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Reviews
Donnie Darko (2001)
good atmosphere but
there is a hindu myth of the dreaming Bhrama who has constructed our "reality". this Bhrama sleeps and dreams resting on the petals of a lotus and that lotus grows from the navel of another sleeping dreaming bhrama who also sleeps on a lotus... etc etc. when the bhrama awakens the dream ends and we cease to exist.
perhaps this myth exists to show how we really dont have much control over events in our lives even in our dreams ( which are usually composed of our desires). undoubtedly this is the case with donnie darko who even in his last few moments dreams a life which spins beyond his control; in fact even the ppl of that dream expereince events beyond thier control and undoubtedly wish they were "dreaming".
(SPOILER DONT READ IF YOU DONT LIKE TO KNOW STUFF)
now either i am REALLY old or ppl havent seen this done before; the ending for donnie darko is similar to that which was done in "Jacobs Ladder"; i dunno why everyone is so "blown away" that Donnie's "life" is composed of the last few moments of real "life" that he has before dying. Tim Robbins character goes thru this same revalation and the audience realizes that he dreamed his last few moments of a supposedly full life that is suddenly turned upside down by a feeling of dread( his impending death).
Donnie Darko is a well done movie despite the formula being done before; its paced nicely, well acted, and has its own dreamlike quallity accomp[lished by the editing and dialogue which adds to the overall atomsphere of a dream from which you cannot awaken but merely experience to its conclusion.
a definite 8 out of 10
Parents (1989)
what was it before it was Leftovers?
truly a disturbing and dark comedy that to this day still creeps me out; disturbing and entertaining it should be a contender for one of the best films of 1989. the imagery and cinematography are top notch as well as the tight script and incredible direction; if only other horror movies were this good. Tim Burton would love this movie.
The Hitcher (1986)
best of the 80's
if you have a best of collection The Hitcher is it. Made before the urban legend of the killer hitch-hiker was popularized Rutger Hauer delivers his Best work (comparable only with his work in Blade Runner) along with C Thomas Howell( whose comprable best work is in the Outsiders) A shame that both these actors now do films that absolutely bomb. Nevertheless The Hitcher is a thriller on par with Silence of the Lambs. The theme for this is copied several years later with David Duchovney and Brad Pitt in Kalifornia
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Mel in top form
if you've never seen a Mel brooks movie before or you've only seen Mels recent movies like Robin Hood:men in tights or Dracula Dead and Loving it and been disappointed by them, then Blazing Saddles ( or Mel's other great works like History of the World, Young Frankenstein and The Producers) show Mels ability to be incredibly crude, non PC, sleazy, ribald and HILARIOUS! Everything that could have been or shouldnt have been made fun of Brooks lampooned skewered and otherwise ridiculed. BS is one of his greatest films and admired for the satirical commentary it makes about america and its westerns.
Atomic Tabasco (1999)
Fantastic Short
I cannot stress enough the artistic and fantastic way this short was written shot and edited. Mr Cox and his editors do a superb job of showing the interaction of 4 different groups illustrating not only the errors in their perceptions of others and events around them, but also of our own errors and prejudices. Works best as a short though you may wish for it to be longer. 5 stars out of 5
Europa Europa (1990)
a film not about what you think it is
set against the backdrop of WW2 this movie is really a coming of age story about the WW2 generation and the knowledge of being true to oneself; WW2 and its time period was the genesis of our modern relationships involving race, politics and class; it brought to life our current geo-political stage and determined it for the last 50 years. I have seen many people post messages about this being an incredible WW2 movie but i for one feel that this movie transcends its narrative of the war with a story about maturation. Young solomon is separated from his Family and from the life he knew (like many in the 40's) and allows himself to blend into others perception of who he is ( a powerful urge in many a teenager and adults alike ) Only after almost losing himself in his various identities does he realize the value ( and inherent danger) in not only declaring who he is but what he could have become. this is a theme that can be applied to different races, political affiliations and those of different societal status. Solly is a paradigm of how easy it is to jump from side to side only to realize that you cant run away from who you are nor can you keep it hidden for too long. A powerful movie.