each other in a sea of corn and pap. The film
pushes every button known to movie-going. Greg Kinnear is
surprisingly convincing as the gay artist, Simon, who first hates
Melvin Udall, the ultra eccentric writer played by Jack Nicholson,
and then comes to rely on him. Jack Nicholson's eyebrows curl on many
occasions, and Helen Hunt does a nice job as a waitress who becomes
the subject of Nicholson's admiration and charity. Nicholson and Hunt
won Oscars for this film. I can understand that, but they wouldn't
have gotten my vote. Cuba Gooding Jr., is as usual, fun to watch as
Kinnear's art dealer. Kinnear's dog in the film should have won an
award. On video. ***
(5/22/98)
"Female
Perversions"-This is definitely not for
everyone. A movie about women and directed by a woman, it is the
story of two sisters, one a lawyer desiring to become a judge but one
with distinct emotional problems in her ability to relate to others
both sexually and otherwise, and the other a Ph.D. candidate who
lives in a rural area and suffers from kleptomania, causing legal
problems. The emotional problems of each appear to be the result of a
disturbed childhood, with hints of abuse. This film is fairly
graphic. The style is slow, but fascinating. It stars Tilda Swinton
as the lawyer sister, and Amy Madigan as the rural sister. On video.
***
(5/16/98)
"The
Ice Storm"-This film takes place in New
Canaan, CT, in 1973. New Canaan is a place quite familiar to me since
the early 1980's as it is the town adjacent to where I live. I often
go there and regularly swim at the New Canaan YMCA. But the New
Canaan portrayed in this film is of a different era, the era of
Vietnam, Watergate, wife swapping, and teen angst (no, that
apparently hasn't changed much). This excellent film is unrelentingly
both fascinating and depressing, portraying an aimless group of ultra
suburbanites, their marital woes, the contrast between their material
possessions and the emptiness of their lives, and the overall effect
on the lives of their children. Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, and
Sigourney Weaver are superb as the leading characters. Christina
Ricci masterfully plays the sexually obsessed daughter of
Kline/Allen, and the rest of the cast is also outstanding. The set
decorator deserved an award as the film was actually made in the
spring after the snows and ice had long melted, but the film will
definitely give you an icy chill. On video. ****
(5/9/98)
"L.A.
Confidential"-I met James Ellroy, the
author of the book upon which this film is based. He was signing
autographs at a bookstore and I had the opportunity to chat with him.
He talked of "blood running in the sewers" of Los Angeles. Later, I
learned that he is a man who sees life through the eyes of a boy
whose mother was murdered in the Los Angeles of the 1950's. The story
of "L.A. Confidential" is cliched and there is much too much
violence, and yet this film is spectacularly well done film noir.
What really makes this movie are the wonderful 1950's LA sets and the
music which sets the tone and mood of the era. Guy Pearce is a
genuine surprise (why have I never heard of him before?) as Ed Exley,
the cop with integrity. Kim Basinger is gorgeous and perfect as the
Veronica Lake look-a-like prostitute with the hair and heart of gold.
Russell Crowe creates a presence that I've rarely felt in films.
Kevin Spacey gives his usual first-rate performance as Jack
Vincennes, the cop with an eye on show business. And James Cromwell
has come a long way since "Babe," with the performance of his career
as the tough cop, Dudley Smith. On video. ****
(5/8/98)
"Gattaca"-Vincent
is a young man in the near future who is naturally born and thus
genetically flawed, a state which makes him an In-Valid. But he
dreams of traveling into space and thus must somehow become one of
the Valids, people born as a result of genetic engineering to be
virtually perfect, for it is only they who are taken on by Gattaca,
an organization which conducts space travel. This science fiction
film is low key, mostly non-violent, and intelligently portrays
Vincent's efforts to accomplish his goals through the help of an
injured "Valid," played wonderfully by Jude Law. Ethan Hawke is
excellent as Vincent. Uma Thurman looks beautiful but has little to
do. And Alan Arkin stands out as a police officer who is going to get
his man when murder occurs at Gattaca. On video. ***1/2
(5/8/98)
"Mrs.
Brown"-This film was produced by WGBH
and Masterpiece Theater but somewhere along the line it wound up as a
first-run film and deservedly so. Judi Dench as Queen Victoria and
Billy Connolly as John Brown, the Queen's "servant" who brings her
out of the lethargy she had fallen into with the death of Prince
Albert, are both superb. The film is scenic both in its cinematic
beauty and in the depth to which it portrays the
Victoria/Disraeli/Gladstone era. A wonderful film. Dench should have
won the Oscar for this outstanding performance. On video. ****
(5/2/98)
"The
House of Yes"-Parker Posey, one of the
most gifted young actresses around and one who seems purposefully to
be avoiding the big time of Hollywood films, is devastating as Jackie
O, a disturbed young lady who is obsessed with memories and images of
the Kennedy assassination. This black comedy about a strange family
and the unfortunate young lady who comes into its midst is wonderful
and bizarre. Posey's performance is not to be missed. On video. ****
(5/2/98)
"Boogie
Nights"-Some years ago, someone I knew
referred to the film "Blue Velvet" as being a "psychosexual look at
the underside of life." Well, if that film wasn't quite that, this
film certainly is. The sleazy world of a quasi-Hollywood, producing
porno films and sniffing cocaine is dramatically documented in a
tragi-comedy that brings out some unusual and excellent performances.
Burt Reynolds is perfect as the porno-director whose world seems to
revolve around him while he remains almost joyfully uninvolved. Mark
Wahlberg is a surprise as the well-endowed porno star Dirk Diggler,
and Julianne Moore, an adventurous performer, is wonderful as Amber
Waves, a woman so caught up in the porno-drug scene that she can't
deal with her own personal responsibilities. One of the more humorous
and tragic aspects of the film is the portrayal of porno star
Rollergirl, excellently performed by Heather Graham. On video. ***1/2
(4/25/98)
"Ulee's
Gold"-A slow-moving, warm and
intelligent film about a Vietnam vet/beekeeper in Florida who lives
with his two granddaughters and becomes caught up in the problems of
his prisoner son and druggie daughter-in-law. Peter Fonda is
outstanding in this unique role that makes one think of his father.
Patricia Richardson, usually seen on TV in "Home Improvement," gets
to do some real acting here and is wonderful in a non-glamorous role.
On video. ****
(4/18/98)
"In
The Company of Men"-This film is
different, like little one sees in the normal course of movie-going.
It is the story of two young businessmen and the game created by one
to woo and win over a handicapped young woman and then cruelly drop
her, ostensibly to get revenge on womankind. Things don't turn out
exactly as one might think. And the film makes one wonder whether
people like this really exist. All of the actors are unknown and
good. On video. ***
(4/11/98)
"The
Full Monty"-This film, astonishingly,
won an Academy Award for "Best Original or Comedy Score." Well, I
just finished watching the film and the only thing I can say is:
"what score?" The movie industry must have a tin ear. Now that I've
seen the film, I'm also rather surprised it was nominated for "Best
Film." Frankly, I found it rather dull and flat. The story of
unemployed or soon to be unemployed workers was done far more
intelligently and with a great deal of charm in "Brassed Off." "The
Full Monty" had no charm and a sour script with silly scenes of
shoplifting and other unfunny situations. I was not impressed. On
video. **1/2
(4/3/98)
"Eve's
Bayou"-This film is about a beautiful
Louisiana family (the father is a doctor, the mother is gorgeous, and
there are three beautiful children, including Eve, a 10 year old)
with problems. It is well acted, especially by the young star, Jurnee
Smolett, as Eve, and beautifully filmed in bayou country. The film
raises questions of philandering and abuse and there's a little touch
of voodoo. A nice film, although seemingly not very realistic. It
also stars Samuel L. Jackson, Lynn Whitfield, and Debbi Morgan, and
has an interesting appearance by Diahann Carroll as a voodoo
specialist. On video. ***
(3/14/98)
"Air
Force One"-Exactly as expected, this
thriller is lots of fun. Don't expect substance, just plenty of
thrills and spills. Harrison Ford seems a little too calm in the
circumstances, but he does a bang-up job as a heroic president who
can give great speeches, shoot machine guns, and fly jets. On video.
***
(2/28/98)
"The
Devil's Advocate"-A Mephistophalean
version of "The Firm," almost. I've got to admit that it held my
attention but it had the kind of ending that is so typical of
Hollywood films. I admit I was surprised. It never occurred to me
that they could pull this one off again, but they did. Keanu Reeves
isn't terrible with a southern accent, and Charlize Theron is a very
pleasant surprise as his wife who suffers terribly after leaving
Gainesville, FL to move to New York. Al Pacino is, of course, Al
Pacino. He stares with little expression, he rants, he raves, and he
stares some more. If one were to witness such acting on a stage, one
is most likely to want to leave at the intermission. Pacino has
somehow managed to gain a reputation as one of the great actors in
American film. If one truly believes that loud expressionless and
two-dimensional emoting is great acting, then I can't argue with that
opinion.On video. ***
(2/28/98)
"The
Pillow Book"-Anyone who has ever seen a
film made by Peter Greenaway knows that they are among the more
bizarre experiences of one's film-going life. This is no exception.
Greenaway's past films include "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and
Her Lover," and "The Draughtsman's Contract." This film stars Vivian
Wu as a woman obsessed with calligraphy with a difference. She likes
it written on her own body and she likes writing on others. Ewen
McGregor co-stars as an Englishman in Hong Kong who becomes a book,
both figuratively and otherwise. Not for those who react adversely to
very bizarre scenes and visual concepts. This was rated NC-17. On
video.***
(2/15/98)
"Brassed
Off"-Billed as a comedy, this film is
far too serious for that genre. It is about a colliery brass band in
Yorkshire, England, which is made up of miners (plus a beautiful
young lady who turns out to work for management-Tara Fitzgerald) who
are hoping to keep the "pit" open against the forces of the hated
Thatcher Tory government. This picture is as pro-labor as they get
and very humane. The film also stars Pete Postlethwaite as the
dedicated band leader who rises in anger at the end, and Ewan
McGregor as a band member torn between love for Ms. Fitzgerald and
his feelings about the mine. On video.
****(2/7/98)
"The
Game"-In many ways a typical American
thriller starring Michael Douglas, but this one is a little
different. Douglas is offered an unknown game by his brother (Sean
Penn) and winds up in a maelstrom that makes him question the
difference between reality and fiction. The viewer is never quite
sure. Suspension of disbelief is absolutely necessary, especially for
the climactic conclusion. Also starring an intriguing and strikingly
beautiful Deborah Kara Unger (who was also seen in "Crash"). On
video. ***
(2/6/98)
"Temptress
Moon"-The latest Chinese film starring
Gong Li (is she the only leading lady in China?) as a young lady who
becomes head of a very rich country household when her older brother
suffers an Opium related accident and who has the misfortune to be
obsessively in love with the brother of her older brother's wife.
This young man is, without her knowledge, an amoral gigolo in
Shanghai. And there are shocking consequences. A decent film but not
up to the standards of other recent Chinese dramas such as "Raise The
Red Lantern, " also starring Gong Li. On video. **1/2
(1/17/98)
"Children
of the Revolution"-Is it a comedy or a
drama? This is an Australian film with Judy Davis as a Communist in
the Sydney of the early 1950's who is invited to Russia, contributes
to the end of Joe Stalin, and who suffers the consequences after her
return to Sydney and the birth of her son, Joe. Sam Neill, Geoffrey
Rush, and F. Murray Abraham also star. The acting is typically good.
The film is interesting but one keeps asking who thought up such a
strange film. On video. **1/2
(1/17/98)
"Career
Girls"-Mike Leigh's charming look at the
reunion of two young women who lived together in college and now, six
years later, are working women trying to regain their friendship over
a weekend. Leigh is an intelligent director who made the bizarre and
rough "Naked," and the wonderful "Secrets and Lies," and this film is
equally witty and insightful. Katrin Cartlidge (who was spectacular
in "Breaking The Waves") and Lynda Steadman are outstanding as the
two young women. On video.***
(1/16/98)
"Deconstructing
Harry"-Woody Allen at his bitterest, a
fairly raunchy look at sex, romance, religion, Judaism, and
psychiatry. It is also Allen's severe comment on the way the world
looks at him (does he belong in Hell?). This picture should really be
called "Deconstructing Woody." Seen at a theater. ***
(1/1/98)
