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turtlemom1
Reviews
Knives Out (2019)
An entertaining whodunnit
We went with friends to see this clever film and all enjoyed it. It's a great holiday film, with a terrific cast. The acting was a little over the top, nevertheless appropriate to the film. They seemed to have fun with their parts. It's a tongue in cheek take on a Christie type detecting story, with enough false clues to everyone wondering. We loved the set decorations... not something one always notices, but the props, the building, the spookiness added to the fun. And then there was Daniel Craig's affected accent... a character all of it's own.
I wish there were more films like being made like this... it entertained all of us, with differing tastes.
Cars 2 (2011)
Boring film, for adults and kids
I took two 6 year old boys to see the film. They became bored by it within a half hour and began fidgeting. I tried to appreciate the film technically, but even that didn't make it any more compelling or entertaining. Long sections of the story drug along, slowing the momentum appreciably. I attribute this to uninspired direction and editing, or maybe it was kept long to fit in all the ads. I was annoyed by all the product placements aimed at the kids.. and adults. In fact, the film seemed to simply be a vehicle (pun intended) for advertisements. This is common enough, and annoying in adult films, but I resent it in kid oriented entertainments.
A Good Year (2006)
Delightful
Too many critics hammered Russell and Ridley for not making the bloody action adventure historic epic they wanted to see. I feel they were blind to the idea that the duo simply wanted a total change of pace for their follow up film, post Gladiator, and just couldn't open their minds to enjoy and accept this film's many pleasures.
It's a romantic comedy, with beautiful scenery, a love story and a man's redemption. All the actors are perfect, and the entire film experience brings a smile to audience's faces.
Marion Cotillard and Russell Crowe have genuine on screen chemistry. They're ably supported by one of the best casts Ridley has gathered. I particularly enjoyed Archie Panjabi as Gemma, and Tom Hollander as Max's friend Charlie. Albert Finney, the old fox, as Uncle Henry brought a sly warmth to the role of an uncle we all wish could have.
I'd have given the film a 10 had there not been a few gaps in the plot. The 9 is understood to be for a film of this genre, in comparison with other rom-com's.
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)
3 Burials at least as good as Brokeback Mountain
I am afraid that this wonderful film of the American West got lost in the flurry of attention accorded BBM. There are some definite similarities, in the laconic manner of men and women of the west, in the wide open spaces, the characters out of touch with their emotions, marginalized female roles, the importance of friendship and the inability of people to understand the relationships of others.
The biggest differences from BBM are of course that it's not about homosexuality, and it's set in the Southwest, near Mexico.
Tommy Lee Jones is striking as Pete, but in supporting roles, I really enjoyed the performances of the always excellent Melissa Leo and Levon Helm. Neither actor is afraid of being seen as aging... which makes their characters all the more poignant and real.
Casanova (2005)
Casanova, just a bit of froth
It's not that the film is bad, it's just that it isn't very good. Heath Ledger brings little to his role other than competence. I didn't buy his ardor, see any complexity in his character, or feel his portrayal had enlightened me in any way.
Maybe the problem is with the direction and script, which failed to give us anything other than a bit of an amusement. Highly improbable, shallow motivations, unlikely coincidences... this is not the stuff of great film.
Sienna Miller is a limited actress. Let's be frank. She's not a great beauty or a great talent. Maybe she just hasn't had the right role.. or director. Lena Olin, who plays her mother, is far sexier, more interesting and steals scenes with aplomb.
Oliver Platt is the best thing in the film. He's fearless and complex, and you grow to care for his character a great deal.
I was bothered by the unadorned, yet obviously pierced earlobes of both Heath and Sienna. Surely the makeup people could have dealt with that modern anomaly?
Charles II: The Power & the Passion (2003)
Well done... full of political and sexual intrigue
I truly enjoyed this show. The production values were excellent and it was historically quite accurate. The acting was superb, with Sewell, Graves and McCrory as standouts. I had a real sense of the history of the period... considering that it was more a dramatic biography than the historical and political record of an era. This was not meant as the definitive documentary on the Restoration, but rather a portrait and narrative on the lives of Charles and his court during a period of great intrigue and change.
One cannot cover the 25+ years of Charles' reign in 3 hours and include everything. Instead, it's there as background, for those interested in paying attention. As for sexual intrigue, that's as accurate as was the political. Charles was, from all accounts, a licentious man with many mistresses, several of whom caused no end of trouble.
Texas (2002)
Russell Crowe and TOFOG rock their fans
I bought the loaded DVD at one of TOFOG's Austin shows his past summer. It has loads of hidden features which can only be viewed using the clues provided at gruntland.com. For those of you not familiar with Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts [TOFOG] you will meet a terrific roots rock and roll band and see them preparing to perform, behind the scenes, rehearsing and kicking back.
In Texas, the language is raw and uncensored, the music rocking, the beer flowing, and the men antipodean to the core. Lead singer, song writer and driving force for the band is actor extroidinaire, Russell Crowe. But this is no vanity band. Crowe has been a musician longer than he's been an actor. This is a different and important creative outlet from his "day job", which just happens to involve creating characters on screen and winning Oscars in the process.
His music exposes the man, his thoughts, his heart and his soul. His band mates are also his friends. Lead guitarist Dean Cochran has been his closest friend since they were both teens in New Zealand.
Above all, this documentary allows us a look at how this unique band tries to pull it all together to perform and record, and the interaction with fans. It is one of the best Rock and Roll docu's I've seen. Fantastic cinematography, sound and cinema verite' style.
Texas (2002)
Russell Crowe and TOFOG rock their fans
I bought the loaded DVD at one of TOFOG's Austin shows his past summer. It has loads of hidden features which can only be viewed using the clues provided at gruntland.com. For those of you not familiar with Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts [TOFOG] you will meet a terrific roots rock and roll band and see them preparing to perform, behind the scenes, rehearsing and kicking back.
In Texas, the language is raw and uncensored, the music rocking, the beer flowing, and the men antipodean to the core. Lead singer, song writer and driving force for the band is actor extroidinaire, Russell Crowe. But this is no vanity band. Crowe has been a musician longer than he's been an actor. This is a different and important creative outlet from his "day job", which just happens to involve creating characters on screen and winning Oscars in the process.
His music exposes the man, his thoughts, his heart and his soul. His band mates are also his friends. Lead guitarist Dean Cochran has been his closest friend since they were both teens in New Zealand.
Above all, this documentary allows us a look at how this unique band tries to pull it all together to perform and record, and the interaction with fans. It is one of the best Rock and Roll docu's I've seen. Fantastic cinematography, sound and cinema verite' style.