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Reviews
Shark Tank (2009)
This show is a terrible insult to sharks.
Sharks kill to eat as all animals do. These people are just vicious school yard greedy bullies. These people are wealthy because they're thieves. They are the lowest of the low. Lower than slugs. They just pounce on people who are just trying make a buck and they just devour them mercilessly. How can they be that way is beyond me. The worst of them is the billionaire Mark Cuban. He has no conscience. There is an honored place in hell just waiting for him. Few humans are as vicious as he is. Thought I'd watch the show to learn how to make some money to improve my life. I rather be a beggar than be like one of those people. They will rot in hell.
Serving Sara (2002)
Absolute garbage...
Rented it to see if Mathew Perry could act different from the angry, "the world owes me", brooding, dislikeable person he portrayed on Friends
Rated it a 1 because I've no other options. Too bad this system doesn't have minus signs.
Fast forwarded most of the useless gratuitous cursing and raging. Which was most of the film. Reduced the 1+film to around 20'. Even that was too much of a waste of my time for me. Beauty of watching a movie at home. One doesn't have to "sit" through a "B" (This one was a Z) hoping for improvement.
The story line was asinine.
All the characters had the same M.O. as Mathew Perry. The whole film was full of Mathew Perry's interacting with Mathew Perry. Everyone was worst than awful.
Mathew Perry was still doing same sch-tick he did on Friends...angry, bad mouthed, rebel with absolutely no cause but his own self involvement... no changes... obviously can't act. Get over yourself.
Rumor Has It... (2005)
Ren it if...
Not even Shirley MacLaine could save this one. Rented it solely because she was in it and it's the worst role I've ever seen her in. Rob Reiner are you losing it?
The idea was great, a follow up on the Graduate.
Some weirdness re. same guy making it with three generations in the same family. Exploring having sex with one's father, even if drunk, is a bit questionable. Specially when one's potential father is a "dry flounder" (as one of the reviewer labeled Kosner). In a way he was her father, he'd been sexual with her mother.
Interesting concepts Hollywood is willing to explore these days.
There were some laugh out loud scenes which were the saving grace to this otherwise pretty "sad" film.
True Love (1989)
Well worth my time...
Wonder why more people haven't commented on this Sundance film festival winner? Maybe because it's a very niche film.
Extremely well done study of New York Italian American culture on all levels; the food, the sex; the dysfunctional relationships with each other and with the church; the constant cursing; the weakness of the men and the strength of the women (Who really rules?) As well as the love; the camaraderie; the family support and acceptance with, "This too shall pass attitude and it will be better."
I agree with one of the reviewers that some of the characters were not well developed. It was not important to develop them. Anyone knowing the culture can fill in the blanks. Maybe not such a good technique for "outsiders". Perhaps a reason why it has not become a popular film.
It's also a very astute study of male female relationships and a view at the difference between men and women.
This is the second film I've seen by Savoca and I love the way she just says, "This is it! It is what it is!": No judgement values, no preaching just take it or leave it. Make up your own mind, while she presents all aspects "good and bad".
Well worth my two hrs., and maybe yours.
Never Been Kissed (1999)
Waste...
Wonder how old most of the reviewers, here in, are? Read a few pages and most are raving... about?
Whole thing was unbelievable, no plausibility whatever and a one dimensional caricature. What a waste of time, money and celluloid.
So the nerds win... They win all the time where it really matters by being society's innovators. They just don't win by being empty prom queens. If one 9 to 15 or so, this might be an enjoyable afternoon. Though I'm not sure I'd want to put such trash into a young brain. But if you're reading reviews, you might think at least twice.
Drew is Drew. She was extremely cute in ET & here she's still being "cute" and Drew - zip depth or growth. I'd expect some at 25 but she doesn't have to. With Spielberg as her godfather and the Barrymore name behind her she can be cute for ever. She'll always have work and money. It's her birth right. She's capitalizing on the name, her money & social position but not the acting. She can't act at least not in this film.
So: No acting from anyone one; absurd story line; a caricature of a film.
You decide how to your precious time.
The Object of My Affection (1998)
Liberal & extremely politically correct
Film covered all the de rigueur, liberal, politically correct platitudes one would expect from a movie Allan Alda is involved in: The angelically sensitive and great looking homosexual teacher, working for next to nothing because he is benefiting humanity ; the idealization of the homosexual life style, which can do no wrong and if you do one just glosses over it; a leftist lawyer, who also works for nothing but is a hetero cave man; an anti establishment, idealistic "real" social worker unwed mother; tolerance of all thing currently is style; the sensitive black man; even the punker/brat kid the who has more sense than her rich insensitive wealthy parents. Juxtaposed to - male hetero bashing; rich insensitive, pretentious Hampton folks (Brooklyn vs. the Hamptons); crass policemen, who bash women; promiscuity of the rich.
It's very interesting that these folks who are rolling in dough create a movie by bashing the establishment but the underbelly is much different than what they are spewing on celluloid. One of the primary themes is homosexuality. Why didn't they hire homosexual actors to play homosexual roles? Interesting that of the main characters, only one, Nigel Hawthorne, was openly homosexual. Why did they chose not to work with homosexual characters? Just curious.
Why did they chose to "gloss" over Dr. Joley's crass behavior but accentuated Vinces'?
In contrast most "belieable" character in the movie was Nigel Hawthorne. The pain he felt at his lover's betrayal was genuine. As was his admonition to Nina, "Don't fix your life so that you're left alone right as you come to the middle of it.", came from a deep knowing place.
The ending... oh, God! Please!!!!
8 femmes (2002)
Great fun
Most bizarre film I've ever seen but such wonderfully campy fun.
It's your typical who done it being spoofed.
The dead man is apparently doing everyone. stereotypical French man, except the mother in law. Every one else is doing everyone else... didn't know this about French women.
The 50s settings and colors are magnificent.
The twists and turns are so much fun - great humor.
The ending is worth the price of admission.
Thanks to RWiggum from Erlangen, Germany for giving me a lot of other ways to look at the film.
The Terminal (2004)
US vs. an underdeveloped country...
Won't bore you with the details to the film because you can get them from the 478 other reviews.
Some fun concepts to play with though while watching the movie, which I highly recommend:
Delay - Viktor is"delayed" at the international terminal in New York, by Frank Dixon, who is in charge of guarding security for the US Immigration department. Who is really delayed? Dixon, representing the US? He follows fear based laws and meanness/revenge rather than simple heart based human kindness and common sense. Viktor behaves as a well adjusted adult making the best of whatever situation he finds himself in. Dixon wants to "control" everything as a frightened child would. His development is delayed/ arrested.
Another undercurrent is love/acceptance vs. fear and control: Dixon must control; must have the spy cameras; he needs his army of docile "bull-dogs" Viktor "creates" an army of loving friends/family just by being a kind soul willing to sacrifice himself for the good of another.
Playing fair/honest/real vs. playing dirty and corrupt: Viktor was genuine and even offered kindness to Dixon. Frightened little boy Dixon did so many underhanded and dirty things just because he felt threatened. Fortunately it all backfired on him.
Terrific and very subtle movie on so many levels. Great life commentary.
Office Space (1999)
Worth the time...
A fair amount of the reviews here in IMDb label this movie as "funny". Guess it is a comedy because no one gets killed, almost but not quite. The fellow who almost dies thinks a wonderful thing has happened to him. Such a pathetic commentary, "I'd would rather be hit by a truck than go to work." (Implied, not actual.)
I did not laugh once. Found it extremely depressing. "Office Space" is extremely well though out, and the acting and casting is superb. Unfortunately, it is very "real". For me, this was depressing.
An extremely despairing commentary on the anguish of humanity today; from the all too vivid LA commute further exacerbated by the vicious gangster rap, to the aseptic cubicles lorded over by the passive aggressive politically correct bosses, all festering in the 'sick/sad' souls prostituting themselves to the almighty $.
Worth watching, and you might laugh...
Household Saints (1993)
Flawed and quirky
After encountering Vincent D'Onofrio in "Bark" for the first time, I had to get another film in which he was in, just to see what kind of an actor could be. He was so awful in "Bark" that I had to get another of his films just to figure out how he gets parts. My opinion didn't improve, D'Onofrio is sadly an extremely poor actor, but the story line of "Household Saints" was hysterically funny, so I was glad I got the film. Guess D'Onofrio is also laughing all the way to the bank. Wonder how he gets the parts he does? He is soooo bad!
Taylor (Teresa) and Ullman (Cathrine) played their parts fairly well.
The Italian American culture is fairly well captured except for the grandmother. She was way over the top caricature. Been around the culture my entire life and I've not encountered a Carmela Santangelo (grandmother), ever.
Jesus was a humdinger... Physiologically the wrong continent and with an English accent and concerned with his wardrobe? Could not stop laughing.
What was the point of Nicky Falconetti's character and Madame Butterfly? Another aspect of guilt. This time real guilt vs. imagined or made up by the church, guilt.
Didn't figure out whether Nancy Savoca (director) was making fun of the Catholic church and the psychological damage it creates for sensitive and impressionable people (especially around sex) or if she was seriously looking at sainthood in the 60s. Liked that, kept me wondering.
She did make some very poignant digs at the Catholic church, especially through D'Onofrio's mouth.
"Household Saints" is flawed and quirky but well worth my time and maybe yours.
Big Daddy (1999)
Third grade humor...
Absolutely unbelievable fantasy and utterly sophomoric
A personality who's gone through law school, unless they have been on meth for a long time, would not "teach" such anti-social and potentially punishable behavior. Writers should have made him a writer, an architect or even a doctor... but a lawyer? Please! The stick would not be on the ground it'd been on a part of their body.
Don't even think that a lawyer would have the capacity or audacity to respect the child's choices and would have been mortified by some of the outfits.
A lot of writing license and not poetic.
Really hard to swallow syrup in the court room with his abusive dad...
Teens are not too far from the third grade so they might enjoy yet another Sandler waste of time and money.
Simply Irresistible (1999)
What can I tell you?
174 comments for an absolutely idiotic waste of time, amazing... and I'm adding mine to waste even more time on this undefinable zero.
Basis theme was robbed from "Like Water for Chocolate", which was an infinitely superior film.
Gellar, was Gellar, cutesie, cutesie... zip depth... film didn't require it.
What can one expect from a magic crab film? Fun pun (Rated film at a 2, because of this pun, otherwise it would have been a 1))... introduced by having the crab go up his Flanery's leg with Geller's hand following close behind.
Flanery was at best, window dressing.
Story line was compilation of various 90s films including "Lady in Red" all of which were so much better than this waste of time and money.
If you're absolutely depressed and have run through all the films at your local rental for the umpteenth time then I recommend you watch this.
Bruno (2000)
Inspirational
As with all of Shirley MacLaine's films the message was well worth the two hours of my life.
I recommend it highly.
Not one stereotype is left unchallenged and done so subtly one has to stop and really think.
Had a really difficult time watching the brutality Bruno and Angela (Stacey Halprin) had to endure from most everyone else in the film, all because they wanted/needed/were seeking to be themselves. What a society of drones we live in. "And it will take a child to lead them..." ..and a black child for that matter.
Great movie, may be difficult for sensitive folks but well worth it. Had to watch it in three time periods just to let the distress at the violence subside.
Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
Wouldn' waste my precious time...
Only watched this film because of Mira Sorvino and I was not disappointed. She was good. Although she would have been a lot better had Woody Allen not been directing her. Had it not been for Sorvino, I'd turned off the film within the first five minutes. Just another moronic, third grade, sick humor, sexual fantasy from Woody Allen. He's not even clever.
It's the usual Woody Allen "drek". The man is sick and he has to vomit all over us. Don't understand what it is that people see in his inane neurotic idiocies?
I just don't get it? I read two pages of reviews and people all think he's great. What am I not getting? What am I missing? Is it great to watch a sick neurotic go on and on in a boring way about his sex problems. I have much better things to do with my life.
I'd not waste my money or time on this junk.
Bark! (2002)
Worth seeing.
Lee Tergesen and Heather Morgan saved the movie. Both actors played their parts beautifully. The movie has a very intelligent, sensitive story line, comedy only in the traditional sense - no one dies. Was pleased also that it was not a traditional "happy, Hollywood" ending.
Especially loved Lee "standing up" to the Psycho MD
won't give away the rest.
Lisa Kudrow was Kudrow
Is she really that ditzy in real life, that she's always cast in absolute idiot roles?
And what was with Vincent D'Onofrio? Have never seen him before so I don't know if he's just yet another idiot. His character was such a caricature.
What were all those "lunatic" people there for? They didn't really add anything to the plot. The plot stood on it's own. The "nuts" were superfluous.
Despite all but two of the cast, the movie is worth seeing. The theme of mental illness is extremely well and sensitively portrayed.
Elaine Stritch at Liberty (2002)
Her candor is laudable.
Picked up the DVD without knowing anything about Elaine Stritch.
More than pleasantly pleased.
Her candor is laudable.
One views her life through a cabaret act, full of song and dance routines... Despite which, one looks into an absolutely "naked" soul.
Interesting to watch this 80 year old woman, whose life has been so difficult, be so alive and dynamic. When most of her compatriots are dead she is continuing to grow and learn and give to us.
For the first half hour or so it was mostly "cute", tolerable but just "cute". The rest of the film grabbed my mind and heart.
Well done. I recommend it highly.