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Reviews
Love Actually (2003)
Actually Left Me Cold...
I seldom write a poor review of a movie, but I had to comment on this one. I really felt cheated by the writer and director of this film, Richard Curtis, who previously has done such intelligent and splendid work. This was just ridiculous...and cheap!! First, the storyline of the Hugh Grant piece was a clear rip off of the American President, a film that was so charmingly and intelligently written and casted several years ago. The plot was just dumbed down and changed to an English prime minister and his tea lady. I was appalled by the casting of Billy Bob as the American President.
The storyline involving the little boy who lost his mother and is in love with a girl at school was downright creepy. No sense at all that the boy had lost his mother... and the Claudia Schiffer look a like at the end...pleeeeeease!! Or maybe it was the real Claudia. I wasn't interested enough to stick around for the credits.
Another creepy storyline...the best man who videotapes his friend's wedding obviously obsessed with the groom's wife. Some best friend. If this is love than the writer has a very disturbed view about what love actually is. I won't tell you what the best friend does after this.
The fat jokes in the movie. Again, very thoughtless and cheap and seemed to pervade the movie thus clearly not supporting the tagline "love actually is all around."
I could go on and on but let's not. I guess when you are Richard Curtis you can do what you want without really possessing a cohesive, quality piece of work.
Give me Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman any day. Colin Firth...why do you agree to do such drivel?? Hugh Grant, I really do not care for you in any regard, but you saved the film mainly because you took poor material and made it funny and endearing. I have new found respect for you as an actor. Enough said.
At Close Range (1986)
Chilling beyond description...
This is by far the most disturbing film I have ever seen made all the more chilling by Mr. Walken's performance. Quite frankly nothing that Mr. Walken did before (yes, even the Deer Hunter) or up to the present has come close to this performance (and believe me I have waded through more cheesy Walken films than I care to recall). Equal to Mr. Walken's performance was the acting of a whole line up of great character actors who portrayed really weak and pathetic individuals to a tee. Although, I saw this film at least a decade ago, I can still see that horrific scene in the woods with Christopher Walken and Chris Penn. And forget about Walken's scenes with the lovely Mary Stuart Masterson. I have no idea how that young woman got through those scenes with him because certainly to have to play a role like she did would be much more disturbing than just viewing the scene. I get chills thinking about this movie and it will be a very long time before I could ever think about watching it again.
Hideous Kinky (1998)
A Risky Venture...
There was just something about this movie that I really loved as the main character was so contrary to my self. The idea of this young woman with two young daughters leaving London for India in search of a better existence... not knowing from day to day where their next meal would come from or whether they would have money for rent. Incredibly courageous and stupid all at the same time. At first I was extremely annoyed with Julia, the mother, wondering when it would all go horribly wrong. It almost did in one unbearable scene involving the eldest daughter. I didn't understand alot of the things that Julia did since it placed her children at so much risk. But ultimately I believe Julia truly wanted something better for herself and her daughters. And that is always a risky venture.
The Hours (2002)
We know Streep, Moore, and Kidman can act, but the little boy steals the show...
This was a movie that I both loved and hated at the same time. The main characters with the exception of Meryl Streep's Clarissa were the most sad, pathetic, self-centered women and men that I have never (yes never) encountered in my life. That is saying alot because I work with the down and out, mentally ill, chronically ill, and AIDS afflicted on a daily basis and not one of these characters rang true.
I cannot however fault the acting as it was terrific. Streep as strong as ever; Moore capturing on screen what it is like to live but be dead on the inside; Kidman was solid as the severely, mentally ill Woolf.
Although Harris did a great job with his character, I was disappointed in the character as written because it portrays a life with AIDS as bleak and hopeless. While it is certainly a devastating illness, so many are courageously living with the disease by choosing to extend their life and live out their remaining days in productivity.
Although I have read several reviews of this film, I have not heard much about the actor who portrayed the wise and courageous little boy in the movie. He was outstanding and deserves an Academy award nomination as best supporting actor. He communicated a great deal even without having alot of dialogue. His performance showed a maturity way beyond his years. He was a bright spot in a movie with a lot of very depressing characters and purposefully "flat" performances. This young fellow gets my highest performance rating.
Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (2001)
It's the little things that make a difference...
I just finished watching the DVD with my husband and we both enjoyed it tremendously. It was highly original with characters so real I felt like each one of them was someone that I knew from work or from real life. Having been a claims adjuster and underwriter for way too many years before thankfully changing careers, I can tell you that I felt like I was painfully right back in the insurance industry. The actors, the direction, the set, the style of the film just nailed the atmosphere and experience of it all. Many other films seem to glamorize this profession and for the life of me I really cannot understand why. It is one dull profession; a life sentence just as the movie portrayed.
I have a question though. With performances like McConaughy's and Arkin's why weren't they nominated for any sort of acting awards? Why do we have to see the same people nominated again and again? (sorry that was two questions) I was floored by their performances.
Not wanting to repeat the insightful comments already made about this film, I will say that it was complex and thought-provoking (although I think it was probably made on a shoe string budget). The film had numerous messages and works on many levels. The film also paid attention to alot of the little details of life (example: the haunting sound of the bell when your car door is opened, personality details excellently portrayed by Turturro's very precise character, the beauty of a homegrown tomato, the meaning of a home-baked cookie etc.) These details did not go unnoticed by me.
Overall the script was not predictable at all which made the film that much more riveting to watch. Look for an unexpected act of kindness by Alan Arkin's otherwise sour on life, borderline despicable character. Beautiful.
It has been said before and so many times. It is the little things in life that mean so much. In this production, the director's attention to the little things make it an outstanding film experience. Conversely, it is the characters' inattention to the little things that create devastating consequences.
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
Pure class and a thrill to watch...
It's difficult to find movies that both satisfy the likes of a mom and her preadolescent daughter. Admittedly this is a very violent movie (or action-packed depending on how you look at it), but as a classic story of love betrayal and revenge I thought it was appropriate for my daughter and might spur her on to read the classic book. It was a slow start and at times difficult to understand the dialogue, but we both were hooked and completely engrossed once James Caveziel was thrown into prison. The film just took off from there.
Caveziel is stunning in the leading role both physically and in the acting department. The Tom Cruises and Brad Pitts of the world pale in comparison to what this man brings to the screen. Pure class and a treat to look at.
The film itself is also a visual and emotional treat with excellent performances by several actors who quite frankly I have not seen or heard much from with the exception of Guy Pearce who was perfectly cast. The female lead and the gentleman who played Villefort were also standouts.
I will add this DVD to my very spare collection because the film was a a thrill to watch and a standout in all regards especially Mr. Caveziel.
The Importance of Being Earnest (2002)
A treat indeed!
It is a rare treat when you go to the movies expecting not very much but walking away with so much more! After reading the reviews here as well as some professional reviews, I almost decided to pass this one by and what a pity it would have been. Sounds like my unfamiliarity with Wilde's play and the previous version of this movie was to my advantage. After all I could view this movie based on its own merits without any other comparisons getting in the way. What a glorious summer treat and a wonderfully fun vehicle to discover Oscar Wilde's hilarious play and for that matter Wilde in general. Couldn't have asked for a better audience to watch this with here in the South. They were enthusiastic, obviously familiar with Wilde, remained for the credits, and clapped at the end. Can't remember the last time that happened,can you? Again, what a lovely surprise this movie was with absolutely marvelous chemistry between Mr. Firth and Mr. Everett, a sweet supporting cast, not to mention the beautiful production values. After seeing the movie, I almost immediately hunted for the text of the play and read it straight through.
A Likeness in Stone (2000)
Very stylish and suspenseful Brit drama worth seeking out...
A taped version of this British television movie was sent to me from someone who knew I was a fan of one of the actors. All I can say is that this was a very uniquely directed and stylish thriller with the four leads absolutely believable in roles where three of them age about ten years. Again, the presentation of the story is very unique (and while at times gets on your nerves)which I guess is the point in creating the edgy, moody feel of this drama. It's disappointing though that quality British dramas of this kind will never make it to US television and that we are subjected to endless reruns of outdated dramas like Magnum PI, Murder She Wrote etc etc even on our supposedly better channels (and you know who you are)! If by chance you get to see this one, enjoy excellent performances by the always outstanding Liam Cunningham as Detective Armstrong. Kudos to the woman who played Joan Poole as this was a completely pathetic and unglamorous role and she just went with it creepily capturing the kind of girl that most everyone came in contact with at school. Very brave performance. And finally... the powers that be have allowed Jonathan Firth to come out of his period costumes and into current times (Hallelujah!!) You won't be disappointed as he does an excellent job of morphing from adolescence to adulthood without any trace of a bad make-up job. Just some minor changes and some good old-fashioned acting.
Far from the Madding Crowd (1998)
Far from boring and stuffy
I just happened to tune into this production on my local PBS station a few years ago and my immediate reaction was "Oh no, not another boring and stuffy Masterpiece Theatre production!" Well, fortunately I was totally unfamiliar with the plot of this film (which is based on the classic Hardy novel) and within minutes became completely riveted to my television when the character of Sergeant Troy appeared on the screen. Like Bathsheba, the female lead, I was completely taken in by Troy as portrayed by the actor Jonathan Firth and then horrified as to the events that followed. Again, this production caught me totally by surprise and it had some of the best acting scenes I have ever encountered .. a far cry from those period pieces where emotions are kept below the surface. That kind of acting is tiresome. The acting here is filled with alot of passion, emotion, and sparks. Best scene: Troy and Boldwood fighting over Bathsheba in the courtyard. It is shocking, despicable, heart-breaking, and sexy all at the same time! Compliments to all of the actors in a most underrated production.
Crossing Delancey (1988)
Out of the ordinary romantic comedy that truly captures New York City...
This is my favorite movie of all time with an unbelievable cast of great character actors. I remember a New York reviewer at the time calling Amy Irving's performance "lukewarm" and I could not disagree more. Irving's performance and character epitomize the thirty-something single New York working woman trying to move up in the world. Irving's character is completely enraptured by the experience of being the book manager of a very prestigious uptown neighborhood book store and falls for the good-looking, European writer who is completely enraptured with himself! Riegert is the nice "pickleman" who any girl knows would make a great husband but the fireworks just don't go off for the girl. Any woman can definitely relate to the dilemma of being attracted to the charming, good-looking rogue but when you get right down to it, it is the everyday "picklemen" who stay true and truly make the world go round.
And I must say that this film captures the city better than any movie I have yet to see complete with crazy singing woman in crowded narrow hot dog joint, midage man struggling to play handball in local park, elderly women learning self-defense at community Y. Classic New York stuff! I could go on and on but do note far out performances by Sylvia Miles as the tacky matchmaker and Rosemary Harris, the great English actress, in a cameo near the end.