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Reviews
Undone (2001)
strange but interesting
This is a strange and disjointed short, but it my opinion it "works" pretty well.
There seems to be a lot of plot elements -- kidnapping, murder, bondage,.... But I don't think there's a way to assemble the plot elements into a plot. The movie merely hints at an underlying story. The hints are interesting (and I'm not sure it would be a better movie if the elements were explained or linked together).
This movie is available on the web. In my opinion, it's worth checking out.
The Ballad of a Gunfighter (1964)
Plenty of cliches, but still worth a look.
This movie includes most every cliche from every prior western movie. And yet it also includes a bit extra that makes it worth a look. The main advantage is the impish charm of Marty Robbins his performance is good enough to make me wonder why he didn't have more of a movie career. I think he could have gone much farther.
The main disadvantage is that Marty Robins doesn't personally sing. I bought this movie with the expectation that he sing at least once, but that didn't happen. What genius decided it would be a good idea to make a western starring Marty Robins that didn't include at least one song performed by the man himself? A smart movie maker would have found some excuses for 3-4 songs at least.
Playing the Part (1995)
Excellent short documentary -- amazingly honest
An excellent movie by a very promising director.
This documentary is an intense snapshot of the director's life as she nears graduation from Harvard. It seems that she wants to tell her parents she's gay, but she's having a hard time with the announcement. That seems to be an "excuse" for the film, or a "theme" that holds it together. But really, the movie is much more about being a person than being gay. What makes this movie so good is the amazingly honest way she portrays the family members around her, including her rocky relations with her mother. If she had been straight, or if she had some other secret she was trying to tell her parents, I think she could have made a movie that is every bit as good.
Evidently she's a student of Ross McElwee. If you like his movies (like 'Sherman's March'), you'll probably love this one. It has many of the charms of McElwee's style, and some advantages of its own.
This movie IS available on VHS from Amazon. It's included on a tape called "Girlfriends (1995)" along with three other lesbian-related short movies that aren't bad, but aren't nearly as good as "Playing the Part."
Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
Quite good overall
I've read so many comments here about the great cast that I want to add a contrary opinion or two. First, Emma Thompson doesn't fit my conception of Beatrice at all. (Surely I can't be alone in this opinion.) And on the other hand, I haven't read enough comments about the WONDERFUL performance of Michael Keaton -- who simply steals the whole show.
Fucking Åmål (1998)
A few good moments, but overall I'm confused.
Why do non-US viewers rate this as one of the all-time best movies ever made, while US viewers have a drastically different opinion?
I'm one of those US viewers who gives it a "5." It was a great idea to make a Scandinavian version of My So-Called Life. And it's fine to have a main character who's into girls -- it adds an extra depth to the story. With a concept like that, this should have been a great movie. But while it had a few good moments, it mostly just seemed dreary and annoying to me. What am I missing that others liked so much about this movie?
High Art (1998)
Quite good
I liked this film. Syd is a really compelling character, and well acted.
But I felt that Lucy's fate at the end of the movie was flawed -- it seemed to me that it "came out of nowhere," and therefore it wasn't as moving as it could have been. Am I the only one who felt this way?
Thunderbirds (1965)
Good sci-fi fun.
I remember this series as a kid and still enjoy it today. It's possible to buy or rent some 90-minute movie versions of this TV show. I wish a few of the original TV episodes were available because the shorter format would be easier to show to a new generation of potential fans.
One False Move (1991)
Overall it's outstanding -- interesting characters
Personally I REALLY like this movie. The major and minor characters all seem quirky -- it's as if the movie could go off in almost any direction, following any character, and it would still be an interesting story. (In this way, it reminds me of another favorite movie of mine, "Something Wild.")
The violence here looks real and terribly chilling -- not like the cartoonish violence of typical big budget "action thrillers." (Again, in this respect "One False Move is like "Something Wild.")
I like the ending, though I'm aware that some others find it unsatisfying. Like much of the movie, it leaves some questions unanswered.