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Reviews
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
A Big, Fat, Fabulous Movie
Hilarious, touching,and realistic (brother married into a Greek family only in our case it would be the Big, Fat, Loud Greeks meet the Big, Fat, Loud Irish). Was impressed with the number of actual Greek actors (Michael Constantine is terrific as the father) playing Greek roles. One of the best movies to come out in awhile, especially in the independent film area. Love conquers all, including the overbearing in-laws. It cries for a sequel. On a scale of 1-5(5 being the best) this movie rates an 8.
Angela's Ashes (1999)
Great Book, Great Movie
Angela's Ashes is one of the finest films Hollywood had produced in a very long while. Here we see the struggles of a family trying to survive depression era Ireland. The father, Malachy, Sr. is an irresponsible, drunken lout who loves his family but loves the drink more.The mother, Angela, strikes us as not the most intelligent being on the planet but she does try to keep her family intact. This film touches your heart and gives us a glimpse into the mouth of wretched, grinding poverty few of us in America have ever seen or even imagined. I thought, there but for the grace of God, and my ancestors immigrating from Ireland centuries ago, go I. An inspiring tale. Read the book first, then see the movie. On a scale of 1-5(5 being the best)this gets an 11.
Chinatown (1974)
One of Jack Nicholson's finest efforts
The scene: 1930's Los Angeles. Someone is fiddling with the scant water resourses in the time of drought. When the water commissioner "drowns", private eye J.J."Jake" Gittes becomes entangled in the mystery while investigating a routine domestic case that is anything but routine. Nicolson's cool, yet passionate character is the standard by which all of his subsequent roles can be measured. Faye Dunaway is also excellent as the wealthy yet seriously messed up Evelyn Mulray. Ditto John Houston as the menacing Noah Cross. Add to this a haunting score and you have a detective picture in the best film noir tradition. One of my favorite movies of all time. On a scale of 1-5(5 being the best) this gets a 10.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Do yourself a favor, don't waste your time
If this isn't the biggest load of cinimatic crap ever made, it's as close as we ever want to come to it. This film was made by amateurs on no budget and it shows. Scary? Not hardly. Videos of my niece's first birthday were more terrifying (and more artistically done). I found myself cheering for whatever was lurking in the dark , picking these morons off and begging it to hurry so this film, and the audience's suffering, would be over. Note to the makers of this film: there is probably a reason why you are amateurs. Get a refund on your film school tuition, go back to your rewarding careers in the convenience store and the car wash industries and leave film making to those who truly have the gift. On the suck scale of 1-5 vacumn cleaners(5 being the worst) this gets a 9.
Beneath Loch Ness (2001)
Jaws Goes To Scotland....puleeeze
This had to be one of the biggest wastes of celluloid of all time(next to that Blair Witch thing). Blockbuster should be made to refund the money of those who thought they were renting a movie. The same, old plot devices were used (i.e. the idiot mayor/constable refusing to close the beach/loch at the height of tourist season, a smaller animal caught that was not the right one, the crusty old sea captain/fisherman with a score to settle ). I swear, I think someone even used the phrase "this was no boating accident". If Speilburg and Blatty didn't sue these guys for blatant plagerism and or copyright infringment, they should have. On the suck scale of one to five vacumn cleaners,(5 being the worst), this gets a seven.
Baseball (1994)
Fabulous...Documentary making at its best
Wheather you are a baseball fan or not, this documentary mini series is well worth watching(and purchasing). Ken Burns has once again proved his talent. I was really impressed with all the material on the old Negro Leagues, a personal interest of mine. I highly recommend this series to all history buffs and baseball fans alike.
The Amazing Colossal Man (1957)
ok,ok, so it aint "Citizen Caine".....
True, this is a prime example of the tripe that passed for entertainment back in the day, and the special effects are pretty cheesy by today's standards but it still has its moments. The acting is not as bad as it could have been and the premise was enough to make one think about the potential effects of nuclear war. But it is some good, escapist fair for those who don't want to think too hard. Which was exactly its intent. And little kids will be scared ..uh witless.
Honeysuckle Rose (1980)
A country music treat
Although I am not a country music fan,usually, I do like Willie. And this film is a fine vehicle for him. I personally would have cast someone else in the role of his wife. Don't get me wrong, Diane Cannon is a fine actress, but I just can't picture it, Willie Nelson and Diane Cannon married? Nah.